June 28, 2010

CAMBRIDGE and DORCHESTER, ON — Arab World Ministries Canada and Pioneers Canada announced today their joint intention to merge organizations.

Founded in 1881, Arab World Ministries (AWM Canada Online) is an evangelical, international and interdenominational mission with a focus of making disciples and establishing churches among Muslims of the Arab world wherever they reside. “We have had 130 years of blessed ministry," states Amal Gendi, Executive Director of AWM Canada. More than 400 AWM personnel of 30-plus nationalities serve in North Africa, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula and major cities in Europe and North America.

The two organizations will combine Canadian operations and are working to finalize the merger by September 30, 2010. AWM's Cambridge-based Canadian office will be merged into Pioneers' Canadian office in Dorchester this summer. Both Pioneers and Arab World Ministries have operations in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Europe, and elsewhere that are engaged in planning and preparations related to this merger. Once the merger is complete, AWM's ministries and programs will continue within the greater organizational structure of Pioneers.

"With the challenge of a plentiful harvest, few workers and lack of capacity, AWM leadership was praying for a better future either through reinvention or through amalgamation with a sister mission agency. God in His faithfulness brought Pioneers onto AWM's path. The increased capacity through integration with Pioneers Canada makes reaching a greater number of Muslims from the Arab world with the Gospel a reality," states Amal Gendi.

Pioneers was co-founded in 1979 by Ted Fletcher, former national sales manager for The Wall Street Journal and currently has bases in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. An evangelical, interdenominational mission with 2,000 members serving on 191 teams in 92 countries, Pioneers mobilizes teams to glorify God among unreached people groups by initiating church-planting movements in partnership with local churches.

"This merger is an answer to prayer," states Donnie Scearce, Executive Director of Pioneers Canada. "Church planting among unreached peoples, those with little or no access to the Gospel, is our core mission and we have prayed for years for more workers in the Arab world. This is a unique opportunity to learn and gain from Arab World Ministries' experience. Together, we are looking to the future with prayerful expectation for all God intends for His Kingdom purposes to be accomplished."