Faith At Work In Canadian Cities
Wendy Burton has had a lifetime working in corporate settings and ministry experience in churches, but in recent years her focus has turned to her community. Prompted by the Spirit, she began to make herself available at a local coffee chain to meet people, build friendships and enter into a life of community pastoring.
Bill Reilly and I shadow the team of Street Level Advocacy in Peterborough, Ontario. Scott Couper, Leigh-Ann Davidson, Chris and a growing number of people are spending their days on the streets, in the Overflow tent city, shelters and agencies that work with street affiliated people.
You will meet Joe, the Aboriginal man run over by a snow plow and Will the bicycle recycler. Join us as we find God at work in desperate places.
Links:
YouTube version:
Scott Couper Interview - Season 2, Episode 24
https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/scott-couper-is-a-bridge
Scott Couper Profile
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/scottcouper
News:
Graham Gibson is the Director of Cultural Engagement Studies at Master’s College and Seminary in Peterborough, Ontario. He and his wife Linda have a life centred in students and mission.
In this interview we talked about seeing Canada as a mission field for the Gospel and the importance of cultural engagement.
Links:
Master’s College and Seminary
Ejay and Cheryl live above a coffee shop on Queen Street in Toronto. As parents of a toddler, they exemplify urban disciples of Jesus living on mission in their neighbourhood.
In this session from the Our City Toronto conference (2022) they share life lessons and guiding principles on the power of collaborative relationship. They depend on each other and rely on other community members in accomplishing good work for their city and neighbourhood.
Both have been guests on previous episodes of Sidewalk Skyline Podcast.
Links:
Mission Canada
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/ejaytupe
Urban Trends In Canada
https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/urban-trends-in-canada-cheryl-walsh
Sidewalk Pastors
Gangland Preacher
https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/gangland-preacher-ejay-tupe
Pastor Vir Mateo and his daughter Rhema Annett started the Good Measure Foodbank out of their church. Listen to their story as to how they saw a need in their community, responded to serve and found critical partnerships to feed their hungry neighbours in Mississauga. This session was recorded at Our City Toronto Conference 2022.
Virginio Mateo
Vir is the lead Pastor of Christ for Life Ministries, a church he planted 28 years ago. He has a desire for the church to be the hands and feet of Christ and to spread His Gospel and make disciples. In collaboration with his daughter, Rhema, they started Good Measure Food Bank as the need in their community became apparent.
Rhema Annett
Rhema felt called by the Lord to start Good Measure Food Bank in 2016. Her expectation? Small Closet Food Pantry. The reality? A full fledged operation that she had no idea how to operate. Through mistakes and continuous learning she realized that her community didn't need another food bank based on efficiency, but a place where people could go for not only their physical hunger, but spiritual. It would soon become not only a space for those in need to know their value and be loved, but for Christians to be equipped to share the gospel. Since the start of the food bank they have seen salvations from both people who receive food and volunteer.
Links:
Good Measure Food Bank
http://goodmeasurefoodbank.com/
Christ For Life Ministries
My guests today are ‘Patmos People’, a term I coined to describe people that remind me of John the Revelator. From their embedded history in a city, they are uniquely poised to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church in their location.
Just as Jesus expressed his love through John to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor, these Patmos People are living messages of Jesus’ love for Montreal.
Patti Miller is the lead pastor of Evangel Church, a historic Pentecostal church in the heart of downtown Montreal. Their church is presently developing a multi-story building around the corner that will provide main floor retail, upper church and community spaces and housing units available across the socio-economic spectrum.
Cal and Chrissy Krahn are involved in French language training for ministry and are Mission Canada urban workers.
Jenna Smith is the Innovation Youth Director for Christian Direction, an agency that works at the intersection of faith, community and urban development.
Links:
Patti Miller
Cal & Chrissy Krahn
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/cckrahn
Jenna Smith
This is part 2 of my conversation with John Engels, Kelly Johnson, Jazelle Johnson and David Ritz. We talk about the effects of deconstructing faith and how university campus leaders are engaging in meaningful conversations. Many students are experiencing an awakening of conscience and sorting through what to believe about right and wrong.
If you haven’t yet listened to part 1 of the interview you can find it here:
https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/univer-city-life-part-1
It is no secret that public education finds its roots in the Christian faith. Study the roots of any historic university and you will find that clergy and prominent Christian community builders believed that education held the keys to greater wisdom and understanding. Christian faith is built on curiosity and wonder about all of Creation and unveiling its mysteries.
But today if you walk onto the campuses of Canadian universities, you may need to look harder to find a place for Christian faith.
Building on a history of campus chaplaincy, Christian outreach, and discipleship groups we are seeing a resurgence of gospel witness and Christian community emerging as Heaven’s counterculture in the midst of an often-hostile environment.
In this episode I have a conversation with John Engels, Milly Li, Kelly Johnson, Jazelle Johnson and David Ritz.
Links:
Serve Campus Network
Serve Campus YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN7cP5T3DKgpd2zRWg5lR9Q?app=desktop
Serve Campus Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/servecampusnetwork/
Milly Li @University Campus Ministries
https://ucmsfu.ca/about/#leaders
Kelly Johnson
https://paoc.org/donate/kellyjohnson
Jazelle Johnson @Lifeline Ministries
https://www.lifelineministries.ca/
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/jazellejohnson
David Ritz - Montreal
https://www.paoc.org/donate/davidritz
David Burke - Lifeline @Ryerson University interview
https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/post-secondary-lifeline
My continuing conversation with Levi Samson Beardy and Dan Collado as we talk about the gospel at work in First Nations, Metis and Inuit. With 50% of the Canadian indigenous population living in urban centres, there is a greater opportunity to build bridges and engage in reconciliation.
The billboard in this picture was posted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2014 as part of an art exhibit.
It is my honour today to invite a team of indigenous Christians from various parts of Canada onto the podcast to talk about what it means to be an indigenous or aboriginal person living in Canadian cities. Stats Canada uses the terms ‘aboriginal’ and ‘indigenous’ to refer to people that are First Nations, Metis and Inuit. It is estimated that about one-half live in urban areas as compared to those living on reservation land and non-urban areas.
Dan Collado, has been serving the Lord in full-time ministry since 1993. He initially took a step of faith and went to live and pastor in small isolated fly-in Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, and later in Nunavut. After some 15 years of pastoral ministry, while continuing to feel the burden for Indigenous initiatives, Dan accepted the role as Academic Director of Aboriginal Bible Academy (ABA) in 2009. Dan is part of the Mohawk nation and resides in Napanee, ON.
Jim Thunder is Director of Economic Development at Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg, MB. He is an adjunct professor of Indigenous Economic Leadership at University of Manitoba.
Levi Samson Beardy is the Oji-Cree pastor of Aboriginal Believers’ Church in Toronto.
Links:
Dan Collado - Mission Canada Indigenous Priority
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/priorityindigenouscanadians
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/dancollado
Aboriginal Bible Academy
https://www.aboriginalbibleacademy.ca/about
Jim Thunder MBA
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jimthunder
Levi Samson Beardy
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/levi-samson-beardy-9639537
Aboriginal Believers’ Church
https://www.facebook.com/AbOriginalBelieversChurch/
In today’s episode we discuss Graham’s journey to Montreal and St. Jax’s as a unique model of urban ministry.
Graham Singh is Founder and Executive Director of the Trinity Centres Foundation, a new Canadian charity established to transform 100 historic city centre church buildings into community hubs. TCF’s team of 50+ advisors from the social innovation, property finance, urbanism and faith sectors are currently developing what may become one of Canada’s most significant social purpose real estate investment offerings.
Over the past 12 years, Graham has led four historic building and community renewal projects in the United Kingdom and Canada, including in his current role as Rector of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal’ recent church plant, St Jax Montreal.
Graham also acts as a consultant in the area of social impact investing, in the private wealth management sector. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics, Cambridge University (Ridley Hall / St Mellitus College), the University of Western Ontario and Asbury Theological Seminary. He is currently enrolled in Oxford University’s Saïd Business School Impact Innovations Programme.
Brian Egert is the director of Mission Canada, and co-hosts the interview.
Links:
St Jax Church
https://www.stjaxchurch.org/en/home
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Trinity Centres Foundation
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Canadian Urban Institute
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Le Monastère Cabaret de Cirque
https://le-monastere.ca/en/home-en/
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Church Planting Canada
https://www.churchplantingcanada.ca/welcome
My guest today is Susan Wells, author of ‘A Place at My Table: Creating Space to Belong.’ Over the years, we have crossed paths and even shared some group meals at restaurants across the country. She and her husband David Wells currently reside in the Greater Toronto Area city Burlington. David is the General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies Of Canada.
In her book Susan says, ‘In some circles a philosophy evolved that the only reason for making a friend outside the church was to convert them. When I was a teen, we were encouraged to share our faith with our friends but not truly be friends with them… This dichotomy can result in Christians never developing a genuine camaraderie with people who don’t hold the same beliefs. They end up praying for souls without befriending the people that embody the souls.’
Susan is a woman of depth and insight. We cover a lot of ground here on the path to the table.
Links:
A Place At My Table (Book)
https://wordcom.paoc.org/products/a-place-at-my-table-paoc-gift-book-susan-wells
Website:
Montreal is the gateway to Quebec for much of English speaking Canada. One of its citizens Gary Connors talks with Kevin Rogers about ways that God is at work in Montreal, the cities of Quebec and Francophone Canada.
Gary Connors is the coordinator for Quebec and Francophone Canada, a missional priority of Mission Canada and FIT4M (French Intensive Training for Ministry), a national initiative.
Gary has pastored in Quebec for numerous years and has served as Assistant to the Superintendent of the Eastern Ontario and Quebec District and the District Superintendent for the District of Quebec.
Gary and his wife Gwen live in Hudson Quebec.
Links:
Mission Canada - Quebec and Francophone Canada
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/priorityquebecandfrancophonecanada
Fit4M - French Intensive Training For Ministry
Institut Biblique du Quebec
The population of street-affiliated people in Peterborough, Ontario has sky-rocketed. Many are homeless, unemployed and without hope. As a Mission Canada worker, Scott has responded to God’s call to go. With 30 years of pastoral ministry in PAOC churches, Scott has stepped into a new season and calling as a “Street Level Advocate” in Peterborough’s city core, where a population of over 80,000 reports more than 300 homeless individuals (Peterborough Social Services, July 2021). Unemployment, food insecurity and inadequate housing are all serious issues which are often compounded by mental health challenges, addictive behaviours, loneliness, and lack of purpose in life.
Scott is intentionally present among individuals who need to see God’s love demonstrated toward them. He knows that it is through kindness expressed in non-judgmental ways, that hope can be realized (Romans 2:4) and the love of Christ experienced. Utilizing his many connections with church leaders, social services and local police, Scott builds relationships and connects individuals to helpful services and resources. His deepest desire, however, is to be a human bridge, seeing people restored to right relationship with a Heavenly Father who loves them and has a good plan for their lives.
As followers of Christ, God calls us to care for those who find themselves in the gaps of society. As a “Street Level Advocate”, Scott’s mission is to:
CONNECT people to their Heavenly Father as kindness, respect, hospitality, and patient listening is lived out. As trust and friendship is built, hearts can become open to the message of hope found in the person of Jesus Christ.
BE A BRIDGE between the local church and those in the urban core so that the Church can partner to reach out and advocate for an individuals’ physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
NETWORK street-affiliated people with resources that already exist for their help and benefit. Many are unaware of services available to them or how to access their assistance.
BRIDGE THE GAP of communication between the local police service and those on the streets of the city. Through his role as volunteer police chaplain, Scott is well positioned for meaningful conversations and connections.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
Links:
Kevin Rogers sits down with his longtime friend, 2fish band mate and co-pastor Kevin Saunders. On October 1st their 2 urban congregations in Windsor Ontario merged together to become more effective through multiple locations of ministry.
Hear their collective experiences and gained wisdom from being in urban ministry for the long haul.
Toque Evans?
Two Kevins’.
Cory Kostyra is the pastor of Bradford Community Church and is making great inroads into his small city. Bradford is a bedroom community north of Toronto that is described as the primary country urban area of Bradford, West Gwillimbury, Ontario. This small city overlooks a farming community known as The Holland Marsh, located on the Holland River that flows into Lake Simcoe.
We have never featured a country urban area on the podcast, but apparently that is a thing.
In his other occupation he is part of the Ontario Provincial Police Traffic Support Unit that cleans up after highway accidents. Both highways 400 and 404 are major, multi-lane arteries flowing in and out of the Greater Toronto Area and often dealing with injuries and fatalities along their routes.
Unfortunately, Cory suffers from PTSD and has a story that will help us understand what many in police, EMS and healthcare are facing. So, we want to talk about that, but we also want to hear about some of the open doors in community since Cory entered pastoral ministry.
Links:
Bradford Community Church
https://www.bradfordcommunitychurch.com/
Living with PTSD
We are 5 days away from a federal election in Canada. I don’t know how political you are, but the Bible does have some things to say about kings, governors and those who hold positions of authority in nations that we live.
Throughout Scripture we see God’s people living under political systems from the elders at the gate of your city, to kings and queens of nations and as conquered people living under slavery. There are examples of God-fearing politicians and of oppressive despots.
Paul was writing his letters to the churches while the Roman government was in power. The same government that would crush, torture, and execute good people like Jesus, the disciples and many in the early church. And yet, we hear a message of another government called the Kingdom of God. It’s a system that grows in seed form globally through all time and it does not go to war against its enemies. It is a government that does not originate in the world as we know it.
In Paul’s pastoral letter to Timothy, he said:
1 Timothy 2:
First, I want you to pray for all people. Ask God to help and bless them. Give thanks for them. 2 Pray for kings. Pray for everyone who is in authority. Pray that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.
Have you prayed for the politicians of your nation asking God to help and bless them? Have you given thanks for them today?
My guest today has something to say about praying for leadership. I’m talking to Tim Schindel from Victoria, British Columbia. I met Tim several years ago as his vision for chaplaincy was in its early stages. The last time we were together in 2018, we had lunch and a tour of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia along with Jason Goertzen, the chaplain there.
Seeing the need and an opportunity to serve, Tim founded Leading Influence in 2006 to fulfill the vision of providing excellence in pastoral care to politicians across Canada. Under his leadership, Leading Influence has grown to a national ministry with a chaplain team that reaches from Victoria, BC to Quebec City. Tim serves as the National Director for Leading Influence and serves as the Ottawa chaplain.[1]
Links:
Earlier this summer I hosted a webinar with Steve Pike entitled ‘The Great Reset of Mission in the City’. Canadian urban leaders attended as we talked about 21st century realities of making disciples in our urban context.
Steve Pike has been at the forefront of church planting for thirty years. He served as founding director of Church Multiplication Network (CMN) for the Assemblies of God (USA) denomination.
Seeing a need for more church plants in cities, he founded Urban Islands Project, which exists to “increase the presence of the Church in the Urban O.”
He’s released a book entitled ‘Next Wave: Discovering the 21st Century Church’.
Links:
Previous interview with Steve Pike:
Season 2, Episode 9:
Steve Pike B: Next Wave website
Next Wave Book: Discovering the 21st Century Church
Urban Islands Project
As a young Torontonian living in an upscale neighbourhood, Kelly lived with the secrecy of sexual abuse. Fuelled by her insecurities she took to the street with a vengeance. Her associations would eventually lead to her being trafficked.
Today Kelly Franklin leads Courage For Freedom, an organization committed to ending trafficking in Canada and helping its victims find a new life of healing and recovery.
Learn more at www.courageforfreedom.org
Kelly is available to speak and can be reached through office@courageforfreedom.org
In the second part of the Sidewalk Pastors interview, we talk about the stereotypes around poverty and the spiritual formation that is grossly neglected in the field of social work. We will hear more amazing stories about real life people and their courageous struggles.
Our guests are great examples of Street Ministry Workers (letter “S” in our QUEST acronym).
If you have not listened, to part 1 please go back and listen to that first to get a proper introduction to our guests Bob Gal, Anna Morgante and Ejay Tupe.
Links:
Mission Canada
Bob Gal
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/bobgal
Anna Morgante
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/annamorgante
Ejay Tupe