A NEW WORLD
ORDER
The world has become more dangerous and more divided. We no longer live in the same rule-based international order that guaranteed peace and prosperity since the Second World War.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent keynote at the World Economic Forum in Davos was widely praised as a cri de coeur—a battle cry for Canada to respond and lead decisively in a ruptured world. He argued that there is a unique opportunity for Canada to help shape this new era by leaning into our specific strengths.
For the Apostle Paul, the Roman Empire was the "New World Order" of his time. It was a world of advanced infrastructure and complex laws. As a citizen of Rome and a diaspora Jew, Paul leveraged his strategic Roman citizenship to travel along the Empire's established roads and maritime routes, navigating through the numerous cultures and religions of former empires.
Paul understood his rights and exercised them effectively to transform the pagan world for Christ. He invoked his citizenship (Acts 16:37; 22:25) not for personal gain, but to protect the Gospel mission and hold authorities accountable. He navigated the legal systems of his day to gain access to Caesar's court.
As we navigate the geopolitical and economic turmoil of the past year, and as nations everywhere reconsider the meaning of sovereignty, we must ask:
What is Canada's sovereign national strength?
Canada's National Strength
From the perspective of a Christian charitable organization, I submit that international missions and relief work are among Canada's greatest national assets.
Here are four reasons why:
"I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some."1 Corinthians 9:22
Legal Recognition of the "Advancement of Religion"
Canada is one of the few remaining Commonwealth countries where the "advancement of religion" is still considered a charitable purpose under the law. While the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand have increasingly scrutinized the charitable status of faith-based organizations—questioning their public benefit—Canada maintains a legal tradition rooted in British Common Law that recognizes the inherent value of our work.
Robust Tax Incentives for Donors
Canada possesses one of the most generous tax credit systems for charitable giving in the world. Unlike a simple deduction, our system directly reduces the amount of tax owed. In comparison, donations to Christian missions in the UK and Australia often carry minimal or non-existent tax benefits. This high "return" encourages Christians to be generous, effectively lowering the "cost" of giving and empowering missions to be bold in championing their cause.
The Qualified Donee Framework
Many Canadian Christian charities focus on international work. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows registered charities to operate globally through "Qualified Donees" or via intermediaries. This framework allows Canadian charities to have a massive global impact—funding projects in developing nations—while still providing tax receipts to Canadian donors. FEBCanada operates on this robust framework.
Protection under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Every Canadian is granted strong constitutional protection for "freedom of conscience and religion" (Section 2a) under the Charter. Furthermore, the Charter protects the right of Christian charities to possess institutional autonomy and operate according to their doctrinal beliefs. Compared to countries with volatile political climates, Canada offers a stable legal environment where mission organizations can plan for the long term—thinking in decades, not just fiscal quarters.
A Strategy for a New Era
Beyond Paul's strategic use of his citizenship, his missionary life offers a blueprint for missions in any world order.
The Digital Lingua Franca
First, the Roman Empire was unified by Koine Greek, the trade language that allowed Paul to speak to philosophers in Athens and merchants in Corinth alike. It was the "global" standard of his day. Today, the equivalent Lingua Franca is the internet and AI-driven communication. We must create content that penetrates the digital echo chambers of curated realities.
Cultural Agility Without Compromise
Secondly, Paul possessed a natural ability to contextualize the Gospel without compromise, famously saying, "I have become all things to all people" (1 Cor. 9:22). This speaks to the cultural agility required in our fragmented world. Missionaries today must speak indigenously to the secular humanist in China, the animist in Jakarta, and the disillusioned consumer in Japan, using their own cultural symbols to explain the Gospel.
The "New World Order" of missions is polycentric—Africans evangelizing Europe, Koreans evangelizing the Middle East, and Brazilians evangelizing Asia.
Bypassing Physical Barriers
Lastly, as we enter an era of high-tech surveillance, facial recognition, and social credit systems, traditional missionary work is becoming increasingly difficult. We must advance digital transmission methods that allow the Gospel to bypass physical barriers and reach hard-to-access hubs of influence.
Just as Paul wrote many of his letters from prison, the Church must recover a theology of suffering. We must advance digital transmission methods that allow the Gospel to bypass physical barriers and reach hard-to-access hubs of influence.
FEBC: Canada's Global Voice
FEBC has one of the largest global missional network with a ministry presence in over 50 countries. We maintain the most ethnically diverse ministry, with Gospel projects conducted in 152 languages, insisting on native speakers preaching the Gospel in their own indigenous tongues. Our delivery network of radio broadcasts and digital media reaches 150 million people every year.
Canada funds and actively participates in 18 people-group projects internationally—from Laos, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan to Malawi and Japan. These represent some of the ethnicities least reached by the Gospel.
Among FEBC's international entities, Canada is the second-largest funding partner. In fact, Canada is the number one funding partner per capita. One of our nation's true strengths is our commitment and capacity to give to global missions.
We recently celebrated a major milestone. In December 2025, FEBC turned 80 years old. Our organization began just as the previous world order was forming after WWII. For eight decades, thousands have faithfully exercised their rights as Canadian Christians through prayer and financial giving, bridging the gap between two world orders.
FEBC is Global Missions for Canada. Every project is begun with prayer, sustained by prayer, and funded by Canadians.
I pray that this will be a call to arms for Canada to draw on our national strength in charitable Christian mission. Let us help shape a world whose sovereignty ultimately belongs to Jesus.
FEBC is Global Missions for Canada.
Every project is begun with prayer, sustained by prayer, and funded by Canadians.