The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson What's Going on With the Church in Canada? Talking Ministry in 2026 with Jonathan Smith and Drake Farmer - Episode 433
Jan 28, 2026
Drake Farmer, executive pastor in Edmonton who builds multisite strategy and outreach. Jonathan Smith, lead pastor in Toronto who champions invitational, multicultural ministry. They discuss surprising spiritual hunger across Canada. They explore hospitality as the new front door. They talk about rapid attendance growth outpacing resources and how churches are adapting.
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Unexpected Wave Of First-Time Attenders
- Drake Farmer described a sudden flood of first-time church attenders finding Beulah through searches and invitations.
- Many were new to faith or new to Canada and Alpha helped convert curiosity into discipleship.
Write A Playbook Before Scaling
- Create a written playbook to replace oral tradition and clarify decision rights across campuses.
- Use stakeholder sessions to align culture, change management, and standard operating procedures before scaling.
Community Programs Led To Reestablished Faith
- Jonathan Smith shared a story of a Muslim neighbor inviting a woman who rediscovered faith and is now pursuing baptism.
- Their food bank, sports, and kids programs functioned as the relational pathway into church.