Editorial: From innovation to discipleship: EMC churches are flourishing!

The Messenger Vol. 62, No. 4 cover photo (Joyce Wieler)

“WHICH OF YOU of you read the regional [church] reports?” asked Harold Friesen (Abbeydale Christian Fellowship, Calgary) at the Conference Council meeting held June 29, 2024. A smattering of hands went up; less than 10 percent of attendees (my own hand was not raised!).

Written reports from four of EMC’s nine regions were easily available online but, since they didn’t figure in the meeting’s agenda, I had not taken time to read them. Because of that challenge, however, I have since taken a look to find out how EMC churches are doing.

Here are some highlights from churches in Regions 2, 4, 6 and 8:

Innovation/neighbourhood involvement:

• creation of a sensory room to better accommodate children with autism spectrum disorder (MacGregor EMC)

• creation of six small garden plots behind the church building (Portage Evangelical Church)

• providing a community music program  (Coaldale Mennonite Church)

• involvement at a local youth drop-in centre (Prairie Grove Fellowship Church)

• incorporating monthly service projects as part of their worship gatherings (Saturday Night Church)

Diversity:

• moving increasingly toward becoming a multicultural church (EFC Steinbach)

• a refugee couple from Afghanistan joined their membership (Ridgewood Church)

Engaged laity/hospitable community:

• almost every church event of any kind is attended by almost everyone in the church (Anola Fellowship Chapel)

• people who seemed far off because of Covid are returning (Rosenort Fellowship Chapel)

• they are a church that “enjoys being together.” People from the community are being drawn to their fellowship and to Jesus (EFC Fort Frances)

• hosting EMC Festival in June 2023 provided space for members to get involved in new ways (Pleasant Valley EMC)

Partnerships:

• shares their facility with church congregations of other cultures, with occasional joint services (Abbeydale Christian Fellowship)

• a fundraiser the church hosted for a family in a difficult health situation far exceeded expectations as others participated (Kola EMC)

• four churches working together to sponsor three Afghan refugee families (Ridgewood Church, EFC Steinbach, EFC Fort Frances, Stony Brook Fellowship)

Discipleship:

• young people are encouraged to use their gifts in serving the church (Roseisle EMC, Prairie Rose EMC)

• started an initiative to read through the Old Testament as a church body in 2024 (Pansy Chapel)

• evidence of spiritual growth in youth and young adult ministries (Stony Brook Fellowship)

• youth participated in a mission trip during spring break (Steinbach EMC)

• a time of weekly prayer and worship gatherings led to starting a street ministry in Brandon and an outreach teaching English to newcomers (Ebenezer Christian Church)

I hope you find this list as encouraging as I did. And I pray you see flourishing hallmarks of the movement of the Holy Spirit as you look at your own congregation.