Why Key Cities/Communities?
God loves the cities and everyone who lives in them! Key players of our national economic and political world, as well as our country’s most destitute people, live and work in Canada’s key cities. One city—worlds apart. This is just one of the challenges churches face in the cities. If God really does love the cities, who will tell them?
What is the KCI Concept?
In 1998, the Canadian Conference of MB Churches launched an initiative to identify a new Key City every two years for a 10-year period. In partnership with the provincial conferences of these cities, each city would be supported for a five-year period.
Which are the Key/Cities Communities?
Calgary was the first city to be named in 1998, then Toronto in 2000, followed by Montreal in 2002, Vancouver in 2004, and then a dual initiative of communities that began in 2006, focusing on the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The latter initiatives have a clear priority to help their churches reproduce themselves.
Key Cities/Communities Now!
We celebrate the 30 churches that have launched under KCI. We are thankful for every one of these churches—each with a unique personality. Most are thriving and impacting their community and city. Some church plants are preparing to plant a church; others are concentrating efforts to develop leaders for future church plants. As in any new initiative, there is an element of risk—church planting is not immune. A few churches have struggled and, as a result, amalgamated with another church or even closed their doors. These churches, too, have made a difference in their community and brought new life to many.
Key Cities/Communities Continuing Potential
Some of the provinces have moved beyond the Key Cities Initiative. They have established a larger vision to continue the momentum of multiplying churches within their province.
Ten years ago, KCI was just a dream. Today…
- Mission Calgary has become Vision 2012-24, a vision for 24 new initiatives by 2012, under the direction of Merv Boschman.
- Love Toronto is now Love Ontario and continues to expand under the direction of Terry Wiseman.
- Rendez-vous Montreal focuses on church planting and apprenticeships under the direction of Patrice Nagant.
- Ignite Vancouver is thriving as new churches begin under the direction of Gord Fleming.
- Dream Manitoba began with two urban initiatives under the direction of Russ Toews; Harvest Saskatchewan is mobilizing churches and leaders to become involved in church planting. Dwayne Barkman is leading this team.
What’s Next
Regenerate 21-01, a new vision and initiative to see 21st-century churches reflect first-centruy dynamics, was unveiled at
Gathering 2008 July 10-12, in Montreal.
Because of the generous support of individuals and businesses, 30 churches have been planted under the Key Cities/Communities Initiative.
We need your help to continue church-planting initiatives. Please
give generously and pray boldly.
DID YOU KNOW…
- ...that some MB churches have “loaned out” people or groups, such as worship bands and children’s workers, to mentor a church plant?
- ...that finding space for a church plant to meet often requires creativity? MB church plants meet in movie theatres, business parks, community centres, and even a former hotel.
- ...that most church planters have uprooted their family and moved to a new community or city in order to invest in church planting?
“I have been a stock broker for 10 years, started several profit and not-for-profit businesses, and planted one church. Planting a church has been the single most difficult thing I have ever done.”
—candid reflection from a successful church planter
Click here to read stories of God's work within new church plants.
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