The Moose Jaw Church of God (MJCoG) is not only resisting the growing trend of shrinking congregations, but its flock is expanding — and their buildings need to expand too.
More space for youth and community programs, better offices, and a much larger chapel are part of that goal, which will expand the venue by 55 per cent.
The Church of God has only just completed a major expansion of their in-house dance program, moving to a large basement space at 52 High Street West and becoming a full arts academy. The Born to Be Arts Academy encompasses a greater selection of the arts, offering everything from dance to Taekwondo to voice lessons to videography.
“Traditionally, our programs had to do with our faith and encouraging kids to study the Bible and those kinds of things,” said Larry Hasmatali, lead pastor for the Moose Jaw Church of God and administrative bishop for the denomination’s Western Canada district.
“We came to a place where we thought, ‘Let’s build a bridge to connect and to build relationships’ … And that opens the door for any discussion, if they want it, about faith.”
The dance program started with 25 kids — Born to Be now has nearly 500 students signed up.
The congregation of MJCoG has experienced similar growth. Before the pandemic, around 800 people attended services each weekend. That dropped by about 20 per cent during COVID, but those numbers are steadily recovering, Hasmatali said.
“Our facilities are just too small, it’s too small for us as a church much less another program.”
The capital campaign that the MJCoG launched in June has a goal of fundraising $1.2 million out of the estimated $4 million it will take for the proposed expansion. So far, they have raised approximately $300,000.
It may take years to raise that amount, but they are willing to wait. They are also unwilling to sacrifice charitable donations or member assistance programs in order to raise money faster.
Hasmatali attributes his church’s growth to an accepting attitude and an emphasis on community before doctrinal commitment.
“The capital campaign gives us the chance to (expand) again for our community. We’ve been dreaming and thinking about, you know, what is that this community needs and how can it connect people? We want to give them a place where they can feel accepted, where we can help families and people who are newer to our community.”
As an immigrant himself, Hasmatali said he knows that immigrants need a place they can make their home. Some people come with faith and as Christians, and others don’t — they still need a place to belong.
John Mohan is the chair of the MJCoG capital campaign committee. He said the church has made itself a place that helps people with their earthly as well as their spiritual needs.
“People need safe support groups,” Mohan explained. “Grief, divorce care, Alzheimer’s support – just a lot of things that we feel fit into the very culture and reason for our existence, which is to be that place where people can come and have support and recovery when they need it.”
As an example, the church has psychologists and psychiatrists come in for counselling and to run workshops, and is planning a low-stimulus room for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.
“We see that the need is vast, and we have many of the resources to help, but we don’t have the space. Hence the need for a big expansion,” Mohan said.
Hasmatali and his wife Connie have attended the MJCoG since 1983. They have pastored it together since their marriage in 1996. He has seen many changes in that time, including the reimagining of the former International Bible College campus overlooking Wakamow Valley. That campus is also being renovated and is accepting new tenants.
Mohan said the Hasmatalis have set the tone for their congregation — and that tone is acceptance.
“The church is open to everyone,” Hasmatali said firmly. “Our mandate is that people shouldn’t hear about God’s love from us — they need to experience it from us. That unconditional love has always been our goal. It’s never been to build a big building or to have a mega-church.
“God loves people more than anything else. We just want them to experience that.”
The church is holding a campaign celebration banquet on October 14 at the Heritage Inn. Tickets are $30 per person or $200 for a table and can be purchased from bit.ly/3CTYNnS.
More about the Moose Jaw Church of God can be found at http://www.mjcog.com/.
