Village Missions History

Bob and Margaret Rayburn served as District Representatives early in our history. They were based in the United States, but served Canadian fields as well.

The Forward Again campaign sought to position Village Missions of Canada to not only stop churches from closing, but to revitalize churches with new missionaries. It used the following goals: Village Missions will train, equip and release 10 new missionaries within two years. Village Missions will be able to give current Village…

Joe & Laura Letourneau become interns at Gold River, BC, and start the two-year process of taking the Contenders Discipleship Initiative (CDI) courses.

Contenders Discipleship Initiative (CDI) is launched as a two-year program offered by Village Missions to equip Christians for ministry within their local church and to prepare those who are called for full-time ministry as missionary pastors.

Henry and Marilyn Vandermeer were appointed to fill the position of Western Canada District Representatives.

The National Board of United States and Canada selected Rev. Brian Wechsler, as the new Executive Direct of Village Missions and he began his duties in November 2000. He and his wife Carole had been Village Missionaries since 1983, serving first in Iowa and then in Colorado. Rev. Wechsler outlined…

Village Missions continued to undergo a time of transition in many ways. To move Village Missions from a Founder/Director to a Chief Executive Officer is no small task and it was accomplished by the gracious, patience of Dr. Jack Canady. Dr. Canady was given a sabbatical in July of 1999…

The 50th Jubilee Anniversary of Village Missions was celebrated in Estes Park, CO in 1998, with Dr. Howard Hendricks and Dr Richard Swenson as keynote speakers. Past and present Village Missionaries from Canada and the United States attended.

Bill & Lorna Powell stepped into the District Representative role. They served Village Missions churches in Eastern Canada.