MISSION CANADA CAMPUS APPRENTICE
Ministry Location: Montreal, QC
Ministry Focus: Campus Ministry
Montreal is a city of approximately 1.8 million people, and less than 1% are followers of Jesus. The need is great, and Laura will be joining David Ritz to work among the university, college and CEGEP (pre-university) students of Montreal. A main arm of this ministry is Red Frogs, a ministry that battles the binge-drinking culture of campus parties and provides practical harm reduction, such as hydration stations, calling Ubers/taxis, and even calling ambulances if needed. These encounters lead to gospel sharing opportunities and relationships!
Laura was born in the small country of Estonia and moved with her family to Canada in 2005. She grew up in a Christian home and was even part of ministry teams from the age of eight, ministering across Ontario through creative arts and prayer services. Laura remembers from a young age receiving prophecies of becoming a missionary, but never thought much of it at the time. After high school, Laura began her post-secondary studies at Master's College and Seminary where God began reminding her of these prophecies and revealing to her visions of working to reach those outside of the reach of the Church. As part of her degree, Laura worked in the urban core with Cal and Chrissy Krahn, who are Mission Canada workers, serving at shelters and food banks, and serving at Red Frogs events where she met David.
Laura not only fell in love with the beautiful city of Montreal, but with the people as well. With less than 1% of people following Jesus, the need is great, and God broke Laura's heart for university students caught up in the binge-drinking culture. Montreal is home to over 250,000 post-secondary students and the Montreal Red Frogs team was present at approximately 60 events, even having to turn down events due to its full schedule.
The young adult age is a time of great transition in a person's life and is the time where most Christian youth leave the faith. For non-believers, it is a time of gaining independence and searching for personal beliefs separate from how they were raised. Montreal students are hungry for a spiritual connection and are curious about this Jesus who sends strangers into parties to serve them water and care for them. They are curious of this deep love that would send our team to love them in such an environment. Laura will not only be serving at these university parties, but also pioneering a discipleship plan to strategically connect with the students she encounters at parties and pour the love of Jesus into their lives, working to connect them to a healthy church body. God is moving in Montreal and Laura is excited to be joining in to where God is already working and moving.
