Ten Conversations Every Canadian Church Needs to Have Right Now

Leading a church today isn’t easy. In Canada, where church attendance is declining and cultural Christianity is fading, pastors and leaders are facing unique challenges. It’s tempting to get caught up in Sunday services, programs, and committees—but busyness does not equal fruitfulness. Healthy churches are built intentionally, through prayer, courageous leadership, and hard conversations.

If you’re leading a church, board, or ministry, ask yourself: Are you having the right conversations? Not just about programs or budgets but also about the mission, culture, and impact of your church. Here are ten conversations every Canadian church needs to have right now.

1. Why Do We Exist?

Every church needs a clear “why.” Without it, we drift. Programs run, people stay busy, but the mission can be lost. A clear why shapes every decision, ministry, and strategy.

Why this matters: Jesus gave the church a mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). That mission is timeless, but each church must express it uniquely. If your team can’t articulate why you exist, your community won’t care either.

Questions to ask:

• Can we state our church’s why in one sentence?

• Does everything we do align with this mission?

• How do we know if we are fulfilling it? 

Bottom line: If we don’t know why we exist, we’ll spend our energy doing good things that may not be the right things.

2. Do Our People Understand the Gospel?

The gospel isn’t just an entry point—it’s the core of everything we do. Without a gospel-saturated church, programs, ministries, and events are ultimately empty.

Why this matters: Many Canadians—even churchgoers—don’t understand the gospel clearly. They may think Christianity is about morality or tradition, but the gospel is about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and the new life He offers. Without this understanding, people won’t live it or share it.

Questions to ask:

• Is the gospel central to our preaching, teaching, and ministry?

• Have our people experienced its transformative power?

• Are they compelled to share it urgently?

Bottom line: If the gospel isn’t clear in our church, nothing else we do will truly matter.

3. Where Are We Going?

Mission answers “why we exist.” Vision answers “where we’re going.” Without vision, churches drift; with vision, people are inspired to serve sacrificially.

Why this matters: Vision moves us from vague hopes to specific action. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” In Canada, clear vision helps churches set measurable goals—salvations, baptisms, discipleship, and community impact—and rally people to pursue them.

Questions to ask:

• Five years from now, what do we want to see God do through our church?

• Who exactly are we trying to reach?

• What does success look like for us?

Bottom line: A church without vision isn’t going anywhere—it’s just maintaining. 

4. What Is Our Reputation in the Community?

Whether we like it or not, our church has a reputation. People judge us before they even walk in the door.

Why this matters: In a post-Christian culture, our reputation affects our influence. People may never read the Bible, but they are watching us. When the church is known for love, integrity, and service, the gospel is more likely to be received.

Questions to ask:

• How does our community currently perceive us?

• Are we known for what we stand for or against?

• What can we do to build trust and credibility?

Bottom line: Our community’s perception shapes our ability to reach them with the gospel.

5. What Does a Disciple Look Like in Our Church?

Discipleship is more than attendance or giving—it’s transformation. A disciple reflects Christ in attitude, action, and mission.

Why this matters: Jesus didn’t call us to make attenders; He called us to make disciples. In a Canadian context, we can’t assume cultural Christianity will carry people to spiritual maturity. Defining what a disciple looks like in your church allows you to measure growth and reproduce spiritual maturity.

Questions to ask:

• What attitudes and actions mark someone growing in Christ?

• Do we have disciple-makers or just attenders?

• How do we ensure true transformation is happening?

Bottom line: If we can’t define a disciple, we’ll never truly make one. 

6. Would Our Community Fight to Keep Us Open?

Would your community notice if your church disappeared tomorrow?

Why this matters: Jesus calls us to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Churches that meet real needs and build genuine relationships earn credibility. In Canada, where skepticism is high, impact precedes influence. Meeting needs creates opportunities to share the gospel.

Questions to ask:

• Are we meeting tangible needs outside our walls?

• Do people who don’t attend care about what we do?

• How can we increase our community impact this year?

Bottom line: If our absence wouldn’t be felt, our presence doesn’t matter as much as we think. 

7. What Values Drive Our Culture? 

Culture is the unspoken reality of “how things are around here.” It shapes behavior more than vision or strategy.

Why this matters: People feel culture before they hear a sermon. Jesus said the world would know we are His disciples by our love (John 13:35). If your culture doesn’t reflect Christ, your message loses credibility.

Questions to ask:

• What kind of culture do we currently have?

• Do our stated values match our actual culture?

• How do people feel when they walk into our church?

Bottom line: Culture eats strategy for breakfast. What people feel here is more powerful than what we say.

8. How Are We Developing Servant Leaders?

Volunteers do tasks; servant leaders embrace a calling. Developing leaders multiplies ministry.

Why this matters: Ephesians 4:12 says leaders are to “equip God’s people to do His work.” Tasks should shape people, not just get done. In Canada, where churches often have fewer people and resources, raising servant leaders is essential for future growth.

Questions to ask:

• Do we view people as task-doers or leaders-in-development?

• Are we equipping new leaders intentionally?

• Are we multiplying leaders or recycling the same few?

Bottom line: Healthy churches don’t use people to build ministries—they use ministries to build people.

9. Are We Building True Community?

A church should be a family to belong to, not just an event to attend.

Why this matters: Acts 2 describes a church devoted to fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. In Canada, loneliness and isolation are rising. Churches that cultivate real community provide belonging, support, and accountability, which strengthen discipleship and evangelism.

Questions to ask:

• Can people make real friendships here?

• Are small groups life-giving and relational?

• Do members share life beyond Sunday services?

Bottom line: Friendly churches make visitors feel good; compelling communities change lives. 

10. What Is It Like for a Non-Believer to Walk In?

We must consider the outsider’s experience. Many Canadians are far from church and may feel intimidated or confused.

Why this matters: 1 Corinthians 9:22 reminds us to become “all things to all people” without compromising the gospel. If our services are confusing or unwelcoming, non-believers will leave without hearing or experiencing Jesus.

Questions to ask:

• Can someone easily find us and know when to attend?

• Do guests feel genuinely welcomed?

• Are our services clear and accessible for non-churchgoers?

Bottom line: If outsiders can’t encounter Jesus through us, we’ve lost sight of why we exist.

Final Thoughts

These ten conversations aren’t a checklist—they’re a lifeline for Canadian churches. Some answers will be encouraging; others will be uncomfortable. However, the goal is not comfort; it’s alignment with Jesus’ mission for His church.

Pastors, boards, and ministry leaders: pause, pray, and have these conversations honestly. Seek clarity on your mission, invest in discipleship, and embrace a gospel-saturated culture. If you do, your church will not just survive—it will thrive, transform lives, and impact your community for eternity.

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