EMS CANADA 2025 REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Theme: "Ecclesiology & Mission"
Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
The EMS Canada Regional Conference in April is your opportunity to contribute to critical missiological conversations rooted in Canadian contexts and geared toward global impact. Scholars, reflective practitioners, and learners alike are invited to explore this year’s theme “Ecclesiology & Mission,” focusing on the Church’s identity and role as a dynamic mission community.
Locations
In-Person:
- Alberta (AB): The King’s University, Edmonton
- British Columbia (BC): Trinity Western University, Langley
- Manitoba (MB): Steinbach Bible College, Steinbach
- Ontario (ON): Tyndale University, Toronto
If you cannot attend in person, join us online for live sessions and discussions.
Narry F. Santos, PhD
nsantos@tyndale.ca
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Intercultural Leadership at Tyndale University
The purpose of the Canada Region of the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) is to provide a forum once a year for Canadian missiologists, students, pastors and practitioners to engage each other around relevant topics in global missions, and contribute a Canadian voice to the North America and Global conversation. This is motivated by a felt need for “dialogue, fellowship, and cooperation among evangelicals devoted to researching, publishing and instructing in areas related to the mission of the Church.
Webmaster: Bosco Tung
2025 EMS Canada Plenary Keynote Speakers & Response
Grant LeMarquand (AB)
Paper: “We believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church’: The church and the mission of God”
Grant LeMarquand is a retired bishop and professor of biblical studies and mission, with teaching roles in Canada, Kenya, and the U.S., including at Wycliffe College and Trinity School for Ministry. A graduate of McGill University and Wycliffe College (Th.D.), he served as Area Bishop for The Horn of Africa (2012–2018), overseeing 150 churches, and later as Interim Bishop for the Diocese of the Great Lakes. He was awarded a D.D. by Wycliffe in 2014 and named Emeritus Professor at Trinity in 2015. Author of Why Haven’t You Left? Letters from the Sudan, he continues to support global mission while living in Innisfail, Alberta, with his wife Wendy, a retired medical doctor. They have two grown children and one grandchild. Grant will also be a plenary speaker at the EMS Annual National Conference in October, presenting on the same paper, expanded.
Response to Grant: Ashoor Yousif (ON)
Ashoor Yousif (ON), Associate Professor of Christian History & Pastor at Middle East Baptist Church
Daria Nardozza (ON, from QC)
Paper: “Church Collaboration in Canadian Cities: Insights and Reflections from Research”
Daria Nardozza is a leader and researcher passionate about fostering church and community collaboration for flourishing cities across Canada. She co-founded City Leaders Collective (CLC) in 2023 and previously built a national network of City Network Leaders and community organizations. Her earlier leadership includes serving as the Canadian National Leader of 24-7 Prayer, where she advanced community development and spiritual engagement initiatives. With academic credentials including a Bachelor’s in Counseling/Psychology, an MA in Global Urban Leadership, and ongoing doctoral studies in Transformational Leadership at Bakke Graduate University, Daria brings deep expertise in urban leadership and community transformation. Daria is married to Matt and a proud mom to their 9-year-old son.
Response to Daria: Sarah Han (ON)
Sarah Han (ON), Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry (Homiletics) & Director of Tyndale Centre for Pastoral Imagination (TCPI)
Sherman Lau (BC)
Paper: “Evaluating “Missions Within Reach” 30 Years Later”
Sherman Lau serves as Lead Pastor of Killarney Park MB Church, an intentionally intercultural church in Vancouver, BC. He also teaches intercultural ministry courses at Pacific Life Bible College in Surrey, BC. He completed a Doctor of Intercultural Studies from Western Seminary in Oregon in 2022. His vocational objective is to advance the development and praxis of intercultural ministry in the Canadian multicultural context.
Response to Sherman: Dorothy Pang & Alexander Lee (ON)
Dorothy Pang (ON), Director of the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries (TIM) Centre
Alexander Lee (ON), Intercultural Leadership Consultant at Tyndale Intercultural Ministries (TIM) Centre and PhD candidate in Intercultural Studies and Adjunct Instructor at Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of Mission and Theology
This multi-provincial gathering offers opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and learning. It provides a platform for participants to shape the Church’s engagement in an ever-changing world. Breakout sessions, led by preliminary paper authors, will delve into practical and academic insights, fostering meaningful discussions.
ON Venue (15 Papers at TIM Centre – Tyndale University)
Mission to the Nations: An Ecclesiological Perspective
Nestor Abdon
The Incarnation as a Framework for Theological Reflection in Healthy Kingdom Communities
Jon Fuller
Recovering Missio Dei & Motus Dei: Christological Missiology Driving Us Toward Adaptive Ecclesiology for a Post-Truth Canada
Chris Carr
Using Henry Venn’s Three “Selfs” to Nurture the Mission of Rural & Small-Town Churches in Post-Christendom Canada
Peter Bush
Deconstructing Church & Reconstructing Creation: “Righting the Canoe” as a Missiology for the Era of Climate Change
Peter Schuurman
It’s About God’s Church, Not Your Church
Willy Kotiuga
Pastors as Bridgers for the Mission of the Church in a Polarizing World
Narry F. Santos
Missional Spirituality: Integrating Mission and Spiritual Formation for the Life of the Church
Marilyn Draper
New Congregations in the Canadian Kaleidoscope
James Watson
Shaping the Future: Canadian Denominational Organizations Fostering Multiplication Culture
James Watson
Connecting the Church for Mission
Mark Chapman & James Watson
Contextualizing the Gospel for Young Adults in Quebec: A Preliminary Exploration
Élizabeth Lecavalier
A Preliminary Survey of Support Systems Available for Agora Participants Transitioning to Vocational Ministry
Rommel Acob
Faith-Based Interventions in eSports: Enhancing Mental Health & Spiritual Growth for Youth & Young Adults through Healing Coaching & Strategic Parenting Tools
Bret Chapman
Collaborate: An Interactive Collaboration Process at the Lausanne Movement Congress in Incheon, Korea
Ann Chow
AB Venue (6 Papers at The King’s University)
Missiology from Above: Theological Foundations for a Missional Ecclesiology
Reed M. Schulze
Towards a Closer Collaboration of Assembly and Agency for Missional Movement in Canada
J.P. Greg Laing
The Influence of New Immigrants on the Revitalization of Canadian Urban Churches
Bonibelle Hodge
Restoring Dignity & Cultivating a Learning Community: A Holistic Approach to Breaking the Dependency Trap
Hyeong-Deug Kim & Tianna Prior
Mission in the Local Healthcare Setting
Madi Trovell
A Case Study of Maisha Project and Gull Lake Centre: A Mutual Benefit Relationship
Myah Bots
BC Venue (8 Papers at CanIL – Trinity Western)
Inner-Church Peacemaking and Collaboration: An Indispensable Ingredient of Mission
Phil Wagler
Calling Churches in Cascadia: Lessons from Regent Exchange
Rhonda M. McEwen
The Church as Truth Proclaimer in the Canadian Public Sector
Michael Witten
A Divine Kinship from the House to the Kingdom: The Role & Significance of God-Centred House Churches in Spiritual Revival
Norman Soo
Transitioning from Group to Church in the DMM Paradigm
Mark Naylor & Ricardo Castro
Is Language Revitalization among First Nation Communities Missionary Work? Is It Evangelism? Penance? Reconciliation? Or…?
Joost J.J. Pikkert
With Head, Hands, & Heart: How Churches Are Enriching Discipleship, Building Bridges, & Drawing People by Caring for Creation
Rick Faw
Domestic Missions: Spreading the Gospel through Hackathons, Redemptive Business, & Serving the Poor
Nathan Tsai
Sign Up Now!
To avail of membership benefits (e.g., EMS Canada regional conference and EMS national conference discounts, ebook copy of the EMS annual compendium), join as EMS Canada member here (in US$):
For questions, or to volunteer in supporting the conference, please contact Dr. Narry Santos, EMS Regional Vice President for Canada Region: nsantos@tyndale.ca
Partners
Call for Papers
Submissions Are Now Closed!
Submissions should address how the Church engages dynamically across one or more of the Four As:
- Academy: Theological and Educational Sectors
- Assembly: Local Church Communities
- Agency: Missions Organizations and Networks
- Agora: Marketplace, Workplace and Public Spaces
The title and 200-300-word proposal deadline of January 31, 2025, has passed, and for those approved, presentation papers of (at least) 2,000 words are due by March 28, 2025, for presentation at the April 11, 2025 Canada Regional Conference.
Selected presenters may later be invited to expand their paper into a full-length submission for the EMS Annual National Conference in October in Dallas, TX and online.
For detailed guidelines and submission instructions, read the full Call for Papers here.