{"id":7607,"date":"2019-11-21T18:10:38","date_gmt":"2019-11-21T22:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/?p=7607"},"modified":"2019-11-21T18:10:57","modified_gmt":"2019-11-21T22:10:57","slug":"all-roads-lead-to-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/blog\/all-roads-lead-to-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"All roads lead to Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”30″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”center” phone_text_alignment=”center” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Meetings that lead to serve in Qu\u00e9bec<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

From Durkeetown Road to Plateau Mont-Royal<\/h6>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Zachary Prater is a pastor\u2019s kid. He is the son of the pastor of Durkeetown Baptist Church, who has been pastoring there for 28 years, which is also Zachary\u2019s age. It is a small Church in a small rural village upstate New York.<\/p>\n

This boy was destined to hear people ask him if he would follow in his father\u2019s footsteps. He had not considered this option until Donald Rodier, pastor in Saint-Hyacinthe, and Doug Wilbur, SEMBEQ ambassador to the USA at the time, came to present SEMBEQ to his Church. Donald took an interest to Zac, who was only 13 or 14 at the time, and asked him the infamous question: \u201cHave you ever thought about becoming a pastor? If not, why?\u201d For the first time, this question made its way to his heart. It was following this conversation that he decided to be discipled by the associate pastor in his Church and started to serve in the worship ministry.<\/p>\n

A few years later, during Fran\u00e7ois Turcotte\u2019s visit, Fran\u00e7ois welcomed him by saying: \u201cSo I hear you are coming to Qu\u00e9bec?\u201d He was touched when he heard about the great need of ministry workers in the belle province, and felt God\u2019s call. Even more so when he realized that Montr\u00e9al was only a three and a half hours drive from home! After visiting for a few days at Nicholas Cotnoir\u2019s house, pastor of the \u00c9glise Baptiste \u00c9vang\u00e9lique Emmanuel in Pierrefonds, he was introduced to Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s reality and decided to enroll in the language school at Parole de Vie in Sherbrooke for the 2011-2012 school year. Amazed by his rapid progress in learning French and surprising results of the aptitude test taken only seven months later, his teacher concluded that God\u2019s will must be for him to serve in Qu\u00e9bec!<\/p>\n

He was married a few months later to a young woman who shared his interest for serving in Qu\u00e9bec. They moved to the Rosemont neighborhood, in the heart of Montr\u00e9al, not too far from the Plateau Mont-Royal Church. This predominantly French-speaking area allowed them to be immersed in the language of Moli\u00e8re that is so dear to them.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Why Qu\u00e9bec and not a faraway land?<\/h6>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Zachary claims that he came to Qu\u00e9bec because he received God\u2019s call to come here. \u201cGod\u2019s call to become a missionary is irresistible, much like God\u2019s grace. I feel his sovereignty and his direction. God accomplishes his mission through our lives.\u201d He is convinced that the place of mission must not depend upon our perception of needs. He declares that he came to Qu\u00e9bec free of preconceived ideas, heart open and ready to serve and fill the need.<\/p>\n

The Plateau Mont-Royal Church welcomed them with their arms open. Aside certain procedural immigration problems, the couple\u2019s adaptation to their new life went very well, thanks to the warm welcome from their new family, the Church, who made sure that they lacked for nothing and showered them with love, especially since the birth of their daughter over a year ago. Zac feels that it is important for one\u2019s testimony to maintain a good attitude and joy when facing difficulties.<\/p>\n

His musical talents were rapidly put to good use. Very much involved in the worship ministry, coached by Christian Frappier, he is learning that it is so much more than singing our favorite songs before the sermon: \u201cWe are ministering to hearts through music and our worship time.\u201d Relationship-oriented, Zac is also involved with the young men in the Church. \u201cCulture exerts a strong pressure on youth with regards to what they will do with their life. They need a solid foundation to support these crushing social pressures. Especially in Montr\u00e9al, in a particularly secular and inclusive context, where it is difficult to live one\u2019s faith and stand firm in Christ.\u201d He wants to help them live a life centered on God, discover how to serve him and achieve victory over sin.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

\u201cWhy would you do that?\u201d<\/h6>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When someone asks him what he is doing here, he answers that he is a missionary. Elsewhere in the world, people would say: \u201cOh, that\u2019s great!\u201d But here, people exclaim in disbelief: \u201cWhy would you do that?\u201d This reality of a secular society that has thrown the baby out with the bathwater keeps Zachary on his toes and ready to share his faith with conviction at any time and any place. \u201cIt\u2019s important to build relationships and to get to know non-believers. If we love them, we gain the right to enter into their lives and influence them.\u201d In his opinion, the Church must take its place within the culture. He adds: \u201cThese days, it would take a miracle for people to take the Church seriously. If we want to bring the message of the gospel to the city, it must see us as a family and a community.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”]
<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”80″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Sometimes, we believe that God calls “others” to become missionaries. The truth is that we are all missionaries called by God to make disciples.<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

You too! So, why not consider the mission in Quebec? Quebeckers are among the least reached communities in North America. If you would like to visit our beautiful province and come to serve, contact us<\/a>.<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” bg_image=”7366″ bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” parallax_bg=”true” parallax_bg_speed=”medium” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”left-right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][vc_column centered_text=”true” column_padding=”padding-8-percent” column_padding_position=”top-bottom” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”GIVE MISSIONARIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO QU\u00c9BEC AND DISCOVER THEIR CALLING.” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23ffe933″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simplyk.io%2Fdonation%2F5c9c375304df6a0017a1df7e|title:Donner|target:%20_blank|” css=”.vc_custom_1574374174022{padding-top: 10% !important;}”]
<\/div><\/div>[nectar_btn size=”jumbo” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” el_class=”center” url=”https:\/\/www.simplyk.io\/donation\/5c9c375304df6a0017a1df7e” text=”GIVE NOW”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”30″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_position=”right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”center” phone_text_alignment=”center” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text] Meetings that lead…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7607","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-planting"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7607"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7607\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7625,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7607\/revisions\/7625"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}