Spirit-Led Mission
A Pentecost Message from Bishop Stephen Leung.
“Brothers, what shall we do?” “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:37c-38)
If we ask, “Who is the chief character on the Day of Pentecost?” the Scriptural answer is “the Holy Spirit,” because this is the fulfillment of the long-awaited prophecy pronounced at the beginning of the New Testament. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mt. 3:11-12)
God had a plan for the Church's mission after Jesus accomplished atonement on the Cross. Therefore, Jesus commanded his disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4b-5)
The Gospel Mission to the World
We should take note that the disciples did not receive water baptism from Jesus during the time they followed him. However, on the Day of Pentecost, the apostles received the Holy Spirit’s indwelling with the promise of power and strength for the first time. This is not to say that the apostles did not have the Holy Spirit before, but it was a sign by which God earmarked a new beginning on the Day of Pentecost. It marked the beginning of the gospel mission to the world. Ever since, throughout church history, the Holy Spirit has been leading the Church in evangelism and outreach to all nations.
A Sudanese Mission Movement
A little over a year ago, the Diocese of Christ Our Hope, under the leadership of Bishop Alan Hawkins, launched a mission partnership with the Asian and Multicultural Ministries in Canada (AMMiC)—a ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Canada—by sending Bishop Andudu, together with a team from the Sudanese Cornerstone Church in Kennewick, WA (of the Diocese of Cascadia), to work closely with AMMiC to reach out to the Sudanese people in Greater Vancouver, and now also in Ontario. By the grace of God, after six months of monthly Anglican Holy Communion worship and online training in church planting ministry, the Sudanese Canadian Church of British Columbia officially joined us. On March 21, 2026, they were warmly received into the ADOC by Bishop Dan Gifford, together with Bishop Stephen, Bishop Grant, and Bishop Andudu, witnessed by a hundred Sudanese people during the Service of Reception for the new Sudanese church plant.
We see that this is the work of the Holy Spirit leading us to reach out to the Sudanese people in Canada, in partnership with American and Sudanese bishops, clergy, and lay leaders. We are witnessing the emergence of a Sudanese mission movement, and the Holy Spirit is actively leading this mission. We are learning how to be connected in a trusting, collaborative relationship for the sake of the mission to all nations in Canada and beyond.
In Step with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit was at work at the first Pentecost among the Jews, and actively led the Gentile mission beginning with the Romans (Cornelius and his household) in Acts 10. From there, God’s missionaries were sent out to preach the gospel to all nations throughout church history. Today, we are prompted to build up the Sudanese mission in Canada and beyond. The Holy Spirit led in the past, is leading in the present, and will surely lead us in the future. Praise the Lord for his ongoing outreach mission. We are called to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, closely following his leading to manifest God’s glory on earth.
Pentecost blessings,
+Stephen
The Right Reverend Stephen Leung
Area Bishop for the AMMiC