Cultivate is a network for those interested in creating and developing new and evolving forms of mission-shaped church in Canada. We presently host learning parties twice a year in southern Ontario; we organize local church planting networks across the country; and we offer coaching and training for folks who are working at forming new faith communities or attempting to re-shape existing congregations toward mission.

Cultivate is a highly relational network, interested less in gurus and models and more in swapping stories and being friends. All of the events and initiatives we plan are designed to be highly interactive, each of us a co-learner and co-teacher in this little adventure known as church. We value relationships over programs and would welcome an opportunity to meet with you, have coffee, or pizza, or whatever, and learn from one another.

Cultivate is moored in the beliefs that something inevitably arises out of network, and that a theological richness is stirred up by the sharing of stories – normal, earthy, average stories. As a result, Cultivate focuses principally on networking.

Networks must have commonalities around which they coalesce. It is important that these are inclusive and malleable and bounded only enough to ensure coherence and momentum within the network. Cultivate coalesces as a group of people pleading, begging, thinking, working toward, and hoping for new and unique approaches to a Kingdom mentality that listens and responds to the communities within which people find themselves. It hopes to provide permission and belonging for all whose expression of church involves “painting outside the traditional boundaries of church.”

However, this commitment to incarnation is more than just a ministry impulse for Kingdom work in neighbourhood. In everything, Cultivate is practitioner and relationally-based. Its integrity is rooted in its commitment to the sharing of real-life stories, small successes, colossal failures, and Jesus in the midst of all of it.

For more information, drop us a line any time: cultivatenetwork@gmail.com