Thinking Shrewdly 2026 – Seminars

Effective witness in Canada’s diverse society

The Importance of Context: It seems that most people aren’t understanding what we are trying to communicate, or if they do understand it, they are shrugging it off as if it has little relevance to them, or isn’t true, or (worse) as if it is offensive and harmful. We are convinced that the Gospel really is Good News. So why aren’t more people perceiving it that way? Is it just that their hearts are hard? Or might there be some issues in how we are communicating? Greg and Brian seek to apply lessons from a combined 50+ years working cross-culturally and how it helped them plant in the GTA. 

Brian Jose – Pastor/Planter, Village Church, Newcastle ON
Greg Reader – Planter, Village Church, Newcastle ON

Intercultural Partnering for the Kingdom

As Canada’s cultural landscape continues to grow in diversity, meaningful partnerships between established churches, newer diaspora churches, and pastors are more important than ever. Join us to hear the joys, challenges, and real-life experiences from both perspectives. Together, we’ll explore ways we can support one another and join together in the shared mission of making disciples.

David Cottrill – Associate Pastor of Outreach and Community Development, Mosaic Church, London, ON
Karen Daniels – Executive Coordinating Pastor, University Chapel, Vancouver, BC

Learning from Europe and Quebec

Exploring the strategy of working across denominational lines to further the Gospel, with insights from Europe and Quebec. Based on the work of Raphael Anzenberger

Mike Stone – Executive Director, Vision Ministries Canada | Hamilton, ON
Guy Bourassa – VMC Regional Catalyst Quebec, CEO Groupe Réseau, Shawiningan, QC
Raphael Anzenberger (By Video) – Secretary General of Union of French Baptist Churches in Canada, Montreal, QC

Although it was the Mission that Jesus left for his church, 39% of Christians are not engaged in discipleship at all, and only 33% would be categorized as actual disciplemakers. Join us as we look at the problem with our current church structures and why they deter actual disciple making. And let’s discover together how you can become a church who is intentionally making Disciple-Makers.

Roland Mechler – Executive Pastor, Woodside Bible Fellowship | Elmira ON.

Churches planting churches, Mother churches having daughters, planting from within: whatever description you use, this version of church planting has been around forever. It adds a level of support that pioneer work and small groups don’t usually have. Vision Ministries has come alongside “mother” churches for years. We think we can help church leaders earlier, before they’re even aware that they might have a green shoot of a new thing growing in their midst. We know about green shoots.

Jay Gurnett – Associate Director Western Canada, VMC | Edmonton AB.

The Christian practice of testimony has been around since the very beginning, from biblical stories such as Abraham and the Samaritan woman at the well to stories by Perpetua and John Wesley from church history to 20th-21st century testimonies, such as Corrie ten Boom and Brother Yun. After all, we are storied-people and our God is a storied-God. Using a narrative lens to understand the Scriptures and believing that the story of God is a space that not only welcomes, but intentionally invites, our human stories, we can begin to detect and articulate our own sacred stories that speak of the presence and activity of God. But how do we honestly tell our stories in a way that proclaims the Good News of Jesus? And that is clear and easy to comprehend, especially for those not familiar with Christian faith? Come explore how to tell our sacred stories as a form of gospel-ing.

Elizabeth Millar – VMC Storyteller | Montague PEI.

What if the problem with evangelism isn’t effort, but dependence? This interactive seminar reframes evangelism as joining God, not doing something for Him. Through Scripture, real stories, and practical tools, we’ll uncover what quietly kills prayer and evangelism and learn simple rhythms—like prayer walking and listening prayer—that help you engage people and places with Spirit-led clarity. You’ll leave equipped to move from striving to a sustainable, prayer-fueled approach to evangelism.

Joe White – Co-Pastor/Planter, Neighborhood Church | Fresno CA.
Heidi White – Co-Pastor/Planter, Neighborhood Church | Fresno CA.

There was a time when pastors regularly tapped young men and women on the shoulder and said, “I think God might be calling you.” It was part of discipleship. Somewhere along the way, this might have become buried with all the other responsibilities that come with being a pastor. And now we’re staring down a clergy crisis in Canada, with fewer leaders stepping into vocational ministry than the church needs. This seminar is an honest conversation about recovering a practice we’ve let slip, because most people in ministry today can point to someone who saw something in them and said it out loud. Together we’ll wrestle with how to develop eyes that see who God is preparing, how to speak courage into reluctance and fear, and how to issue both the private nudge and the bold public invitation. Come ready to share what you’ve seen work, what you’re learning, and where you’re stuck.

Ben Hilson – Regional Catalyst VMC Lower Mainland BC | Surrey BC.

“What is driving Gen Z’s return to Christianity?” and the “Quiet Revival” were both recent news headlines in Canada and the UK. What is God doing amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha? Why is there such a spiritual hunger? This seminar will spend time trying to learn / discern what God is up to and how the church can respond? This seminar will be facilitated by young leaders working with the next generation.

Matt Pamplin – Regional Catalyst Central Ontario, VMC | Hamilton ON.

Summer is coming quickly (not so much for some). When it comes, do we know what we will make of it? Can we think ahead of all the various possibilities for mission that it brings? Can we reflect on the thousand things that can steal these gospel opportunities. Can we balance things out between vacation and mission, hobbies and service, family and community, yard work and kingdom work… Or should we think of ways to mix them instead of opposing them.

Gabriel Paquin – Planter/Pastor | Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts QC.

The urban core has strengths and vulnerabilities that require the Church to creatively rethink the task of enacting the Good News. That task is the Church embodying the reconciling good news that is proclaimed through model, ministry, and message.

Bob Cameron – Executive Director, Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative | Windsor ON.
Margo Cameron – Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative | Windsor ON.