By Jacqueline Dugas
On July 1st we celebrate Canada Day, once known as Dominion Day. Although some may think of this holiday only as a celebration of Canada for what it is today, at its origin it was an occasion to commemorate a turning point in our history.
In 1867, the British Parliament approved a plan for Canada to become a self-governing nation. With the passage of the British North America Act on July 1, 1867, Canada became a Dominion of the British Commonwealth—the Dominion of Canada—and Sir John A. Macdonald became Canada’s first Prime Minister.
Initially, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario formed the nucleus of the new Dominion. Over the following six years, John A. Macdonald negotiated the entry of three additional provinces. The Dominion continued to expand and in 1949 the roll was completed with the entry of Newfoundland into the Confederation.
In 1999, the Nunavut Act officially separated the Territory of Nunavut from the Northwest Territories, making Canada a nation of ten provinces and three territories.
The right to self-government is a marvelous gift. It recognizes a measure of maturity, character, virtue and the ability to find one’s way forward. From the beginning, our founding fathers agreed that our Dominion was to be a nation under God, where He would “rule from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth.†(Psalm 72:8)
A key phrase—“from sea to seaâ€â€”became the Dominion’s motto and was inscribed in Latin on our Canadian Coat of Arms—A Mari Usque Ad Mare.
The idea of expansion from sea to sea is rooted deeply in our Canadian way of thinking and perceiving. From the days of the Canadian railway to the most progressive businesses of today, to expand from one sea to the other is simply how we think. At least about some things.
This idea is profoundly inspirational. It should also be profoundly directional as we consider God’s Dominion.
It is only fitting that the Body of Christ in Canada would insist in praying that God’s Dominion be stretched across our land from sea to sea. It is right for the Church to make every effort to proclaim the Good News of His Kingdom from the shores of Newfoundland to the coast of British Columbia (as depicted so magnificently in the photographs on this very page).
On Canada Day and throughout July, let’s remember the great desire of the Lord: That none would perish but that all would come to knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). Let’s take a few moments every day to pray for His Kingdom of love, grace and truth to extend from sea to sea.
Over the past few years we have worked diligently to launch Mission 33. This vital campaign of hope is more than a project. It is a concrete response to a persistent call—the call to make Christ known in Canada, from sea to sea. Since the launch of Mission 33 in October 2008, 59 campaigns have been completed in 203 communities. With the participation of 158 churches, the Finding the Hope booklet has been placed in more than a quarter of a million homes. This is an encouraging beginning, but much work still needs to be done.
A number of new campaigns are under consideration in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Many pastors have already begun to plan for Mission 33 campaigns in their areas.
We encourage your prayers that the Lord will guide this process, gathering and empowering all who should participate. Pray for these endeavours to deliver a message of true hope to every home in each of these areas, telling people who Jesus is and how to experience His transforming life. Please pray also that the seeds of hope that have already been planted in over 281,000 homes will bear fruit, to the glory of God.
Let’s make every effort to make Him known from sea to sea, so that more and more people across our nation will find enduring love and hope in God’s Dominion!