EMI Canada is committed to providing student and early career engineers and architects with opportunities to grow their skills and use their gifts to further God’s kingdom in meaningful, tangible ways. This passion for shepherding the next generation of Christian leaders was echoed by Allen Adrian, EMI Canada’s intern coordinator from 2020 to 2022. Allen led the development of interns as they grew in their faith while they designed a world of hope with EMI.
The Allen Adrian Scholarship has been established in partnership with Allen’s wife Melissa, to continue Allen’s legacy of support for the interns that Allen valued and mentored in faith.
This scholarship will provide financial assistance to early career Canadian design professionals, helping to remove financial barriers and create opportunities for the next generation of servant leaders.
To make this vision a reality, we need to raise $60,000 through the generous support of our community, partners, and donors. Your contribution to the Allen Adrian Scholarship will support emerging leaders as they develop their skills and faith to serve communities and the Global Church.
Allen loved God, people, and maps! When he accepted an offer to join the staff of Engineering Ministries International (EMI) Canada as the Intern Coordinator in August 2020, he saw this opportunity as part of God’s design for his life. His passion for international Christian work grew as God showed him the spiritual and physical needs around the world while on international mission trips. As EMI Canada’s Intern Coordinator, Allen had the opportunity to recruit new interns, arrange the logistics of their term, and send them out to use their developing professional skills on EMI projects, changing their lives and the ministries they served around the world. He valued the Interns and enjoyed mentoring them in their life, faith and career.
Allen fulfilled his Intern Coordinator position for two years before he went home to be with God. Allen lived with Cystic Fibrosis his whole life and lived an extra 21 years after a double lung transplant. His illness never defined him, rather it motivated him to live life to the fullest. He had a large network of people who could attest to his zeal for life and his deep desire to serve God and people. He was always filled with determination and hope for another great day.
Allen’s passion and desire to design a world of hope remains his legacy. He believed that we all have our own unique part in building God’s kingdom, we cannot do it ourselves, we need each other in community.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it” 1 Corinthians 12:27
As a part of Allen’s community of faith we ask you to please partner with us to establish an endowment fund that will provide scholarships for future EMI Interns. Through the scholarships we have the opportunity to inspire the careers and faith of young professionals to change the world and make it a better place.
EMI Canada is a non-profit Christian development organization mobilizing Canadian architects, engineers, surveyors, and construction managers who use their skills to serve people in developing countries. EMI Canada designs orphanages, hospitals, schools, water systems, and many other facilities that enable Christian Ministries around the world to accomplish their calling to transform their communities. EMI interns have the opportunity to serve and learn as young professionals alongside experienced professionals through a diverse team. Together they assist local ministries to change the world and change the lives and souls of those they encounter around the world.
Allen deeply believed in EMI’s mission to develop people, design structures, and construct facilities which serve communities and the Church. He dedicated the last years of his life to living out this mission. Please prayerfully consider contributing to the endowment fund so that together we can continue to support the Interns Allen valued and mentored to design a world of hope.
EMI aims to provide young engineers and architects with opportunities to use their design and problem-solving gifts to actively participate in building God’s Kingdom in a meaningful and tangible way. An internship at EMI Canada gives students and recent graduates a chance to grow in their professional and spiritual journeys while meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, and gaining a new appreciation for the worldwide body of Christ.
An internship with EMI Canada provides a multidisciplinary design experience in a faith environment. Interns explore God's call on their lives through the intersection of their education and faith. While much of the internship is spent in the EMI Canada office, interns typically participate in an international project trip to serve with a local Christian ministry.
A typical EMI Canada internship term includes:
- Orientation: An EMI Canada internship begins with learning more about EMI, as well as some of the potential challenges and benefits of working and serving cross-culturally.
- Project Trip: EMI Canada interns will join a team of volunteer design professionals made up of both western designers and local designers from the project area. This typical 10-to-14-day trip will be led by an EMI project leader and can be anywhere in the world.
- Office Experience: An intern’s time in the EMI Canada office is spent producing reports, drawings and renderings for their assigned project(s). Interns are given varying responsibilities depending on their professional discipline, education and experience. This work will help them to gain experience with professional design software and work with a diverse design team.
- Spiritual Growth: A key focus area of EMI internships is to encourage interns to develop a more intimate relationship with Christ while growing professionally. The EMI Canada office takes time each morning for prayer and Bible study, and each intern is assigned a spiritual mentor.
Hear what past EMI Interns have to say about their experience.
“Allen was both the first and last person I had the pleasure of interacting with during my EMI internship in 2021. He was the one who conducted the initial interview during the application process and the person who drove me to the airport at the end of my time there.
“From our very first conversation, Allen modeled the kind of Christlike character that would be seen throughout my entire internship experience. Allen went above and beyond his responsibilities as the Intern Coordinator. He would invite me to church and offer rides, ensuring I would be well connected to the local faith community in Calgary. His valuable insights and observations during our internal team discussions enriched our work and demonstrated his deep commitment to both the ministry and to the growth of EMI interns as young professionals.
“The scholarship in Allen’s memory is a beautiful way to honor his legacy while blessing future interns. By reducing this financial burden, the scholarship would likely encourage more people to apply for EMI internships, allowing more young professionals to experience the kind of transformative mentorship and ministry opportunity that Allen made possible for me.”
—Richard Zhang, 2021Civil Engineering Intern
“Allen’s kindness gave me the confidence to arrive in Cambodia prepared and focused. His warm encouragement affirmed my decision to join EMI—a gift I remain deeply grateful for. A scholarship established in his memory would reduce financial barriers and create more opportunities for future interns, just as Allen’s guidance did for me.
“I’m thankful for my time interning with EMI, for the perspective God instilled in me—helping grow my character and deepen my love for His work overseas.”
—Matthew Chan, 2022 Civil Engineering Intern (Canadian mobilized to EMI Cambodia)
“Applying for EMI was a leap of faith for me. As I look back on my experience, I see how God was faithful through it all, helping me to find friends, and giving me the confidence for each new step. EMI has already helped me to stand out in my job applications and given me an opportunity to be open about my faith at work.
“A scholarship like this can be what enables someone to step out in faith and discover the things God wants to teach them.”
—Naomi Bouter, 2025 Civil Engineering Intern
About the Allen Adrian Scholarship
Who is eligible for the Allen Adrian Scholarship?
- The scholarship is open to all Canadian interns accepted to serve at any EMI office around the world and have committed to fundraising all or a portion of their internship costs
An application to receive the scholarship must be completed after acceptance of an EMI internship and will be reviewed by the EMI Canada Intern Coordinator.
How much is the scholarship award and how many recipients will be selected annually?
- The Allen Adrian Scholarship will award $500 to up to six (6) recipients annually (two per term).
About Endowment Funds
What is the Vancouver Foundation?
- Vancouver Foundation is a community foundation, established in 1943. The foundation connects generous donors with inspired people and organizations.
The foundation's endowment model ensures that charitable gifts create lasting impact through strategic investment, generating ongoing income that supports communities in perpetuity.
Visit www.vancouverfoundation.ca/emicanada for more information on the foundation.
Why is the scholarship being invested with the Vancouver Foundation?
- EMI Canada established an endowment fund, with Vancouver Foundation in 2017 through the generosity of the Jack Gin Family Foundation. Through the fund, EMI Canada can accept donations of publicly traded securities, RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, life insurance and bequests.
Because if thus existing relationship, The Allen Adrian Scholarship will be established by EMI Canada as its own endowment fund with Vancouver Foundation, ensuring that contributions grow in impact over time and provide continual support for EMI Canada interns for years to come.
What is an endowment fund and how does it work?
- An Endowment Fund is a type of restricted investment fund. Only the interest from the fund is available to EMI Canada to spend for the scholarship. The principal remains intact, anchoring the endowment fund and thus the Allen Adrian Scholarship in perpetuity.
How much money needs to be raised to establish the scholarship permanently?
- A minimum of $60,000 needs to be raised to ensure that the viability of the Allen Adrian Scholarship.
When will the first scholarship be awarded?
- The first Scholarship will be awarded for the first term of 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible?
- All donations over $10 will receive a charitable tax receipt from EMI Canada.