Episode #83 – Jordan Abbott – Living Urban in a Small Church

Jordan Abbott, pastor at Capstone Church in Calgary, discusses the church’s journey and mission. Capstone, planted 10 years ago, aims to reach unreached people and plant churches. Abbott emphasizes community, diversity, healing, and justice as core values. The church has two expressions: Capstone East and Capstone West. Capstone East, led by Abbott, focuses on family-centric …

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Episode #82 – Dana Friesen – Out of Sorts in the Small Church

Dana Friesen is a writer based in Guelph, Ontario. She shares her personal experiences with dementia in her family and gives practical advice for small churches based on her research of over 200 Canadian churches. The challenges faced by small churches are explored along with the importance of community and relationships, and the need for …

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Intercultural Ministry for the small church

The small church, with its emphasis on relationship, is especially suited to intercultural ministry. NOTE – not multicultural which seems to imply a mixing of all cultures into one, not cross-cultural which seems to imply merely tolerating each other, . . . but intercultural which implies we meet each other where there is messiness and conflict and we work our way through the dissension towards submission to each other – true humility in action.

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Podcast Listings – April 2021 – November 2024

Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre podcast “This is Us: Canadian Small Churches in Action” April 2021 – October 2024 YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@canadiansmallchurchministrycen/videos Episode #1 – Ron Johnston – Introducing Small Church Connections in Canada Episode #2 – Dave Witt – True City Hamilton gathers churches together to impact a city Episode #3 – Karl Vaters …

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Episode #79 – Dorothy Pang – Intercultural Canada – Where Small Churches can shine

Dorothy Pang is the director of the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries (TIM) Centre at Tyndale University in Toronto. She has over 25 years of experience in law, business and executive leadership. For 10 years, Dorothy was an executive leader in a large intercultural church in northeast Toronto. She is passionate about helping churches embrace the Rev …

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Episode #76 – Brianna Matchett – Small Church Ministry to the Grieving

Ron Baker interviews Brianna Matchett, a counseling therapist in Calgary, about her ministry and experiences with grief. Brianna emphasizes the importance of relationship and community in small churches, particularly during times of grief. She advises keeping track of grieving individuals, acknowledging their needs, and offering practical support. Brianna highlights the significance of time in alleviating grief’s weight and the importance of community and nature in healing. Brianna also stresses the need for small church leaders to teach about grief and involve the community in supporting grieving members.

Episode #75 – Lydia Fawcett – The Reality of Abuse and Bullying

Lydia Fawcett works with MCC – BC in the area of Abuse and Bullying. She finds that churches are as prone to abuse and bullying as the general society. Her passion to help the vulnerable is evident in this interview.
Addressing abuse in small churches.
Churches must prioritize listening and learning to prevent abuse, regardless of denomination or beliefs. The importance of truth-telling in a church setting is key, with abuse defined as any behavior that causes harm or injury to another person, regardless of their faith background or socio-economic status.

Exploring power dynamics in abusive relationships, with a focus on emotional manipulation and gaslighting.
Women in the church experience emotional abuse through gaslighting and lack of agency in decision-making.

Communication, abuse, and self-awareness.
Fawcett emphasizes self-awareness for effective communication. She reflects on the historical roots of the societal crises related to abuse, tracing back centuries.

The importance of churches being safe spaces for healing and growth
Don’t be afraid to learn and listen deeply – find resources and be willing to grow.

Episode #74 – Jane Peck – Beyond survival – serving the community as a small church

Jane Peck serves as senior pastor at the Hope Chapel in Collingwood, Ontario. A church that has been present in the community for over a century, the current church congregation was eager to reach their community. An opportunity to ,partner with other local churches and organizations has provided a noon lunch hour program for the local high school.
Jane and Ron’s Christian Community Journeys

Jane and Ron discussed their backgrounds in the Christian community, with a focus on their experiences in small churches. Jane shared her lifelong involvement in ministry, starting in her rural childhood church and continuing through various roles such as youth leader and camp worker. She also spoke about her journey towards ordination within her church, which she pursued after 28 years of marriage with her equally involved husband. The couple, who have moved frequently, currently reside in Collingwood, Ontario, where Jane is working toward becoming a senior pastor under Hope Chapel.

Disparity in Rural Retirement Communities

Ron and Jane discussed the area surrounding Collingwood, Stainer, and Dunchroon, with a focus on its current state and future prospects. Jane explained that the region, though rural, has become a retirement hub due to its scenic beauty and access to tourism. However, she pointed out a growing disparity between the wealthy and less affluent populations, particularly in the retail sector. Ron agreed, noting the shift from a blue-collar to a more resort-oriented economy, highlighting the potential for continued

Challenges and Community Outreach of Jane’s Church

Jane and Ron discussed the challenges faced by Jane’s church, which was celebrating its 127th year of existence. The church, having aged and shrunk in size, had fallen into a ‘survival mode’ but a group of members, including Jane, decided to continue. With the help of retired pastor Tim Harden, Jane took over as the church’s leader during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite a decline in congregation numbers, the church was able to attract new members due to its community outreach initiatives. To fund these initiatives, the church sold its parsonage and used the proceeds to support its community outreach. The church aims to raise $60,000 to continue its current programs for another year, with $52,000 already raised. Ron acknowledged the church’s efforts and the importance of its community outreach.

Church Community Engagement and Support

Jane discussed their church community’s approach to engaging with young people. They emphasized that their aim was not to create a youth group, but to provide a welcoming space for students to build relationships and serve. This strategy has led to deeper engagement and even introduced some young people to other churches. They also talked about their community coverage efforts and the positive impact it has had, including collaboration with other churches and community members. Jane highlighted the need for continued community support due to the organization’s limited resources and the potential of building sponsorships to support their ministries, especially the high school lunch program.

Leadership Advice for Small Churches

Jane emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind and following God’s will, which can lead to changes or endings of past endeavors. She also highlighted the value of looking back at the church’s history, appreciating the manual and the experiences that have shaped it. Ron agreed with Jane’s advice and mentioned that he would provide a link of their discussion in the future. They also shared their relocation stories and briefly discussed their current living situations.