“People in our churches are very supportive of working together.”

Jenny Burr
Spur Ottawa Correspondent

Ottawa churches have a strong track record of collaboration. Gradually, the city is gaining a name for itself as a place where Christians work together, laying aside denominational differences. A group of Stittsville churches demonstrate this well, holding joint events and serving their community to share God’s love with others.

The United Church Presbytery in Ottawa hosts Camp Awesome at many locations throughout the summer. The week-long camps serve children ages four to 12. They also serve as leadership training for youth.

Grant Dillenbeck, pastor of Stittsville United Church, says his church “has been hosting Camp Awesome for more than 10 years. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, St. Thomas Anglican, and Stittsville United participate in Camp Awesome [together]. In total, about 50 to 60 children participate in the camp, including several non-church families.”

The churches also work together on Good Friday.

“People in our churches are very supportive of working together. We have jointly participated in a Good Friday service for many years. For four years, we have held a Good Friday Walk of the Cross. Community Bible Church participated for the last two years.”

Pastor Dillenbeck joined Community Bible Church for their Big Give barbecue, lending them Stittsville United’s grill and flipping burgers alongside their pastor.

Each year, all the churches involved in the Walk of the Cross come together on Good Friday morning. Starting at either St. Andrew’s Presbyterian or Stittsville United, they walk to each of the participating churches, where they hold a brief liturgy.

Another focal point of church unity is Fredrick Banting Secondary Alternative Program. Dillenbeck volunteers at the school with Doug Kendall, the pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. Together they provide spiritual care for the staff and students.

“We share a responsibility at the school through a program called ‘Spiritual Care in Secondary Schools,’” Kendall explains. “The program is for support and care, not trying to convert people. I thoroughly enjoy being with the students and staff at Banting.”

Community Bible Church has also fostered a strong relationship with the school’s students and staff. After learning that some of the students don’t have enough food, members of Community Bible Church made the school the focus of their Big Give outreach.

Dillenbeck joined them for their Big Give barbecue, lending them Stittsville United’s grill and flipping burgers alongside their pastor. After the event, Community Bible Church felt their work wasn’t quite finished, so they continue providing hot meals for the students about once a month.