Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre
Resourcing Small Churches
David Sawler pastors and directs youth centres in Cape Breton – Glace Bay. His heart is for the community. He sees the poverty, addictions and trauma during this period of COVID. How can the church become community centred and at the centre of the community?
Dr. Kevin Driver pastors a small church in the resort town on Banff, Alberta, Canada. He deals with seasonal workers, transient influx during high tourist seasons, and a intercultural mix of congregants.
Paul Warnock is a seasoned pastor who is now working at a transitional pastor. How do you move from a previous pastor to a new pastor with a sense of hope and excitement? Paul gives some hints.
James Watson has recently been a part of the research team for a multivocational ministry study in Canada. The results would indicate a strong need for those with multiple vocations to become pastors of small church. This is not without its challenges – and its rewards.
Continue reading "This is Us – Episode #5 – Rick Heimstra and Lindsay Callaway"
Bill Taylor is the Executive Director of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada. He is Canadian born and bred, has served small churches and understands the diversity of the country. “I just download my knowledge into somebody, and now they’re a disciple? And somehow Jesus did it? I don’t think that’s what he had in …
Karl Vaters is a small church pastor in California. He has written various books including “The Grasshopper Myth” and “Small Church Essentials”.
“My whole family comes from Canada. I was born in Newfoundland. My parents were pioneering a church in Grand Bank, Newfoundland (very small town). And then they moved to Toronto. And so I grew up in Toronto.”
“Americans typically know a lot about what’s happening inside their borders. And at times, we can be arrogant enough to go – “Who cares?” What happens out there is not America, right? But Canadians are much more European that way where they understand that the world extends beyond your borders.”
“Covid has given us some challenges that we’ve never faced before. But when I look back at it, . . . it has accelerated the pace of change, but it has not brought change.”
17 years ago Dave Witt began to facilitate a movement of churches in Hamilton, Ontario. The True City Hamilton thrust has impacted the city – helping to bring an intention peace for the good of the city.
“Sadly, people aren’t used to churches being able to work together across denominational lines. So when they hear there is a network of churches that are pursuing the best for the city, across denominational lines, that gets attention. People wonder, ‘why would they do that?’.”
Ron Johnston, director of Small Church Connections, join Ron Baker (Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre director) to chat about small churches, Small Church Connections and the Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre.