Personal Email: [email protected]
Work Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 403 519 3210
Facebook/Instagram: John Paetkau
Give Online: Canada: send.org/canada/give-from-canada
USA: send.org/give/missionaries/paetkau
JULY 24, 2025 UPDATE
We will be on the road for the next 10-12 days, meeting with supporters, new missionary candidates, and individuals who are seeking to know more about missions.
We will also have the joy of attending a tri-annual family reunion on John's mom's side in Oregon - haven't seen them for 5-7 years due to covid etc. John will be bringing the message at the morning service that weekend.
Part of the trip is also connecting with Ukrainian friends from Sumy who live in eastern Washington.
Prayer items:
- safe travels - we have a lot of miles to cover
- good listening skills - that we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading as we connect, listen and share.
- wisdom as we walk alongside those who are seeking what part God would have them to do in cross cultural ministry
- that God would raise up new supporters to join our financial ministry team
- energy/health - we aren't as young as we used to be.
Thank you for standing with us
Love
John & Leanne
JULY 10, 2025 UPDATE
Good morning
This past weekend while a multi church baptism was taking place in Sumy, Sumy Grace Camp was hit by three rockets. The camp is only a few miles from the border with Russia and was targeted.
Sumy Grace Camp is a place very near and dear to our hearts. This was a huge part of our ministry while in Ukraine, and it has ministered to thousands over the years.
The rockets destroyed two cabins, the old chapel and damaged the kitchen and other buildings. They have not held camp there during the war due to its proximity to the border and possible shelling, thus there weren't any kids on site. Pray for those who are there, cleaning up and dealing with the senselessness of it all.
Ministry continues in the midst of all that is taking place. These past two weeks Sumy Grace Church has held a day camp on the church site for children (last week) and teens (this week).
Pray for strength, wisdom and hope for our brothers and sisters who are serving in a very challenging place and in very challenging times.
Thanks
John & Leanne
John：我在亚省北部的一个基督教家庭长大，年幼时就成为了一名基督徒，当我18岁的时候，神就掌管了我的生命，并呼召我事奉祂，我计划成为一名青年牧师，向加拿大的年轻人传福音。 当我在 Briercrest 的第二年，上帝透过一位来自西班牙的老宣教士的见证来呼召我到海外事奉。 11年后，在1997年12月4日，在担任助理牧师7年后，太太Leanne、我的两个小女儿和我登上了一架飞往乌克兰的飞机。 我们在那里事奉了 17 年，并于 2014 年带着我们的三个孩子回来，引领他们进入人生的下一个阶段。
Leanne: 我出生在沙省Swift Current的一个牧师家庭，在五岁时就接受了耶稣作为我的个人救主。 中学毕业𢓭，我去了Briercrest 圣经学院四年，在这里我遇到了John，这是一个很奇妙的祝福，毕业后他成为我的丈夫。我同样地在Briercrest一年级时接触宣教，当时有一位宣教士用彼得下船在水面上行走的圣经故事向我们发出挑战，彼得面对他的恐惧，同样，我也要离开船去面对我所有恐惧的挑战。当时我最害怕的是，假如我把一切奉献给主，祂把我送到非洲，我会很害怕，因为非洲有蛇和蜘蛛。 John和我结婚了，我们最终在当地教会事奉主七年，不仅是为了累积经验，也是为了还清学生贷款。 John和我很兴奋能够接到前往乌克兰事奉的电话，我们在那里事奉并养育了我们的家庭 十七 年。
我们一起为乌克兰东北部的乌克兰信徒事奉，指导和培训领袖、进行门训、帮助他们进行儿童和青少年事工、营会、并透过社区建立友谊来传福音。 直到 2013 年，我们可以看到我们成为「我们事工的祖父母」。因为我们已经培训了新的领导人来接替我们的岗位。因此，我们最终搬回加拿大，与我们的孩子一起过渡，并期待有朝一日搬回海外，到主呼召我们去为祂作工的地方。我们仍然透过各种方式参与乌克兰的事工（在2022年战争升级之前，我们每年夏天都会带领团队到那边事奉），现在我们从远方继续摆上。
我目前在 Send International 的角色
John-担任加拿大西部宣教导师和缅省、沙省、亚省和卑斯省 SEND的代表。事奉这四个省份以下岗位：联络资询宣教事务；去圣经学院探访和授课；代表SEND在教会和会议上讲道；辅导和协助预备出工场的新宣教士；以及筹组个人和短宣队。
Leanne - 有两个主要角色。 作为兼职家庭护理专业人员，并配合John一起担任上述的职务。 她还在实体和线上的妇女事工𥚃事奉。
有关 SEND:
SEND International是一个国际宣教机构，由来自12个以上护照国家的成员，在全球21个以上的国家事奉。 SEND寻找在没有建立教会的地方植堂，并特别关注服事那些未得之民。 我们的重点是透过文化、需求、机会和地点等不同的宣教平台来植堂和作门徒训练。