By Jim Tune
Vancouver, British Columbia, is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. With more than 2.2 million people, it is an incredibly ethnically diverse region with more than 650,000 immigrants. About 90 language groups are represented within this rich cultural mosaic. In fact, nearly 24 percent of Vancouver”s total population is Asian. Vancouver is Canada”s gateway to the Pacific Rim countries.
Vancouver is also one of the most unchurched, non-Christian cities in North America! Regular churchgoers comprise just over 3 percent of the total population.
The diversity of this city and its readiness for harvest is almost overwhelming. Church planting research by Outreach Canada projects more than 2,000 new churches are needed just to reach the current population, not to mention anticipated rapid future growth. Canadian church planting groups believe if they can “crack the code” for new church work in Vancouver, this strategic city could serve as a springboard for reaching other former British Commonwealth nations.
Among those who have recognized the incredible need for New Testament churches in Vancouver””and who have begun to meet and pray about it””are George Johnson (Christian Evangelizing Association, Washington); Jim Penhollow (East 91st Street Christian Church, Indiana); Tom Brown (Northwest Christian Evangelizing Association, Oregon) and Dean Trune (Impact Ministries International, Canada). A “Pacific Alliance” of church planting organizations, including the Northern California Evangelistic Association/Stadia, began to meet to help a church planting movement get traction in British Columbia.
Church Plants
Surveys were undertaken in the summer of 2002. Concerned Canadians Allan and Judy Dunbar accompanied George and Dottie Johnson and Jim and Leslie Penhollow on a four-day information-gathering excursion throughout Greater Vancouver. An initial strategy for planting multiple churches began to form.
Led by Dean Trune, a Prayer Journey was also conducted that summer. A deep and relentless sense of conviction about Vancouver”s great spiritual need fell upon the hearts of the prayer team. A short time later, Sanctuary Hill Christian Church was planted in the hopes it would become a beachhead for a new movement of churches.
Much good was accomplished and valuable lessons were learned through this initiative, but Sanctuary Hill was unable to take root and grow in spite of diligent efforts by lead planter Todd Schnitzius. The church was closed in late 2004. It became clear that a different approach to reaching British Columbia was necessary.
CEA and East 91st Street partnered again in 2004 to plant Peace International Christian Church led by Rolando Paraiso. This ethnic church is serving Filipinos in the Surrey, British Columbia, area and has an attendance of about 100. The church is reporting regular baptisms and is gaining financial strength.
Strong Desire
There continues to be a strong desire among the CEA, East 91st, NWCEA, and Impact Ministries to establish a flagship church that can spearhead church multiplication in the region. With the birth of Canadian-led Impact Canada, there is fresh hope for progress in Vancouver.
Impact Canada is now working alongside these American organizations to advance the kingdom on Canada”s West Coast. Both George Johnson and Jim Penhollow serve on Impact Canada”s advisory board. It isimmensely satisfying to see strong friend-ships and cooperative alliances between Canadian and American leaders. Together our Canadian and American board members are praying with one unified voice for God to open new doors in British Columbia.
Says George Johnson, “We believe the movement must have Canadian roots. . . . Impact Canada”s heart for multiplying churches across the nation gives us hope.”
Impact Canada is preparing for multiple plants in the Vancouver area in 2007 and 2008. Funds are being allocated for this effort, and the search is underway for a Canadian lead planter and launch team.
The ethnic diversity and non-Christian culture of Vancouver will require a unique strategy that incorporates a variety of planting models. Along with a high-impact flagship church in Vancouver, other models under consideration include urban, suburban, and ethnic plants.
Prayer and Partnerships
Another Prayer Journey is scheduled for this month. Partnerships are expanding as God”s will for Vancouver is sought. God is at work, opening doors in Vancouver. George Johnson summarizes the opportunity: “Here in the Northwest, British Columbia advertises their beautiful recreational amenities under the slogan of “˜Supernatural British Columbia.” This, for me, captures not only the physical uniqueness of British Columbia but also the spiritual climate. It is a diversity of cultures, each different from the other, but all searching for spiritual truth.”
By partnering together we can impact Canada. With new churches pointing people to Christ, we can satisfy the spiritual hunger of the nations as they come to Canada”s great cities!
Jim Tune ministers with Churchill Meadows Christian Church in West Toronto, Ontario, and serves as director for Impact Canada, a national church planting organization.
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