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Urban Churches in Canada - QUEST Conversations part 1

April 01, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Tim Keller writes, “Cities, quite literally, have more of the image of God per square inch than any other place on earth. How can we not be drawn to such masses of humanity if we care about the same things that God cares about?” [1] Timothy Keller, Center Church p.143

So what do we mean by the term ‘urban church’? Our working definition of urban includes High Density (population), High Diversity (culture) and High Disparity (socio-economic).

Each of our guests today are pastors in urban churches from coast to coast. Each urban centre is so different from the other, but we are finding lots of common ground in what it means to be an urban congregation.

Simon Gau is at Broadway Church in Vancouver, BC. He serves as the community pastor and Executive Director of Cityreach.

Debbie Kunst is the pastor of Edmonton’s Father’s House.

Bruce Martin is the pastor of Calvary Temple in Winnipeg, another historic Pentecostal congregation that has remained in the downtown core.

Across the Prairies, let’s land at YYZ. Pearson International Airport in Toronto. We’re renting a car and driving 20 kms NE to the Jane-Finch corridor. Olu Jegede is the senior pastor of Christian Centre Church.

Let’s get back on our private jet and fly to Montreal. Kyvenz Amedee is the pastor of Eglise Gospelvie, a multicultural church located in the heart of Montreal’s South-Central district.

And finally our Maritime urban pastor Chad Nickerson. He is at Calvary Temple in St. John, NB.

Links:

Broadway Church, Vancouver BC

https://www.broadwaychurch.com/

Cityreach

https://www.cityreach.org/

Edmonton Father’s House

http://edmontonfathershouse.org/index.html

Debbie Kunst interview from Season 1:

https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/spiritual-mother-in-the-fathers-house-debbie-kunst-interview

Video version:

https://youtu.be/FK5ghUOu-EQ

Calvary Temple, Winnipeg

https://www.ctwinnipeg.com/

Christian Centre Church, Toronto

https://ccctoronto.com/

Inner City Outreach, Toronto

https://innercityoutreach.ca/

Olu Jegede from Season 1:

https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/gangland-preacher-olu-jegede

Eglise Gospelvie

https://www.gospelvie.com/

Calvary Temple, St. John NB

https://www.calvarytemplesj.com/

Chad Nickerson from Season 1:

https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/saint-chad-in-saint-john-chad-nickerson-interview

Video version:

https://youtu.be/i365tAy9duU

Qualitative Neighbouring - QUEST Conversation part 2

March 15, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Intentional Community, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Part 2 of my conversation with Karen, Bob Cameron & special guest Hughie Carpenter (Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative) and Paula Castrucci (Move In Toronto).

Join us as we explore themes related to intentional Christian community in the urban core.

(Listen to part 1 for a full introduction of our guests and to find links to their respective ministries)

https://www.sidewalkskylinepodcast.com/sidewalkskylinepodcast/qualitative-neighbouring-quest-conversation-part-1

Qualitative Neighbouring - QUEST Conversation part 1

March 01, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

There are pockets of Christians across Canada cities that view life in the neighbourhood as a sacred calling.

On today’s episode, you are going to meet three people I respect and admire for their commitment to live intentionally within their postal code.

Karen Reed lives in Parker House, a beautiful house in the Commercial Drive district of East Vancouver.

Bob Cameron lives on my street in Windsor, Ontario and is the founder and visionary of the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative.

And returning podcast guest Paula Castrucci shares from her time of intentional community with Move In Toronto.

First Nations And The Canadian Church (Aaron Mix-Ross interview)

February 15, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry, First Nations Canada

Aaron Mix Ross is the new pastor at Richmond Pentecostal Church in British Columbia. Prior to that he served on staff at Heartland Church in Mississauga and before that he was part of the pastoral team at Toronto’s Stone Church.

Aaron is an urban pastor with great insights into city life.

During his years at Stone Church he completed his PhD in theology at the University of Toronto's Wycliffe College. The title of his thesis was "The Heavens Have Become a Highway" The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Northland Mission and the Indigenous Principle.

With one half living in major urban centres and two-thirds of the Metis living in cities, it’s a worthy exploration for every Canadian.

Sniff, Sneeze, Splice (James Craig, Archivist)

February 01, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

James Craig is the archivist for Pentecostal Assemblies Of Canada. He runs a state of the art archive with documents and artifacts related to the history of the Pentecostal movement in Canada. We will learn some intriguing details about data storage and the value of looking back.

Part of this interview explores the early Pentecostal history of ministry engagement in urban centres.

Jim is also the executive director of The Lifestream Initiative.

The Lifestream Initiative exists to discover, disseminate and facilitate new opportunities for churches to love their neighbours. Current areas of focus include the mental health needs of First Responders and their families, mental health education for faith leaders, and assisting churches to become more engaged in their communities. With a primary emphasis on Mississauga, Ontario, Canada's sixth largest city, the initiative serves to bring Christian leaders together and make new connections between and among those engaged in a variety of ministries.

Single In The City (Paula Castrucci)

January 15, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in At Risk Youth, Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Paula Castrucci has lots to say about living as a single person involved in urban ministry. This session was recorded at the Our City Toronto 2019 conference.

Combining her two passions of working with youth and with the homeless, she has found a way to blend these in her work for Youth Unlimited Toronto. Part of this work is with Light Patrol, an initiative helping homeless youth.

Being Strategic About Household Poverty (Mark Griffin Interview)

January 01, 2021 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Hamilton Ontario, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Churches can become strategic community centres in the fight against poverty. From the book of Acts and the history of ancient Israel, God’s people have shared a responsibility to love their neighbour in practical ways.

As CEO of ‘Christians Against Poverty Canada’ Mark Griffin shares some great insights from a life of ministry in various parts of Canada and the world. We talk about the particular challenges of urban poverty and hopeful ways that we can be part of seeing change come to our communities.

(Bonus episode) 2fish And The Theme Music

December 23, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

An inside look at the theme music of Sidewalk Skyline Podcast featuring the band 2fish.

Longevity In Urban Ministry (with Michael Krause)

December 15, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in At Risk Youth, Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Dr. Michael Krause has a broad range of ministerial experience in an urban context in churches, social service agencies and educational institutions. He was the director of Evergreen, Yonge Street Mission’s outreach to street-involved youth, supervising 20 staff overseeing a thriving menu of programs including health care, housing support, employment training, drop-in and meal programs, and a broad range of advocacy support.

He was the youth pastor at Flemingdon Park Church, the assistant pastor at the Stone Church in downtown Toronto and the senior pastor at Church on the Street, an experimental church reaching out to street youth in the urban core. He has been active as a church planter in other contexts, pioneering Hills Church, an innovative, house church network based in Thornhill.

Before joining the faculty of Tyndale in 2014, he functioned as the Staff Care director at Yonge Street Mission where he provided leadership development, ministry coaching and counselling to staff members working with the urban poor. He has been teaching courses with the TIM Centre Diploma program since its inception in 2010. He also has a private practice as a leadership coach and church consultant. Michael is ordained with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. (description from Tyndale faculty page)

In this session from the Our City Conference (2019) in Toronto, he shares principles of longevity. How do you prepare and maintain a ministry life for the long haul?

Links:

Tyndale University

https://www.tyndale.ca/faculty/michael-krause

Yonge Street Mission

https://www.ysm.ca/

Lightning Rod Conversations (with Chris Chase)

December 01, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

This is part 2 of Kevin Rogers' interview with Chris Chase. In this episode we look at the need in culture for tables of conversation where we can listen intelligently to two sides of an issue. The urban Christian can be a lightning rod that is able to disperse potentially destructive power and ground it in peace-making.

Six Degrees Of Separation From Chris Chase

November 15, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

In this two part series, we have a conversation with Chris Chase.

Part one discusses his early years as a kid in Montreal and his journey to adulthood. We joked about how there are six degrees of separation from David Wells, the General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies Of Canada; but, it’s just as likely that there are six degree of separation from Chris Chase.

Much of his adult life has revolved around the Greater Toronto Area as a student, pastor, Bible College faculty and family man.

Part two will take us into a deeper discussion on race, theology and urban ministry but this episode tells us his story thus far. When we recorded earlier this year he was between things and has since landed as the lead pastor of The Meeting House in Newmarket.

Catch more of Chris Chase on his YouTube series ‘The House Of Common Show’.

Links:

The House Of Common Show

https://www.youtube.com/c/HouseofCommonShow/videos

That Chris Chase

https://www.thatchrischase.com/

Masters College & Seminary

https://www.mcs.edu/

The Meeting House - Newmarket

https://www.facebook.com/tmhnewmarket

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thatchrischase/

Offenders And Their Families (Rielly McLaren interview)

October 15, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Chaplaincy, Corrections Canada

Rielly McLaren is a chaplain at St. Leonard’s House in Windsor, Ontario. This historic halfway house was the first of its kind in Canada for men coming out of federal prison and returning to the community. In the years that Rielly has worked there, he has added to its history by starting a support group for wives and mothers of offenders.

Spiritual Mother In The Father's House (Debbie Kunst interview)

October 01, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in At Risk Youth, Canada, Christianity, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Debbie Kunst pastors an inspiring church in downtown Edmonton. Father’s House is a great example of how urban churches can be missional and parish-focused with a strong sense of being Spirit led.

There is a great need for spiritual mothers and fathers in the urban core. For some the ‘family’ gathering will be the greatest sense of ‘home’ that they will experience on a daily basis.

Post-Secondary Lifeline

September 15, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Mission Canada, PAOC, Urban Ministry

David Burke is a Mission Canada campus worker to Ryerson University, situated in the core of downtown Toronto. Ryerson is home to over 43,000 students, the majority of whom do not know Christ as their Saviour. David, along with his wife, Krysten, launched a ministry on campus called "LifeLine" to help fill this spiritual need. LifeLine exists to be a vibrant faith community that is actively introducing people to Jesus Christ, and discipling and mentoring those who do know Him.

Missional Priorities In Canada

September 01, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

As the national mission agency of the PAOC, Mission Canada seeks to place uniquely skilled workers into gaps in our nation where the gospel message must be taken. It also exists to network leaders across the nation who are passionate about reaching various people groups. Mission Canada prioritizes five challenges for mission, and has Guiding Groups that strategize together, resourcing one another and our local churches. As the Mission Canada Director, Brian is responsible for working with our districts and churches to identify and release workers who will go to the missional gaps in Canada. He is passionate to see individuals released to reach their God-sized dreams, impacting the unreached regions and peoples of the nation.

Viewing Canada From 30,000 Feet (Dr. David Wells)

Sidewalk Skyline Podcast

August 15, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity

Our guest on today’s podcast is Dr. David Wells, a Canadian with a global perspective and a view from 30,000 feet. As General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies Of Canada and president of the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America, he is an influencer that is shaping generations of believers and churches around the world.

He is a key architect of Mission Canada and the PAOC 2020 Initiative revitalizing churches and disciples across the nation. He is an urban thinker and intercessor with a high view of cities in the plans of God.

Why Would Anyone Go To Church?

August 01, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry, Hamilton Ontario, BCOQ, Kevin Makins

I first heard of Kevin Makins through my friend Rielly McLaren. He told me about his college friend that was planting a cool church in Hamilton. I next heard of Kevin as a guest on New Leaf Network podcast where he talked about his ‘Holy Shift’ tour, as he and some of his friends cycled to bars to do stand-up comedy, have conversations about Jesus and have one of his friends perform music on a bicycle. I was not surprised when we first met at Eucharist Church and he showed up on a one-wheel motorized skateboard.

So when the opportunity to read his book and interview him for my podcast came up, I knew that this would be time well spent. So, let me share my thoughts on Kevin and his book ‘Why Would Anyone Go To Church?’

Race Talk Windsor-Detroit (Part 2)

July 15, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

I was involved in a local conversation shortly after the death of George Floyd under the knee of officer Derek Chauvin. Christopher Cobbler and I gathered a mixed-race panel of pastors from Windsor and Detroit to talk about the black-white divide.

Because Windsor is a border city to Detroit, we likely have an enhanced perspective on America’s history of oppression against black slaves. Border cities are also part of the Underground Railroad where American slaves escaped. Harriet Tubman called Canada ‘The Promised Land’ and at that time, it was an escape from slavery’s tyranny.

That does not mean that Canada has not had its own struggles with racial tension; that is an unfortunate part of human nature that surfaces in every nation and every generation.

This is part two of that conversation with Chris Cobbler, Nelly Latchman, Kellen Brooks, Josh Bowers and myself. If you have not yet heard part one, why don’t you go back and download that first.

Gangland Preacher - Mark Goring

June 15, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in At Risk Youth, Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Mark Goring is the pastor of Church In Regent Park. For decades it was a pocket of poverty, addiction and violence. For the last couple years, the poor are being displaced and development is erasing what once was there. The church has emerged from Church In The City, another urban church with a rich history of intersection with the poor.

Part of Mark’s journey involved ministry in the Malvern neighbourhood where pressure from a gang led to death threats and Mark moving out of the city. But the urban cry never left Mark’s soul and so he re-emerged a few years later to the ministry he now leads.

Gangland Preacher - Ejay Tupe

June 01, 2020 by Kevin Rogers in At Risk Youth, Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Urban Ministry

Welcome back to Sidewalk Skyline Podcast where we explore faith at work in Canadian cities. This is our fourth episode looking at gangland preachers. While gang activity is prevalent in parts of Canada, there are also men and women in those neighbourhoods that are making a difference one-on-one.

Today I am talking with Ejay Tupe, an urban missionary in downtown Toronto. I have had many conversations with my friend Ejay and heard about his pimp exit strategies, interaction with gang-affiliated youth and the pastoral care he provides to people in crisis all the time.