“It’s about coming together through an intimate relationship with the Word and God.”

Elizabeth Mabie
Spur Ottawa Writer

Lifecentre has developed an online membership program to help disciple believers through COVID. The church’s Heartstrong Discipleship Initiative launches April 1 and will provide members with access to learning resources, support groups, and tools to help participants mature in their faith.

“We want to help people train and grow strong in the Lord together,” says Lori Boucher, who leads Lifecentre with her husband, Jason. “We can see this underground army of believers rising up in the spirit; strong, trained, and prepared for whatever the future holds.”

Several years ago, Lori founder of the Heart Conference, an annual event hosted in March, that focuses on women’s growth in the Lord. The conference ran strong for three years, but 2021’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Facing that void, the team began asking questions about how to keep people engaged and moving forward in their Christian walk.

Lori and Jason had also discussed holding a similar conference for men, called Strong. Since neither event could be held this year, they adapted the materials for online use, opened it up to both men and women, and mixed the titles to form Heartstrong. The initiative leads participants on a six-month spiritual growth journey and costs $69.

“Through COVID we’ve realized that the Church is biblically and doctrinally illiterate.”

“The idea for Heartstrong began as a response to a problem that we could see in the body of Christ,” explains Lori. “We got on our knees and asked God how we could more intentionally disciple people in the disciplines of following Jesus. We want them to be strong in the Lord, especially as the storms of life come.”

“Through COVID we’ve realized that the Church is biblically and doctrinally illiterate. We’re feeling alone and more overwhelmed than ever,” says Rhonda Courteau, campus pastor for Lifecentre Orleans. “We’re realizing that this is the time for the Church to rise. It’s about coming together through an intimate relationship with the Word and God, by studying the bare bones of scripture and getting back to the basics of faith.”

Heartstrong offers a variety of content and resources for members to pick and immerse themselves in each day of the six-month long spiritual journey. Along with daily Bible studies, monthly lesson plans, and special content, participants will have access to Rightnow Media videos and worship music provided by Life Church in British Columbia.

Another big feature is accountability groups, where participants can gather together online and spend time in prayer and discussion. Small group gatherings will also encourage members to build a sense of community and togetherness.

“This is an exciting time to be alive and an exciting time for the Church.”

“Being part of this gives you a larger sense of working your faith muscles while going at your own pace and being part of a supportive group,” explains Rick Davidson, who oversees the Heartstrong small groups. “Through the small group component, you start to understand community and what it’s like to walk with people in Christ’s name.”

“This is an exciting time to be alive and an exciting time for the Church,” says Courteau. “We’re in a preparation time and I think that’s God’s grace showing this and saying that He’s got a plan not to grow us up as individuals, but as a family.”