“Ottawa needs more churches if we are to see that happen.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

They come from all backgrounds: Mennonite Brethren to Charismatic to Missionary Alliance. Some were born to Canadian families while others are first- and second-generation immigrants, yet this group has far more in common than not.

The group meets every month to strategize how to effectively reach the city for Jesus and to encourage and support each other along the difficult–sometimes lonely—road of church planting.

“The Church Planter’s Cadre originally began as the Incubator,” says Joshua Wang. The Incubator is a two-year church planter training program run by C2C Network. After the program finished, Wang says “it morphed into something that is more relational. It still has that purpose of equipping, but less structure than the Incubator.”

Wang was part of the group from their second meeting, nearly four years ago. He was in the process of planting Renewal Church Ottawa and feeling overwhelmed.

“We have formed deep connections there that are still developing into ministry partnerships.”

“In the first or second session I broke down in tears in the cadre, wrestling with how difficult it is to make disciples. When I first started church planting, it felt really lonely. Our mother church is non-denominational, so I wasn’t coming from a denominational background. It was really challenging, but the Cadre felt like a safe place to express that hardship and trial. For me, it was really incredible.”

Wang says the training helped, but the biggest benefit was having a place to belong and share with others going through the same things.

“We have formed deep connections there that are still developing into ministry partnerships. Many of these people in these two-year streams have preached at one another’s churches and are walking alongside each other. I can’t say enough what the Cadre provides.”

But the Church Planter’s Cadre is not just a social group for pastors. Founded as a partnership between C2C and One Way Ministries, it is a team that is extremely focused on the Great Commission.

“There are nearly 1 million people in Ottawa,” states Trevor Seath, C2C’s Ontario Regional Director. “We are praying that there would be revival and that thousands of people would come to Christ. Imagine the vision of really reaching the city of Ottawa.”

“I think the heritage of One Way Ministries in Ottawa is such a dynamic thing for us to see as we compare Ottawa to other cities.”

Ottawa has many great churches, so sometimes Cadre leaders are asked, ‘Why does Ottawa need another church?’ Seath says they are not taking people out of existing churches. To reach 1 million people, the city needs some huge churches—and they’re praying for that, too—but the Church is also called to raise up leaders and send them out.

“It’s a natural thing to expect, that as God gets hold of people’s lives He is going to call them to start new things. When we see God raising up leaders, we are thankful and we come alongside them. We don’t want them to be alone. We don’t want them to be unsupported.”

In fact, Cadre organizers say there are as many as 40 different church plants sending down roots across Ottawa. While they come from all different ethnicities and theological backgrounds, they are not focused on building “their own flock” or establishing their own brand.

“It’s not just about growing our own thing, but about seeing God’s kingdom grow and expand across our city. Ottawa needs more churches if we are to see that happen,” explains Jeff Jantzi, Lead Pastor of the Gathering Ottawa and one of the Cadre’s organizers.

“God’s mission is so clearly from every part of the world to every part of the world.”

“It is exciting. I think the heritage of One Way Ministries in Ottawa is such a dynamic thing for us to see as we compare Ottawa to other cities,” Seath says. “That vision of collaboration between different churches of different denominations for the advancement of the gospel is already so strong.”

Jantzi and Seath also highlight how the Cadre is becoming more culturally diverse, as well.

“God’s mission is so clearly from every part of the world to every part of the world,” says Seath. “It is a joy to meet people who are from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, who God has brought to Ottawa for His purposes.”

Looking at the budding churches and the diversity of believers labouring shoulder to shoulder to advance God’s kingdom in Ottawa, Jantzi says, “It encourages me deeply to see people who are stepping out and putting it all on the line for Christ and His kingdom. There’s so much we can learn from one another. I hope and pray we will see God raise up more and more planters and leaders over the coming months and years.”