Our Journey —Looking back and looking forward

Linda & Gene Wilson

 While teaching in Florida, the Wilsons answered the call of God to begin a pioneer work in Quebec, Canada. By God's grace, they started a vibrant church in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Seven years later in 1987, the new church called its first pastor. They then moved to Montreal to lead a church planting team. By 1999, the team had started a ministry center and multi-ethnic church that had, at one time, 14 nationalities. ReachGlobal leaders asked them to serve as church planting coaches for Latin America which they did from 2000-2009, working in 10 different Latino countries, training and coaching church planters.

Teaching Church Planting Principles to Sudanese

Gene became the leader of a Global Training team for church planters all over the world in 2000. He is currently working primarily with Asian church planters and missionaries, but has equipped leaders in about 50 countries including Lebanon, Egypt, Europe, Liberia and the Congo. As the Director of Church Planting, he leads a team of missionaries catalysts that train and coach church planters all over the world. 

“We love meeting brothers and sisters around the world and see how we can develop, empower and encourage them to multiply disciples and churches for Jesus. They inspire us and teach us as well. This has been our life ministry and it’s a privilege to come alongside ordinary Christians with extraordinary faith and sacrificial service.” –Gene 

Linda blessing sisters in Singapore

Linda travels with Gene several times a year, and when home, she has a James 1:27 compassion ministry to widows and women alone. In January 2020, Linda also used her English as a Second Language training, and M.Ed.in curriculum development in a new ministry in Cuba. She has also ministered to women involved in church planting in Venezuela, Czech Republic, Singapore, Malta, and other places.

They have two married daughters and 4 grand-children. Gene has contributed two published books to serve the cause of healthy church multiplication. The vision they share with the team is to see 100 indigenous church planting catalysts leading sustainable church planting efforts by 2025. Their life verse has been:

“And who is equal to such a task?  …Such confidence is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of the new covenant…” (2 Corinthians 2:16, 3:4-6)

Team working with Nepalese catalysts

They pivoted to online training and coaching to equip Asian church planting catalysts (indigenous regional leaders) during the Covid pandemic. Those catalysts are training a whole new generation of church planters! Since resuming travel, the team has also trained church planting catalysts for Bangladesh and Nepal. 

New discipleship groups in Rwanda

A couple African catalysts have recently helped us start disciple-making groups and new churches in Rwanda. The faith adventure continues! Please pray for wisdom to continue to raise up church planting catalysts who will equip more workers to multiply healthy churches. Thank you for your support!

For more information about their work and the resources they offer, visit:

www.churchplantingcatalyst.com or www.globalchurchplanting.net

 

Or email: gene.wilson@efca.org