Ministry of Brad & Karla Thiessen
E-transfer is the most cost-effective way to receive your gifts. Exact instructions on how to do the e-transfer will vary by financial institutions. Once logged in to your online bank account, navigate to Interac e-Transfer and follow the instructions to add a recipient and send funds.
- In the recipient box use the name “International Messengers”
- In the e-mail box use: donate@im-canada.ca
- In the note box include your full name and address for your official tax receipt and specify “This is for the ministry of: Brad & Karla Thiessen”
Cheques may be made payable to International Messengers Canada and mailed to:
PO Box 11022, 1945 McCallum Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 0E4
- Include a separate note saying, “This is for the ministry of: Brad & Karla Thiessen”
- Please do not put a person’s name on the memo line in the cheque.
- Alternatively, you can download, complete and mail this DONATION FORM to our office, along with your cheque.
- You may call in your credit card number and give over the phone at 604-855-4433.
- You may also send in your credit card or automatic bank debit information by downloading, completing and mailing this GIFT FORM to our office.
American donors, please donate to the Ministry of Brad & Karla Thiessen through our American sister organization to receive a U.S. tax receipt.
- Online Donations: Select “Give as Guest”; “Select Gift Fund.” Type “XBT ” into the search bar. Select “SLOVAKIA-BRAD AND KARLA THIESSEN (XBT)” and complete your information.”
- Bank Online Bill Payment: Use the code “SLOVAKIA-BRAD AND KARLA THIESSEN (XBT)” and follow your bank’s instructions.
- Check or EFT: Follow the instructions on the US site and use “SLOVAKIA-BRAD AND KARLA THIESSEN (XBT)” to direct your donation to the Ministry of Brad & Karla Thiessen.
Brad and Karla have served in Kosice, Slovakia for more than 30 years. Their Gospel-focused ministry includes working with the Roma community, running an English Language school, hosting Evangelical English Language camps, assisting other expats and missionary families living in Slovakia, and serving in their local church.
Kosice is home to the largest Roma ghetto in Eastern Europe. Shortly after Brad and Karla arrived in Kosice, Brad noticed many Roma children loitering and playing on the city streets. He invited them into his language school for weekly VBS-type activities. Soon the children’s parents came to see what he was doing. This led to an adults’ Bible study, which led to a church plant in the Roma ghetto community. The church grew and planted other Roma churches. Before long, there were eight large Roma congregations across Slovakia, and they continue to plant churches fully under Roma leadership.
Currently, the Thiessen’s main ministry is a housing project for Roma believers (similar to Habitat for Humanity). Families who have lived in shacks as squatters for generations now have the opportunity to build and own their own home. This gives them a permanent address which allows access to many government programs and a path into the mainstream of Slovakian life.
Inviting their language school clients to attend their summer Evangelical English Language Camps has resulted in many people choosing to follow Jesus.
Other International Messenger Canada Ministries to learn about.
- International Messengers Canada is a registered CRA charity (Registration #: 83452 6402) and a member of CCCC (Canadian Council of Christian Charities). We send end of the year tax receipts for contributions made directly to International Messengers Canada by cheque, credit card, bank debit or Interac e-Transfer.
- Your gifts will be used as designated with the understanding that when the current need for such a program or project has been met, or cannot be completed for any reason, the remaining funds will be used where needed most within the ministry of International Messengers Canada.
