Recap: Creative Ways 2025
When we launched Creative Ways last year, we envisioned it as a space where ministry leaders could come together to explore what it means to be the Church—faithful, just, and creative—in a rapidly changing world. We hoped it would grow into an annual gathering with honest questions, shared stories, and encouragement for those in diverse areas of ministry.
Our plan is to host the event in the same city of the General Assemble of the Presbyterian Church in Canada each year and in 2025, that meant Hamilton, Ontario. We hope to highloght creative ways people are looking at, and doing ministry in that local area so for 2025 we gathered voices who could help us think practically and prophetically about what it means to be present with and for our communities. Hamilton churches (and para-church organizations) seem to have a good handle on being FOR the community, often working with one another to accomplish a bigger vision.
These groups are asking questions like:
What does justice look like in our neighbourhoods?
How do we repurpose our spaces for care?
What does prayer sound like when it walks the streets?
Our speakers this year grounded us in what it means to follow Jesus in this time and place.
Keynote speaker Adrian Jacobs challenged us to honouring the land by entering into a covenant.
We began the afternoon with Adrian Jacobs, a Haudenosaunee Elder and visionary leader in Indigenous justice and reconciliation. Adrian took us back to 2007, to the tensions at Caledonia and the land claims of the Haldimand Treaty, where Mennonite churches in Ontario began asking new questions about whose land they were gathering on. What emerged was not a project or a policy, but a process—a covenantal relationship rooted in listening, truth-telling, and justice-seeking.
Adrian invited us to consider how our theology of land can be transformed. Are our church buildings assets to protect or sacred spaces that call us into accountability? Justice is not an abstract virtue—it’s a posture of humility, and a willingness to return what was taken.
Teresa Howe from Indwell talked about housing as a form of hope.– Housing as a Form of Hope
Teresa Howe of Indwell, a Christian organization dedicated to creating supportive affordable housing communities delivered a message about housing justice. Through stories and examples of real churches (some in the Hamilton area or close by) who took the call to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR seriously and to open their doors—not just on Sundays, but through long-term partnerships to create affordable housing for those living in poverty and often struggling with substance abuse disorder and mental health challenges.
It was amazing to think about the image of resurrection and new life when she talked about old underused church buildings being repurposed into places of welcome, beauty, fresh starts and redemption.
Rev. Dr. J. Mark Lewis shared the recent story of St. Paul’s Hamilton - a church that was supposed to close, but decided to embrace radical hospitality and practical mission to those the often rejected by society.
Facing financial closure, the congregation at St. Paul’s asked a different kind of question—not “How do we survive?” but “Who in our community needs help that no one else is offering?” That question led them to open their space to become a safe injection site and welcome neighbours facing incredible struggles.
Mark spoke about the sacredness of giving up church parlours to those whose lives are often marked by trauma or addiction—and the unexpected resurrection that followed. His story telling was an invitation to reimagine our call to love the least of these and to trust that when we let go of control, God can do incredible work.
Randell Neudorf from The Greater Ontario House of Prayer showed us how to start praying with our feet.
To close, we welcomed Randell Neudorf of the Greater Ontario House of Prayer. Randell led us into the practice of prayer walking, using art and storytelling to show how the streets themselves can become spaces to encounter God. For about 5 minutes Randell took us on a imaginary prayer walk around our neighbourhoods stopping at things like “For Sale” signs, bus stops, gardens, and even trash. Randell reminded us that the Spirit is already moving everywhere we go, but sometime we need practical cues to slow down and notice it. Check out the visual guide to prayer walking resource Randell created to start prayer walking in your neighbourhood.
Will we see YOU next year?
We are so grateful to each speaker, attendee, volunteer and member of the Ministry Forum team who made Creative Ways 2025 possible. Your presence reminded us that the Church is still being formed, still being sent, still being invited into courageous creativity.
If you joined us—thank you. If you’re just discovering this annual event—welcome. We can’t wait to keep walking this road with you and we’ll see you next June for Creative Ways 2026 in Toronto!