Around Town: First Baptist going home, Real Friendships, Money Lies & God

The congregation of First Baptist Church will finally meet in their own church building again May 4, having moved out more than four years ago.

The high profile property at the corner of Burrard and Nelson in downtown Vancouver has undergone major changes, including seismic and other upgrades to the church itself, along with the addition of social housing and the eye-catching Butterfly tower.

Although the church building is now very much dwarfed by the Butterfly tower, Lead Pastor (Preaching & Vision) Drew Melton stressed in a January Instagram post that First Baptist is not primarily focused on the property’s structures.

Saying that “2025 is going to be a big year for us as a church,” he added:

We know that the church is not a building. The church is us – and the church and God have always been on the move. And that idea is what provides the title of our 2025 sermon series; it’s going to be called ‘Church on the Move.’ . . .

It’s right there in the language of the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Jesus says, “As you go, make disciples of all nations.”

An article in the Vancouver Sun by Rebecca Keillor pointed out the scope and significance of the project:

At the heart of this transformation is a strategic partnership between the First Baptist Church and Westbank, the developer behind the striking Butterfly tower, which Revery Architecture [formerly Bing Thom Architects] also designed. This collaboration began over 10 years ago . . .

Revenue from the residential highrise, the Butterfly, helped fund the restoration and expansion of the church, effectively doubling its footprint to 80,000 square feet of community-focused spaces. The result is a beautifully modern blend of historic preservation, modern functionality and social responsibility, says [Venelin] Kokalov [of Revery Architecture].

But Keillor was also very clear that the church has inherited a strong sense of place, and its role in the surrounding community:

The project, part of the church’s ‘Heart for the City’ initiative, fuses old and new, ensuring that the church remains a cornerstone of the community while expanding its role in social support and outreach. . . .

One of the most profound impacts of this redevelopment is the addition of nearly 50,000 square feet of new affordable rental housing, says Kokalov. Operated by the First Baptist Church, these below-market units replace outdated buildings that had fallen into disrepair, offering modern, inclusive living spaces that cater to a diverse range of residents. Shared amenities, including a roof garden and children’s play area, create a sense of community that extends beyond the walls of the church.

The expanded church facilities offer a lifeline to many. The dining hall and overnight shelter now include dedicated shower and laundry facilities for shelter users, while the counselling centre provides a much-needed space for mental health support. The reimagined Pinder Hall, with its restored Sunday school room, has been transformed into a double-height assembly space for church and community events, from concerts to weddings to cultural programming, says Kokalov.

Go here for the full article, which describes the project in some detail.

Writing on First Baptist’s Cedar and Stream blog April 1, Pastor of Children’s Ministry Suzannah Nacho said:

Boxes have started to arrive in the new building, and I have been opening lids to find wonderful items packed by someone else’s loving hands. Seeing the books, toys and games I imagine the smiles of children invited to experience God’s welcome at FBC.  

We are walking the path of so many communities before us navigating displacement and return as we continue our spiritual and now physical pilgrimage of coming home to First Baptist.

Looking to our own past and to others we know that through transitions we discover that God’s faithfulness never changes, even as it looks different in different seasons. So, with some fear and hope we recognise that God’s steadfast love will be experienced differently in this new season than it was in displacement or past years at FBC.

Three local churches have been good enough to allow the First Baptist congregation to meet in their buildings – first Coastal Church on Commercial Drive, then St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (right across Nelson) and more latterly Central Presbyterian Church (a couple of blocks away on Thurlow).

Status updates on the project go back to September, 2018. I have posted several stories about plans for the First Baptist community, going back about 10 years.

More to come on this transition as First Baptist moves back home.

Real Friendships

It’s not too late to sign up for Real Friendships in Pastoral Ministry, which will take place Friday morning at St. Andrew’s Hall on the UBC campus:

Ministry is meaningful – but it can also be lonely. Many pastors and church leaders experience isolation in their work. Join Dr. Dustin Benac and Rev. Mardi Dopho-Smith for input and discussion around loneliness in ministry. We will dialogue on cultivating connection and community. Come enjoy food and drink around the open fire!

A loneliness epidemic makes headlines and crosses cultures and contexts: polarization, isolation and social fragmentation are markers of contemporary life. While the work of ministry in its various forms must engage the loneliness in our congregations and community, much less attention is given to the loneliness that marks ministry.

Recent data, however, suggests that ministers are lonely by virtue of vocation, and self-reported loneliness is increasing among ministers.

Dr. Dustin Benac of Baylor University will join St. Andrew’s Hall to explore the pathway beyond leading alone. He will review recent research on loneliness in ministry and provide a theological paradigm to equip pastors, ministry leaders and communities to recover the joy of leadership in a lonely world. He is the author of Adaptive Church: Collaboration and Community in a Changing World, and Director and co-founder of the Program for the Future Church at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Rev. Mardi Dolfo-Smith is Senior Associate Pastor at CA Church in Coquitlam and has served in pastoral ministry for 26 years. She holds a degree in Old Testament Studies from Regent College and chairs the Women in Leadership Collective for Alliance Canada. Passionate about fostering both spiritual and personal growth, Mardi values deep connections with others and cherishes time spent with friends.

The event will be guided by the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrew’s Hall, newly under the leadership of Mark Glanville.

Money, Lies and God

One good way to distract yourself while waiting for the results of the federal election April 28 would be to attend Money, Lies and God at North Lonsdale United Church.

The evening will present the opportunity to hear from Katherine Stewart as she discusses ‘the dangers of Christian nationalism.’

Here is how the Reflector Project describes their gathering:

An event for Christians and those who don’t identify as Christians. For Christians who are wanting a better way forward in faith. For those who are trying to make sense of the alignment of politics and religion in the United States, at home and abroad. For all of us interested in hope rather than fear.

Christian Nationalism is not Christianity. It is a movement that co-opts Christian symbols and the good intentions of many believers to accumulate power and wealth for a select few. In her latest book, Money, Lies, and God, Stewart unpacks the dangerous fusion of politics, religion and money that is shaping our current political and cultural climate.

​Katherine Stewart is an American journalist and author who has been investigating the intersection of religion, politics, policy and education for over 15 years. 

Her latest book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (2025), investigates the rise of anti-democratic movements in the United States, focusing on the collaboration between wealthy conservative donors, think tanks and far-right religious organizations. This book is the third in her series on religion and right-wing politics. ​

It will be interesting to hear to extent to which Stewart (and maybe some in the audience) believe Canada faces similar threats. A couple of useful books to consider in preparation, or to follow up, would be:

• Marci McDonald: The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada (Random House Canada, 2010). I thought it was overwrought; some might say she was prescient.
• Brian Kaylor & Beau Underwood: Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism (Chalice Press, 2024). Seems very convincing; why should evangelicals take all the blame? And applicable to Canada as well.

Events & Jobs

Events are listed below, but there is also an Events page and a Jobs page on the Church for Vancouver site.