In 2026, we enter our 78th year with a new strategic plan, united in our diversity by our shared longstanding vision and a reworded mission statement.
OUR VISION
Christ-centred healthcare teams proclaiming God’s love to all the world through healing and teaching.
Our vision helps our diverse teams see what God wants EMAS Canada to achieve whether on a surgical team to Ecuador, running a clinic in rural Haiti, providing nutritious meals to at-risk children, or training doctors and nurses in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our Vision speaks of an aspiration to which we can recruit others, giving us an opportunity to identify like-mindedness and confluence of calling.
The Apostle Paul’s ambition to, “preach the gospel where Christ was not known/carry (Jesus’) name to the gentiles” were statements of Vision, that allowed him to recruit and work with different people named in Acts 16-20. Some of these were local partners in the communities he served.
Similarly, our strategic plan prioritizes collaboration with local communities and their leaders forging partnerships for mission. Our experience in Mongolia: Plagues, Prisons and the Perfect Plan of God last fall where a local church provided space for our work mirrors what Titius Justus did for Paul’s team at Corinth in Acts 18.
Mission for the apostle Paul became the practical outworking of his vision. He traveled with his teams living in various places proclaiming God’s love throughout Asia Minor and parts of Eastern Europe.
Following the life of Paul through Acts and his letters to various churches, we see a passion for teaching, mentoring and establishing new leaders, and healing broken relationships. We also see consistency in showcasing what it means to be a Christ follower through hard work, generosity, and compassion.
OUR MISSION
Our Mission statement has been reworded:
To heal, mentor, and serve in a Christ-like manner through sustainable holistic healthcare.
We replaced “teach” with “mentor” having experienced mentoring as pivotal for sustainability in our most enduring teams.
Teams like China West/Mongolia, Ecuador, China South, and China East have demonstrated longevity through transgenerational mentorship.
By mentoring leaders on the go, Paul was able to ensure the sustainability and growth of the faith communities he established.
So, mentorship has a new focus in our strategy.
You can learn more about and donate to our Haiti programs here.
Peter Agwa is the Executive Director of EMAS Canada. A physician and surgeon in his native Kenya, Peter has a passion for Christ-centred healthcare and has a wealth of experience both hosting and sending short-term mission teams. Subscribe to Executive Director's Blog
Photo courtesy Ecuador Team, Operation Esperanza of Nurses serving in Ecuador