Whether you’re new to Airdrie, new to the idea of following Christ, or just looking for a new church, we’d love to help answer your questions. At The Gathering Place, we’re an organic, relational community, and we invite you to spend a Sunday with us, or visit one of our small groups, and see where you fit in. Services are casual – come dressed as you are right now – and there’s always free coffee and refreshments.

Getting Here

Where:
410 Yankee Valley Boulevard, Airdrie, AB
St. Martin de Porres High School
When we meet:
Sundays at 10:00 am
Small groups during weekday evenings

Questions & Answers

• What’s a small group?
• What happens on a Sunday at the Gathering Place?
• What does this church believe?
• What denomination are you?
• Why is it called “The Gathering Place”?
• When did TGP first start?
• Who is Jesus?

What’s a small group?
It’s a group of friends who meet each week to talk, read, pray together and reach out to our community. We encourage everybody at our church to connect with a small group. Usually, small groups will have different things in common, whether the people all come from the same neighbourhood, have similar interests, or are all in the same age bracket. We meet in small groups because it’s a great way to connect on a more personal level with our church members, and because it’s an extension of our belief that the church is a family. Click here to see what small groups are currently running at the Gathering Place…

What happens on a Sunday at the Gathering Place?
Our Sunday services are casual and friendly. We meet in a school gym, with the lights dimmed a little. You can come early and enjoy some coffee and refreshments, or hear the band practice before the service.Our usual structure looks something like this: after an introduction and some announcements from Scott, we worship through song while the band plays (although you don’t have to sing if it’s not your style).Ben, our pastor, then speaks for about 20 minutes – his thoughtful sermons range from topical discussions about current events, to Biblical explorations into new and old ideas.A nursery is available for small children, and we also run Kid’s Church for children under 12. We’re friendly people, and we hope you’ll quickly feel at home at the Gathering Place. If you should ever happen to visit on the last Sunday of the month, you’ll be treated to a delicious array of food during what’s known as “Sandwich Sunday,” a free-for-all lunch smorgasbord that takes place after the service.

What does this church believe?
The Gathering Place believes in God, and believes that he is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That’s three distinct roles, all in one: we call it the “Trinity.” We believe that God created the universe and continues to sustain it, and that his purpose in doing so is to create a people who, by choice and through relationship with him, will bring glory to God forever. We also believe that the only object, thing, person or entity worthy of worship is God.We believe that humans, in the past and still today, keep rejecting God, and that we’re flawed, imperfect people. As such, it’s not possible for us to approach, come near or connect with God. That’s why Jesus Christ came – to make it possible for us to have a relationship with God. God came to earth in flesh in the person of Jesus Christ — his life and teachings showed us how to live. When Jesus died by crucifixion, he didn’t stay dead: he came back to life. Because of this, he made it possible for us to accept a renewed relationship with God. His resurrection broke the power of sin and death, and frees us to live as God means us to.That’s the most important stuff. You can read in more detail about our faith statement, our vision, our core values and our purpose, in our “About Us” section.

What denomination are you?The Gathering Place is part of the Mennonite Brethren denomination.

Why is it called “The Gathering Place”?Our name represents a central location for people to feel comfortable. Within Airdrie, many people have to commute to Calgary to attend church, and many others do not have a church home. We want our name to let people know that this is <i>their</i> place.Historically, the Mennonite Brethren denomination has placed high value on finding God’s truth in community. We wanted to acknowledge this commitment to community by choosing a name that was “collective.”We call ourselves The Gathering Place because “church” is the term Jesus used in describing the assembly of believers he would draw together to represent him in the world once he was no longer physically present. In his description, it was to be a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out (Matthew 16:18).We want our church “place” to be like the New Testament church in first century Rome: people of all races crowded into the major cities, a confluence of haves and the have-nots, foreigners and immigrants, legal an otherwise, alongside the citizens.While the early church experienced problems, the early Christians saw a great opportunity! Anyone seeking spiritual fulfillment knew they would find it in the emerging churches. These churches grew because they had fresh beliefs and values, and they were sensitive to the poor and oppressed. We believe that Jesus calls us to be a life changing movement. Jesus has changed our lives; we want to share Him with others.

When did TGP first start?The Gathering Place began as an idea with Kelly and Donna Steffen. As they and their kids began to seek God’s face and pray about a church to reach Airdrie, they also began to dialogue with the Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, and saw an opportunity with a project called Mission Calgary. You can watch a short video about the MB conference of Alberta, and a new initiative similar to Mission Calgary, called Vision 2012.24: In 2003, Kelly and the Steffen family moved to Airdrie and launched The Gathering Place. Initially, the church was merely an Alpha group that met the Steffen’s living room. Over time, however, the church slowly gained more members. Having moved out of the living room and into a nearby school gym, The Gathering Place has about 60 regular attenders and is looking forward to the future.

Who is Jesus?Historically, Jesus Christ was a Jew from Galilee (the North District of Israel) who spent his life teaching others about the kingdom of God and performing healings. He was killed by crucifixion when he was about 33 years old.We believe that what Jesus said was true: that he was the son of God, in human form. His reason for coming to earth was to finally accomplish what no human ever could: to forgive all of us for our mistakes and wrongs, and make it so we can approach God just as we are. When Jesus died, he did not remain dead: he came back to life. He managed to beat death, not just for himself, but for all of us. By believing in what Jesus told us, our lives won’t end when our bodies die. We will live forever with God.You can watch this short video below, which helps give a brief explanation of why Jesus’ life and death was so important.

If you’d like to talk more about Jesus and who he is, feel free to give Ben a call at 403-561-9015.