The Road to Ottawa

Theological training and a wife – two objectives I held upon my return to Canada.

I envisioned my wife and I returning to Africa, the continent on which I had lived for ten years. Although both objectives were achieved, God introduced a new direction for Pascale and myself - a direction neither of us expected.

God asked me to let go of ‘Africa’. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. With an unknown future in front of us, Pascale and I welcomed in the year 2007 on our knees in prayer. Amazingly we both heard God saying “I want you to plant a church in Ottawa.” We held this vision lightly in our hearts, saying, “Lead the way and we will follow, all in your timing.”

I was uncertain what my next steps should be until I had a conversation with my lead pastor and colleague, Fred Redekop. Fred’s insight surprised me when he said, “Stefan, I think you have the gifts to be a church planter.” With that initial confirmation, Pascale and I began to share with others the calling that God was unfolding before us.

A deeper discernment process began, involving prayer, worship, speaking with MCEC staff and gathering together Christian friends for a time of listening in prayer. In all of this, God kept meeting us, whispering, “Yes, this is what I want you to do”.

There have been other concrete confirmations along the way. In the summer of 2007, I learned of a half-time position with Mennonite Central Committee in Ottawa. I applied and was hired. Later that fall, we met with the church council and pastor of
Ottawa Mennonite Church and the idea of a new MCEC church in Ottawa was met with support and enthusiasm.

I am a Franciscan Anabaptist who longs for a multi-ethnic, bilingual Anabaptist faith community. With God’s help, Pascale and I hope to begin a church planting movement where a passion for Jesus and justice can take root. We pray that other churches will grow from this church plant and that, with God’s strength, we will make disciples of God who in turn will make other disciples.