Around Town: This is Gen Alpha, Mental Health in Our City, Adventist open house

There is now considerable evidence that young people are increasingly open to the gospel, from the Quiet Revival in England to the recent report from the Barna Group in the United States: ‘Young Adults Lead a Resurgence in Church Attendance.’

Alpha Canada, based in New Westminster, is finding the same thing, and will share some of their insights in This is Gen Alpha next Thursday:

The most spiritually open generation is here. Are we ready?

Join our exclusive October 2 webinar as we unveil Canada’s first deep-dive into Gen Alpha’s beliefs, behaviours and spiritual openness.

Generation Alpha – born after 2010 – is redefining how we connect, communicate and engage with the world. As the most digitally native and globally minded generation, they present new challenges and opportunities for those committed to reaching and discipling the next wave of young leaders.

This is Gen Alpha is the first national research study to focus exclusively on Canadian preteens aged 11 – 13. In this live online event, we’ll unpack what they believe, what’s influencing them and how we – as parents, pastors, educators and leaders – can respond with wisdom and care.

By attending the webinar, you’ll leave with:

• • Fast facts: Data-driven insights on how Gen Alpha thinks, communicates and engages with faith;
  • Slide deck: A quick-reference guide to key statistics shaping this generation;
  • Webinar recording: A breakdown of distinct Gen Alpha archetypes to help you understand and connect with them effectively.

The webinar begins at 10 am.

BCG Counselling at First Baptist

• September 26 note: This event has been postponed until April 2026.

Next Saturday (October 4), BCG Counselling Group will host Mental Health in Our City,:

Mental Health in Our City is a one-day conference hosted by BCG Counselling Group in partnership with First Baptist Church, as we celebrate the grand opening of the new BCG Counselling Centre in Downtown Vancouver.

This special day will offer thoughtful and supportive sessions on mental health recovery, grief, emotional wellbeing, faith and mental health, building resilience in kids and navigating separation and divorce.

Whether you are seeking support, walking alongside others, or simply wanting to learn, we welcome you to be part of a meaningful day of learning, healing and community as we open our doors and our hearts to serve Vancouver in a deeper way.

The BCG Counselling Group is a community-based mental health organization that accepts referrals and clients from all backgrounds, faiths and religious persuasions.

The BCG Counselling Group office is on the third floor of the Butterfly Building which was recently completed as part of a major redevelopment of the First Baptist site. (Go here and here for a couple of articles about the congregation’s move back to its redeveloped home.)

BCG Counselling Group has deep roots in this area; it operates from Burnaby, Langley, Kelowna – and now Vancouver. From their site:

The story of our team began with a vision of a young psychologist and pastor, Paddy Ducklow. He founded the BCG Counselling Group in 1978 as an inter-church ministry of the then Burnaby Christian Fellowship. The team began to serve churches around the lower mainland and beyond, and also the needs of people in various other communities.

The ministry of the counselling group invited people who were struggling into a place where they could be cared for with compassion and clinical guidance to work towards building and rebuilding their lives. Many clients found solace in seeking help from counselling professionals who were spiritually rooted in the Christian faith and worked in a team context to provide the highest quality of care.

Over the past 45 years, the BCG Counselling Group’s professional team has expanded to include Registered Psychologists, Registered Marriage and Family Therapists, Registered Clinical Counsellors, Registered Social Workers, and Graduate level Counselling Interns from the ACTS Program of Trinity Western University. . . .

We believe in a recovery-oriented approach that recognizes that even individuals living with the most challenging mental health challenges can live rich, rewarding and fulfilling lives, if provided with the right supports, services and treatment.

Today, the BCG Counselling Group is not connected to any church or denomination. The organization is a stand-alone community-based mental health organization that accepts referrals and clients from all backgrounds, faiths and religious persuasions.

The BCG Counseling Group is based on a Christian statement of faith.

Seventh-day Adventist open house

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in BC and the Yukon has a newly redeveloped home in Abbotsford, and they are welcoming everyone to come and visit:

We are excited to invite you to the official Open House of the new British Columbia Conference Office building on Friday, September 26, from 1:30 to 6:30 pm.

Guests will be able to enjoy self-guided tours of the new facility as we celebrate this historic milestone together.

It will be a time to reflect on God’s faithfulness, express our gratitude for His continued guidance, and come together as a community to celebrate the growth and development of our ministry. We look forward to welcoming you and celebrating this exciting new chapter together.

The denomination oversees 100 churches and many ministries in the province.