Soul Sanctuary

In the hours just before our first-ever Kings Head Theology Pub last Friday, Brother Maynard and I had the opportunity and privilege to have lunch with Gerry Michalski, the planting pastor of Soul Sanctuary in Winnipeg.

Gerry and I knew each other in the mid-90's when we were both youth pastors in Victoria BC, and have spordically kept in touch since we both landed in Winnipeg in 1997.

Last Friday was a chance to catch up with Gerry and hear about his new church plant for the emerging generations. I was encouraged again, as I was in conversation with Pernell Goodyear of The Freeway in Hamilton (an emerging church plant within the Salvation Army), to hear that Gerry's denominational home, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada is similarly encouraging, and providing start-up funding, for the beginning of a different way of doing church within their denomination.

Much of Gerry, Maynard's and my conversation revolved around the issues of leadership, "releasing" people into ministry, and hearing what has been growing and challenging in the journey of Soul Sanctuary. For me, it was another great time of hearing:

1. The excitement, terror, questioning and faith of a new church planter,
   
   
2. The good news that another denomination is actually supporting new ventures that explore alternative ways of expressing the Faith in the gathered Body, and
   
   
3. Catching up on a pastoral associate that I've known in several different settings, and hearing his journey over the past few years.

I hope to be able to continue, as time goes on, providing posts that highlight some of the emerging churches and church-planters that I come into contact with. I love a good re-construction!