Something new in northwest Calgary

Nearly 20 years ago Dalhousie Community Church (DCC) was begun as an outreach into the growth corridor of northwest Calgary. During the past 5 years, as Mission Calgary has been at work forming new churches, Dalhousie has supported these efforts in various ways, including blessing a number of DCCers to be involved in this church plants. This past fall, however, a new opportunity began to emerge. Lance Christie, who had once been a part of Dalhousie but had pastored in New Zealand for the past 12 years, returned to Canada and began conversations with Mission Calgary about a role in church planting in Calgary. At the same time, Dalhousie began to look at whether it was ready to enter a new phase of outreach by becoming a multiple-congregation church (one church meeting in a variety of places and/or congregations). The result has been a coming together of an exciting new plan.

Lance and Sharlene Christie are commissioned by Dalhousie Community Church

On Sunday, March 2, Lance and Sharlene Christie were commissioned by Dalhousie Community Church in conjunction with Mission Calgary to the position of New Congregation Pastor. Lance will be responsible for leading Dalhousie in its evangelism and discipleship efforts. At the same time, he will be gathering a core group of called people from within DCC and elsewhere, to begin a satellite congregation in the large, growing subdivisions to the north and west of Dalhousie. For the first two years, Lance’s salary will be shared by Dalhousie and Mission Calgary, and he will remain a part of Dalhousie Church as a staff member throughout. Jake Balzer, church planting director for the Alberta MB Conference will continue to provide guidance to Lance.

The plan is that the satellite congregation will develop a strategy that is suited to the people it is trying to reach, beginning public meetings by next fall. By continuing to hold a common vision, sharing many ministries such as youth, small groups, worship, children’s ministries and finances, and by frequent meetings together, the satellite church and Dalhousie will be able to mutually strengthen one another.

Lead pastor Mark Jantzen, reflects the mood in the church when he says, “Dalhousie is excited about the new passion for reaching people that God is stirring within us, as well as the growth that happens in followers of Christ as they step into new opportunities that this venture will create, whether in the new satellite congregation or by remaining with Dalhousie. We are excited about the gifting and calling that Lance brings to his role of equipping, leadership and church planting. We believe that this plan to begin new congregations is a great use of kingdom resources and hope that it will be a model that is transferable to other churches. We dream of this being the first of many congregations that Dalhousie can have the privilege of developing.”

—Dalhousie news release