HEY - - - THE CHURCH AT NANAIMO - - - WHERE ARE YOU?

 

Dear Church: The Sidewalks Are Waiting

A challenge to Nanaimo’s pastors and people of Jesus Christ

Voice of Nanaimo — Editorial

Look around City Hall and along Albert, Commercial, and Terminal: blocked sidewalks, intimidation, funerals that come too often. We keep waiting for government to fix what government can’t fix. This is not only a public order problem. It is a spiritual famine. When a people “glorified him not as God” (Romans 1:21), lesser gods rush in—needles, powders, screens, and the worship of self. Policies matter. Police matter. But people are freed by Truth: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

So here is the challenge: Nanaimo doesn’t need another meeting; it needs a movement. If Jesus announced His mission as setting captives free (Luke 4:18), then His Church must stop outsourcing that work. This month, not “someday,” let the Church step into the gap—publicly, joyfully, and with a holy stubbornness.

What follows is not a press release. It is a scoreboard. If we do the work, it will show up on the street and in the baptismal tank. If we do not, it will show up in more obituaries.

Five Things We Can Do This Month

·       Plant an altar downtown — same time, same place, every week. A simple hour of prayer, worship, and Scripture. Many churches, one Lord. Keep it gentle, clear, and Christ‑centred.

·       Field street‑chaplain teams (2–3 per block). Pray with people, carry hot drinks and blankets, and make real‑time referrals to care. No arguments. No theatrics. Names learned. Souls loved.

·       Multiply discipleship circles citywide (Celebrate Recovery–style). Pick one night a week across congregations so seekers always have a nearby door. Pair every circle with rides, coffee, and child‑care if needed.

·       Open sober micro‑housing through churches. A few rooms per congregation or host families under church covering. Daily devotions. House rules. Pastoral oversight. Grace with backbone.

·       Build a work + worship pipeline. Match small businesses in the pews with day‑labour and entry‑level apprenticeships for those committing to sobriety and discipleship. Tie every placement to a mentor.

Scoreboard (publish monthly)

·       People prayed with; first‑time decisions for Christ; baptisms.

·       Average weekly attendance at discipleship circles; days sober.

·       Number housed in church‑run rooms after 90 days; mentor pairs active.

·       Job/apprenticeship placements sustained 60+ days.

·       Overdose reversals and funerals among those engaged — headed to zero.

Scripture that frames the call

·       Romans 1:21–25 — the exchange that begins the slide.

·       Luke 4:18 — Christ’s mission to the broken.

·       John 8:36 — freedom in the Son.

·       James 1:27; Isaiah 58:6–7 — true religion and true fasting.

·       2 Chronicles 7:14 — repentance and healing.

·       Galatians 5:22–23 — the Spirit’s fruit that must replace the works of the flesh.

Pastors: pick a date. Call your peers. Take the first hour on the curb. Congregations: bring your voices, your courage, your spare rooms, and your jobs. City: you are welcome to join us, but we are not waiting for permission. If not us, who? If not now, when? “Righteousness exalteth a nation” (Proverbs 14:34). Let’s give Nanaimo something undeniable to talk about: transformed lives.

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Christian Churches in Nanaimo, BC 

Anglican

St. Paul’s Anglican Church — 100 Chapel St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H2 — (250) 753-2523

Roman Catholic

St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church — 301 Machleary St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 2G8 — (250) 753-3570

Trinity Catholic Church (North Nanaimo) — 6234 Spartan Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6N5 — (250) 390-2612

St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church — 4017 Victoria Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2A5

Christian & Missionary Alliance

Nanaimo Alliance Church — 1609 Meredith Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5J2 — (250) 758-7912

Nanaimo Chinese Alliance Church (ministry) — 1609 Meredith Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5J2

Baptist

First Baptist Church Nanaimo — 1650 Waddington Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 4W3 — (250) 753-0241

Hammond Bay Baptist Church — 4960 Hammond Bay Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5B4 — (250) 756-9241

Departure Bay Baptist Church — 3510 Departure Bay Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 1C1 — (250) 758-3503

Brethren / Gospel Chapel

Wakesiah Gospel Chapel — 170 Wakesiah Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3J9 — (250) 753-4641

Christian Reformed

Christ Community Church (CRC) — 2221 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5J3 — (250) 758-1513

Lutheran

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (LCC) — 394 Shepherd Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5K4 — (250) 716-7725

Church of the Nazarene

Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene — 2150 Departure Bay Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3V6 — (250) 585-5553

Presbyterian

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church — 4235 Departure Bay Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 4A8 — (250) 758-5731

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army – Nanaimo Community Church — 505 Eighth St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 1B5 — (250) 754-2621

Seventh‑day Adventist

Nanaimo Seventh‑day Adventist Church — 2400 Highland Blvd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3N7 — (250) 758-1334

United Church of Canada

Brechin United Church — 1998 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3Z2 — (250) 754-9212

St. Andrew’s United Church — 315 Fitzwilliam St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3A6 — (250) 753-1924

Trinity United Church — 6011 Doumont Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6G7 — (250) 390-2513

 

Pentecostal / Charismatic / Non‑Denominational (Full Contacts)

Generations Church (Non‑denominational / Charismatic) — 1300 Princess Royal Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5J5 — (250) 753-0258 — info@generations.ca — https://generations.ca — Sundays 9:00 & 11:00 am (check site).

Oceanside Church (Non‑denominational / Charismatic) — Nanaimo Christian School, 198 Holland Rd, Nanaimo, BC (Sun AM) — Office: 2304 Jingle Pot Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6W2 — (250) 740-1026 — info@oceansidechurch.ca — https://www.oceansidechurch.ca — See site for current service times.

Eagle Mountain Church (Charismatic / Pentecostal) — Rotating venues (Bowen Park, Cedar Community Hall, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre) — (250) 619-5700 — https://www.eaglemountainchurch.com — See “Location” page for weekly venue schedule.

The Meeting Place Church (TMP) (Non‑denominational) — Avalon (Landmark) Cinemas at Woodgrove Mall (Sundays) — Office: Mailing: 101‑5170 Dunster Rd, Suite 515, Nanaimo, BC V9T 6M4 — (250) 244-6433 — admin@themeetingplace.org — https://www.themeetingplace.org — See site for current service time.

BeLoved City Church (Non‑denominational) — 6000 Oliver Rd, Nanaimo, BC — (250) 591-4722 — hello@belovedchurch.ca — https://www.belovedchurch.ca

Neighbourhood Church (Mennonite Brethren / Evangelical) — 4951 Rutherford Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5P1 — (250) 758-2242 — office@nanaimoneighbourhood.church — https://nanaimoneighbourhood.church

Harbour Community (House‑church network (Non‑denominational)) — Meets in homes / neighbourhoods around Nanaimo — https://harbourcommunity.ca — Use website to connect with a local gathering.

World of Pentecost Church (UPCI) (Pentecostal (UPCI)) — 3606 Allsop Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6X3 — (250) 756-7926 — http://worldofpentecost.ca

Deeper Life Bible Church (DCLM) (Pentecostal) — Alice Restaurant, 728 Nicol St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 4V1 (Sun 10:00am) — (250) 816-8755 — nanaimo@deeperlife.ca — https://dclm-ca.org/locations/bc/nanaimo/

UpperLVL Worship (Non‑denominational / Charismatic) — LevelTwo Nightclub, 170 Skinner St, Nanaimo, BC (evening services; 19+) — upperlvlworship@gmail.com — https://www.upperlvlworship.ca — See site for schedule and venue details.

Calvary Fellowship Nanaimo (Calvary Chapel (Non‑denominational, evangelical/charismatic roots)) — 1951 Estevan Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3Z2 (older listing; verify) — Office: Mailing: 6121 Somerside Place, Nanaimo, BC V9V 1T6 — (250) 729-0698 — pastorgraeme@gmail.com — https://cfnanaimo.com — Check site for current meeting location/time.

Calvary Chapel Nanaimo (Calvary Chapel (Non‑denominational)) — Fairview Elementary (Community School), 205 Howard Ave (Sun 10:30am) — Instagram: @calvarychapelnanaimo — See Instagram for updates; website pending.

Life Church (listing) (PAOC / Non‑denominational (verify)) — Galaxy Cinemas (Nanaimo North Town Centre), 213‑4750 Rutherford Rd — (250) 585-1920 — http://www.genesiscentre.com (listing link; verify) — Older directory listing; confirm current status.

Harvest Church (Foursquare) (Foursquare Pentecostal) — 6553 Portsmouth Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9V 1A3 — (250) 390-2152 — https://harvestchurch.ca — Part of the Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada.

Compass Church (Foursquare) (Foursquare Pentecostal) — 311 Fitzwilliam St (St. Andrew’s United), Nanaimo, BC (Sun 9–10am) — (250) 618-6456 — lisawengel@msn.com — https://sites.google.com/compasschurchnanaimo.com/compasschurchnanaimo — See site/Foursquare page for details.