Charlene de Haan

25 February 2015

Camino Global Canada Welcomes New Director

Keith and Ruth Ann Elliott Thanks so much for your prayers as Camino Global Canada has been searching for a new director over the past few months. The search has ended, and we’re pleased to welcome Keith Elliott as our new director! His wife, Ruth Ann, is also coming on board as Administrative Assistant.

Charlene de Haan, our previous director, will be stepping down from her previous role, but staying on as Mobilization Coach.

Below is the official press release from Camino Global.

Toronto, ON [February 20, 2015] – Following much prayer and an extended search, the Canadian Board of Directors of Camino Global announces the appointment of (Gordon) Keith Elliott as National Director, effective March 2015.

Strong Spanish language and cultural experience with a passion for pastoral care accompanied by abilities in preaching, teaching and writing were central to the Camino Global Board’s selection. “We are delighted that Keith and Ruth Ann are eager to serve as a team, with Ruth Ann assisting with administration. Their desire to continue using their skills to serve Spanish-speakers across Canada is an encouragement to the future of Camino Global” says Chair Marvin Srigley, speaking for the Board selection committee. Elliott takes the reins from Charlene de Haan, whose five years of dedicated service transformed Camino Global into a viable ministry across Canada. Elliott anticipates shaping a vision for the future as the public voice of Camino Global to seminaries and churches, both English and Spanish, across Canada. He sees clearly how Camino Global is positioned with real opportunity to go global with Spanish-speakers.

Sandra Tjart, Director of EMCC World Partners shares commendation. “The Elliotts dedicated servant ministry has effected change in the lives of many people in Canada and Latin America. They have served the Lord in a variety of roles including pastoral ministry in Canada, church planting, pastoral training and field leadership in Ecuador, Director of Missions and Administration of the EMCC in Canada, and pastoral care with sister denominations of the EMCC in Latin America. We pray that Keith and Ruth Ann will continue to be fruitful as ever learning disciples; we pray God’s richest blessings upon them.”

Elliott served with the Evangelical Missionary Church in Canada, Mexico and Ecuador. Both raised in Ontario, Keith studied at Emmanuel Bible College (B.Th.) and Wilfrid Laurier University (B.A. & M.T.S.) while Ruth Ann trained as a Registered Nurse and later studied counselling to further her passion for women’s ministry.

To invite Elliott to speak, please e-mail admincanada@caminoglobal.org

14 October 2014

11 Things about Honduras (and my trip there)

Jim Ministry glimpses 0

As you may have guessed, bananas are a big thing in Honduras. I would say there were more meals when I did eat bananas than when I didn’t. Fried, dried, in soup … I have a whole new appreciation for this fruit.
I had a chance to visit a business that manufactures and sells/exports pottery. Pottery is also big in Honduras.
There has been tension especially between Mexico, the USA, and Honduras, because of the many who are fleeing from very dangerous situations in Honduras to Mexico or through Mexico to the USA. Children in particular are being sent north. There is a lot of discussion about how to handle the issue from a perspective of humanitarian aid, immigration, and safety. Praise the Lord for those in Mexico and the USA who are reaching out to help these people survive and hear about the Life who is our Lord.

The food in Honduras was excellent, but a bit of a shock coming from Mexico. There was a conspicuous lack of chilli. I was served salsa a couple of times – but it was a sweet, bland concoction that bore little resemblance to Mexican salsa.
We had a LOT of meetings and so really didn’t see a lot of Honduras. What we saw – mainly along the highway from the seminary to the airport, was very nice. But I can’t really say I saw too much.

Honduras and Canada just signed a free trade agreement. It came into effect on the 1st of October.
We stayed and met at a Bible seminary called Seminario Biblico Centroamericano de Honduras (SEBCAH). Everyone was very kind and it looks like they’re doing great things when it comes to training a new force of Christian workers in Honduras.
I’m afraid Honduras just isn’t the Coca-Cola country that Mexico is. Certainly not “within arm’s reach of desire”. But I found some eventually.
On Saturday night we were honoured to attend a memorial for Camino missionary Neil Livingston, who served at the seminary. Neil is the father of the Camino USA director, Douglas. We formed a men’s choir and sang a couple of his favourite hymns – Day by Day and Great is Thy Faithfulness. It was good to hear what God did in and through His servant.
I was able to visit the church which had the memorial and also another church in a nearby town. It’s great to see what believers are doing in Honduras, in an atmosphere very different from that of Mexico.
Primarily, as I said, it was meetings, meetings, meetings. But it was good to hear about what’s happening around the world and talk about how God may use Camino as we move forward. We also had a chance to fellowship with mission leaders from around the world, including Canadian director Charlene de Haan and some of the Canadian board.

17 May 2014

Camino Global Canada: Searching for a New Director

Jim News and current issues, Practical matters, Prayer and Praise, ST Highlight 1

Camino Global Canada is searching for a new national director.

We recently met with the Camino Global director here in Canada, Charlene de Haan. She was helping us get organized as we plan ahead for our ministry here in Canada over the summer and in Mexico beyond that.

Charlene feels that it’s time to move on after 4 years of service with Camino. We appreciate the many ways that she has helped move the mission forward, and the ways that she has helped us personally in our ministry.

Below is a copy of the press release from the board regarding the search for the new director. Please pray that God would lead the right person to the position, and that the board would be wise in their search.

*****
Toronto, ON, April 21, 2014 – The Board of Directors of Camino Global Canada seeks nominations and applications for the next CEO/National Director. Camino Global’s current Executive Director, Charlene de Haan, submitted her resignation to the Board, effective as soon as a replacement can be found.

Marvin Srigley, Board Chair, says “The Board of Camino Global Canada is thankful to God for Charlene’s inspiring hard work in furthering His Kingdom. The advancements of Camino Global Canada have come through Charlene’s tireless faithful efforts. We pray and know that God will continue to bless and use Charlene for His Glory.”

Camino Global Canada has established a search committee to facilitate the selection process. The search committee would like to be in receipt of nominations and applications by June 30, 2014.

National Director Search will Culminate with 125th Anniversary

Founded in 1890 as the Central American Mission, Camino Global has always focused on ministry among Spanish speakers. Today, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world! The scope of Camino’s outreach is global, spanning four continents with missionaries serving on-site or online among Spanish speakers everywhere. Explosive growth of online ministry has accelerated Camino Global’s impact on an international scale. Spanish speakers in more than 100 nations benefit from tools such as Obrerofiel.com and ministry partnerships such as Global Media Outreach. Kingdom business ventures, like HOPEcoffee.org, have developed in Honduras in the last four years. Now multi-cultural teams prepare to leave North and Central America to reach Muslims in Southeast Asia. As Camino Global celebrates 125 years in 2015, David Ruiz, Vice President of Global Ministries, says “This is a time when the Lord wants to make a deep impact in world evangelization through the Spanish speaking church.”

To the Ends of the Earth – Together

Nineteen-eighty-three. Costa Rica Bible Institute. A Camino missionary challenged his students about sending missionaries from Latin America to the ends of the world. One student refuted him with a strong statement. “It’s easy for you to say that because you (Americans) have dollars but we (Latinos) don’t. Less than a year later God changed that student’s understanding about missions, and today Gustavo Soto is the Director of Latin Mobilization for Camino Global. When God recently opened a door in the Philippines, FAM and Camino Global mobilized seven candidates from Costa Rica, Honduras and Mexico to serve on a multi-cultural team. FAM International supports 49 Spanish-speaking missionary units in 21 countries. Camino Global’s mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, serving among and with Spanish speakers globally.

Responsibility of the National Director

The National Director will build on the success of the past and shape vision for the future. The ND assures the purpose of Camino Global as defined by the Board of Directors in a biblical, legal and efficient manner. The ND ensures that the mission fulfills its vision by aligning personnel, finances, structures and procedures in a way that effectively achieves its goals. Salary of the ND is contingent upon skills, qualifications and participation in personal/organizational support-raising.

Summary

Camino Global Canada, through a time of economic challenge and internal reassessment, has emerged with a clear directive and mandate to grow and further the missional journey alongside Spanish-speakers. The new National Director will work with the Board to complete a strategic plan, investing personal unique skills, experiences, relationships and passions into the development of a strong leadership team. The new leader will guard the legacy of Camino Global while leading a robust mission culture that will further the vision of Camino Global worldwide.

For more information:

View the National Director profile, including operational responsibilities.
Submit your Nominations and Recommendations online.
Complete an online application.
Print or download a PDF version of this Press Release.
Direct your questions related to the National Director Search to NDsearch@caminoglobal.org.

22 September 2010

Fall Activities Begin, and a Letter from the President

Jim Mexico, Ministry glimpses, Prayer and Praise 0

Mexico Flag, Hymno Nacional, and letter from the President

Today I opened the door to our street, letting in the mail lady on her motorcycle, so that she could deliver these flags. It was actually a package with the words to the national anthem, and a letter from the President! Imagine! 😉

So, the celebration of Mexico’s bicentennial continues!

Meanwhile, fall activities are starting up at the community centre (Centro Cultural Tiempo de Vivir). Tonight the English classes start, along with basketball. And I hear that Tiffany will be starting a line dancing class – Ixtapaluca will never be the same again!

By the way, if you click on the church logo to the right – it looks like this –

– you can see a calendar of community centre and church related events. It’s in Spanish, of course, but it will give you an idea what’s going on at the moment.

I’m busy with some things that aren’t on the calendar (all right, gaZILLIONS of things that aren’t on the calendar!). Back at the church in Santa Barbara, I’m teaching a class on playing keyboard for worship.

We had a good time this morning at the first class, learning about what Colossians 3:9-17 can teach us about music and worship (of course, worship can be music, and music can be worship, but worship is much more than music… music is the minority of worship…. at least, it should be!), learning chords and the use of the sustain pedal, and other stuff like that there.

I’m also working on the next study. We’re doing a Tuesday night study now on some of the basics of the Christian life. But after that is coming something new – it’s going to be a blast – I’ll tell you about it once it has formed some more! 🙂

Shari is working on baking classes and Bible studies. And she’s been busy putting together the fall schedule for Sunday School. They’re going through the Bible chronologically with the kids – fun stuff! And in spite of the fact that they’re packed in like sardines in a small space, the kids keep coming!

And Hannah and Nathanael – wow, they only have 2.5 weeks left until their first exam week. Ah, the wonderful things we get to look forward to!

But after exam week, we’re looking forward to a visit from the director of CAM Canada, Charlene de Haan. How cool is that? Now that is something we can look forward to. 🙂

Anyway, I need to get back to helping Nathanael with his homework… then I’m going to see how the English classes are going. Bye for now!

5 March 2010

New CAM Canada Director

Jim Misc 1

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for a new executive director for CAM International of Canada! We’re happy to let you know that, as of the 1st of April, our new director will be Charlene de Haan.

Charlene de Haan grew up in Vancouver, BC, and now lives in Scarborough, Ontario. She comes to us with a wealth of experience, having been the executive director of Pioneer Clubs Canada, and Manager of Human Resources with Interserve Canada. She also has experience teaching missionary kids overseas (Guatemala), founded stepUP Transitions Consulting, does freelance writing, and is involved and has been involved in many other things.

We haven’t yet met Charlene, but Lord willing once she’s settled in she’ll be able to come visit. Welcome to the team, Charlene! 🙂 You can send her a note here if you like.

Our current director and his wife, Larry and Jayme Hower, will be moving on with their ministry in the CAM office in Dallas.

Larry is an administrative assistant to the president, and will be involved in bringing new missionaries to the field. Jayme will be involved as well in this work, and they both hope to continue serving in a short term capacity in other countries as they have done in the past.

Words can’t express our appreciation for all that the Howers have done for us and for the kingdom in general over the years – both on a business level and a personal level. We look forward to many more years of friendship (with fewer questions about what the number in D4 of this spreadsheet means, and so on!)!

Please pray for all these people as they go through this transition.