Reaching the Lost, Searching, or Just Not Interested Canadian
Every church’s mission is the same:
“Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
This isn’t a slogan or a ministry slogan; it’s a divine directive from Jesus Himself.
It’s easy for churches to get busy with programs, budgets, events, and maintenance. But if we drift from the Great Commission, we drift from the heart of Jesus. The moment we stop caring about people far from God, we start losing sight of why the church exists in the first place.
The mission to reach people with the gospel isn’t optional. It’s our shared calling. And it’s not reserved for pastors or evangelists. Every follower of Jesus is invited into this movement of love, grace, and restoration.
If we claim to be followers of Christ, we must follow Him into His mission: to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
The Canadian Reality
Let’s be honest—reaching people for Jesus in Canada today is not simple.
We live in an increasingly post-Christian nation. The 2021 Census reported that less than one-third of Canadians now identify as Christian, and that number continues to decline. Church attendance has dropped in nearly every province, and the next generation often sees organized religion as irrelevant, judgmental, or outdated.
Yet that doesn’t mean God isn’t working. It simply means our mission field has changed.
We no longer live in a country where “everyone goes to church.” We live in a nation where many people have never really heard the gospel in a way that connects with their lives and stories.
This isn’t something to fear—it’s an incredible opportunity.
The Church in Canada has a chance to rediscover its missionary heart, not by importing American programs or chasing trends, but by living out the gospel authentically in our neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, and communities.
To do that, we need to understand who we’re trying to reach.
In broad terms, most Canadians who don’t follow Jesus fall into one of three categories: the uninterested, the nominally spiritual, and the actively seeking.
Let’s look at each group—and how we can meet them where they are.
1. The Uninterested
Many Canadians today have little to no desire for Christianity. They may follow another religion, identify as agnostic or atheist, or live with no thought of faith at all. Some are openly opposed to religion; others are politely indifferent.
They may acknowledge a “higher power,” but they don’t see how that connects to real life.
Inviting them to church probably won’t work—not at first.
Instead, start with genuine curiosity. Ask about their story. How do they make sense of life, suffering, morality, and purpose? What helps them through hard times? Where do they find hope?
These conversations are not about winning debates but planting seeds.
You may not see fruit right away, but the Holy Spirit uses these simple moments to open hearts over time.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). That’s our role too—faithfully planting and watering, trusting God to bring the growth.
What does that look like in practice? It might mean inviting a neighbour for dinner instead of inviting them to church. It might look like serving in your community without expecting anything in return. It might mean listening more than you talk.
Small seeds often grow into surprising fruit.
2. The Nominally Spiritual
This group might be the most common and the most challenging.
They’ll say, “Oh sure, I believe in God,” but their faith has no visible impact on their life.
They might show up for Christmas Eve or Easter. They might pray when life gets hard. But for the most part, faith is like a keepsake in a drawer, something sentimental but not central.
These are the Canadians who grew up with some exposure to Christianity but have drifted away. Many have good memories of church; others have been hurt or disillusioned by it. They’re not hostile, they’re just not hungry.
Reaching nominally spiritual people isn’t about arguing them back into belief. It’s about living a life so full of grace and authenticity that it makes them curious again.
The church can do this best by being real, not perfect, not polished, but honest. By acknowledging our struggles, doubts, and humanity, we make space for others to see that Jesus isn’t about performance but transformation.
This is where practical ministry shines. Parenting courses, financial workshops, mental health conversations, Alpha groups, community meals, these are all ways to reconnect people who’ve written off “church” but are still open to meaning and belonging.
We must show that Jesus speaks to everyday Canadian life: our relationships, our mental health, our sense of purpose, our search for identity.
Jesus doesn’t just change where we spend eternity; He changes how we live right now.
3. The Actively Seeking
Then there are those who are searching.
They may not know exactly what they’re looking for, but they feel the emptiness. They sense that something is missing.
Some turn to mindfulness or new-age spirituality. Others throw themselves into personal growth, activism, or success. They might read self-help books, listen to motivational podcasts, or experiment with meditation. Underneath it all, they’re looking for peace, meaning, and hope.
These people are open.
They might not be ready for Sunday morning, but they’re ready for community, authenticity, and spiritual conversation.
That means the church needs to offer safe spaces to explore faith—without pressure, without jargon, without judgment.
An Alpha group. A coffee night. A small group focused on questions of meaning. A retreat. Even a dinner table conversation.
The key is to introduce them to the real Jesus. Not the cultural Jesus. Not the political one. But the One who offers abundant life (John 10:10), who brings hope to the hopeless, peace to the restless, and purpose to the searching.
The gospel is not just a message of forgiveness; it’s a message of transformation. It’s not just about being saved from sin but being saved for a life of purpose and joy.
Every person was created by God for a reason (Ephesians 2:10). When seekers discover that, they begin to see faith not as an escape from reality but as the truest way to live.
Evangelism in a Post-Christian Nation
Reaching Canadians today doesn’t look like it did fifty years ago.
It’s less about rallies and programs and more about relationships and presence. It’s less about “come and see” and more about “go and be.”
The gospel still works. It just needs to be embodied, not just explained.
Evangelism in Canada means showing up at the hockey rink, in the school pickup line, at the office, in the coffee shop. It means bringing the love of Jesus into the places where people already are.
When we live with compassion and consistency, people start to notice something different.
The Apostle Peter encouraged believers to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have,” but to do so “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
That’s the posture we need today: bold but humble, confident but compassionate.
The Gospel Still Works
At the end of the day, reaching people in Canada isn’t about strategy; it’s about surrender.
It’s not about clever words or perfect timing. It’s about joining the conversation the Holy Spirit is already having in someone’s heart.
God is at work in this nation. He hasn’t given up on Canada, and neither should we.
Every believer, every congregation, every community of faith has a role to play. When we take time to understand where someone is spiritually, we can meet them in that space and partner with what God is doing in their life.
Evangelism is not complicated. It’s about being present, asking good questions, showing kindness, and living with hope.
And we don’t do it alone.
We get to partner with God in reaching the people around us: the ones who seem far away, the ones who are politely uninterested, and the ones who are quietly searching for something real.
Every conversation, every act of love, every prayer, every invitation matters.
You never know which one will be the step that draws someone closer to Jesus.
So, Church in Canada, let’s get back on mission.
The harvest is still plentiful. The gospel still transforms.
And the time is now.
Jeremiah works as Church Coach, Communications & Resource Lead with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.