IT Canada’s Vision

To be a catalytic force in the establishment of 100 multiplying Global Mission Churches in Canada by 2016

At IT Canada, we love the local church. It’s the body of Christ, and his bride. And at IT we’re committed to the church “owning” the Great Commission.

It’s not just a matter of getting more missionaries. IT Canada wants to see more Canadian churches discovering and living out their own unique vision for global mission. When the church catches a vision, the strategy follows... teams, interns, career missionaries, global partnerships.

God has a great plan for each church, and we want to help churches discover and live out that great plan.

If becoming a Global Mission Church is a compelling vision for your future, then join us on the journey.

What is a Global Mission Church?

A GMC is a Canadian church that is:

1. Strategic in its mission initiative


2. Mobilizing multiple teams, interns, career missionaries and mission consultants


3. Adopting a global mission and “owning” the ministry. Along with local initiatives that mirror global connections, and strong financial backing for both these initiatives


4. Multiplying itself, through networks. It is empowered and, training other churches in global mission.

If you’d like to talk with us more about this, we’d love to hear from you! You can call at 519-669-8844 x225 or email Mika.Takamaki@iteams.org.

Moving?

No, we’re not moving yet, but we want to. There’s lots of reasons for this — rising gas prices, a growing family, tight living conditions. We would love to move to Elmira. This would enable me to walk to work, and give Grace greater access to the car.

But there’s a big challenge. The place we’re in currently has been a real blessing — we’re living in a friend’s basement, and the rent we’ve been paying has been really low. The challenge is that with really tight finances, we currently can’t afford much.

Please pray for us about this:

• That God would give us wisdom in where we should go, and


• That those God has called to help with this financially would respond.

What has Steve been up to?

People have been asking me what I’ve been doing lately. And rightfully so. My ministry is to develop resources that help IT Canada be more effective in its Mission. I’ve been busy!

I’ve done the design work for a faster, more useful web site that will hopefully be launched in the next month or so when all the content is ready for it.

I’ve also launched a Blogging system that we’ve begun to use. The vision is to provide a place where our staff, missionaries and short term teams can write about what’s been happening in their lives and ministries. It is not only a great way for them to keep their supporters up to date, but a way for the larger community (including you!) to read about what God is doing around the world. You can check it out at blogs.iteams.ca. As we get more missionaries on it, it will have even more exciting stuff to read!

I have also been hard at work on a training video — “Creating hope for Children in Crisis”. I’ve got a first draft of it done. It will be a valuable resource for teams going to work with children who’ve had hard lives.

I recently set up a “video conference” system using Skype and webcams that enables us to virtually bring in great trainers/presenters from around the world for free!

I’m now working on an email/calendar/contacts/… system. When complete, it will enable us to collaborate more closely with each other in the office, other staff around the world, and church mission consultants across Canada.

What an exciting thing it’s been to be a part of God’s work around the world. And by your involvement in my ministry, you are a part of this team too!

2005 Christmas Letter

Friday December 9, 2005

Greetings friends! 

It has been quite a while since our last formal letter.  Life has been very full.  Those of you who are on email have received a few prayer requests, baby announcements, etc.  We apologize for not getting these out to the rest of you.

So, what’s been happening with us?  As most of you know, Grace gave birth to our new son, Zane Tavish on June 1, 2005.  He’s generally been a happy, healthy baby.  Grace has also recovered well in many respects, but is suffering from postpartum depression however, so that has made things rough at times.  Praise God for Canada’s parental leave.  This has enabled me (Steve) to be at home to help out, with EI picking up the tab.  I'm now back at the office part time, and anticipate being back full time sometime in January.

We had the opportunity to travel to the east coast this fall to visit friends and supporters, and do some sight seeing.  Aside from some challenges I had with my allergies, we had a good time, some great connections, and deepened relationships.

We’ve got a new web site with pictures, a prayer letter archive, info on us and our ministry, etc.  Check it out at www.vanbruwaene.ca. We expect to continue adding more content, so come back once in a while!

As I've moved back into life at the office, I've begun work on producing a training video.  IT will be using this video for teams and individuals who will be working with children that have come through traumatic experiences, such as refugees.  I'm also involved in some new computer projects at the office that IT hopes will improve their web site, (www.iteams.ca) and enhance the way we work together.

Thanks so much for your prayer and financial support over the last year.  You have been so much appreciated.  You’ve had a hand in mobilizing new people to missions, and bringing the good news of the gospel to people around the world.   Please continue to pray for us:

• Grace’s depression has been debilitating at times.  Please pray for healing.


• Our finances continue to be tight.  God has provided for our needs so far, so praise Him for this.  Pray that He would continue to through you and others that He has called.


• I'm taking on new projects at the office.  We want God to be in them.  Pray that He directs them for His glory.

Thanks so much!  Have a wonderful Christmas!

Steve & Grace Van Bruwaene

Please keep praying for Grace

Hello all!
As some of you know, Grace has been struggeling with depression. In the last few months, things have been getting better there, and I've been going into the office more and more.

This past week, things have taken a dive. She is really struggeling -- she feels like she's drowning at times. She'll be seeing her doctor tomorrow, and trying to set up more appointments with her counselor.

But I sense a real part of this is spiritual. Could you be continuing to pray for her? Your prayers make a big difference.

Praise God for parental leave. It's given me the opportunity to be home with my family more as we work through this difficult time. I will continue to try and be back at the office when I can, but we'll see how that goes.

Thanks for your continued prayer.

Steve.

Thanks for praying!

Sorry it's taken so long to give you an update. My breathing has been much better. A doctor gave me a puffer, and some other drugs to get the breathing going again, and our friends have put their cats in the basement while we are here. As a result, I've been breathing much better.

We'll be in halifax till sunday, and then heading back to Ontario through the states, visiting some
family on the way.

Thanks for your prayers and the good sugestions I received from a bunch of you. I'll look forward to connecting with you again soon!

Steve.

Please pray for Steve's health

Hey all!

Sorry I've been so tardy in keeping you up to date lately. As many of you know, I've been on parental leave for a while while Grace gets back to full health after Zane's birth. Things have been generally going quite well. Grace is getting better almost every day, and her depression has been getting much better. Thanks so much for your prayer in this.

At the moment, we're on a trip to the east cost visit with friends & family, do some support raising, and do some sightseeing. It's been generally a good time. We've had some good visits with more to come. Please pray for guidance in some of these talks.

One challenge we've run into however is my allergies. I'm allergic to cats, and the friends we're staying with have 2. I brought some good antihistamines along, hoping they would deal with the problem. Well, no runny nose or itchy eyes, but I've been experiencing a real shortness of breath & resulting lack of energy that seems kinda like Asthma -- something I've never struggled with before (aside from a few really minor incidents with my in laws cats.) I seem to be OK for about a day before it kicks in now. The challenge is that we have been planing to be staying here for most of 2 weeks. Please pray for us -- wisdom in knowing what to do, protection from it getting worse, and even healing.

Thanks so much!

Steve.