The Seventh-day Adventist Church – Quebec Conference, in collaboration with the Institute of World Mission, is pleased to invite you to the first edition of a training weekend on cultural diversity May 17-19 at the Holiday Inn Longueuil (900 Rue Saint-Charles E, Longueuil, QC J4H 3Y2)
The Institute of World Mission is the missionary training arm of the General Conference Secretariat. Through mission institutes, reintegration retreats, online mission courses and other types of training, they design learning curricula to help, among other things, grow spiritually, reason like a missionary and serve like Christ. Their mission is in anticipation of Jesus’ soon return, to (1) cultivate mission vision, (2) prepare cross-cultural workers, and (3) nurture missionary witness for effective service in God’s harvest.
Come and learn how to better share the gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people under the guidance of a seasoned team, and become missionaries in your own community!
About the event
About the presenters
About the workshops
About the event
The Seventh-day Adventist Church – Quebec Federation, in collaboration with the Institute of World Mission, is pleased to invite you to the first edition of a training weekend on cultural diversity.
The province of Quebec, in addition to being a vast territory, is a highly diverse cultural pool in which generations with different perspectives interact.
Join us and grow your missionary spirit!
About the presenters
Ronald Kuhn, MSA | Associate Director
Ron’s cross-cultural journey started when he interrupted his studies at the Seminary in 1985/1986 and ventured to Africa as a volunteer student, serving at the Adventist University in Rwanda and as project director for Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Sudan during the famine that affected the horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan). After one year in Sudan, Ron returned to Brazil to finish his studies. There he met Jacqueline, who would eventually follow him to serve in some of the most demanding situations on the planet at the time.
Two months after their graduation in 1988, Ron and Jackie left for Africa, where they first served in Mozambique and then were asked to commence the work of ADRA in Angola. At the time, these two countries were suffering from the effects of more than 10 years of civil war. During their time in Angola, Ron and Jackie witnessed the first peace agreement. Ron was out of the country when the rebels later lost the election and the war began again. Jackie had to be evacuated after three days of sleeping under their stairs because of the heavy bombing around their home. That circumstance resulted in a call to return to Sudan for the second time. While waiting for a visa to enter Sudan, they helped with the crisis in Somalia for a few months. After Sudan, they moved on to Bolivia, Peru, ADRA South American Division in Brazil, ADRA Asia Regional Office in Thailand (where Ron was regional director during the devastating tsunami of 2004), and ADRA Canada. During his term in Brazil, Ron also served as the Global Mission Coordinator for the South American Division.
Ron has extensive experience in leadership and management of relief and development projects and has been working for IWM since 2012. Jackie works as an Interdivision Employee Specialist with International Personnel Resources and Services (IPRS) at the General Conference. They have two daughters, Caroline and Daniele.
Enid Harris, BS, RN | Assistant Director
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Enid developed a great interest and love for missions during her childhood years. She dreamed of someday becoming a real missionary. Her 19 years of cross-cultural mission experience began when God fulfilled that childhood dream with an invitation to work at the Malamulo-Blantyre Clinic (Adventist Health Center) in Blantyre, Malawi, where her initial two-year term turned into seven years.
Following her work in Malawi, Enid studied and graduated from Andrews University in Michigan, where she met her husband, Mike, an ordained pastor. It was while pastoring in the Central California Conference that the family accepted an invitation to serve at Bethel College in the former Transkei, now Eastern Cape, South Africa. They served there for 12 plus years. In South Africa, Enid multitasked as campus nurse while teaching nutrition to theology students and health education in the Secondary Teacher Diploma program. Apart from her regular job, she homeschooled their two sons, Matthew and Joel, along with several other missionary kids. Later she served as registrar for the Griggs University/Bethel College Campus program.
Church life has always been a major feature in Enid’s life. She also served in various departments such as Children’s Sabbath School, Pathfinders, Adventurers and Women’s Ministries.
Enid joined the Institute of World Mission in October 2000, where she is currently working as assistant director. She manages logistics for Mission Institutes, Re-entry, and other related programs and activities. She also coordinates IWM children’s programs. One of her many joys of serving missionaries is teaching missionary kids how to live and thrive in a culture other than their own.
Millie Castillo, MSA | Associate Director
Millie grew up as a CCK (Cross-Culture Kid), has been a missionary for 18 years, and has lived in seven different countries, much of that time working for ADRA. Having raised two TCKs (Third Culture Kids), Millie is familiar with the joys and challenges of today’s global citizens.
Her passion for helping young people navigate through their formative years has manifested in a variety of ways: as a trained music teacher utilizing music to reach out to young ones and involve them in ministry and as a missionary organizing youth groups for outreach and summer camps. Prior to accepting the position of education and communication coordinator for the Institute of World Mission, she worked for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in the Secretarial Department and as Deferred Mission Appointee Coordinator.
Millie and her husband, Edgar, now reside in Maryland, along with one of their two young adult daughters. Her hobbies include taking care of her pets, traveling, reading, music and spending time with friends.
Gabriella Iannella, MPH | Education & Communication Coordinator
Gabi is our new education & communication coordinator and teen teacher. She and her husband Mario have three young adult children and have served in Angola, Belgium, Spain, France, and the US for 20 years. Gabi likes cooking, hiking, reading, biking, and crafting.
About the workshops
The Institute of World Mission’s program focuses on five objectives. They strive to equip missionaries to, among other things, think biblically and reason like a missionary.
At each training session, missionaries discover a variety of resources, tools and activities that develop skills and attitudes. These activities are designed to foster a lifelong journey of continuous growth. Participants also have the opportunity to develop lasting friendships and support networks with other missionaries from around the world.
Over the course of the weekend, participants will be offered the following workshops:
- “Culture and You” Pastors and church leaders must deeply understand the complex nature of diverse cultural perspectives, values, and practices. This presentation will focus on equipping pastors and church leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools to navigate cultural complexities and to foster inclusive, thriving church communities.
- “Values in Light of God’s Word” In this presentation, we will examine the foundational principles underpinning diverse cultures through biblical teachings. Participants will engage in dynamic discussions, interactive exercises, and reflective activities to foster a deeper understanding of how cultural values intertwine with spiritual insights.
- “Conflict Resolution and Multicultural Relationship Building” Conflict is all around us and is almost unavoidable. We even experience conflict in our churches. This workshop aims to equip church members with practical tools and strategies for constructively addressing conflict based on biblical models. Participants will engage in discussion and hands-on activities while learning important conflict-resolution skills.
- ““Leading Multicultural Churches” Every pastor wants their church to grow, flourish and thrive. This workshop will equip church leaders with the knowledge, skills, and insights necessary to lead thriving multicultural congregations. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and collaborative exercises, participants will share experiences and co-create practical solutions.