Strategy Session
A young, theologically serious, servant-hearted church with a deep elder bench, robust membership culture, strong generosity, and a thriving kids ministry is well-positioned to multiply through revitalization and church planting.
Unique Resources and Strengths
People and Culture
Young, eager members with high initiative; cross-generational warmth; strong friendships; hospitality into homes; a sending/mission mindset.
Theology and Discipleship
Sound doctrine, expository preaching, robust membership covenant, culture of mutual discipleship; elders and deacons who model care.
Leadership and Operations
Deep elder bench for size; senior pastor with planting experience; multiple worship teams; helpful infrastructure and external partnerships.
Next Generation
Thriving children's ministry.
Finances and Location
Financial generosity including benevolence; strategic presence in Toronto with reach into diverse demographics.
10-Year Vision
Spiritual Maturity and Multiplication
Mature Christians who identify and use their gifts; intentional equipping with tracked growth.
Intergenerational Depth
Strong teen ministry; today's kids thriving as teens; more seasoned saints mentoring; reduced barriers for older adults.
Evangelism and Presence
Conversions and baptisms; workplace evangelism equipping; visible community presence; care for the vulnerable.
Sending and Collaboration
Plant and revitalize; send missionaries and trusted leaders; partner broadly across churches.
Infrastructure as Servant
If God provides, a permanent space can expand ministry—but people and ministry over property, always.
Strategic Direction
Revitalization
Why It Aligns Now
Many aging/struggling churches locally; complements young discipleship culture; potential facility via merger; adds older mentors
Key Challenges
Requires invitation and true partnership; politics/control; relational cost of sending; complex integration; risk of leader drain
Conditions to Proceed
Genuine partner openness; mature lead team; member buy-in; clear backfill plan; patient, prayerful process; continue internal strengthening
Church Planting
Why It Aligns Now
Expresses sending mindset naturally
Key Challenges
Needs strong planter/pastor and stable sending church; leadership coverage; location discernment (need may be far from where people live)
Conditions to Proceed
Clear conviction from God and need; vetted planter/core; defined backfill plan; realistic timeline; member commitment to relational costs
New Building
Why It Aligns Now
Stability, safety, schedule control; hub for outreach; reduces setup/teardown
Key Challenges
Toronto cost/opportunity cost; risk of mission drift; lease instability if renting; tradeoffs across dispersed members
Conditions to Proceed
Only if not a burden; God-provided via merger/revitalization or unusually favorable terms; preserves ministry flexibility and generosity
Decision Criteria
Spiritual Conviction
Clear, united sense of God's leading—not optics or space-solving alone.
Leader Readiness
Identified revitalization lead/planter; elder coverage and teaching bench secured; backfill plan in place.
Member Readiness
A committed core that understands and accepts the relational cost.
Fit to People and Place
Target aligns with where people live or a compelling, prayed-for need the church can actually serve.
Financial Prudence
Protect flexibility and generosity; avoid constraining debt; invest in people over property.
Partnership Openness
Genuine invitation and shared gospel foundation (for revitalization).
Key Risks to Manage
Leadership Bandwidth
Elder/member ratio, teaching bench, and backfills when sending.
Relational Cost
Friendships stretched as teams are sent; requires proactive shepherding and communication.
Space Constraints and Stability
Capacity limits; lease non-permanence and security concerns in a rented facility.
Member Stability/Ownership
Some are still finding their footing; assimilation must improve alongside any sending.
Open Questions
Plant vs. revitalize first: which best matches current readiness and partner availability, and what are trigger conditions?
Timeline realism: what makes a faithful 12-month plan achievable—and what would warrant delay?
Membership on-ramps: precise pathways and communications to warm non-members toward covenant community.
Building guardrails: agreed boundaries (e.g., pursue facilities only via revitalization/merger or unusually favorable provision).
Bottom Line
Strengths
Rare alignment in people, theology, culture, leadership, and generosity.
Vision
Mature disciples, conversions, intergenerational depth, visible witness, and sending.
Direction
Prioritize revitalization; support planting as God provides; buildings are means, not the mission.
Next 12 Months
Build leaders and backfills, clarify membership and assimilation, pilot evangelism channels, sharpen stewardship, and watch for God-opened revitalization opportunities.