|
This Month in Missions: Steve & Jane Wheeler |
|
|
|
|
|
Patience and Persistence Pay Off in Montreal
By Jeanne Allen
Steve & Jane Wheeler |
Steve and Jane Wheeler are church planting,
leadership, and coaching missionaries in metro
Montreal, Quebec, where only 0.6 percent of the
population is evangelical, similar to countries in
the 10/40 window. Montreal is the strategic
doorway to reaching the French Canadian
Que’be’cois people group, who are challenged
by humanistic cultural trends, the break-up of the
family, and despair.
Steve grew up in California and formed an early
interest in chemistry. He became a Christian in
graduate school and immediately opened his
heart to missions. Jane grew up in north Georgia.
Her father was a lay representative for Wycliffe
Bible translators, whereby she met and nurtured
an interest in missionaries. In high school, she
sensed God calling her to missions.
Following a college degree in Biblical Education,
Jane worked for eight years as a TEAM missionary
in church planting and as the field office secretary
in France before returning to the TEAM home office
in Wheaton, Illinois. At the same time, Steve had
accepted a one-year teaching term at Wheaton
College. Steve and Jane met at the
Wheaton Bible Church and were
married 17 months later in January
1981.
Steve and Jane moved to Minnesota
following their marriage when Steve
accepted a position teaching
chemistry at Bethel College. Their
daughter Sarah was born prematurely
at 2 lb. 15 oz. on August 1, 1983.
She survived her early start to life and
graduated with a B.S. in French from
St. Cloud State in 2005 and will finish
an M.A. in Intercultural Studies in the
spring of 2007. She also plans to go to
the mission field. Her parents state
that she speaks French “like a native.”
Steve and Jane sensed a call to missions in August
1986 following a presentation at their church from a
group of missionary candidates. They were accepted
to the EFC Mission in February 1987. Following
additional mission, leadership, and language training,
they moved to Montreal in July 1989. They reside in
an apartment in suburban Montreal.
The mission field in Montreal has not been easy.
Growth has been slow, with frustrations and setbacks
in ministry. They trust the Scriptures which illustrate
that God often uses adversity in life to accomplish His
greatest work of spiritual transformation. Steve and
Jane have learned patience and persistence. They
have helped establish a native Ahuntsic church and
have been training and mentoring leaders. The plan is
for the American missionaries to delegate more roles
to the new church leaders and for the new church to
soon be functioning on its own. This change may lead
to a transition in roles for Steve and Jane in the future.
Steve and Jane have recently completed a 3-year
internship with a man who has accepted a full-time
pastorate. He also plans to go into church planting.
The Wheelers have been faithful in running English
camps that have been successful with the youth.
Follow-up of those attending these camps have
afforded opportunities for youth to funnel into regular
church activities. The Wheelers are actively involved
in conferences, in relational church planting, and core
group development in Quebec.
Sarah plans to work after her graduation this spring
in order to pay off school debt as she seeks God’s
plans for her future. Steve and Jane will be traveling
to visit family and supporting churches until June of
this year.
|
Their field address and contact information:
Steve and Jane Wheeler and daughter Sarah
448 15e rue, Laval, QC.
H7N1L7 Canada
Home: (450) 668-6125
Fax: (450) 668-6125
Email: steve.wheeler@ efca.org
EFCA International Mission
(soon to be ReachGlobal)
901 East 78th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55420-1300
(612) 854-1300
Contact person: Gary Hunter
|
 |
 |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 April 2007 )
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed