Join us Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2026, for our first Canada Mission Centre Conference. This will be an opportunity to gather with old and new friends from across Canada to worship, celebrate mission, and make important decisions as we continue to move onward together. Find all the key dates to keep in mind below, learn how you can prepare for conference.
We are responding to the call to “risk something new” from the Community of Christ Mission Prayer, inviting members and friends of the church across Canada to awaken to God and one another, risk new conversations and actions, and bless all of creation.
“Awaken · Risk · Bless” is a spiritual cycle that guides our shared journey. Awakening to the presence of the Spirit gives us courage to build bridges of understanding and risk conversations and ministries that only moments ago seemed beyond our capacity, but now spread blessings all around us and beyond.
Registration
The registration deadline is Oct 30. This gives us enough time to ensure that only members have voice and vote at the conference, while allowing non-members to participate as observers. Please register today.
Business session and activities for all ages via Zoom
Nov 7, 10:00 a.m. BC / 11:00 a.m. AB/SK / 12:00 p.m. ON
🙏 Closing service
Sunday, Nov 8 on Beyond the Walls (YouTube and Facebook)
10:00 a.m. BC / 11:00 a.m. AB/SK / 12:00 p.m. ON
Celebrate Mission
What happened at your congregation or campground this year? What is new, what has changed, which ministries have taken shape, which stories have inspired your congregation, and who is no longer with us and should not be forgotten? We want to hear your story!We invite you to share how your local or camping community is living Christ’s mission and making a difference.
Please send your reports by October 2 to ensure your stories are included in our Conference program.Be sure to include your best photos! Your report helps us write the history of Community of Christ in Canada and Celebrate Mission together.
Conference Remote Sites
Planning to gather in person with your congregation? Although conference will bring us together across great distances, we encourage congregations to gather locally when possible. Please let us know in advance to help ensure all technical aspects run smoothly. The remote site application deadline is Oct 2. This will provide time for our IT department to assess your technical equipment, provide training, and help you make sure you are ready to run a successful remote site. Things you can start considering are:
🔗 Can our internet connection support a Zoom meeting without interruptions or glitches?
📺 Do we have a large screen or projector to display the main video for everyone to see?
🔊 Do we have speakers that can amplify the Zoom meeting’s audio for everyone to hear?
🎤 Do we have a camera and microphone that can capture someone speaking to the conference?
🧑💻 Who is going to serve as Technology Steward and be the main point of contact between the congregation and our IT team?
💻 Do we have a secondary device for legislative queue management and other administrative tasks?
We invite you to prayerfully prepare for conference by considering the call to “risk something new” from our Mission Prayer, and by focusing on the following calls to action from selected passages of Doctrine and Covenants:
Courageously challenge D&C 163: 3b.Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the peaceable Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace.
Become who you are called to be D&C 164 9.b.When your willingness to live in sacred community as Christ’s new creation exceeds your natural fear of spiritual and relational transformation, you will become who you are called to be. The rise of Zion the beautiful, the peaceful reign of Christ, awaits your wholehearted response to the call to make and steadfastly hold to God’s covenant of peace in Jesus Christ.
Undertake compassionate and just actions D&C 165 1dUndertake compassionate and just actions to abolish poverty and end needless suffering. Pursue peace on and for the Earth. D&C 165:3dThe challenges and opportunities are momentous. Will you remain hesitant in the shadows of your fears, insecurities, and competing loyalties? Or will you move forward in the light of your divinely instilled call and vision?
Or enter the following information on your Zoom app:
Meeting ID: 825 2384 9572
Passcode: 286207
Guest Ministers
Humberto Tinsman Humberto serves as an Emerging Generations Specialist with Community of Christ and is passionate about creating meaningful experiences that help young people explore spirituality, build authentic community, and discover their unique gifts and purpose. He will journey alongside campers throughout the week.
Mission Centre Presidency Team
Sam Smalldon Bishop of Canada Director of Shared Services
Vonda DenBoer Director of Camping & Campground Sustainability
John Hamer Director of Outreach & Innovative Mission
Sariah Boeve- Middleton Sariah (she/they) holds an Honours BA in Peace and Conflict Studies and a Master’s in Social Work, wherein she practices as an openly queer/LGBTQ practitioner with a mindful approach to social justice. She and her partner, Courtney, are parents to twin toddlers and a preteen—all of whom are on the autism spectrum, neurodivergent, and brilliant creations in their own right. Co-pastor of Willow, an unorthodox yet spiritually welcoming Community of Christ congregation, Sariah was raised within the Community of Christ faith base, though she took a step back for quite some time. Today, she is an active member in the church and was/is a member of the Canadian and International Peace and Justice Committees, as well as having previously served on the Canada East Mission Council.
Riley Malott Riley, a sixth-generation church member, is a Grade 12 high school student and a member of the Wabash congregation in Ontario, where he serves as historian and tech booth operator and is active in youth ministry. He is very passionate about developing his faith through the church and hopes one day to empower youth who are interested in expanding their faith. His higher education plans are in the area of public health.
Bryce Taylor Bryce has been affiliated with many mission-focused organizations through his professional career in social work and has concluded that the mission owns the organization. He applauds missions of enterprise that allow for the social entrepreneurship of members and leaders, echoing James 2:18: “You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” His interests centre on building missions that attract minds searching for meaning rather than certitude, engage experienced builders of economic missional wealth, and welcome followers of Jesus, who came that all people might have and enjoy life in abundance (John 10:10).
Sandra Hunter You may know Sandra Hunter as a friend, colleague, or family member, or you may know her three children and their spouses, or one of her nine grandchildren. What I hope you already know is that she is a seasoned church elder—both in age and in the church priesthood—whose decades of service reflect her deep commitment to faithful leadership and mission. As a non-resident member in northern British Columbia with a master’s degree in administration, she brings strong analytical skills and a readiness to ask the hard, necessary questions that strengthen strategic decision-making. She has served the church in diverse roles—including class teacher, stewardship commissioner, treasurer, pastor, and recorder—gaining a broad, practical understanding of ministry at every level. Known for her candour and integrity, she would serve on the Canadian Church Mission Council with thoughtful counsel and a steadfast dedication to the church’s mission.
Karen Hewitt Karen was raised in the New Liskeard and North Bay congregations, communities that helped shape her faith and the person she is today. She has served on the North Bay leadership team for several years, learning firsthand the strength and joy that comes from a community supporting one another. Professionally, she has worked in various capacities in the health care field for over 22 years and currently supports the Chief of Staff, Vice-President of Medical Affairs, and the hospital’s Research Ethics Board. She is excited to serve on the Canada Mission Council as the church moves onward into a new national mission centre. The enduring principles that speak most deeply to her—Worth of All Persons and All Are Called—guide her approach to service and connection. She is particularly passionate about helping the North remain engaged and connected within the wider Canadian church community and is grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside others as they grow together in this next chapter.
Jada Middleton Jada is a 21-year-old university student based in Alberta. She is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and is studying psychology and criminology, with future career aspirations of becoming a psychiatrist specializing in PDD clientele. She has worked in psychiatric health care throughout her adult life. She believes in the fundamental worth of all persons and the right to live a meaningful existence, and through this belief serves as a base for her involvement in local and international volunteer-based groups.
Jae Senga Jae, originally from Saskatchewan, works in health care for the province. With a degree in Computer Science, Jae enjoys bringing a tech-savvy perspective to both his personal life and career. Active in the local church, Jae values community and connection. Life outside of work is centred on family—spending time with his wife, Amanda, and their two daughters is what matters most.
