Mission Alive Canada organized a retreat for spiritual leaders, held at Hidden Acres Camp and Retreat Centre in New Hamburg, Ontario from April 12-14, 2026. The theme for the gathering was “The Restoration Plea in a Fractured Age.”
Leonard Allen, dean of the College of Bible and Ministry at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, led the discussion sessions. Allen’s 2021 book, In The Great Stream: Imagining Churches of Christ in the Christian Tradition, which informed many of the conversations throughout the retreat had been given each participant prior to the gathering.
Approximately 40 individuals attended, including elders, preachers, and members from 18 congregations. The retreat provided an opportunity to reflect on the historical roots of our movement, consider how to overcome past challenges, and focus on our collective goal of being formed in the image of Christ.
The event fostered an environment for asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning from one another. Participants valued the chance to connect, build relationships, and discover the work taking place in other congregations.
Attendees’ Reflections
When asked to reflect on the time spent together, two attendees said:
“I enjoyed the topic and speaker but most of all for myself it was the fellowship, spiritual conversation outside the regular sessions and catching up with folks I knew, as well as meeting new individuals I hadn’t previously known.”
“The spiritual content and survey of our Restoration heritage was very helpful. I enjoyed processing this in a group with others in a way that helped us understand the common goal that we have to build the church through the gospel. The worship and time in the Word was very encouraging.”
Mission Alive Canada’s Role
Mission Alive Canada was represented by Executive Director Jeremy Hoover, former Executive Director Don Rose, Board Chair Kevin Vance from Regina, Saskatchewan, and board member Noel Walker. The organization’s mission to encourage ministry to marginalized members of society was highlighted. They also found a donor who covered the cost of the retreat for all attendees. Those who attended are grateful to that person.
After the event, Jeremy Hoover noted, “Mission Alive Canada was very thankful for the broad turnout that represented a very good cross-section of Churches of Christ in Ontario. It was a wonderful retreat, filled with opportunities for learning together, sharing fellowship, and envisioning a strong future for Churches of Christ in Ontario.”
Many who attended spoke positively about the event and would an invitation to attend similar events in the future.