I Am Planting An Incarnational Church in Calgary
Understanding Incarnational Church Planting
Incarnational church planting goes beyond starting a service. It's about crossing cultural barriers and embodying Jesus in the everyday life of a neighbourhood. It's not about setting up a weekly time to sing and preach; it's about being present, engaged, and in tune with the people around you. For example, in my community, we don't call our Sunday gatherings "church"—we call it "Brunch." We share scripture, eat, and discuss together in a potluck-style gathering that makes sense for us.
Our church isn't confined to a building or a specific time slot. We have programs like dance, cardio kickboxing, stretching, and art—all part of our expression of church life. The focus is always on inviting Jesus into these spaces and making His presence felt in ways that resonate with those we meet. We engage by walking the community, eating at local spots, attending meetings, and volunteering at events—essentially, doing life alongside those around us. This is what it means to be the ekklesia—the gathered community of believers.
Rules of Engagement for Incarnational Church Planting
Inspired by 1 Corinthians 9:22, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some," we operate with a set of guiding principles that prioritize listening, engaging, and aligning with what God is doing in the neighbourhood.
We ask different questions. Instead of focusing on attendance numbers, we ask:
How many meaningful conversations about faith in Jesus did we have this week? Are we building trust within the community? Are people inviting us into their lives and homes? What is God saying about our neighbourhood? Are we truly listening? How can we create beauty and goodness here? How can we meet the community's needs? What does radical hospitality and generosity look like this week?
Learn the Language of the Community
To reach people effectively, we must first understand them:
How does this community speak? What are their values and concerns? What offends them? What delights them? What unites the community, and what causes division or pain?
Expand Your View of God's Redemptive Plan
As we listen to those around us, we expand our understanding of God's work:
How do we translate the message of Jesus here? What is the gospel in its fullest sense, beyond personal salvation? How do we move from confrontational to invitational evangelism? What relational and communal transformations does God desire here?
Learn How to Translate
Based on our understanding, we create language, practices, and rhythms that reflect God's kingdom in a way that feels authentic to the community. It won't look like a traditional church, and that's where courage comes in.
Brave New Frontiers
There is no one-size-fits-all manual for planting a church in your unique context. This path requires bravery—to resist the urge to fall back on what's familiar and, instead, to trust God in the uncharted territory. Remember, it is God who builds His church, not us. He is already at work in our communities, paving the way. Our role is to lean on Him, gather in faith, break bread together, and believe in the impossible.
Connie Jakab is a creative church leader, entrepreneur, church planter, and coach. She has worked in full-time church ministry in East Vancouver and has served as the Children's Ministry Director for the BCYD PAOC District. She works on reaching people on the fringes, such as the artistic and LGBTQ2+ community. She and her husband are restoring “HOME” with their company, The Jakab Co., where they renovate houses while coaching marriages and parents. She is also the author of the Bring Them Closer Series and works within schools to reimagine mental health for youth.