Global Gathering Insights: Taking the Pulse of the Global and Local Church
Jesus called us to make disciples around the world, and right here at home. This shared mission was on full display at The Alliance’s first ever Global Gathering last month. This gathering was an opportunity to show how our international mission is also mirrored here at home, as Canadian churches and leaders step out with new initiatives through New Ventures.
International Church Development
International Workers (IWs) play a crucial role in establishing and nurturing new churches in pioneering contexts. As churches grow and mature, the focus shifts to mobilization. IWs work to inspire and equip local churches to engage with unreached people groups in their communities and beyond.
The International team showcased powerful testimonies of church development worldwide. Attendees heard inspiring accounts from Latin America and East Asia, where recent outreach initiatives have led to significant breakthroughs in previously unreached communities. The event also highlighted how digital strategies are enabling The Alliance to penetrate areas where physical presence is challenging or impossible.
New Ventures in the Pacific District: Expanding Horizons at Home
New Ventures focuses on fostering new expressions of church across all of Canada’s districts. Several of these districts are highlighted here.
Lisa Rohrick, Assistant District Superintendent and former IW, shared how The Pacific District faces unique challenges, with six of Canada’s most “unreligious” cities located in British Columbia. At the same time, this also presents significant opportunities for new expressions of church to emerge.
Currently, the district has eight active New Ventures. One standout example is a partnership between New Life Alliance and Surrey Alliance. New Life wanted to start a church to reach Filipino immigrants and international students. They found a local partner in Surrey Alliance church, who offered them a place to meet. This new gathering has not only met the needs of the local Filipino community, but it has opened the door to reaching the local Latino community as well.
The Pacific District has recently seen an increase in New Ventures, ranging from Chinese-language ministries in the Vancouver area to outreach efforts on Vancouver Island and in resort towns in the B.C. interior.
Emerging Opportunities in the Midwest
The Canadian Midwest District is experiencing a revival of church growth reminiscent of its pioneering days a century ago. This new wave of expansion is driven by immigration and resource development.
Communities like LeRoy, Saskatchewan, are seeing explosive population growth due to nearby industrial developments. In response, churches like Humboldt Alliance are adapting their services to meet the needs of these changing demographics.
In urban centers like Winnipeg, massive immigration from South Asia has created new mission fields. Winnipeg Chinese Alliance Church, for instance, has launched outreach programs geared toward South Asian communities, with the goal of establishing a new South Asian Alliance Church within three years.
Eastern District Partnerships
The Eastern District is a testament to the power of partnerships in church planting. With 17 New Ventures, 4 Discerning Communities, and 6 Apprentices, the district embodies the rich variety of cultural expressions in worship.
These New Ventures are built on strong partnerships with local Alliance churches, fostering support, encouragement, and mentoring. For example, East Gate Alliance Church in Ottawa has opened its doors to a Sudanese gathering of believers, leading to the formation of Ottawa Sudanese new venture. And Stonehaven Spanish new venture, which launched from the basement of Stonehaven Community Church, which itself began as a new venture! This full-circle story demonstrates the relevance of the New Ventures approach for churches at any stage.
Innovation in the Central District
The Central District shared about several churches that have shown exceptional commitment to reaching new communities. For instance, Sheridan Park has launched two New Ventures with strong ties to the Hispanic community in the Greater Toronto Area.
The district also focuses on reaching least-churched and under-resourced areas. Paramount Drive, for example, is supporting initiatives focused on the Indo-Canadian population in Hamilton, while Owen Sound Alliance is engaging with under-resourced communities in the Grey-Bruce region.
Our Shared Mission
A key takeaway from The Global Gathering was the continuing emphasis on Church Development, and how this is taking place both globally and locally. While our language varies, and our approaches will look different from place to place, our mission is a shared mission: making disciples, both here in Canada and around the world.