5 Resources to Help You Imagine Church Differently
Whether your congregation is starting to ask questions about building use, community presence, or mission renewal, these resources offer real-world stories and practical tools from diverse ministry contexts. They can help spark conversation and inspire action as you discern your next faithful step.
Voices That Help Us Reimagine the Church
On June 1, a diverse circle of ministry leaders, practitioners, and storytellers will gather in Hamilton and online—not to prescribe formulas, but to offer real-life glimpses of what’s possible when churches begin asking new questions and listening deeply to the needs of their neighbours.
Here are some of the voices helping to guide that conversation.
Creative Ways: Embodying the Church in the Community
Across the country, congregations are asking courageous questions about what it means to be the Church where people are - that’s what we’re discussing this week. They are moving from hoping people will come to them, to going out to meet people with curiosity, compassion, and creativity. This is not about trend-chasing or novelty—it’s about faithfulness. It’s about aligning with the Spirit’s movement in neighbourhoods, in housing projects, in addiction recovery centres, and in prayer-walked streets.
Creative Ways to Welcome New Members
Welcoming new members or attendees to your church is an important act of hospitality. Here are several creative ways you can consider welcoming new people into your church.
Serving the Community: Spotlight on Royal City Mission
In the face of adversity, some churches rise to the occasion, transforming challenges into opportunities for service and impact. Royal City Mission in Guelph, Ontario, is one such church. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, many churches struggled to find their footing. However, Royal City Mission chose a different path, adopting a bold "season of yes" approach that would deeply impact their community.
ReImagining Church Online
We are living through one of the most significant communication shifts in the last 500 years. For churches, this means adapting to new ways of spreading the Gospel and connecting with their communities in the digital age. Traditionally, much of church activity has centered around Sunday services, but what if we reimagined this approach? What if we seized the 167 hours in the week outside of Sunday mornings to connect, minister to, and serve people right where they are—online, on their phones, scrolling through social media?
ReImagining Church Spaces
Churches across Canada are at a crossroads. With many congregations contemplating moving, closing, or merging, the question arises: How can these sacred spaces continue to serve and transform their communities? This crucial topic calls for innovative approaches to church properties, turning them into vibrant community hubs that serve broader societal needs
My time at Co-Creating Plausible Futures for the Canadian Church 2024
I attended the New Leaf Network’s Co-Creating Plausible Futures for The Canadian Church: Balancing the Past, Present, and Future on March 9. This was a national event featuring local hybrid hubs and onlne participation…
Renewal and Resources for Ministry in 2024
Tools and insights for ministry leaders to navigate the complexities of faith transmission and renewal, drawing from recent research, conferences, and collaborative events.