President's Blog

it was as early as 1930 that Stanley Wellington came from Ontario to Noranda, Quebec to establish an English-language ministry in that town. Another work was started in Val-d’Or. “These early pioneers immediately recognized the need for a French-language work in northwestern Quebec. The mining communities were booming and people were moving into the area. In 1937, God sent Wilfrid and Edna Wellington to Val-d’Or to begin a ministry among the francophone population. Wild began churches in Malartic and La Sarre as well, and later branched out into northeastern Ontario. At 70 years of age, he went overseas to plant a church in France. Such was the spirit of the early missionary pioneers to the region: Yvon and Marion Hurtubise, Murray and Gerogia Heron, Lorne and Margaraet Heron and others. There was open persecution. Missionaries were arrested and Bibles were burned.” They persevered and the Gospel took root, spreading from the northwest to the rest of Quebec.

The Story of Ernie and Betty Keefe

In our Fellowship history, “A Glorious Fellowship of Churches’ (p 116) the author tells the story of one of our Fellowship pioneers, Ernie and Betty Keefe. The Keefes would become good friends of my wife and I years later while on a Holy Land tour. In Ernies early ministry in the 1950’s he visited a retired farming couple, Mr and Mrs Octave Tellier. He gave them a Bibles and visited a few times, but was not sure if they enjoyed his cisits because they were lonely or hungry for the Word. Mr Tellier at 72 years old asked his daughter if she had seen the young man with the Bibles in town. He hadn’t seen Ernie for a few months. He told his daughter, “Our church does not teach us the way to heaven but this young man seemed to have the answer. I fear that he has gone to another city to give his Bibles and we will die without knowing the way to heaven.”

Ernie revisited the Tellier’s and led Mr and Mrs Tellier to Christ as well as their daughter and son-in-law. After the pioneer days of outreach in NW Quebec, the French Mission was established in 1958. From 1958-2024 over a hundred churches were planted throughout Quebec. The French Mission was retired on December 31, 2024 as the French AEBEQ Region took up the responsibility to plant churches in one of the most spiritually needy places on the planet. Only 0.8% of French Canadians self-identify as evangelical Christians.

Church Planting in Quebec from 2015-2024

From 2025-2024 our AEBEQ Region has planted nine churches with the help of Fellowship churches and donors across the country. Fellowship National Francophone Ministries still supports our AEBEQ Region in their church planting efforts by brokering “7x7=1” [partnerships with FEBC churches and donors across Canada. Today there are 71 established partnerships supporting church planting in Quebec. The formula is simple. Its bad math but a great formula to plant churches.

7x7=1 or seven churches/donors committing to support for seven years equals one new church plant established

How to get involved in Church Planting in Quebec

1. Virtual Quebec Vision Tour (March 5, 2025 @ 1-2:45pm EST)

Join us for a virtual Zoom QVT on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 @ 1-2:45pm EST. Our hosts, Hugo Ethier (Fellowship Francophone Coordinator) and President Steve Jones will introduce you to the Quebec Church plant opportunity, tell you how to become involved and introduce you to a few AEBEQ Church Planters. You’ll learn of a few current church plants needing prayer and financial support along with info on the next steps. All in less than two hours. 

If interested, please contact Hugo Ethier at hethier@fellowship.ca to attend on March 5, 2025.

2. The Quebec Experience (October 14-18, 2025)

The Quebec Experience begins at a hotel news the Montreal Trudeau International Airport. WE travel to Quebec City and spend two days in Old Quebec before returning to Montreal for two days.

This guided tour will be characterized by great fellowship with other leadership couples, cultural discovery, relaxation and a deepening understanding of Quebec’s spiritual reality. Historical vignettes will be shared at various points during the tour, as well as presentations of church planting and church replant projects. Our guests will be asked to consider becoming a partner, as part of The Fellowship’s 7x7=1 formula: 7 partners for 7 years equal one church plant.

The cost for hotel accomodations and breakfasts, lunches in restaurants or hosting churches, along with in-province travel expenses is $2000 per couple ($1500 for an individual). Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from Montreal, as well as their own dinners.

Contact Hugo Ethier to register ASAP, as spaces are limited: hethier@fellowship.ca

If you’re interested in more info or attending this ‘working-vacation’; please contact the Fellowship Francophone Coordinator, Hugo Ethier soon.