Canada Newsletter, October
Domestic Projects are a newer focus area for EMI Canada, yet their impact on ministries who serve within Canada is already shown to be substantial. Unlike many of our international projects, domestic projects tend to involve smaller EMI teams, providing Canadian ministries who are considering a capital project with research, assessment, pre-design materials, and a final report. This needs assessment and visioning work equips Canadian ministries to move forward, transforming their ministry vision into functional facilities that serve God’s Kingdom.
As we head into autumn, our domestic projects team is wrapping up two projects in two distinct areas of the country.
ShareWord Global, New Space for a New Name
ShareWord Global (formerly the Gideons in Canada) ignites, equips and empowers Christians to share their faith using scripture. After rebranding in 2021 they consolidated their operations in a single headquarters in Guelph, ON. However, their existing facilities do not reflect their new identity and ways of working.
In January 2024, ShareWord Global approached EMI Canada to help reimagine their office space. The EMI team, led by Domestic Projects Coordinator Andrea Hestvik and supported by volunteers Jennifer Ho and Ran Chen, conducted an in-person site visit in April 2024. The team undertook a visioning and programming consultation with ShareWord Global’s ministry leaders and staff.
The consultation revealed a major challenge: the current site’s zoning regulations do not support needed changes to their existing facilities. Any renovation would require rezoning, a hurdle the ministry hadn’t anticipated. This finding underscores the value EMI brings to the formative stages of a capital project.
The final report, delivered to ShareWord Global in October, provided three options for ShareWord Global’s Board to review. As a result of EMI's work, ShareWord Global is fully informed as they establish a building committee to advance the project.
Grace Church on the Drive: Managing Growth in a Historic Space
Growth in the church is a blessing, but it comes with practical challenges. Grace Church on the Drive, a Cantonese-language church in Vancouver, BC, has quintupled in size since the COVID-19 pandemic such that their 100-year-old building can no longer accommodate the vibrant and growing community.
When the church’s ground floor tenant moved out, church leaders recognized an opportunity to use the space to meet their congregation’s growing needs. However, transforming the former industrial print shop into functional ministry space will require significant renovation.
To fully understand the scope of their undertaking, Grace Church reached out to EMI Canada for visioning and planning guidance. In May 2024, EMI’s team, led by Project Leader Braden Swab and volunteer Sudiro Huang, conducted a site visit and followed up with several virtual meetings. Through these discussions, the team gained a clear understanding of the church’s programming needs, helping them outline a clear vision for the space.
The final report provided a comprehensive evaluation of the building’s existing physical condition, along with high-level recommendations for undertaking the renovation process. With EMI’s report, Grace Church on the Drive is equipped to navigate the opportunities, challenges, and risks associated with planning a renovation of a century-old building.
Whether it is serving alongside Christian Ministries with global reach like Shareword Global or helping a community church like Grace Church on the Drive to better serve its community, EMI Canada’s domestic projects are designing a world of hope right here at home.