A vision for a tract mission

WINNIPEG, MAN.

It all started when three dedicated Christians from Portage Ave. MB Church in Winnipeg had a burden for the lost and developed a vision to start a tract mission. Plans began in December 1993. Within a year, the group was registered as a charitable organization named Olive Branch Ministries. The first tracts were printed, and distribution began in Winnipeg. With the help of a few others, the committee went door to door putting a pamphlet in each mailbox. The Winnipeg area was completed by 1996. The original members--George and Bettie Teichrieb, Jake Peters and Jake and Anne Penner--have been joined by Bill Rempel.

The second goal of Olive Branch Ministries was to reach every residence in Manitoba. The ministry relies on the mail for rural distribution, making use of ad-mail lists. By March 1998, distribution was completed in the city of Brandon and two-thirds of Manitoba. There are about 40,000 tracts to go. It is estimated that distribution in the Thompson area will cost $840., and in the Winkler district about $520. To date, 594,668 tracts have been printed and distributed. Plans are also being formulated to target Saskatchewan.

Olive Branch is a self-supporting mission, with the members donating both time and money. It costs seven-and-a-half cents to print each tract and a similar amount to mail it. Administrative costs are less than 1% of the budget. Tax receipts are issued to those who donate to the ministry.

The tracts have been translated into Spanish by Las Espalda (The Sword), a ministry based in Mission, Texas. Shipments of 175,000 have gone to Cuba, Mexico, Argentina and Peru.

Responses are varied, and often include requests for Bibles:

* A young man from Cuba asked for a large-print Bible for his mother (which is not available there). Olive Branch sent her a $27 Scripture, paid $17 postage and received a letter of gratitude seven months later--the Bible had taken six months to get there.

* An employer in Winnipeg asked for 40 tracts, one for each of his employees.

* A lady in Winnipeg asked for 10 New Testaments so she could start a Bible study with the women in her low-rent housing complex.

* A man from Argentina asked for tracts for his hospital visitations, and the Texas office sent him 2,000 copies.

* An elderly Winnipeg woman asked for seven more tracts so she could give one to each of her seven daughters.

Not all responses are positive, but the recipients have been made aware of the need of salvation. That makes it worthwhile.

Helen Doerksen

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