Mornings on CHVN

Dave Lavery coined 'Canadian Dave,' was released three weeks ago after being held captive by the Taliban for 77 days. Lavery is sharing what got him through that gruelling situation. 

"I was born in Winnipeg in 1960," says Lavery. "Right now we're living overseas in Dubai. I'm now in Perth, Ontario visiting family and I'll be heading off to Vancouver. It's so good to be here with this foundation."

Immanuel Fellowship Church in south Winnipeg is hosting a worship concert event, inviting people to 'Come and See' God for themselves. 

"We are having a gathering of believers from all over the city," says Gift Festus, with Immanuel Fellowship. "It's a music concert that will bring the people of all walks of life, denominations, people both saved and unsaved, together in one space."

The theme of the event is 'Come and See,' which is taken from a verse in John chapter one. 

During February's 'I Love to Read' month, Sylvia St. Cyr of CHVN visited a second classroom in Winnipeg, the grade 3 class at Springs Christian Academy. 

St. Cyr was greeted at the office by one of the grade 3 students in 3C to be escorted throughout the hallways to the classroom. When she got there, all the kids were sitting on their world map carpet, ready to listen. 

Before reading, St. Cyr asked the class what they were currently learning. Many kids answered with raised hands, sharing that they were learning about friction, multiplication, division, and gravity. 

Brian Hogan, originally from California, has served unreached people groups including in Mongolia for over 30 years. Hogan is one of the keynote speakers at this year's Missionfest Manitoba. 

Hogan is the president of Disciple-Making Mentors, as well as a church planting coach and Frontier Mission leader with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). 

There are 150 volunteers across Winnipeg who give their time to make kits that help girls and women experiencing period poverty around the world.

"Days for Girls Winnipeg is a part of Days for Girls Canada which belongs to Days for Girls International," says Janet Menec, the co-lead for the Days for Girls Winnipeg Chapter. "It's a worldwide group of grassroots volunteers in 150 countries around the world that make and distribute freely, reusable menstrual hygiene kits."

From the United Kingdom, Andrew Goodman and his family have been missionaries in Asia for 30 years and that's what he'll be highlighting this weekend at Missionfest Manitoba 2025. 

"OMF International is a multi-denominational agency with a focus on East Asia and the unreached peoples of East Asia," says Andrew Goodman, who has worked with OMF International for 30 years. "Looking to God to see Indigenous Biblical church movements to Christ in that part of the world."

Helping marriages thrive is a focus of Family Life Canada and the National Director will be speaking about that this weekend at Missionfest Manitoba. 

"We want to bring help and hope to every family in Canada," says Brent Trickett, the National Director of Family Life Canada. "We do that by helping families flourish and live on mission and also by partnering with churches to strengthen the marriages in their community."

Former 100 Huntley Street TV host Greg Musselman will be leading a breakout session during Missionfest Manitoba this weekend, talking about the persecuted church. 

One of this year's keynote speakers at Missionfest Manitoba will be a missionary with a powerful testimony of God's word reaching the least of these. 

Nard Pugyao has worked with Wycliffe Bible Translation and JAARS for over 40 years, most of those as a missionary pilot with both planes and helicopters. 

Impactus, formerly known as Promise Keepers, is carrying on the legacy of discipling men in Jesus Christ, including in Winnipeg.

Earlier this month the founder of Promise Keepers, Bill McCartney, passed away.