Beyond the Chinese Face: Challenges Faced by Chinese in Canada: Explore aspects of the experience of the Chinese experience in Canada, followed by WIMN’s Annual Meeting. Thursday, November 20, 2025, 11:30AM-1:30 PM Pacific, 12:30-2:30PM MDT/ CST, 1:30-3:30 CDT.
The Western Intercultural Ministry Network (WIMN) invites you to join us for an engaging workshop with members of the Chinese Association of the United Church of Canada and then participate in the WIMN’s Annual General Meeting.
As the UCC looks to the next 100 years of ministry in Canada and seeks to live out its vision of being an intercultural church there is much for us to learn about, and from, the ethnocultural groups within our communities. Join three members of the Chinese Association of the United Church of Canada, as they engage in conversation about aspects of Chinese culture, serving English congregations in Canada, and outreach to Hong Kong diaspora. Presenters: Rev. Dr. Alan Lai, Rev. Mini Choi, and Rev. Calin Lau.
Free; all welcome. Please invite others! This is also a 100th Anniversary event. Keep scrolling for the draft agenda and bios.
Zoom link: Join the meeting at this link /Meeting ID: 843 9314 6727 / Password: 043071 / Join by phone: +1 647 558 0588 Canada / +1 778 907 2071 Canada / +1 438 809 7799 Canada / +1 587 328 1099 Canada / +1 647 374 4685 Canada / 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free
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DRAFT Schedule
- Welcome, Land Acknowledgement and Overview of Session
- Opening Prayer/Worship
- Monologues
- Alan Lai – Some aspects of Chinese culture
- Mini Choi – Serving an English congregation
- Calin Lau – Reaching out to Hong Kongers
- Three Amigos in conversation 10-12 min
- Questions and Answers
- Closing Prayer
- Short Break
- Western Intercultural Ministry Network 2025 Annual General Meeting
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About our presenters
The Rev. Dr. Alan Lai
Alan came to Canada to purse higher education when he was 19 years old, he has lived in Canada for over 40 years. He is an experienced minister having served both Chinese and English-speaking congregations. After earning his doctorate in religion and education from Columbia University, Alan has taught at various theological schools. Currently, Alan is serving Tai Kong United Church in Vancouver. Alan was the photographer of the iconic UCC 100th anniversary photograph A Place at the Table.
The Rev. Mini Choi
Mini serves at Thornhill United Church, blending her background in broadcasting, lyric writing, and art into creative ministries. She initiated TUC Free Hot Dog Tuesday, a much-loved outreach welcoming over 3,000 high school students. Guided by imagination and intercultural vision, Rev. Mini shares this journey with her husband, Michael Lee, a New Emerging Community of Faith Lead of The United Church of Canada, and their 7-year-old daughter Mikayla.
The Rev. Calin Lau
Calin has been in the role of Growth Animator (Central and Northern Ontario) since January 1, 2024. Before that, he was a teacher and a preacher in Hong Kong, an independent insurance professional in Canada, and an ordained minister serving a community of faith in the Georgina area just south of Lake Simcoe, Ontario. His additional experience as a facilitator of Racial Justice workshops, a member of the planning/consulting team of the emerging, migrant, and diasporic communities of faith, a member of the steering teams of the Living Presence Ministry and Hong Kong Newcomers welcoming project, a member of the Standards committee of the Office of Vocation, and the former chairperson of the Chinese Association of the United Church of Canada, led him to see the importance of supporting the struggling communities of faith and the opportunity to plant new ones.
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