one thing is for sure, if we don’t go into planting, we’ll probably go into reforming.

If you want to see community connection, check out something simply called Next in Kingston, Ontario. (Then again, don’t. You may not ‘get’ this church until you ‘get’ their community involvement and participation. And don’t arrive on time. That would be uncool in this environment.)

If you want to see solid teaching check out John Thompson at Carruther’s Creek in Ajax, Ontario (Good stuff available for listening online; messages that cut to the chase without filler or bad jokes.)

If you want to see a church really trying to work out spiritual formation through a variety of programs, check out Forest Brook Community Church in Pickering, Ontario. (With Brethren roots, the plurality of leadership guarantees a certain variety and quality of teaching and overall leadership. Busy place. Good busy.)

If you want to see focus, check out The Meeting House in various Ontario cities. (It’s big; some people fall through the cracks; not everyone’s ‘cup of tea;’ and no church is perfect; but there’s definite intentionality about reaching the un-churched without ‘dumbing down’ the teaching.)

Those are just a few that we’ve visited and look forward to visiting again. And there are many more in other pockets of Ontario and other provinces I’ll never see or even hear about.

Not sure what you mean by “new,” though; each one I’ve mentioned has experienced some kind of metamorphosis in the last few years; changes in staff; moves; birthing of a daughter church; rapid expansion. New; rebirthed; revivied; rekindled; …what matters is “fresh.”

There’s a lot of really boring, not-too-innovative churches in Canada, but there’s also a lot of exciting ones — some of which are very, very small and doing some unique and unusual things in their ‘small corner.’ — that we need to celebrate. The others might just find it ‘catching.’ Hopefully.