Karen Reed

Mission Canada Worker in 
Vancouver's Commercial Drive Neighbourhood

Mission Canada is about living with the lifestyle, mindset, and practices of a missionary right here, at home, in our nation. All Christians are 'sent out' as agents of God's redemption in their spheres of influence and neighbourhoods. Strategically sending urban missionaries to move into unreached neighbourhoods is one of many ways that the message of the gospel is most effectively brought into the heart of Canada's cities.

I am one of these missionaries. I have strategically moved into an unreached neighbourhood in East Vancouver and I seek to establish a godly presence here. My outreach strategy is not an attitude of  "come to me and hear the Gospel", but rather, "I will come and live among you so that we can discover together how the Good News can impact all of our lives." My home, The Parker House, is a community home where I live with several others who are commited to living a life that is marked by offering radical hospitality to newfound friends. Our goal is to find  points of connection with others in the community through every part of our lives. We do not seek to build superficial relationships, but to create a profound sense of belonging, a mandate that has proved to be surprisingly easy, as I have seen ordinary gestures become extraordinary in the shared life that we live. For example,  I am constantly amazed at the spiritual power of a simple meal that is shared with a group of diverse people in an atmosphere where Jesus is acknowledged as both guest and host. During these meals, we regularly discover the depth of hunger that people have to taste the radical love of God that is shown through our hospitality, acceptance, and love– the essence of the gospel! This way, we are able to share the gospel through our actions, not just through our words.

Karen Reed is a Mission Canada Worker to Vancouver's Commercial Drive neighbourhood.

Donate Now