Faith Today - May/June 2015

QUESTION &

ANSWER

The Christian & Missionary Alliance (www.

cmacan.org) is a denominational affiliate of the EFC ( www.theEFC.ca/Affiliates). Find more

Q&As at www.faithtoday.ca/QandA

What is the mission that drives the Alliance?

We’d sum it up in three phrases – a Christ-centred, spirit-empowered and mission-focused movement. That catch line echoes the heart of the founder of the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

How do you view the Alliance within the fabric of the Canadian Christian community?

I think that we are a denomination able to bring partners together. We work well with a number of denominations on some common things we believe make a difference in the world, like our missionary work taking the Good News to least-reached people groups. The Alliance is also very concerned about justice and compassion. In Canada we would be catalytic for Defend Dignity, which has really been working with others in the area of human trafficking. We also work on immigration issues. We bring people together and move some of those significant causes forward.

When you think of Canadian Christianity as a whole, what is your prognosis?

I think God graciously drives de-
nominations and their leaders to
desperation. We meet now more
than ever as denominational lead-
ers in Canada because we’re all
looking at the same reality of
churches declining in Canada. It’s
helping us break down denomina-
tional barriers.
In the Maritimes we co-hired a
church planter with the Mennonite
Brethren. We don’t care what flag
they carry. We are concerned with
the Church growing and develop-
ing. God-given desperation drives
us to more profound unity. What I
hear and see in our churches is that
when you accept a model of busi-
ness as usual, you get usual busi-
ness. People are not satisfied with
usual business. The exodus of our
20-somethings is pushing this.
They aren’t disillusioned with
Christ – they are disillusioned with
what they see as the stagnant na-
ture of our Church.
How do you take care of yourself in
the midst of such a busy job?
I take that really seriously. I re-
member in a quiet moment with
God, looking into a mirror, and
saying, “What have I done?” I re-
mind myself every day that the
denomination doesn’t need me, it
needs God. He is the vine, and my
role is to be a faithful branch. I
make sure I’m taking time to be
still. I go away on retreats. Silent
retreats are painful for me, but they
breathe life into my soul.
What leadership book do you recom-
mend most often?
Strengthening the Soul of Your
Leadership: Seeking God in the Cru-
cible of Ministry by Ruth Haley
Barton (IVP Books, 2008).
What is your best leadership advice?
Leading from a place of humility, a
place of a surrendered life, is really
the best kind of leadership you can
offer. Take the things of God ex-
tremely seriously and live in a
posture of not becoming overly
enamoured of your own stuff. /FT

David Hearn is president of the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Canada, a movement of churches seeking to be “transformed by Christ, transforming Canada and the world.”