Mike Frost: “Q / A – Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture”

Room: Sanctuary
Mike is one of our plenary speakers. He is from Australia and teaches in a theological school there as well as being an international speaker, a leader in Forge, and of course an author of some very helpful and shaping books over the past 7 years. Mike will talk about how we learn to live as Christians in our culture.

 

Story – Keith Shields: “Connections, LifeHouse: House Church Movement in Canada”

Keith came out of the research industry to plant a series of house churches in Calgary a number of years ago. Now he has moved to Vancouver with a call to do the same. His participation in Church Planting Canada in Alberta was influential in bringing the congress to Calgary and now he serves with others in the BC region under this umbrella. If you want to know about the house church movement and strategies in Canada, Keith is the one to talk to.

 

Missional – Nick Brotherwood: “Fresh Expressions in Canada”

Ten years ago, God launched a fresh new movement in England called Fresh Expressions. Many new churches and styles of churches were initiated and Nick has been connected near the centre of this movement. Now, Nick and Fresh Expressions are working towards seeing this happen in Canada as well. Through teaching, equipping and mentoring, Fresh Expressions Canada is trying to help foster a movement of Church Planting across our land. Nick will share stories of the movement from England as well as what has begun to happen in Canada.

 

Resourcing – John Caplin/Brian Archer: “Finding Another Gear: The Value of Coaching”

John worked with the PAOC in Canada for years coaching, training, creating networks and encouraging church planting before starting his own coaching ministry and company recently. He is on the CPC National team and oversees the whole coaching track of CPC. Brian is the Chair of the design team for Renov8 and serves with the EMCC as a Regional Minister responsible for equipping and coaching. Both of their experience will serve us well as they teach us about the value of coaching in creating church planting movements.

 

Equipping – Wendy Gritter: “Navigating Diverse Perspectives on Gay Issues”

Wendy is the National Director of New Direction Ministries. She has taught extensively on how the church should respond to those struggling with sexual issues. Her gentle approach demonstrates both a deeply rooted biblical perspective and the compassion of Christ on this subject. This workshop will be valuable to those who live in neighbourhoods with gay people… in other words all of us.

 

Neighbourhoods –Geoff Ryan: “Stained Glass Urbanism and Community Development”

How can the Church interact better with the public square? Can we shift from the sanctuaries of our churches and the bedrooms of the nation, away from issues of personal piety and morality into the boardroom and studio and the streets, influencing wider issues of social justice and public morality? Major Geoff Ryan represents The Salvation Army, is the coordinator of the 614 network of urban faith communities (www.614network.com), and is an Advisory Board member with the Christian Community Development Association (www.ccda.org). Geoff has published several books of essays.

 

Context – Henry Schorr and John Pritchard: “Mega Church to House Church”

Henry is known as the Pastor of one of Canada’s largest and most influential churches. Yet, he is quick to recognize that there is more than one way of being church or one model to reaching our neighbourhoods. That is why Centre Street has also begun a series of House Churches led by John Pritchard. John, who is on the design team for Renov8, brings a lot of wisdom and experience to the issue of house churches. Together they will tell the Centre Street story and talk about how big churches can be creative in reaching neighbourhoods in various ways and methods.

 

Theology – Anthony Brown: “Extraordinary Instructions for Mission: Jesus’ Sending of the Twelve”

What does the Church’s first missionary journey have to say about the mission of the Church in Canada today? This session aims to provide an inspiring and challenging examination of the fundamental ethos of Christian mission established by Jesus’ sending of the disciples as recorded in chapter 9 of Luke’s Gospel. Anthony teaches at Regent and is the Educational Director for Forge Canada.

 

Plenary – Stuart Murray-Williams/Juliet Kilpin: “Mind the Gap – planting churches where they are most needed”

Stuart is a theologian, a practitioner, a teacher, an author, a planter and an international speaker, all rolled into one. There are few that have his experience in the area of church planting and creating movements. Together with Juliet, they will dialogue with the workshop participants about determining where to plant churches and how to approach them.

 

Story – Tim Dickau: “Transforming a Neighbourhood: Story of Grandview Calvary”
Tim is the Senior Pastor of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church in Vancouver. There are very few churches in Canada that have had the impact on their neighbourhood that GC has had. Their story and their strategy have much to say to us across the country. They have created jobs, started housing foundations, created schools and really do “enjoy the favour” of the people in the Commercial drive area.

 

Missional – Cam Roxburgh and Hugh Halter: “From Here to There: Landing the Missional Church”

Cam is the National Director of Church Planting Canada and of Forge Canada. He pastors at Southside Community Church in Vancouver which is a multi-site church reaching four neighbourhoods. Hugh is the author of The Tangible Kingdom and the The TK Primer. He is the Pastor of Adullam in Denver, Colorado. Cam has taught missional church principles for 10 years while Hugh has become a leading voice in the missional conversation. This workshop will help participants gain an understanding of the missional church and how to apply these principles to local context’s. It will also reflect ways leaders, churches and denominations can grow through joining the Forge Canada network.

 

Resourcing – James Watson: “Moolah & Momentum: The relationship between funding & new church development in Canada”

At the Imagine 2007 church planting congress a survey was conducted asking questions about many parts of the church planting experience. During analysis, questions emerged about the relationship between financial support and the growth of the church plant. Come explore the diversity of neighbourhoods of the interviewed church plants and the implications for funding. James serves with the Salvation Army Nationally in Church planting and on the National Church Planting Canada Executive.

 

Equipping – Jared Siebert: “Greenhouses”

Jared is with the Free Methodists as their Catalyst for Church planting. His creativity and his wisdom have already fostered new life in this denomination and in others across the country. Jared is a part of the Church Planting Canada National team and is working with planters to create environments for mutual learning and growth called “Greenhouses.” This workshop will explore what it looks like to foster growth in planters through mutual encouragement.

 

Neighbourhoods – Howard Lawrence/Karen Wilk: “Neighbourhood Life”

God is present and at work in Edmonton. Neighbourhoods are being transformed and churches are working together to reach their neighbours and re-imagine the church. Howard is on the Forge National Team and is responsible for helping create neighbourhood churches. Karen is a Pastor at “The River” in Edmonton, works with the Christian Reform denomination in leading small groups, and is on the Forge National team. Together they will tell stories of what God is doing in Edmonton and challenge those present to re-imagine the way we go about reaching our neighbourhoods.

 

Context – Wagdi Iskander: “Ministering to Muslims”

Wagdiʼs life story is simply remarkable. From the Sudan, raised in a Muslim family, Wagdi had a dramatic experience where he was introduce to Jesus. Through trials and danger, he eventually went to Europe and then on to Canada where he has Pastored and ministered for 20 years. In this workshop, Wagdi will share some of his story as well as help others to learn from some of his experience in ministering to Muslims in Canada.

 

Theology – Glenn Smith: “The Theology of Place”

Glenn is the National Director for Christian Direction in Montreal. His long history of teaching, speaking and writing, have made him one of the most respected voices on “Transforming Cities.” In this workshop, Glenn will spend time dealing with the theological roots behind the transformation of cities or neighbourhoods.

 

Plenary – Glenn Smith: “Transformed Neighbourhoods”

Room: Sanctuary
What could a transformed neighbourhood look like? Glenn will spend the time in this workshop leading us through some of the results of his research and work into transforming cities. His model is helpful for all and gives keen insights sociologically and biblically into seeing the redemption of society as well as individuals.

 

Story – Hugh Halter: “The Tangible Kingdom”

Many are familiar with Hugh Halter and his book the Tangible Kingdom. It has made a huge impact across North America due to both the style and the content of what he has written. The Kingdom of God is here now and God is at work. In this workshop Hugh will tell the Story of Adullam (his home church) and encourage listeners to explore ways to see the Kingdom of God at work in their own neighbourhood.

 

Missional – Juliet Kilpin: “Oops, I think we’ve started a church planting movement”

Juliet is the leader of Urban Expression (www.urbanexpression.org.uk). This is a church planting movement in inner cities across England. Her experience in church planting, creating movements, and in teaching will be a rich resource for us at Renov8. She is a plenary speaker and will be sharing this workshop with us to encourage cp movements.

 

Resourcing – Ken Nettleton: “Moving the Denomination towards Missional ”

Ken has just recently become the Senior Pastor of 1st Baptist Calgary. Prior to this role, he served the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada as the Missional Director and helped create an ethos of mission throughout the denomination. Ken will share with us what he and others did along the way to create that ethos, and push us to think of ways of being part of a movement in our own denomination.

 

Equipping – Jay Pinney: “Dealing with Stress in the Planterʼs Life”

Jay is a member of the Church Planting Canada national team. He serves as a missionary in Quebec and teaches, counsels and coaches pastors and planters in many circles. However, one of Jayʼs great gifts is his ability to care for and resource planters going through the stresses of planting. Many have been helped by Jay at a deep level, and in this workshop Jay will help equip us to cope with the stresses that come as a result of our mission.

 

Neighbourhoods – George Werner: “3rd Spaces”

George is the National Director for Mission Canada in the PAOC, and serves on the executive of Church planting Canada. George teaches about, speaks about and fosters all kinds of missional activity in Canada through local churches and mission agencies. One of his passions is finding ways to meet neighbours in a neutral space. In this workshop George will be exploring with us ways to create places for normal people to hang out together and explore spiritual conversations.

 

Context – Ray Aldred: “Reaching First Nations”
Many are familiar with the ministry of Ray Aldred. Ray is a teacher, writer, lecturer and advocate for the First Nations people in Canada. Ray was a plenary speaker for Church Planting Canada at the Toronto Congress in 2005, and now returns to lead us in this workshop designed to help us minister to and among First Nations people in Canada.

 

Theological Story – Joe Manafo: “One Size Fits All”

Joe is a planter in Ontario for the Free Methodists. Two years ago, he ventured across our country recording stories of church plants in a variety of locations. We caught a glimpse of some of his work at Imagine in Ottawa in 2007. The project is now finished and Joe will be screening the video, as well as sharing reflections on what he has seen of the church in Canada during these years.