The Encourage retreat was an inaugural event held at Lakeview Resort in Gimli, Man. We were excited to see 17 churches send pastors to this event. Though the weather was uncooperative, the event gave time for pastors to retreat, recharge, and connect with God and others.

CMC’s clothing fest was born out of a need to supply many of the poor and needy people in our community with appropriate seasonal clothing, especially for people on social assistance, recent immigrants, and, more recently, unhoused people and refugees.

“Where is Fort Frances?” is a question we hear often. It’s usually followed up by, “Oh, it’s in Ontario. How far are you from Toronto?” Quite far it turns out. About a 24-hour drive. Oh, the dilemmas of living in Northwestern Ontario.

In May 2026, Rosenort Evangelical Church (REMC) was pleased to welcome Sam and Karenna Pauls of Blumenort to our church leadership team. Sam will be taking on the role of associate pastor of discipleship. We look forward to seeing how they enhance our church with their unique giftings.

It has been said, “If your church wasn’t there would anyone notice? Would anyone care?” When EFC was built on its current location in the late seventies, a lot of the surrounding area was open field. Today we would say that God has brought the mission field to us.

As the principal of a Christian international school in Northern Thailand, I have the privilege of seeing firsthand how God uses education to transform lives. The stories may seem small, but they are powerful reminders that God is at work, often through the youngest among us.

Helping people come closer to Jesus is what I want to do; whether it is running in the Berlin Marathon (or any other marathon) or just conversing about running (shop-talk), I want my interactions with people to lead to spiritual questions.

First of all, there is no such thing as local versus global in kingdom work. When we’re talking about the church being missional, the default mindset should be yes to all things that the Holy Spirit is leading you into.

As we consider the current context of ministry in Canada, there are many reasons to be encouraged. Openness to the gospel itself is higher than ever, and willingness to accept an invitation to church is way up.

The slower pace of summer can feel ordinary, even obvious. But perhaps it is also an invitation.

“What has kept us from planting more churches in the recent past?” EMC Director of Canadian Outreach Carl Heppner asked this question as part of his report during the April 18, 2026, conference council meeting (see the more detailed report on the weekend meetings on p. 25). It’s been five years since EMC has planted a church, he said; the most recent is Bow Island EMC in Alberta, which was planted in 2021.

While I’m not entirely sure if it was the pastor’s plan, the senior lady began going to each of the young people gathered in the front and praying individually. There were prayers for growth in their love for Jesus, sensitivity to the Spirit, and acknowledgement of challenges. The prayers were personal even though she didn’t know all the kids, youth, and leaders she was praying for.