Glenn Smith, head of Christian Direction.

When some businessmen decided to set up a ‘Sermons from Science’ pavilion at Expo 67, the world’s fair held in Montreal, they probably had no idea what the result would be. This year, Christian Direction (CD), the ministry which grew out of that one-time event, celebrates its 40th anniversary.

The organization is now, in the words of director Glenn Smith, “a rallying point for Protestants” in Quebec. It has an annual budget of $1.1 million and a staff of 25.

‘Sermons from Science,’ using Moody science films and other presentations, became a highly popular pavilion at Expo. More than that, Smith said, it “jump started French Protestant church planting.” The organization continued to run outreach programs and encourage new church plants. It also served some 800 Catholic charismatic small groups across Quebec.

Christian Direction played a leading role in outreach at the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976, and at Leighton Ford crusades in 1983 and 1990.

Smith said the organization has developed competencies in four key areas: creative evangelism, spiritual formation, contextual research and resources for the church.

One of the ministry’s strengths, Smith said, is that it “knows what it is good at and sticks to that,” rather than trying to do everything.

CD operates five Accroche Centres, drop-in centres where youth in danger of dropping out of school can get help. It also develops resources for moral and religious education, used by parents, teachers and chaplains in the public school system.

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The organization uses art as a tool for evangelism and spiritual formation; facilitates workplace Bible studies; and teaches French and English to immigrants.

Christian Direction also works in areas some might consider ‘off the wall.’ For 17 years, it has had a booth at various psychic expos, to present a Christian alternative to the many Quebecois seeking spirituality; those who visit the booths and express an openness are directed into ongoing Bible study groups.

CD staff now lend their expertise to ministries teaching urban missiology in other French-speaking countries. Smith said this is an opportunity to “give back,” for a ministry  birthed when the world came to Quebec.

The role played by Christian Direction is especially significant given the lack of other interdenominational umbrella organizations in Quebec. For instance, the Alliance Francophone des Protestants Evangeliques du Quebec was founded as an offshoot of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in the mid-1990s but closed down a few years later.

Some of that body’s ministries, such as prayer summits and family ministries, have continued, said Smith. However, he regrets that the EFC has not come back in to Quebec to fill the gap in a more substantial way.

In the meantime, Christian Direction does what it can. “There will always be a need for a reference point where people can get information and be served,” said Smith.

A longer version of this story is at CanadianChristianity.com

– Jim Coggins

December 2007