Introduction

Namesake and Logo

The name “Renewal Church” and our logo, a dove, is a shorthand that reminds us of and proclaims the redeeming work that God has done, that God is continuing to do, and that God will finish doing in his saving and restoration of all creation. Our namesake is found in John’s letter, “Revelation”, where we receive a beautiful picture of humanity and creation’s wholeness. God's unfettered presence is among humanity fully. 

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away…Behold I am making all things new!” (Revelation 21:3-5).

The dove echoes this image often in scripture, but in particular we think of Jesus’ baptism as recorded in the New Testament. In Jesus, we see an image of human persons being able to have an intimate sense of God in the way they experience our lives; known by and being known by the living God. In Jesus, he invites us into this friendship as well as “beloved” by God.

“when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16-17)”.

Our Beginning

“there is no place without the potential for unearthing holiness”, Pastor Eugene Peterson 

Renewal Church finds its spiritual roots in the Chinese Christian Church of Ottawa (CCCO), who prayed, discerned, nurtured the hearts of brothers and sisters to establish a new church gathering in Barrhaven. The planting church (CCCO) traces its history to the first and earliest cross-cultural Chinese ministries in Ottawa. The fruits of this ministry were cultivated by brothers and sisters who faithfully preached and journeyed alongside early Chinese immigrants in Ottawa in early 20th century. God’s work and love across cultures, generations and people groups is praiseworthy indeed! “My Beloved!” Jesus continues to say to His people. 

In 2014, members of the congregation, in that same yearning to respond faithfully to the Triune God at work in the world, the planting church had sensed a calling to proclaim to the way Jesus faithfully responds to the deepest longings of particular persons, perhaps from particular cultures and in form particular generations that shared in a particular expression of yearning in themselves and in the world: a desire for a just society, a desire to be known, a hunger for authentic encounters with the sacred, and a desire for a sense of an integrated life and wholeness. The Good News of Jesus Christ is for all, and also persons who sense this deeply. 

Through prayer and direct support of the planting church, with the help of the planting organization C2C, a small group of brothers and sisters prayerfully prepared, and respond to God's leading. Renewal Church held our first worship service in September 2016. In this same period, we thank God also for other church plant communities that started during this period also and responding to a call to be faithful. 

Being Relational is our Core

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:9-14)

When we think of any stories of faith, at Renewal Church or in other gatherings, we think of people. We think of particular persons, faithful brothers and sisters, who joyfully entrusted their lives to the living God, and sharing this life with others.  The primary way in which God chooses to work a way that is central and congruent with His revealed character is entirely relational and personal. We think of how knowledge of God was shared with us: family members who passed the faith along to us, similar to how Timothy learned the faith from his mother and grandmother as we read in Paul’s letters. For others, friends, preachers, and strangers who boldly and lovingly shared the Good News with us.

To know God, the be known by God, to know others and to known by others marks the resonating character of Christian communities. God continually desires to be known and never works through the abstract or concepts. It is through a person, a “who” that brings us to a saving knowledge. In each of our stories, God through a person journeyed alongside us, taught us, and modeled for us a faith in Jesus Christ. Each story is incredibly unique, and we cherish this as fundamental to the character of Renewal Church. 

Community Life 

The quality of our community centers around practices that draw us more deeply in living faithfully together in the Presence of God. We believe the Church as both a worshiping and missional community: of public worship and of public good works. In our life together, we find ourselves both staying and going: to present, be faithful, and be attentive to living God and moved by where He calls us.

• We want to be disciples of Jesus Christ – Our lifelong goal is to be learners of Jesus and to live like he did. We want to maintain a childlike hunger, curiosity, malleability and posture where we constantly ask “what is Jesus teaching us? How would he live my life?” Ie. as a medical professional, as an engineer, in the trades, as a parent etc.

• We desire to be relational  – When you hear this word, the sacrament of the Lord’s supper may be the first thing that comes to mind. Communion anchors us in the gospel, focusing on his death, resurrection and his return as our hope and joy.

• We participate with what God is doing–  We believe every person is called to actively participate in the Kingdom of God, and in their local congregation. This is the priesthood of all believers. We are called to be partners rather than consumers. We are members of one body, each equipped with a special gift from the Spirit. You as an individual are part of a greater whole. You belong. 

• We value proximity and stability – To be truly incarnational, we have to be present and committed in a community. (Just as Christ was incarnational, we must be).

• We desire to be attentive to God– We want to be open and follow the Holy Spirit, even when it involves greater risk and faith. We’ve seen meaningful steps of faith in moving towards a harder job or being open to foster parenting as an act of obedience to God’s heart.

As other of Hebrews exhorts us "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another" (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

Our rhythms include gathering corporately for worship where we are are nourished by the grace of God, deepening spiritual friendships where we live out our interconnected lives, and faithfully serving wherever God calls us in participating with His work in the world. God works in us, increasingly, to shape us into the image of Christ.

We Confess the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages,

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made;

of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;

he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

and was made human.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered and was buried.

The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again with glory

to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life.

He proceeds from the Father and the Son,

and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.

He spoke through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

and to life in the world to come. Amen.

Denominational Affiliation and an Openness to a Global Church

We are not currently part of a denomination, and are in a season of discerning this.

Our principle posture is an openness to the whole people of God that extends behind the walls of this community. To be a church, requires an openness to the whole people of God. 

We like how Theologian Miroslav Volf, puts it: "Because the Christian God is not a lonely God, but rather a communion of three persons, faith leads human beings into the divine communio. One cannot, however, have a self-enclosed communion with the Triune God...for the Christian God is not a private deity. Communion with this God is at once also communion with those others who have entrusted themselves in faith to the same God. Hence one and the same act of faith places a person into a new relationship both with God and with all others who stand in communion with God"

We hold a posture a gracious openness to other Christian churches that are part of the breadth of  Christian tradition (from which we ourselves are indebted). The Lordship of Jesus Christ underlies our posture towards other local communities and denominations.  It is a Tradition from which we receive the Sacred Scriptures (for us the 66 books) and a Tradition of many streams that we receive the creeds and the proclamation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Triune God. 

We are in partnership with local church bodies in the Barrhaven area, and have a history and involvement with the churches of Ottawa. We believe in the global nature of God’s church and we love the churches in Barrhaven, working closely with their pastors!

Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

As an Elder-led church, we discern the giftings and callings of men and women to serve in the pastoral office. Elders are tasked with the oversight and administration of the church, reflecting Christ’s way of teaching, guiding, and loving others. The office of Eldership mirrors the humble Christ, who leads through service and answers the calling to devote themselves to the Word, prayer, and sacraments, as outlined in Acts. While Eldership carries authority within the congregation, it is authority exercised in the spirit of Christ—serving others and lifting them up. This authority is not about power but about faithfully building up the body of Christ through humble and loving leadership.