Focus on First Nations

Peter Giokas

 

“It really just started out as a hockey game’, explains Ray Martin from Grindstone Valley Bible Church in Waterdown. He was telling a group of people who had gathered from a few congregations about how he and some men from his church embarked on a surprising journey of discovery and friendship with the First Nations community of Muskrat Dam, 600 km north of Thunder Bay. His cousin Rick, who is both married to a First Nations woman and teaches school there, invited Ray and the others to come up for the Annual Gospel Jamboree weekend. The plan was for a handful of guys with a hockey interest to “link with some guys at Muskrat Dam with a hockey interest”. There was no big plan except to just see where the connection went.

 

Ray went on to explain that at first it was only about hockey but during that brief weekend encounter something else occurred which caught their group by surprise. While watching the Grindstone group skating with a group of kids from Muskrat Dam one of the elders from the native community commented to Ray that, “there is a lot of healing going on here!” What the elder recognized in these two very different groups interacting and having fun together was God working his wonders again to bring two very different cultures together in a relationship of friendship and trust. Since that first weekend there have been five more trips to Muskrat Dam over six more years with over 60 individuals from Grindstone making the journey north. And every person has come back with a new awareness and appreciation for the First Nations culture they encountered. There now exists a bond of friendship and relationships of trust between members of both communities. Through this, Grindstone has discerned Gods leading and they have affirmed that one of their directions as a church is to pursue relationship with First Nations people living in Muskrat Dam and also with the large urban native population living within Hamilton.

 

Tammy Heidbuurt and Hans Kater, members of the Community Ministry Team of New Hope church in Hamilton also sensed Gods moving in their community involving First Nations. As a new church plant their group carried out a community opportunity scan to learn about the area around their church. During their information gathering they were surprised to learn of a large percentage of urban natives in their immediate neighbourhood. As Hans Kater says, “as a church they are positioned to privilege the disadvantaged in their community,” and speaking personally, he wonders whether God may be leading them to connect with this sizeable population of First Nations people in their area. The church is still discerning where they will focus their energies but they have started to explore this as a possibility.

 

Within a few minutes drive from New Hope is Little Bethel Community Church. God has been speaking to this congregation about his First Nations people and moving them toward deeper engagement with them. Not only are there a number of Aboriginal members of the church but in 2003 Broken Walls, a Christian Aboriginal music group, came to the church and sang, danced and taught about being free to worship God in both a fully native and fully Christian way. This was a meaningful moment for many. For Trish Patrick, a Six Nations Mohawk and a Deacon at Little Bethel, this was eye opening. Being raised as an urban native she felt disconnected from her cultural heritage and history, but seeing the dancers worshipping God in full Native regalia and hearing Mohawk and Native drumming in the worship she realized for the first time that, “it is OK to be First Nations and Christian.” She and her children have found this to be very empowering and they are now embracing their cultural heritage without worry that it might be dishonouring to God. And this has led her to pursue her passion of serving the First Nations community through her work with the Native Women’s Centre in Hamilton.

 

Joanne McKinely, Chair of the Deacons board at Little Bethel, commenting on the significant impact of this service by Broken Walls, and voicing what many others felt said, “surely this must mean something.” The clear sense was that more involvement with First Nations people was to follow. She added that, “First Nations people can teach us and inform our faith too. It is important to explore what this means.”

 

Last June a service marking National Aboriginal Day was held at Little Bethel in which an apology on behalf of the Christian church was made and prayer asking for forgiveness for the sins committed against First Nations people was voiced. Then a prayer of blessing and affirmation of the aboriginal members of Little Bethel was spoken. For Dale Amos, a Mohawk from Kanesatake, the service was transformative. “Pastor Peter’s apology lifted forty years of anger from me,” he explained. “I feel free. The healing process has begun.” This service encouraged the congregation to formally affirm that God was indeed calling them to redemptive engagement with First Nations people. However they had no clear focus regarding how they are to carry this out.

 

Through their True City connection all these believers recognized a common pull in the same direction. They recently met together to share these and other stories of God’s activity with them and to talk about what this means and how they might learn and help each other respond to what they sensed God leading them toward regarding First Nations people. As they talked they realized that although they shared similarities, they were each positioned to respond differently. Joanne McKinley stated the question well when she said, “God is about healing, restoration and reconciliation. How do we as congregations act as a vehicle for God to exercise his restorative power.” Each congregation is challenged to answer this question within their own context but they agree that meeting and talking together and sharing their learning will be a definite help.
 

They came together again to meet and talk with Terry LeBlanc, a national aboriginal leader and Executive Director of My People International. Terry offered helpful advice. He affirmed these congregations in their desire to connect with First Nations people. He suggested that they hear their stories, be involved in their events and activities and that the focus should be on building relationships and not on programs. And he cautioned that the congregations should be willing to journey in this direction for the long haul. Connecting with local native leaders like Rev. Adrian Jacobs from Six Nations was also encouraged. This was sage advice and well received.
 

At this point those involved from these three congregations have a common interest to continue meeting together to explore what this leading from God means and to help each other on this journey of faith and discovery. By reading, talking, sharing, learning and participating together they will find their way. They recognize that this journey must be carried out in humility and respect and that “God has put us in a unique position with the many First Nations people in this area.”
 

If you share this interest and sense Gods call to explore this focus of service, contact Greg Reader (greg.reader@iteams.org) to get included in the communication and join in the journey.

Allelon Training Center: Fall 2009

The Hamilton “Allelon Training Center (ATC)” provides practical, affordable and flexible training for all Church leaders. Delivered by men and women with hands-on experiences of mission, the program aims to enable leaders and potential leaders to transform their thinking, their lives, and their ways of being Church.

Fall Topic 2009–Forming People
Tutor: Greg Reader
Dates: Monday Evenings commencing on September 28, 2009 and ending on November 16, 2009 from 7pm to 9pm
Location: The Freeway Coffee House, 333 King Street East, Hamilton, ON.

Description:
How do we create dialogue and listening among people? How do we engage our people in discernment and practices of Christian life? How do we become missional? This course will equip congregational leaders to call forth the ministry and the missional imagination of the people in a local church.

Objectives:
–Recognize and develop the skills and capacities for innovating missional life through the development of people including: innovating a missional imagination, cultivating growth, enabling change and creating coalitions.
–Understand how to cultivate a missional imagination among a people.
Learn the methods of cultivating growth among a people.
–Develop the skills that enable change in ways that innovate a missional imagination
–Be able to cultivate coalitions among people as the way to develop missional experiments across a church system

Primary Text
Branson, Mark Lau. Memories, Hopes and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change. Herndon, Virginia: Alban Institute, 2004.
Peterson, Eugene. The Contemplative Pastor – Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
Roxburgh, A. and Romanuk, F. The Missional Leader. San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2007.

For more information or to register contact: Pernell Goodyear- Director- pgoodyear@gmail.com

Like each of the 24 courses offered as part of this overall program, this course takes seriously your existing Christian experience, and will help you find new ways of building mission-shaped ministries that will profoundly affect your community. Expect change and expect to be changed.

Allelon’s modular structure means you can start when you like and take as long as you need to cover all 24 topics that make up the program. Academic qualifications are not necessary, but you do need the support of your local Church leadership to apply what you are learning.

For more information on Allelon: www.allelon.org
For more information on Hamilton’s ATC www.allelon.org/atc/hamilton
Local Contact: Pernell Goodyear- Director- pgoodyear@gmail.com

Ride for Refugees–2009 Hamilton Ride

The Ride for Refugees is an annual event organized by International Teams (IT) to support work among refugees locally and globally. TrueCity is partnering together with IT to run this year’s Hamilton Ride on Saturday, October 3, 2009. It is a great time to gather together as Churches across Hamilton for the good of refugees coming to our city as well as those touched by our churches around the world.

The Ride provides a unique opportunity to support the refugee work that you are most passionate about. Through the Ride Partner Grant program each participating team that raises more than $1000 can designate 50% of their money to approved ministries that are actively caring for refugees. If your church does ministry among refugees the Ride provides an opportunity to raise funds for your work. Last year teams participating in Hamilton rode for a number of different ministries including TrueCity, Micah House, and international work in places like Soroti, Uganda.

Last year the Ride raised $610,000 at nine locations across Canada. This year the Ride will take place in 20 communities– 16 across Canada, three in the United States, and one in Australia. In 2008 the Hamilton Ride had 244 riders, and $72,000 was raised. This year our goal is to have more than 400 riders participate in Hamilton.

We would like to invite you and other possible ride champions or participants from your church to join us on Thursday, September 10th from 7:30 to 9 p.m. (light refreshment will be served) at The Vine (89 Vine St.) for further information on how you can be involved in the Ride for Refugees.

Please RSVP to Esther Dillabough at 905.296.1426 or esther@truecity.ca

For more information about the Ride for Refugees please check out the website at www.rideforrefugees.com.

Hamilton Backpack Challenge

What is the Backpack Challenge?

School supplies are important tools. But many families in our community don’t have enough money to purchase school supplies for their children. As churches we can make a difference to students and their families who might not be able to purchase school supplies to start September 2009 off right.

TrueCity churches are partnering with KidsFest Canada, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School to provide backpacks filled with school supplies.

Last year, through partnering together we provided 2,250 back packs to schools across Hamilton. The goal for September 2009 is to fill and distribute 2300 backpacks.

As we did last year, our goal as True City Churches is to provide 200 backpacks at $40/per bag. We want to raise $8,000 together as Churches!

Ways to Get Involved:

1) Donate funds (specify “Hamilton Backpack Challenge” in the comment section of the donation page)

2) Give gifts in kind of school supplies (contact the TrueCity office at (905) 296-1426 or info@truecity.ca for more info)

3) Volunteer to sort and pack backpacks–
–we need volunteers on Monday, August 10th to gather donated supplies and organize them.
–We need volunteers on Tuesday, August 11th to sort donated supplies and pack 350 backpacks.
–We need volunteers on Wednesday, August 26th to pack the remaining backpacks.

4) Volunteer to deliver the backpacks. We need groups to deliver backpacks to different schools on Wednesday, September 2nd.

For more information on how you and your Church can get involved please contact: Esther Dillabough- esther@truecity.ca or 905.296.1426

The Emerging Generation Matters

Esther Dillabough

Conventional wisdom in church circles tells us that “youth are the future of the church,” but the reality is that youth are already a hugely important part of the present reality of our churches . Over the past few years we have seen a growing number of exciting ways that the youth and young adults from congregations in the city are getting involved in reaching out to our city together. In the process they are creatively engaging their own generation and the ones that are following them. On this and many other fronts they are leading the way forward for the Church in Hamilton. Here are some examples of how this is getting lived out–

Cross Culture—

CrossCulture in Action

CrossCulture is a twice-yearly worship through service event (Spring and Fall) with a vision for seeing youth realize that we worship not only by gathering to sing and pray and hear preaching, but also by seeking justice and loving our neighbour. CrossCulture provides an opportunity for youth and young adults to be exposed to the great need in Hamilton, and to take action and serve together .

And youth are responding with as many as 300 of them churches and schools across the city joining in these events. Through serving opportunities like painting a community centre, helping at a kids program, serving meals at a shelter, and more, the youth and young adults have had their eyes and hearts opened. The day of serving is followed by a time together to sing, pray and explore the scriptures.

There have been youth come where their time serving during CrossCulture was a turning point in their decision to follow Christ, as they saw the love in action around them. Some individuals and whole youth groups have decided to continue volunteering after CrossCulture at the place where they served. The places that host teams, especially those that aren’t Christian are blown away that people so young would be willing to take the time to serve. CH News has been quoted as saying, “What these youth are doing goes against the grain of our culture”.

The hope is that the day of serving isn’t just a time for youth and young adults to pat themselves on the back, but that it is an entry level time that moves them towards lasting change in their lives and involvement in the community. The next CrossCulture event will take place in Spring 2009.

Twenties Worship Outreach—
An exciting corollary development is being initiated by a group of leaders coming from Hughson Street Baptist, Grindstone Church and the Meeting House. They are designing a worship outreach event that aims to engage those who are in their twenties. They point out that “twenty-somethings” are at a pivotal point where they need to be inspired to live for God and for the community, and that by creating an attractive environment, involving high energy worship and relevant teaching they will able to share and inspire deeper relationships with Christ.

The intention is to reach out to the unchurched, students, those who are churched but apathetic and those who are curious but have no place to explore as well as a place for zealous young adults who believe in the vision and want to take part in it to bring friends they want to reach out to. The hope is that as relationships are built, young adults can get plugged into the on-going, multi-generational life of one of the local congregations in our city.

The proto-type for their vision comes from the experience of Redeemer University professor David Zeitsma who was part of a similar outreach while studying in Ohio. It was a time that incorporated worship, cultural language, and relevant topics (ex/ money, social justice, relationships, etc.) that those in their twenties could relate to. Having roots in Hamilton, when David and his family returned to the area they began attending Hughson Street Baptist Church where they connected with Dwayne Cline who shared a similar passion and vision for a worship outreach that would bring lasting change in the lives of young adults. The connections formed through CrossCulture and TrueCity have brought together other leaders such as Matt Pamplin, Eli Dummer from Grindstone Church and Matt Vincent from the Meeting House.

They hope to launch this vision early in the new year as a TrueCity initiative. The hope is that as part of serving and deeper growth the young adults can get involved in existing outreach ministries and small growth groups of congregations .

The group invites Churches to get involved and see this twenties worship outreach as a way that they can participate in reaching this generation. It can be a way to resource Churches and build up the local body of believers. At this time the plan is to launch the twenties worship outreach in January 2009, and have it occur once every two months.

Crown Point Outreach
Another new initiative that is taking shape has a similar heart but a different approach. A group of youth leaders from New Hope, Bethany Gospel Chapel, and Freeway are exploring ways to collaborate in engaging youth in the Crown Point Neighbourhood (in the east end between Gage and Kenilworth). They especially want to engage unchurched youth through activities such as sports leagues, events, and drop-ins. They have planned their first event for November 21 which will be a Battle of the Bands night at Delta Secondary School . They are also exploring opportunities to volunteer in the neighbourhood schools—Memorial and Delta Secondary. These are initiative each of these churches have been considering as ways to fill gaps in community supports. By working together they believe that they will do this more effectively than they could have done on their own.

Focus Team
All of these initiatives highlight the way that churches and other groups working together can accomplish things that were not possible on their own. In this way these churches are realizing the vision of what TrueCity Focus Teams are all about– teams of people from different churches who share a common ministry passion who can strengthen their local congregations and create deeper and broader outreach in the process.

And there are more such initiatives that we are only beginning to learn of–youth driven prayer groups, city focused mission trips, and much more. If you know of other such initiatives that we should be aware of or if you and your church would like to learn more about what is going on, please contact Esther at esther@truecity.ca

Let us be encouraged and stretched by what God is doing between our congregations in the area of youth and young adults. May we continue to see and share with each other the ways that we are better for being together. We serve a God who made the heavens and the earth and us. There is nothing too difficult for Him and all things are possible with Him. Do not limit God with your limited view! Think God size not human size.

Esther Dillabough is one of the founders of CrossCulture. She has recently taken on the role of TrueCity Coordination Team Administrator.

TrueCity Together…Together TrueCity

Over the past four years, we have found that each of our churches is better when we are learning from each other and investing in our city together. As we serve in different parts of the city, we do not always have the opportunity to hear from each other the ways in which God is on the move. But there are stories just waiting to be told!

Each year participants from area churches have gathered for the TrueCity Conference where we celebrate what God is doing. On February 20-21, 2009 the 5th conference will take place with the theme TrueCity Together…Together TrueCity. 

At each conference we have explored topics that lead to on-going united action.  This year we will take this a step further by centering the sessions around stories of how churches are pursuing the good of Hamilton in a variety of different areas: from neighbourhood partnership building to welcoming refugees to caring for the environment and many others. God is on the move in our city, and as we share stories together may He be lifted high!

The breakout sessions will be forums in which participants will listen to stories of how God has been active within a particular area (such as neighbourhood partnership building, welcoming refugees, cultivating a healthier urban environment, involvement in schools, etc), and then will be invited to share their own stories relevant to the theme.  The goals are to build deeper relational connection and to lay the foundation for on-going collaboration.

The main sessions will provide us with a time to worship through celebrating and envisioning.  On Friday a panel of key leaders from core TrueCity churches will share stories of how we are seeing God move among us.  On Saturday a second panel will help us envision ways that God would have us participate together more fully in the work He is equipping the Church for and calling us to engage.

We are excited about the opportunity to gather believers from churches across the city.  To get more information or register you can go to www.truecity.ca , e-mail info@truecity.ca , call the TrueCity office at (905) 296-1426, or mail requests to 173 Gage Ave N. Hamilton, ON L8L 7A3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being a Good Neighbour through School Involvement

Esther Dillabough
The local school- In a place we think the Church is being pushed out, the Church is actually being welcomed in. God is writing a story that is beyond our full understanding, and we are invited to actively participate as He grants the Church favour within Hamilton’s school system.

Through hearing from 4 different Churches, we are able to receive wisdom and hear tangible ways that local schools are being engaged. The Churches have seen that the Gospel can be demonstrated through lending a helping hand, working alongside, and working with.

Bethany Gospel Chapel—Graeme Kirk
Bethany Gospel Chapel is in their 5th year of serving at King George School and their 1st year at Memorial School and Delta Secondary School.

The Church did not always feel a need to do this, but is now seeing it as Christ’s calling to love our neighbourhoods. They began to dream about the possibilities as they saw Dave and Alison Witt’s involvement with the Bennetto Neighbourhood and Hughson Street Baptist’s involvement with their local school. To see examples, of Christian’s being a resource to local schools in non-threatening ways was inspiring. Bethany also has strength with a congregation of retired teachers and current teachers. There have been hurdles- the teachers and principals felt held back with restrictions around faith. Now there have been more relationships of trust built. They are realizing that there are needs, so they are open to Bethany’s involvement. Bethany even won an award for profiling excellence in school involvement from the school board.

Bethany is going beyond entering into the local school and starting a Christian club. There has been creativity and a willingness to serve where needed. Some opportunities to be involved at King George School have included helping with literacy tutoring, library help, the breakfast program, a cooking club and chaperoning dances. The interaction with staff, faculty, and volunteers has deepened over time. Bethany provides a Teacher’s Appreciation on Valentine’s Day, and the school has even used Bethany as a venue for their graduation ceremonies. In the place of a traditional kids club, Bethany decided to begin a Community Choir for kids in the neighbourhood. King George School is very supportive of the Community Choir because it has helped fill the gap where there isn’t an arts program. With engaging Memorial School and Delta Secondary School, it has been a joint effort between Bethany, New Hope Church, and a Church plant of Freeway. The Churches believe that they will be better together as they reach out in unity to their local schools.

Graeme Kirk says that the kids and youth programs at Bethany have been higher with school involvement. Trust with parents has increased as they see things happening where there is not as clear of an agenda. It’s a different atmosphere.

Hughson Street Baptist Church—Mike Kleinhuis
For years, Hughson Street Baptist has had a strong focus on youth with a commitment to school involvement. The Church is very supportive of school involvement, and sees it as part of loving and caring for the community. At Bennetto School they have helped start a breakfast club along with tutoring at St. Lawrence and Bennetto. Hughson was even asked to oversee the Grade 6 Intramural Teams. Since Hughson is located in close proximity to the schools, parents feel comfortable with their kids going to the afterschool programs. At Sir John A. MacDonald High School, Youth Pastor Mike Klienhuis is invited to coach volleyball and be seen as a part of the staff. These relationships of trust have taken time to build, but the previous Youth Pastor Wes Hill paved the way.

Through being present, trust has been built and Hughson is now considered one of the schools partners and is represented on the Parent Council Board. Mike is free to walk through the schools. Hughson is seen as a good influence for the kids and because of that volunteers are welcome. There have been opportunities to interact with teachers and influence decisions that are made. Living in the neighbourhood has also strengthened relationships.

With school involvement, there has been an increase in youth coming to after school programs. There are 30 boys and girls coming out to basketball. Mike makes every effort to go to sports games and events at the schools.

Lightway Church—Mark Vincent
Prior to beginning the Church, Lightway used Kidsfest Backpacks to meet the principal at Lake Avenue School. This was the local school located in the neighbourhood where they would be soon planting a Church. They were able to ask the Principal where help can be given. A beauty of Churches being in relationship with one another is that Doug Booth a member of Bethany Gospel Chapel was a previous Principal of Lake Avenue School and was able to endorse Lightway’s involvement to the school.

Since moving into the neighbourhood they are now involved in a nutrition program on Monday and Friday, they also help kids with work in an art and music class. They are working on an opportunity for men to come into the school for a lunch hour program, to help serve as role models for the boys. Lightway also shows appreciation to staff and teachers twice a year with coffee and muffins. Doors have opened to be involved in a Health Action Team, to help get kids the food that they need. They are also are a part of a community group that includes social workers, principals, vice principals, health nurses and rec centre workers.

After spending 2 years involved in the school they can walk around the neighbourhood now and know kids and families. In the beginning after asking the school to volunteer there was reluctance at being seen as a Church instead of individuals volunteering. But the school is more welcoming now. They are there to get to know kids, and share that they are pastors if they are asked. Mark Vincent believes that if the principal and vice principal are embracing of you a lot is possible. We are called to love.

Lake Avenue School is where Lightway Church’s weekly services take place. They have been able to get to know janitors and store equipment in the gym. Lightway Church offers the tables and sound equipment for the school to use anytime.

Lake Avenue School is from Kindergarten to Grade 8. The school has very diverse people groups- immigrants & refugees (East Indian, Bosnian and Serbian). In the neighbourhood there is more of a temporary poverty that is not as generational as downtown Hamilton. Now that they are involved in the school, they are looking at ways to get to know whole families.

Wentworth Baptist Church—Tracy Fraser and Danielle Wiebe
Over the past 4 years, Wentworth has been involved in their local schools. They were involved in Sanford School for 4 years, and are now involved with Cathy Weaver School. The Church wanted to focus on reaching out to children and families, so they saw the local school as a key place to be engaged in order for this to happen. Especially since there are 5 schools within a 10 minute walking distance of the Church.

The relationships were first begun by Robin Ellis as he got connected with a school program called Running and Reading. Robin was also involved in the Weaver Community Hub, which helps provides resources to the neighbourhood. These relationships were continued when Tracy Fraser stepped into the role of Children and Family Minister. With members of the congregation having done teaching placements at Gibson School and Sanford School and volunteering at Cathy Weaver partnership has begun to build. The Principal of Cathy Weaver has been very responsive to Wentworth’s involvement in the school. A beautiful example of the strength of this partnership was seen when a junior high girl was being baptised at Wentworth. One of her teachers wanted to attend the baptism, so he approached the school principal to ask for permission. The principal was very positive that he could attend the baptism and said that ‘Anything that they do at Wentworth is good.” KidsFest Backpack program has also been a good way to connect with schools heading into the school year.

They find that it is good to see kids in schools and then Church and vice versa. To see kids over the years, the people at the Church are able to be people who know that they are good kids. Being in the school gives another opportunity to check in with how they are doing, as you enter their territory.

Tracy says that 90% of Wentworth’s kids and youth programs are neighbourhood based. There are few Churched kids. Being in the school has helped Wentworth to understand the neighbourhood from a different space. It helps them learn how those who are marginalized see the neighbourhood.

Being in the school has been a good way to gain credibility with kids and parents that they already knew. Kids respect and look up to any adult in the school. It also helps relationships by living in the same neighbourhood. Now there are some kids who come into the Church, and it makes a huge difference for them to recognize a person.

Conclusion—
Some words of wisdom from the Churches are to find out what the local school needs and fill the gap. Find out who is involved and what’s working. Wanting to help the school first causes there to be less hostility. Find out who people know and have built relationship with. As you are seen as a part of the community, your input matters. There is influence. As we live out our lives, being a Christian comes out through relationship.

Do not give up on Churches working together- TrueCity is becoming a resource, as Churches learn from each other. Bethany was able to learn from Hughson Street Baptist how to begin the relationship with their local school and how to do it well. It is encouraging to see other Churches taking the lead and making a difference. There is impact in working together. If it is just one nice Church, than it is the exception to the rule. But if it is more than just one Church having a good relationship with local schools, it could change policy.

At the TrueCity Conference February 20-21, 2009 a breakout session will focus on “Being a Good Neighbour through School Involvement” This will be an opportunity to hear stories from others and share stories of your own about school involvement.

If you know of other such initiatives with local schools that we should be aware of, or if you and your Church would like to learn more about what is going on, please contact Esther at esther@truecity.ca

TrueCity Celebration

The congregations at the core of the TrueCity Movement are throwing a party and we would love for you to join with us in this.

On Friday, February 19th and 20th we will gather at Philpott Memorial Church to celebrate God’s goodness to the Church in Hamilton, and to come into His presence together. Read on and click through for more details.

TrueCity: In Concert–a coffeehouse gathering

On Saturday, February 20th starting at 8:00 pm TrueCity will host a coffeehouse at the Freeway (333 King St East). Our goal is to create space for those from a variety of congregations to connect while taking in some good music.

Stay tuned–as the date approaches we will add more details in this space!

TrueCity:In Concert is included as part of the price of the overall Celebration. It will be $5 at the door for those who are just wanting to come to this event.

If you are interested in performing at the coffeehouse you can contact Sue Carr at scarr@mission-services.com or call the TrueCity office at (905) 296-1426

Praying Together for the Good of the City–24/7 Prayer Room

In February the TrueCity Movement in partnership with the Greater Ontario House of Prayer will host a 24/7 Prayer room for one week starting on Friday, February 19th at noon and running for a week until Friday, February 26th.

CrossCulture–Fall 2009

On Saturday, September 26th youth from across our city will come together for a day of worship through serving together.

CrossCulture is a twice-yearly worship through service event (Spring and Fall) with a vision for seeing youth realize that we worship not only by gathering to sing and pray and hear preaching, but also by seeking justice and loving our neighbour. CrossCulture provides an opportunity for youth and young adults to be exposed to the great need in Hamilton, and to take action and serve together.

Embracing New Canadians

–Churches Learning to Move from Initial Welcome to Integration

Alison Witt

“it’s miraculous that God would bring people that think completely differently and are just very different than the people that we normally have at church and have them interested in getting together with us. And so it’s hugely changing but definitely a huge blessing…(it) feels like it was necessary all along and we just didn’t really know that we needed that to grow”

–from an interview with a Host church member

Asking questions . Listening. Learning. That is what we have been doing for the past several months as part of TrueCity’s Welcome and Integration Project. The goal of this project is to help churches become better at welcoming and integrating people from other cultures who arrive in our city.

This project is a celebration of the reality that Hamilton churches are actively involved in welcoming newcomers to our city, and as a result are beginning to change. It is also a recognition that we have a tremendous amount to learn. Given the fact that almost 25% of Hamilton’s population is comprised of recent immigrants and refugees it seems a natural direction for churches to move in. Our strong Biblical mandate to engage cross cultural relationships and care for newcomers is also a strong motivator.

Our research focused on 4 churches who have been actively involved in welcoming newcomers.

Philpott Memorial Church has been located in Hamilton’s downtown core for more than 100 years. It is uniquely situated within walking distance of many large apartment buildings where refugee and new immigrants to Hamilton often start out. It is also close to many of the social service agencies refugees and new immigrants regularly access. Over the past decade Philpott has seen an increasing number of members who are from non-Western cultures. As part of the church’s urban ministry initiative, several partnerships and programs developed designed to minister to newcomers in the downtown area. An easy English large group began meeting after the first service, several newcomers became part of the church’s small groups, and the Sunday school was changed to accommodate an ESL group for part of each session. Through a partnership with SISO (a large settlement agency in Hamilton) a women’s cooking and craft group developed at the church along with a growing children’s ministry to new Canadian children throughout the year.

Lightway is a recent church plant of Hughson St. Baptist church. In June, 2007, Lightway Church began to meet in Lake Ave School in the heart of the Riverdale community. The leaders intentionally sought a community with a high percentage of newcomers. The Riverdale Community is about one square kilometer and is home to approximately 7000 people and more than 30 different dialect groups and few, if any, Christian congregations. Many in the area’s 18 high-rise buildings were born outside of Canada or are first generation Canadians. Some of Riverdale’s most prominent people groups are from Cambodia, India, Pakistan, and former Yugoslavia. The church currently has approximately forty members. When it first started, all the members were white and Canadian-born. Over the last year, the membership has grown to include individuals and families from diverse cultural backgrounds—including persons from India, Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Cambodia and Mexico.

Hamilton International Baptist Church used to be known as Hamilton Filipino Baptist Church. It began as an ethnically Filipino church but recently has begun to transition to a multicultural congregation. The name change says a lot. Until a couple years ago the congregation was exclusively Filipino. Today the church is also home to many Karen families from Burma, and a number of Haitians. The pastor and church leaders embrace this vision and recognize that it has radically changed the life of their church. They dream of becoming even more diverse as they continue the journey of intentionally reaching out to newcomers from all nationalities.

Bethany Gospel Chapel is a church of approximately 80-100 members located at the corner of Gage Ave N and Barton St E. This is primarily a residential, working class neighbourhood in the East End of Hamilton. Until recently Bethany has been a predominantly white Anglo-Saxon congregation. Their interaction with refugees and new immigrants began primarily through involvement with Micah House- a Christian shelter for refugee claimants in Hamilton that opened just over two years ago. In the fall of 2007 the church took a further step when they began an “Easy English Bible Study” as a place they could invite people who were wanting to improve their English skills in the context of discussions about the Christian faith. This program only ran for 4 months but during that time a group of Francophone refugees-primarily from Haiti- began attending the church regularly. There are now more than 20 Haitians who call Bethany “home” as well as a few from other countries.

Through the process of conducting interviews , focus groups and questionnaires with both newcomers and host church members we have been able to document the stories of these congregations, learn what has gone well and what obstacles they have come up against. There were some common themes that emerged. Some important things that all churches need to hear, and take to heart. We learned that on the whole, newcomers do feel welcomed at these churches. As one newcomer said “When I first came to Canada, I have no friends, no family here. But I got church friends. It’s big help for me. When I feel lonely, they encourage me, stand beside me…its kind of a supportive group”

We learned that churches who are embracing newcomers are energized by their involvement. We heard things like “when a few come here and share their culture with us while we share ours with them, that is profoundly invigorating” .

We also learned that although initial welcome is happening there are some significant challenges that stand in the way of full integration. Host church members have fears we need to responded to. Newcomers often feel excluded. The lack of trust that newcomers feel, and the lack of opportunities to be meaningfully involved in decision making is a problem.

Newcomers told us “we need the church to believe in us because the church is our home. Most of the people, the immigrants are so qualified, and I think in Canada the church doesn’t’ believe in us. Doesn’t’ believe in our qualifications…”

And “they [host church members]want to be in the position where they can help, they can give, but they don’t want those who are being helped to be in a position to where they can decide who’s being helped.”

There is a long way to go and much to learn, but it is clear that we can only grow if we continue to embrace the challenge before us. With the initial research phase of this project drawing to a close we are now in the process of creating resources to assist churches as they look to dig into this vital ministry in ways that fit well with who they are as congregations and where they are situated in the city. One of the most powerful findings of the research thus far is how God is using newcomers from around the world to help us grow towards becoming the Church He intends for us to be.

If you want to know more about this project and how your church can join in learning to embrace new immigrants and refugees coming to our city contact Alison Witt at alison.witt@iteams.org or 905-296-1426

The full report is available upon request

Conference 2009 Recap

TrueCity Together, Together TrueCity was the theme for this year’s TrueCity Conference.  We focused on hearing how God is at work through our churches in our city.  The focus of the conference was on sharing stories.  It was an opportunity to grow in our awareness of what is happening in different churches and the neighbourhoods they are part of across our city and to learn in a different way than we are used to. 

This year there were 338 participants from 79 different churches.

Right from the time registration opened there was a sense of joyful and deepening community as people from different churches connected. 

A participatory art project led by artists from a variety of churches provided an opportunity to explore the values of TrueCity.

At our main session on Friday evening the focus was on the three horizons of TrueCity–how churches across the city are coming to understand God’s call to increasingly identify and engage with their neighbourhoods; how churches have come to view themselves as interconnected and are finding ways to work together; and how churches are learning to tangibly seek the good of Hamilton. 

After a time of worship led by the band Elias, and viewing to new videos about TrueCity (click here to view the videos), a panel made up of Graeme Kirk (Bethany Gospel Chapel), Leanne Friesen (Mount Hamilton Baptist Church), and Dwayne Cline (Hughson Street Baptist Church) and moderated by Lane Fuslier (Philpott Memorial Church) shared some of the experiences of their congregations’ as they have participated in this movement of churches (click here to listen to this panel).

We started Saturday with a time of worship led by a worship team from First Hamilton Christian Reformed Church, and then Andrew Zantingh walked us through how our story fits into the broader scope of God’s story with stops along the way to explore Israel’s story and Jesus’ story (click here to listen to Andrew’s message). 

 

 

The bulk of the day Saturday was spent in breakout sessions where we listened to stories of how God is moving in different aspects of our involvement in the city from welcoming refugees, to local schools, to youth engaging social justice, to partnering on poverty reduction, to being missional in the ‘burbs and many more.   

 

At the main session Saturday afternoon a time of worship was led by the Hughson Street Baptist Church worship team, and then Dwayne Cline invited us to dream with him about the future of TrueCity.

 

A panel made up of Matt Pamplin (Grindstone Church), Brianne Wilson (Lightway Church), and Pernell Goodyear (Freeway) shared dreams for Churches engaging their neighbourhoods and collaborating together around being missional in the suburbs, using your vocation to serve the community, and Churches really being engaged in their neighbourhoods. (Click here to listen to this panel)

Dwayne Cline connected the conference format with our future vision when he shared, “The format of this conference has been an “anti-conference” forum where we have shared stories instead of lectured, where we have learned from each other instead of from the experts, where we have had the privilege of generating conversation.”

“Part of the vision of the future of TrueCity is not only do our leaders connect, but we have opportunities for brothers and sisters in Christ across the city to connect. That together we look at ourselves as a church in Hamilton serving God in various locations.”

As one participant wrote, “I’m so blessed to be a part of this church movement which is a unique blend of different denominations in unity because of the love of Christ and the good of the city in which we live!”

May our congregations continue to find ways to grow our unity by following Jesus’ lead in working for the good of our city.

Links to more on the conference–
–TrueCity Videos
–Pictures from the Conference