Ancaster Day of Encouragement Retired
Diaconal Ministries Canada
From 1995 to 2016, each October would find hundreds of people gathering in Ancaster, Ont., for a Day of Encouragement (DOE).
Hosted by Diaconal Ministries Canada and Christian Reformed Home Missions (now part of Resonate Global Mission), the event drew church and ministry leaders from across southern Ontario for a day of worship, teaching, and networking.
While the event was appreciated by many, declining numbers and the rise of alternate events have led to a decision to retire the Ancaster Day of Encouragement. The decision was two years in the making, says Ron Vanden Brink, national director of Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC).
After some initial review and discussion, DMC staff and board members decided last year to put the DOE on hiatus, with a plan to review the event and either refresh or discontinue it. The evaluation and review involved a variety of ministry leaders and supporters including DMC staff; former DOE coordinators, planning team members, and presenters; DMC board members; coordinators of other regional DOE events; and others.
In its early days, said a DMC press release, the DOE was designed with deacons in mind as a time to gather for worship, learning, and sharing best practices. It was usually timed to coordinate with the Annual General Meeting of DMC so that deacons could attend and connect with DMC.
The first event drew 500 attendees, most of whom were deacons. By 2000, the event had grown to 900 participants, with the majority being ministry leaders other than deacons.
Workshops were chosen to be relevant and diverse, offering opportunities for development of awareness, knowledge, and skills. A core set of workshops were repeated each year, such as one for first-time deacons. Others were chosen based on timely topics and issues.
Workshop leaders were ministry staff from DMC, World Renew, and other agencies in the Christian Reformed Church in North America, as well as others selected for their expertise in areas of ministry and community engagement. A display of agency partners and ministry resources allowed people a chance to pick up or purchase books, connect with ministries, and network with others in church leadership roles.
The last DOE, held in 2016, drew 250 attendees, said a DMC report on the event. The report, based on input from organizers and supporters, included concerns such as a lack of attendance by young adults, a focus no longer specific to diaconal work, and declining attendance and engagement.
Contributors to the review noted as well that there are many other opportunities for networking and learning that weren’t available when the DOE began. Several classes (regional groups of churches) across Canada now offer regional DOE events supported by DMC. Webinars, online courses, social media groups, specialized workshops, and The Network allow for people to access teaching resources and make connections outside of the DOE. In addition, Inspire, a biannual CRCNA event begun in 2017 and set to be held again in 2019, fills a need for people who prefer a large, multifocused networking and workshop event.
DMC is still very much committed to its mandate to inspire, empower, and equip deacons for their work in the church, says Vanden Brink. DMC staff are working on new plans and will continue to provide online resources and contacts. They are also available to help with resources and planning tips for churches and classes wanting to host local DOE events.
