About Jesus Stories: Inspiration for the Road Ahead
It's time to tell the stories of God's work around us! You will receive inspiration for our call of multiply disciples, as you listen to Jesus Stories from among and beyond the people of the Ontario Conference of MB churches.
Church Planting 20 Years In - David Manafo & Westside Gathering
Westside Gathering (https://www.westsidegathering.com), an MB church in Montreal, was planted in 2003. Over twenty years later, planting pastor, David Manafo, has fascinating insight into God's faithful guidance over the years. While the church is currently in a season of exciting growth, it hasn't alwasy been that way. A patient pursuit of life in Christ, rather than the pursuit of quick numbers, has led to a depth of life for Westside Gathering.
For anyone interested in planting a church, currently part of a church plant, or wanting to bless other church plants, this episde offers rich insight into how to a church plant can flourish and multiply for the long haul.
Episode Links
- Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (https://www.amazon.ca/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Impossible-Spiritually/dp/0310348498/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Qp6wzTTnVVpbB66bak0qhnkERbFFRubKtXoAV5j25D4RHHBAN3oeHpgdK4sSQaQS4poraRdfTd7Z02f5EaLts4bBwCq1ePAcaERgs38a4FNBqFrVnRzypd9pfy33E-7rsr7Jbz8idTVihAOLx7jOIpWCVYNggxiSStZIIdSjXNlxdwDntsOcU3TNQmMcXlPDMCevmRQRb-bpl9ed5PfUpRLH9zDEZxfnZLmYIlfkVOwa7HO18NeWlCLVBGgel4l0tJGvcFTiOH1bmHs9qd8_CWvAXyO8bV03lFHhWTL1uPQ.pF35IhrZfvAYnPZDLtK3dEMYPEUnnsRmsaAUyXXmo_A&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=788572029076&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9222042&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=5293060888122278403--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5293060888122278403&hvtargid=kwd-296531979336&hydadcr=21221_13663107&keywords=emotionally+healthy+spirituality&mcid=cc87b5e241e2392faa4fdfe66b022ad1&qid=1784302123&sr=8-1)by Pete Scazzero
- Invitatin to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation (https://www.amazon.ca/Invitation-Journey-M-Robert-Mulholland/dp/0830846174/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16NTJT69V7FS3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9KANkuifEsxveiDqb6Hy5cq-CiqCTT6Hpav_qx8awJKcG8t__MNrgM1_7iZKq6mDlqOqF8LG47YdSsD3RYoIvnRSNefw6n93tzH-cyeF7S4.QZcSICYGbIF1P9oSFJQoOTGg2EYcicFn0d3Ls80OIP8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Invitation+to+a+Journey+Mulholland&qid=1784302205&sprefix=invitation+to+a+journey+mulholland%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1) by Robert Mulholland Jr.
- Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries (https://www.amazon.ca/Water-Deep-Well-Spirituality-Missionaries-ebook/dp/B0G8DYCJN7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17XXN3CZHOR1L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UmrmF3Qg30Vvh_yyaGnT4iA-ehJjZTDkf6MzF_2R2DxSNjutLjb8f2IxSEjgC6jqCDvCdxp1E3xUuK5gMjTD0RIKNR5Ty28-laeAjlWbsPVD-NRT3ucynuRKK_s8tOn0RnPCAuYmy9ZtV_PvkBrZPW1PDh1nbvyZjkaiN4P8MdwPBpQbMjCI5GSU0jCVKouqHacrZ91-SW1HpYerhyIpLgt8gSKMtDcWd1AKLFEiGwaMz6L065dS2ZOBUVMOcuf7cRPHpCsR8X8JygvOKSfpLA.seUNhBoBC1FHX_dcIdOGmmMIWxFeBgKq-hWOYcZvOXU&dib_tag=se&keywords=Water+form+a+Deep+well+book&qid=1784302302&sprefix=water+form+a+deep+well+book%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1) by Gerald Sittser
4 Aug 2026
Beyond 4 Songs & A Sermon: Worshiping Together
The gathered worship of many churches consist of little more than an efficient and practical four songs, a prayer and a sermon. This is not the case for Grantham Mennonite Brethren Church (https://www.granthamchurch.ca). This is a community that gives great intention to their worship. It is a community that values all people bringing their gifts together to glorify God.
Tabitha and Michael VandenEnden are co-pastors with Grantham MB. Listen in for a thoughtful reflection in the theology and practics of deep worship and how it forms a community.
Resource Links:
- re:Worship: Scripturally-based resources for worship planners and leaders (https://re-worship.blogspot.com/)
- The Church of All Ages: Generations Worshiping Together (https://www.amazon.ca/Church-All-Ages-Generations-Worshiping/dp/156699358X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZP7LLHPIXL7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OkX9V-4B4fCEEuhRgFEnpQ.B5qOXDCO3A9QuofI-KoqLAy3FmDcKQPqvTQ9y8pnGQ4&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+church+of+all+ages+vanderwell&qid=1783521481&sprefix=the+chruch+of+all+ages+vanderwell%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1)by Howard A. Vanderwell, ed. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2007).
- The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God's Call to Justice (https://www.amazon.ca/Dangerous-Act-Worship-Mark-Labberton/dp/0830834141/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MYX2BLN65B6I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9xsqOU2nBVD0QnN2RcN1sP-TC0R9pYj-W2lHYzndBP_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.2-icAPH6cV6GGm9DdQtRqKzBBEAYWw-LoFI-RHH77DI&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+dangerous+act+of+worship&qid=1783521506&sprefix=the+dangerous+act+of+worshi%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-1) by Mark Labberton (IVP, 2012).
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit (https://www.amazon.ca/You-Are-What-Love-Spiritual/dp/158743380X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KVHQQOZV888B&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nvSGSv6xYCFZ__MucorO7rI0-udmy7_54rBBghJYkpbODoOR3RhpZIK7bUunDcqcMKdZETI4W2-CThhfgOI3VUGVhcjSfkxGGoKMy2-Xi7Zzzr_lGTJPQY-1ZsVL5QVGOJMD59QwQAL2Lrbe9ru57AVHfJwJQ_NKMfIOsl1DzkNe9gO5gX8nRadpJnlN03IzFRdHcyvjQ7g2X2zsRrbp0Gem5FUqhR12xwnDHO1wwRwiqJ9oFaDU62xYTt_ExuAWCd-p34j9lX0evfjrF2tZ3UOMK1DSTDOa6-afV0vpf08.jdtJdfpR77btLIaPJVBiwAB35WJjUcA30pFcvb169b8&dib_tag=se&keywords=you+are+what+you+love&qid=1783521529&sprefix=you+are+what+you+love%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1)by James K. A. Smith (Brazos, 2016).
Practices: Mennonite Worship and Witness (https://www.amazon.ca/Practices-Mennonite-Worship-John-Roth/dp/0836194276/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39BVXZOYUDZPH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AW5XovU_nHS52I0K_-wxA4IjlvUV3Mx5_alUPeuNmKw.Z_xAg38YZw2UKxAcqYvnsvUafQ_NJm1aq63gXOL0f7g&dib_tag=se&keywords=practices+mennonite+worship+roth&qid=1783521560&sprefix=practices+mennonite+worship+roth%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1) by John D Roth (Herald Press, 2009).
Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission (https://www.amazon.ca/Faithful-Presence-David-Fitch/dp/083084127X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2D2FT23XZQH84&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZAtqvr4ML-d0mezUgDor_CEqMkfDYr3XbQB05VgDZ2w.RhQCJJefdDMNgN0Dwm7JNWRqbGikIKe6symAMSujdcw&dib_tag=se&keywords=faithful+presence+fitch&qid=1783521582&sprefix=faithful+presence+fitch%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1) by David E. Fitch (IVP, 2016). (See Michael's Review in the MB Herald here (https://mbherald.com/covenant-community/)).
- Worship Together Hymnal (https://hymnary.org/hymnal/WT1995?page=2)
- Communion Matters: Toward a Missional Theology of the Lord's Supper for the Mennonite Brethren Church (https://www.cmu.ca/library/ebooks/2011_Tabitha_Vanden_Enden_Masters_Thesis.pdf) by Tabitha VandenEnden
3 Jul 2026
Why Travel 7000 KM to Pray?
Prayer is the fuel of God's mission. It is the work God has called us to. Rooted in this conviction, a short term mission team from WMB Church (https://www.wmbchurch.ca) travelled to Austria last year. They surrounded Multiply worker, Sarah Smutney (https://multiply.net/global-worker/sarah-smutny), her church and her mission with prayer.
Join Renée Serez and Greg Reed to discover why they travelled 7,000 km to pray. Discover how God shaped their team through this experience.
Renée Serez is a Pastor of Missional Engagement with WMB Church. Following service with Multiply, as a pastor with WMB Church and as a high school principal, Greg Reed, now equips churches for discipleship with The Navigators. (https://navigators.ca/)
Episode Links:
- Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God (https://www.amazon.ca/Experiencing-God-Knowing-Member-Revised/dp/1415858381/ref=sr_1_11?crid=2ILF5AOD0ZGSY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LGPFfpkHEVJqc_Lw7EHl7IUuUlJFzrsVHYFDsIQGp5To8XMmK2vw6GzpUWN5i0OdrGeIsHKF9bhh2J_jAOnrk3kTD5LkoweaxZHLpg_uR_1OSBR7p0skV1ARuRUzJyUHgBt5LTG1RZZQLtPYIQzSAJwAKWmbOuQb5cCDUEUcHKwKL3ATuUX5oa5oJ-kaGGH9KyKAwpYmYWkW6WYfVK2BFjz7fOsIKhIpWdIxLFD_ohCZhyEUoH9Vii-ztBlGntnPn_Y9e8mt8PvgQ7fwoPqWsOyy-AulPLuOBrfapppBrxw.TN8ZC8gTupjF_RtbW0UQFofMiCVGIzQSVm1NHWrzsGc&dib_tag=se&keywords=Henry+Blackaby+experiencing+God&qid=1783090867&sprefix=henry+blackaby+experiencing+god%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-11) by Henry Blackaby
- SQ: The Transforming Potential of Spiritual Intelligence (https://www.amazon.ca/SQ-Transforming-Potential-Spiritual-Intelligence/dp/B0FXQXFH5R/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9RY2XER4YZ4C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0KoOoOttiaaAGhMGzchyJA.c_989XZ6Eq-OXQqo4tvTNVGwSuGiBLe4j1VrFWBjPQg&dib_tag=se&keywords=SQ+Randy+Friesen&qid=1783090955&sprefix=sq+randy+friesen%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1) by Randy Friesen
- The Prayer Practice (https://www.practicingtheway.org/prayer) by Practicing the Way
- Lectio 365 App (https://lectio365.com)
- Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer (https://www.amazon.ca/Praying-Like-Monks-Living-Fools/dp/031036535X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19QVILG8KL5Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ldEiSSD3oAS4QDE1s3tcC6YDDUd36LDdCL70urRQis337jxn7kfUgqC0pnIPybsDVcOAPwMZyPZdLaDnk6LLfIiQnr3qkIF2HGcmvBRt5p4.0gqRil-QFD0EHQmrrwKx5SEijYr3OKq3639jvowBV5A&dib_tag=se&keywords=Praying+Like+Monks%2C+Living+Like+Fools&qid=1783091124&sprefix=praying+like+monks%2C+living+like+fools%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1) by Tyler Staton
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