Pastoring from the field
“We need to establish ourselves as being for them.”
Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer
Establishing trust and relevance are two of the biggest hurdles for the Church in 21st century, post-Christian Canada. Starting his ministry in the small town of Almonte, Matt Dyck knew he had to be visible in the community if he wanted to be effective for the gospel.
“The people you buy your groceries from are the people you see at the mailbox. It is all the same people, you see them all the time,” Dyck says of the community. “I figured I needed to get into my community and get to know people.”
Dyck’s ministry philosophy is simple: find something you love doing and use it to reach out. So shortly after he began pastoring Almonte’s Hillside Reformed Presbyterian Church he walked into the local high school and offered to help coach their football team. Twenty years down the road, he still coaches nearly every day during football season.
“Young men are kind of an exposed people group, particularly in small towns, because they don’t have many options or good influences. That was really my motivation. I thought if I can have a good influence on young men and build relationships, then if I have an opportunity to point them to Christ, that’s great.”
When he started, Dyck says he didn’t know what opportunities God would open up. The gospel is about Christ’s unconditional love for the world, so he decided to reflect that by being unconditionally invested in his community.
“I wasn’t looking to recruit kids to come to the church, just to be there for them and be supportive. We are in a truly post-Christian culture. These young men, their parents have no real connection to church, so we become their first real experience of what a Christian is.”
Dyck says it takes a lot of hours, but every fall God finds some way to show him that it is “good Kingdom work”. Through the relationships he forged, he has ended up officiating weddings of school teachers and former players he coached.
“I am able to speak about building a life on Christ,” he says. “I warn them I’m not holding back. ‘You might have asked your coach, but I’m also a gospel preacher. You’re going to get the whole story.’ Because they trust me, I get licence to say those things.”
Other times, Dyck has had calls from parents who have no Christian background whose son is going through depression or other challenges. The youth sometimes won’t speak to a counsellor, but they open up to their coach and he can share with them the hope of the gospel.
“It is not something where they open the doors of their lives unless they know you and trust you. My encouragement to churches is that, as much as we look toward evangelistic programs—and they have their place, they are excellent—but churches need to encourage their people toward these kind of organic ways of being involved in the community. We need to establish ourselves as being for them. Then, when their worldview begins to fray, they will trust us to speak into it. People are dying for community. Just get out there.”
Similar Articles
Winning souls, street by street
How one young man’s “Damascus Road” experience sparked an evangelism movement in the heart of Ottawa. “By the time Gimba had finished praying four hours had passed. Throughout the next two months he had similar experiences.” […]
The prayer that beat the Taliban
The horrifying ordeal of Joshua Boyle and his family burst into international news when they were suddenly rescued from their Taliban-affiliated captors on October 11, 2017. The most awesome part the story, however, is how God stepped in to answer devoted prayers, where every human […]
The Big Give in perpetual motion
Church groups across the city are planning for the Big Give 2016, but one church, Community Bible Church in Stittsville, is still working on their outreach from last year. Their event supported kids in need from a local school, but after reaching out […]
Giving your “Yes” to God
It takes a lot of courage to share your convictions with a perfect stranger—even more if you are shy. Sometimes, as 18-year-old Madeline found out, God brings an opportunity He knows will change us, as much […]
The God who answers prayer…again
Several weeks ago Spur Ottawa ran an article highlighting how God answers prayer and challenging readers to share stories of what God has done in their lives. Here is an encouraging testimony one reader sent in […]
Forever grateful: Hélène Campbell’s story of God’s faithfulness
As Canadians gather with family and friends to eat turkey and reflect on their blessings, one local resident has more reasons to be grateful than most. In just a few short months, Hélène Campbell went from typical Millennial to an ICU patient, fighting to stay alive […]