Future Church

The CBAC is “hope-filled” about what God will do in the days ahead. We prepare now for the future of the church and denomination. We give strategic leadership to conversations among churches about church partnerships and mergers for the sake of greater Kingdom impact.

Future Church

We will create intentional, courageous conversations about our future and seek church partnerships that further our mission in our neighbourhoods.

    2025 Grant Applications

    Does your church have an exciting new initiative or experiment that you would like to attempt in 2025? The Atlantic Baptist Mission Board would love to partner with you! We have MIG’s or Ministry Initiative Grants that are available to assist with new church experiments. The ABMB needs to receive these applications by mid-November; they go to your Association first, so apply today! Questions and to receive an application, email

    Resources

    Ministry Initiative Grant

    The Atlantic Baptist Mission Board is committed to supporting churches and ministries that evidence a strong forward motion in reaching their potential for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Consequently, applications will be considered from churches in need of financial support for a concrete vision and intentional strategy for one or more of the following:

    • the renewal or revitalization of the church’s ministry;
    • to become a healthy (or healthier) growing church;
    • to establish a specific outreach ministry in the community or beyond;
    • to reach the immediate community and beyond with the Gospel;
    • to establish a point of mission or plant a new church;
    • to begin a new ministry initiative or move the ministry of the church in a new direction.
    Downloads

    Church Planting

    For more information about any of this, please contact Kevin Vincent.

    New congregations have energy, passion and momentum that drive them forward! Studies reveal that new congregations reach new people far more effectively than existing congregations. So whatever options are on your list to reach and serve your neighborhood, consider starting something NEW and multiplying your congregation.

    We have identified three main tracks:

    New Church Plants

    Is there a neighbourhood in your area, region, or city where you need to consider planting a brand new congregation? Is there a neighbourhood where you can multiply and add an additional site/congregation? For example, could you become one church in two or more locations?

    Two models:

    1. Traditional church planter starting something brand-new, most times with a sponsoring congregation.
    2. Multi-site model. A church identifies a new neighbourhood that needs a healthy church and initiates a new site, with a site pastor to lead that congregation.

    Re-Plants of Existing Congregations

    Are you a church with a wonderful history but is stuck and needs a complete relaunch? Are you in a strategic location but the congregation has dwindled? Would your church consider kneeling in a posture of humility, placing EVERYTHING on the table with a “whatever it takes” attitude, and re-planting the congregation in the same way that those who originally planted it did?

    Two models:

    1. Independent Re-Plants: Much like a new church plant, these churches are existing congregations that choose to re-launch with new vision.
    2. Missional Mergers: Two or more churches that recognize that in this new day, they can be better together and choose to merge into a new congregation.

    New Kinds of Churches

    Is there a creative expression of “doing and being church” that you have been considering? A creative environment to reach out to millennials? An inner-city food bank or clothing depot that has developed a sense of community and has become, in fact, a “congregation”? New Canadians that have settled into your neighbourhood and are longing for community? A café for artists and artisans with a sense of Christian community? We are only limited by our imaginations! Creative and imaginative experiments in communities all over Atlantic Canada must become our habit! Some will gain traction. Some won’t. But we’ll learn from them all.

    A New Kind of Church is a creative, expression of “church” (dinner church, café church, house church, etc …). Most times it is “tethered” to an existing congregation. Interested in considering launching a “New Kind of Church”?

    LINKS

    Please consult with an accountant and/or a lawyer for the province and situation-specific information for issues related to setting up CRA numbers or closing a church.

    1. Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
    2. Canada Revenue Agency
    3. CBAC - Starting a Church Overview (PDF)
    4. CBAC - Closing a Church Overview (PDF)