Meet Sonya Tetley – a CBOQ church planter and one of our passionate Canadian Baptist Women.
Together with her husband Jordan, Sonya served as a missionary in China and Liberia from 2003 to 2016, working closely with local churches and vulnerable communities. After returning to Canada, they joined the CBOQ family as English pastors at Mississauga Chinese Baptist Church. Several years later, in 2021, they launched Church 365, CBOQ’s first online church—now connecting believers in more than eight nations around the world.
Sonya first traveled to Liberia 16 years ago, working with orphanages and supporting local churches. Between 2007 and 2012, their church in China sent five containers of supplies, helped build a school, and connected over 150 children with sponsors.
After a pause in the Liberia ministry, Sonya and Jordan reconnected with their Liberian partners through the launch of Church 365.
Last year, Church 365 led a life-saving medical mission to Liberia, where more than 20 surgeries were performed for children suffering from hydrocephalus. These surgeries gave the children a chance at a healthy future—but the story didn’t end there.
At the three-month follow-up, it became clear that many of the babies were now severely malnourished, and their mothers were struggling. Most of these women are young, single moms, facing stigma, poverty, and pressure to abandon their children due to the challenges of raising a child with a medical complication.
In response, their local team in Liberia mobilized to gather these mothers together—offering food, friendship, and encouragement through two in-person group meetings. But it’s clear that ongoing support is needed.
This July 14–27, Sonya will return to Liberia to help formally launch a long-term support initiative in partnership with Liberian women who are also raising children with special needs. This new ministry will include:
- Monthly home visits to monitor nutrition and provide encouragement
- A local support group offering prayer, training, and practical help
- Ongoing connection to resources that empower families, not just survive—but thrive
To learn more and follow Sonya on her trip go to church365.ca
Thank you for being part of this story.