Ignite Ottawa relocates strategically to city center 

Elizabeth Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

Awake the Nation believes this is Ottawa’s time. They are moving their Ignite Ottawa outreach event into the bustling heart of downtown Ottawa, for its iconic seventh year, because they believe revival is coming.

This year’s Ignite Ottawa, which previously ran in the broader Ottawa Valley, takes place at the Fire of God Church in the ByWard Market, from August 7 to 12.

Mark Redner, co-founding pastor for Awake the Nation, says the decision to move to the city center was unanimous. The whole team felt God pulling them towards the capital, sensing the need to be where the country’s influence is highest.

“Ottawa has a unique calling,” Redner explains. “The spiritual atmosphere in the capital city affects the spiritual atmosphere of the whole nation.”

Redner first felt God pulling him to return to Ottawa 14 years ago. When he asked God to confirm the feeling through his wife, he says God showed her a vision of fire blazing in the capital and spreading across the nation.

“We both looked at each other with a fire in our hearts and agreed, ‘We don’t want to miss what God is about to do,’” he says.

Worshippers call out to God at a previous Ignite Ottawa. Photo courtesy of Mark Redner.

Ignite Ottawa’s aim is to set the hearts of the nation on fire for Jesus and to awaken a fresh passion in the Church to lead the lost back to God. They believe this is both Ottawa’s and Canada’s time to become a beacon of hope.

“I would like to see everyone set on fire for God with a fresh passion for lost souls, and then sent out into the harvest fields to reap the harvest,” says Pastor Pauline Wilcox, lead intercessor for Awake the Nation.

Ignite Ottawa splits their meetings into morning sessions, starting at 10, and evening sessions starting at 7. But they aren’t just hosting a conference for believers. They plan to take participants out, into the city, to share the gospel. Starting Wednesday, August 10, they will run the School of Street Evangelism during the afternoons.

“Personally, I hope to influence those attending Ignite Ottawa to receive a fresh baptism of the fire of God, just like in Luke 3:16,” says Wilcox.

“Personally, I hope to influence those attending Ignite Ottawa to receive a fresh baptism of the fire of God.”

The verse reads, “John answered saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”

The team expects big things this year, but they have a strong precedent. Last year’s event in the Ottawa Valley saw more than 100 people give their hearts to Christ. This year, Redner says, “we are hoping for this and more, in Ottawa.”

Two years ago they prayed for one man who suffered from a serious hernia for 54 years. Although the doctors gave him no hope of recovery, he was completely healed through prayer and has not experienced a relapse since.

Another man impacted at that event is named Justin. At 16 years old, he turned his back on his family and on God, pursuing a life of drugs and immorality. At Ignite Ottawa 2014, however, he encountered Jesus and turned his life back to God. Redner says for two years now Justin has been walking a new life. He is reunited with his family and connected to a local church.

Justin, who received Jesus at Ignite Ottawa 2014, kneels in worship at another Awaken the Nation event. Photo courtesy of Mark Redner.

In addition to reaching out to the lost, Awake the Nation has a passion for bringing unity in the Church. Their Fire and Fusion events work to bring together Catholics and Protestants. Redner believes Christians need to come together and be a light for Christ.

“It’s almost as if, for Christians, we’re either too busy or sleeping, and we don’t realize it’s time to rise and shine,” Redner says. “Revival, I believe, is about reviving the heart. There’s an awakening that is needed, an awakening of the heart. It’s time to tell the world. It’s time to go.”