We find in Jesus’ call to become Beloved Community an invitation into lives of deep meaning, deep connection, deep hope, and deep justice. We want to share this invitation with our neighbours and friends.
We can all probably name someone in our lives whom we’d love to experience God’s love. Someone who is looking for a place to belong, a place to grow, a place to seek justice. Someone for whom following in Jesus’ way would bring joy and hope and meaning. But for many of us, we wouldn’t know where to start a conversation about church, about God, or about Jesus.
Would we come across as creepy or coercive? What would we even say if they asked a question? Isn’t that what “those other kinds of churches do”?
And yet, if we’re here, we’ve experienced something that we love and we think others could love. Wanting to share our story of God in our lives, with humility and confidence, is more than appropriate.
And not knowing where to start is totally OK. Here’s where we can help.
Work with a Growth Animator on Strengthening Your Invitation
Would your community like to grow in your ability to share your faith and build community with your neighbourhood?
A Growth Animator can help
- your community name the Good News that you have to share
- your community learn to speak of God in your life, personally and as a community
- you learn about your neighbours and where you might find connections
- you name where Jesus’ story and your community’s story overlap
Reach Out and Let’s Talk…
Your community of faith can work with a Growth Animator to create a plan to deepen and develop your invitation culture and build a plan to begin or continue to share your faith with humility and confidence.
- Rev. Dr. Sharon Ballantyne – sballantyne@united-church.ca:
UCC East - Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters, Bermuda-Nova Scotia, First Dawn Eastern Edge - Rev. Tori Mullin – tmullin@united-church.ca:
Eastern Ontario & Quebec - East Central Ontario, Eastern Ontario Outaouais, Nakonha:ka - Rev. Calin Lau – clau@united-church.ca:
Central & Northwestern Ontario - Canadian Shield, Shining Waters - Rev. Greg Smith-Young – gsmith-young@united-church.ca:
Southwestern Ontario - Western Ontario Waterways, Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls - Very Rev. Jordan Cantwell – jcantwell@united-church.ca:
Prairies - Northern Spirit, Living Skies, Prairie to Pine - Rev. Scott Reynolds – sreynolds@united-church.ca:
Mountains - Pacific Mountain, Chinook Winds
Other Growth Staff
- Cameron Fraser -
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Director of Growth and Ministry Development - Alexandra Belaskie: Innovation and Renewal Coordinator
- Rev. Bronwyn Corlett: Rural and New Ministries Coordinator
- Emo Yango: Growth Animator Diaspora and Intercultural Church
General Inquiries
- E-mail us at
Can we pray for and with your Community of Faith?
Each Thursday at 12 p.m. ET the Growth Department joins in prayer for and with communities of faith. Are you asking big questions about the future? Can we pray for you? Are you trying a new thing to connect with your neighbours? Can we pray for you? Send your prayer requests to and if you’d like to join us online to pray for other communities of faith you can register using this form.
Stories about Strengthening Invitation
Make This Easter a Time of Invitation in Your Community of Faith
It’s time to start thinking about Easter invitation planning. These steps can help develop your culture of invitation and invite friends and… continue reading