The Board of Directors of Church Army is delighted to announce the appointment of Rev Martin Morgan as National Director of Church Army, Australia. Martin will commence officially on February 7th but will be joining us for much of the National Conference, January 18-22, including the Endorsement Presentation service at St John’s Parramatta on January 21st at 3:00 PM.

Martin came to Christ as a teenager in Lae, Papua New Guinea. After a short career as a High School teacher of English and History, he completed his theological studies as an independent student at Moore Theological College. He comes to Church Army from a strong background in evangelism and church planting, initially establishing independent churches in country New South Wales, before spending the last 7 years at Rouse Hill, first as a stipendiary non-ordained worker, being ordained as a minister of the Anglican Church in 2006.

He has a passion to see those beyond the reach of more traditional churches hear and respond to the message of the transforming hope we have in Jesus. He is married to Catherine and they have three children – Caleb (16), Bronte (14) and Isaac (11).

We’re planning an induction service in the first quarter of 2011, and will announce the date and venue once plans are finalised.

Debora Kantor, Andrea Taylor, Winnie Ollerhead, Catherine Bonham and Eden McAuley

On April 26, 2010 at 7pm, 400+ people gathered in Stone Church (Saint John NB) for our Commissioning Service. It was an incredible holy night as five (5) individuals committed their lives to service and the ministry of evangelism.  Catherine Bonham (Milton ON), Debora Kantor (Cambridge-Narrows NB), Eden McAuley (Riverview NB), Winnie Ollerhead (Torbay NL) and Andrea Taylor (Jamaica) were commissioned as Evangelists and licensed with Threshold Ministries.  They will be spreading out across North America to be witnesses for Christ and serve the people He has called them to.

Catherine and her husband, Gord, will be remaining in Saint John as we begins ministering in the uptown area of Saint John NB through Stone Church.  Her ministry will focus on community outreach.  Eden, with his wife Carolyn, will continue ministering in Moncton NB; and begin planting a ministry base to serve the disenfranchised men and woman in the downtown area.  Andrea Taylor will return to Jamaica and serve as a Chaplain; while Winnie and Debora continue in a period of discernment for their place of ministry.

The evening involved many local friends and ministry partners.  Hilary Branch and Stephanie Mainville led worship while Charles Price (People’s Church, Toronto ON) was the preacher.  Charles delivered a stirring message that called and challenged all those present to reconsider our Call.  “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.  I am the God of your father.” (Exodus 3:5-6)

May we continue to pray for these individuals are released into the mission field.

To listen to Charles Price’s message, click here.

Same Mission, New Brand

March 24, 2010 (Saint John NB) – Thankful for its 81 year history in Canada, the Church Army in Canada will be operating as Threshold Ministries as of May 1, 2010.  This name change comes after many years of discernment and discussion with staff and supporters.  It became clear that in this new millennium the historic name ‘Church Army’ created more barriers than bridges. The mandate for Threshold Ministries will continue to be “helping bring people, from all walks of life, into a living relationship with Jesus Christ and with His people.” Threshold represents for us a place of new beginnings both for our community of evangelist but more importantly for those who put their trust in Jesus as a result of our ministry. Threshold is the place of entrance into the Kingdom of God and a place of exit into the world in mission.

We have discovered over the years that key to any genuine evangelism is relationship building. An authentic love for people is crucial, just as Jesus loved people.  In order to have such opportunities, there can be no unnecessary walls or obstacles to relationships and opportunities to share our faith with others.  This ministry is meant to be focused on inviting others to know they are welcome, wanted, needed and loved by Jesus.  We do not exist for ourselves.  This is not a club.  There can be no wall between the message of Jesus and the people.

Over the course of the last number of years, we have tried to examine any ways we may have constructed or accepted barriers that are preventing people from hearing the message we long to share. It is has been a challenging soul-searching exercise. But it is essential to listen if we are truly serious about being effective in sharing our faith in the 21st century.

Our new name, Threshold Ministries, celebrates this mission journey with our Lord!  Our passion for the Great Commission and the Great Commandment remains paramount. We believe that the renaming will actually build bridges of opportunity for mission and evangelism.  To position ourselves to reach this culture we have agreed that now is the time for a 21st century name.

Globally, Church Army dates back to 1882 and began as a response to minister to those living in the slums of London UK.  The official work in Canada began in 1929 based, initially, in Toronto. Today the Church Army has provided the church with trained evangelists, a God-given calling, founded on the Scriptures.