“There will be more needs and that means being creative to meet them. It means being in deeper and stronger community.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

What’s coming? Predictions abound with the Bank of Canada dismissing the “transitory inflation” and now worrying about “sticky inflation”. As the government warns about economic challenges ahead, what should the Church expect and how can believers and ministries prepare for what 2023 brings?

“The word that I would say would be ‘volatility,’” says Dave van Noppen, co-founder of More Than Enough Financial Fitness. “There’s going to be a lot of messaging and a lot of guessing. There are a lot of percentages and numbers which are really difficult to interpret, so you are going to hear an awful lot of confusing messaging.”

van Noppen says price volatility will be a big factor in 2023. He expects gas prices and variable-rate mortgages to move around a lot. He also says people should expect surprises at the grocery store, but there is hope.

Community is key

As things get more difficult, van Noppen says he hopes to see the Church coming together and getting more creative about the way to do ministry in Ottawa.

“It means doing the ministry they are called to in a way that is different than they’ve done it before. Look at your ministry and think about how to change to meet the needs. There will be more needs and that means being creative about how to meet them. It means being in much deeper and stronger community.”

A key in this season for ministries and individual believers, van Noppen says, is approaching uncertainty as a community and in unity.

“We’re talking about how we can bring the Kingdom, whatever that looks like, so how can we do that together, with the resources we have? Let’s go from there.”

Another key he highlights is what Jesus taught about worrying. “Look at today. Let’s do ministry today, and trust the things that the Lord says. Trust that the Lord will actually lead you. I think the things we do today and how we do ministry are going to take more faith.”

Practical preparation

At More Than Enough, they also encourage individuals and organizations to take steps to be prepared for financial challenges. The two first steps to take are paying off consumer debt (credit cards, car loans, lines of credit, etc.) and building up an emergency cushion of savings.

“If you’ve got some debt, pay it off as quickly as possible. When you’re done, save as much as you can to prepare for whatever is coming. Look at creating at least three to six months of cushion. That’s the goal. Now is the time to make whatever changes you need, whether that’s getting rid of a cell phone or getting a temporary second job.”

A six-month safety cushion might sound huge, but van Noppen clarifies that that money could be in your RRSP or TFSA. Many people, he says, have a cushion even if unintentionally. Like the biblical principle of giving, van Noppen encourages believers to aim on saving 10 percent of their income each year.

A people of hope

Critically, however, van Noppen says Christians should not worry—they have hope that their neighbours are missing.

“This is not a surprise to the Lord. He is saying to us, ‘I know how to navigate these times. I am the God of the universe. Just listen to what I have to say. Don’t listen to all the other voices. Listen to My voice and do what I ask you to do today.’ We can do that.

“If there’s ever a time that the Church can shine, it’s during times that are difficult. But we don’t do it alone, we do it as community. He is going to release the Church to bring light in a season where a little bit of light will have a big impact.”