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My Christian life: Wayne and Andra Owen
A couple finds gospel hope and community in their local congregation.
Heads turn as the pastor walks to the front of the sanctuary. Surrounding him is a choir of silver steelpan drums, shining as they reflect light from around the room.
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Hushed anticipation fills the air as the last few people take their seats. Hearts pound as musicians and vocalists anticipate the first note. The pastor greets the audience and opens with a prayer, and then the concert begins.
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It’s obvious that something very special is going on at Hope, Toronto, Canada. It’s not necessarily that the congregation is positioned in one of the most diverse cities in the world—though it’s true. Toronto’s population is 50 percent first-generation immigrants, and Hope serves members from 25 different countries. It’s not that Hope has been saturated with an excess of talented members—though they exist everywhere you look. It’s the fact that when you step into Hope—whether for a regular Sunday service or a special music concert—your first question is, “Where does all this joy and enthusiasm come from?”
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Everywhere you look, you see brothers or sisters in the faith who bring what they have to the table and wait for a chance to use it to serve God and his people. Coming to church isn’t a chore or a bother . . . it’s where you go to take care of your family. No matter who walks through the doors of Hope, no matter where they’re from or what their story is, they’ve found a new place to belong.
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Two people who embody this attitude beautifully are Wayne and Andra Owen. Wayne and Andra have been among the ranks of musicians at Hope for as long as anyone. But like so many others, the ways God uses them behind the scenes go far beyond their stylings on the steelpan or in the choir.
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Many years ago, the Owens moved to Canada from Guyana, South America. At first, the couple struggled to find a place to worship that matched the vibrant, joyful atmosphere to which they had become accustomed. Choosing a church meant so much more than deciding where to sit for an hour each Sunday . . . it was deciding where to call home. Andra remembers, “We were searching for a church that provided community; great, energetic music; and people who looked like us.”
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Photos: (Top featured photo) Andra and Wayne Owen (middle couple) with their daughters and their families. (Shown here) Two photos from the 2025 Christmas concert of Hope, Toronto, as well as a photo of members Andra and Wayne Owen.
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The Bible states clearly that Jesus never sinned. But could Jesus have sinned when he was tempted by the devil? One concern that people have when they try to address this question is that if Jesus could not sin, then his temptations, which he undertook as the . . .
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Take a moment to look up Matthias Grunewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece and you will get to see exactly what Isaiah describes in chapter 53. The central panel features a painting of Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus’ skin sags and has a hue of death. His body is . . .
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Around us in eternity will be “a great multitude that no one count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). Like us, they will be the ones who come out of the great tribulation. Together with us, . . .
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