Transition of IMC Leadership - January 2024

Dear IMC Family,

I am writing to you with anticipation of God's goodness and some personal sadness. The time is coming for me to step down from serving as the director of Iris Ministries Canada (IMC) and see the ministry move into a season of fresh vision and growth. 

I was invited to develop an Iris base in Canada in 2002, and it is one of the best gifts ever received! It has been a wonderful privilege to come alongside so many incredible missionaries and leaders around the world and to support them and Iris projects in places that include Southern and Northern Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Middle East, Nepal, East Asia, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, and Mexico. The poorest have taught me about resilience and strength of spirit. 

My prayer from the outset has been that the Lord would direct IMC's every step. In more recent years, with intentionality, I have asked the Lord to lead me to the successor of His choosing and in His timing. A couple of years ago, in what began as a regular ministry call between myself and David (Mo) Morrison of Iris Malawi (one of the bases IMC oversees), seeds were planted in both of us about a coming shift. Since that call, the Lord has continually confirmed that David is the one to assume the directorship of IMC. We are preparing for this change to take effect in January 2024. Details will follow nearer the time.

I am delighted to introduce you to the Morrisons. David and his wife Joanna and three children moved from Oakville, ON, to Malawi in 2003, where they have faithfully pioneered and served as the directors of Iris Malawi for 20 years. I am excited about the vision the Lord is forming in the Morrisons for IMC and Canada. David and Joanna will continue to support the Iris Malawi leadership through this transition in a reduced capacity as they repatriate to Canada and David takes up the leadership of IMC. 

IMC’s mission remains the same. We are committed to living out a tangible response to those commandments that Jesus called the greatest (Luke 10:27) as we stop for the one. Most of all we proclaim the Lord. We want to be known by His name, first and foremost, as we commit to bringing all peoples to faith in our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19).

Where there has been great love, there is also great pain when the time comes to say goodbye. Thank you for your love and openhanded generosity to the poorest. So much of IMC's fruitfulness is yours. Your prayers, friendships, and encouragement have strengthened me. 

We value your prayerful support during the transition and welcome questions or comments at any time.  

Every Blessing in Christ,  

Janis