Ron Baker, Director of the Canadian Small Church Ministry Centre (CSCMC), interviews a variety of people with a deep interest in the Canadian small-church scene.
Highlighted Podcast:
Episode #85 – Rick Love – Welcoming Canadian Newcomers
Immigration has been a hot topic in recent months. While the politics may be controversial, the fact is that real people are coming to Canada each day. How can small churches welcome newcomers into the local church?
Rick Love’s journey has taken him into cross-cultural ministry in the Philippines and serving as a pastor in Canada. Rick and his wife, Patti, began a ministry called “Love New Canadians”. Hundreds of churches have been exposed to their approach which focuses on understanding existing programs and activities of the churches they work with, then finding ways to connect them with immigrants in their neighbourhoods.
What practical steps can be taken to welcome newcomers to the local church? Rick explains a three step approach. The first step is to focus on programs with little or no spiritual content to meet people where they are and develop friendships. Out of these interactions, they identify people with spiritual curiosity and encourage them to attend a class for the spiritually curious. This class, designed to be inclusive of people of all faiths, covers English language, Canadian culture, and the life and teachings of Jesus. The goal of this class is to use the life and teachings of Jesus as a jumping-off point to understand their new Canadian friends and to invite them to become followers of Jesus.