The text message on February 4 was devastating but long-expected: “I just found out our beloved Ray Bakke has gone to be with Jesus. What a giant and a gem and a gift from the LORD he was to the…
One highlight at last weekend’s Missions Fest was hearing from a couple of city officials about how Christians, and faith groups in general, can have a better rapport with their city. The How Can We Inspire City Officials with God’s…
When we use the word “missional,” we are affirming that the church by its very nature is sent into our neighbourhoods and cities as people living the implications of the gospel. In order for the church to do this effectively,…
Many church leaders do cultural studies and wrestle with the sociology of place. On a different track, others try to get their heads around the social imaginaries that make up the personality of our cities (sometimes referred to as a horizon or…
Dr. Glenn Smith was a keynote speaker at the City Summit November 24 – 25 (see accompanying article). He was good enough to allow Church for Vancouver to post the following article, slightly modified from a version which appeared as…
Jonathan Bird wrote about the year-long Vancouver Consultation process for the national Faith Today magazine. Vancouver is rightly celebrated for being one of the most liveable urban regions in the world. Yet Vancouver’s very success has contributed to profound spiritual…
“If you had to prove that God is alive in Vancouver, where would you take people to show them? What is God doing in our churches and communities – where do you see signs of hope and deep flourishing in…
Glenn Smith will present How to Read Your Neighbourhood: 20 Steps for Assessing Your Missional Context next Thursday (February 5) at Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in Burnaby. Following is an interview he did in Missional Voice, published by Forge Canada,…
Everyone knows Metro Vancouver is routinely listed among the ‘most liveable’ cities in the world. Innovations in urban planning and development here are directly influencing the growth and character of cities across the planet. So what is the role of…
The political complexion of Vancouver and the surrounding municipalities will change this Saturday, as we elect new mayors and city councillors. Individual Christians will vote according to their conscience and their political leanings. That is fair enough – no one…