In this breakout session, Tim Dickau will lead us in imagining how we can live hospitably in the existing rhythms of our lives. Tim will share some of their three decades long learning as a church wherein hospitality was part of their core vision and practice. Learn how inhabiting a neighborhood together and developing a thicker shared life that is also more porous towards our neighbors may empower you to live as part of God's welcome to others.

Dr. Rev. Tim Dickau teaches at the Center for Missional Leadership (St. Andrew's Hall) and leads Citygate Vancouver, an organization that fosters collaboration among churches for the good of the city.  Tim was previously the pastor of Grandview church in Vancouver for 30 years. Tim is the author of two books:  Plunging into the Kingdom Way: Practicing the Shared Strokes of  community, hospitality, justice and confession  and  Forming Christian Communities in a Secular Age: Recovering Humility and Hope.  Tim lives with his wife Mary, one of three sons and a daughter-in-law, two beautiful grandsons and two other housemates in a shared home.  Tim and Mary have shared a home with 46 people over the last  35 years. He is passionate about widening our imagination for how we can be the church in a way that brings hope and transformation among both persons and societal structures in particular neighborhoods.

In this breakout session participants will explore the challenges of addressing mental health within the church. Together, we will unpack the reasons care can feel overwhelming, identify the three types of supporters essential to a thriving care ministry, and outline a layered model of care that empowers both leaders and volunteers. Attendees will leave equipped with an actionable framework to foster a culture of belonging, purpose, and hope, ensuring their church becomes a safe and supportive space for those facing mental health struggles.

Laura Howe is a clinical mental health social worker, addictions counselor, and project manager. She has spent her 15-year career supporting and serving the marginalized and suffering in her local community.

In 2019, Laura launched Hope Made Strong, an organization dedicated to helping the local church care for their communities without burning out. The team has grown, and together they are serving churches all over the world with online courses, cohort groups, trainings, events, and a podcast.

Laura is a refreshing voice in the faith and mental health space; upbeat, practical, with a strategic lens. If you are looking for resources to support your ministry leaders and congregation, Laura and Hope Made Strong are go-to resources.

Join Open Homes Hamilton and Micah House to consider together how we might deepen our hospitality so it moves beyond merely welcoming to solidarity and then to a mutuality which learns to receive the many gifts of the refugees in our churches and communities. Whether you already have many refugee friends or are interested to start building such connections, through teaching, story-telling and table discussions we will explore together how we can move toward a hospitality characterized by mutuality.

Stephanie Schreuders serves as the Executive Director at Micah House, a place of shelter, hope and belonging for recently arrived refugee claimants. Stephanie has been working in refugee resettlement and community development for over twelve years, having worked in Canada, Ghana, Kenya and Burkina Faso. Steph’s favourite part of Micah House are the evening community meals, where neighbours, volunteers and Micah House residents eat food, share stories and get to know each other around a shared table.

Danielle Steenwyk-Rowaan is the Team Leader of Open Homes Hamilton, a ministry that supports refugee claimants by offering home-based hospitality. Open Homes aims to create communities of belonging with refugee claimants by recovering the ancient Christian practice of hospitality. Danielle is a settler of Dutch-Canadian heritage, often playing the complicated role of welcomer to lands on which she is a fundamentally a guest of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. She is part of New Hope Church and lives in the Rosedale neighbourhood with her husband Dan, their sweet little boy Theo, and their dog Roo(or Roocifer).

Thinking about your family, might there be room around your table for more?  Join us as we talk about what hospitality looks like in the world of foster care, adoption and kinship care.  Looking to provide care for children who were not born to you can be scary, complicated and even messy but it is also a beautiful expression of God’s radical love for us.  An area where it can be easy to rush in with an idea that we are “saving” people, we will discuss what relationships of hospitality might actually look like with vulnerable children/youth as well as their families.  This session is suitable for all levels of involvement and interest.  Whether you've thought about providing care within your home, are mentoring vulnerable youth and/or supporting a family so that they can remain together, please join us as we discuss how hospitality relates.

Tracy Upham is passionate about child welfare, the church and family discipleship.  She and her husband have been foster parents for over 10 years.  It is in this space that God has met her most intimately with His grace.  Tracy is also a trauma care associate with CareImpact, a national organization that works to better equip the church to care for vulnerable populations where she works to train ministry leaders, volunteers and caregivers in trauma informed practices.  She is a mama to three and a wife to one pretty outstanding husband.  Tracy and her family live just outside Hamilton.

God welcomes us into His presence. We welcome Him into our lives. He welcomes us into His family. We welcome Him into our community. He sets a table for us. We taste His goodness. He prepares a room for us. We rest in Him.  And all of this happens in the context of prayer.  In this breakout session, we will consider the intersection of prayer and hospitality. Through discussion, reflection and prayer exercises we will explore how a healthy relationship with God enables and equips us to create spaces of welcome for others.

Ian Stuart recently retired from a career in teaching and is excited to step into the role of Director of GOHOP.  He and his family have been closely connected to the GOHOP community for several years. He and his wife Margie completed the Studies in New Monasticism Internship in 2018. For the last couple of years, Ian and his daughter Sara have led GOHOP Companions. As a family, they have actively supported the Prayer Truck, the TrueCity Prayer Room and other GOHOP initiatives. He loves to learn new approaches to prayer and help others deepen their prayer life. He enjoys the adventure of exploring the infinite love the Father has for us, His children.

How do we extend radical hospitality to those experiencing homelessness in our city? What barriers do we face, and how can we move past them to embody Christ’s love in practical ways? Through the power of storytelling, this workshop invites you to explore how churches and individuals can "make room" for inclusion, welcome, and mutuality. Together, we’ll hear real-life stories of hospitality in action, reflect on our own contexts, and learn how to take practical steps toward living out a humble hospitality.

Justin Eisinga serves as the Executive Director of 541 Eatery & Exchange, a community-focused, faith-based organization operating a pay-it-forward cafe in the heart of Hamilton's Barton Village. With a deep passion for creating spaces of belonging, Justin leads a team dedicated to addressing food insecurity and fostering meaningful connections among neighbours, many of whom experience poverty and homelessness. A thoughtful communicator and advocate for inclusion, Justin is committed to equipping churches and individuals to "make room" for those on the margins in ways that reflect the love and humility of Jesus.

Rob Miller is an Anglican Missioner-Priest to the city of Hamilton. He works to develop ecclesial communities formed on practices of daily prayer. The beginnings of both The Community of Common Prayer and the Saint Luke’s Mission are associated with his leadership. Rob is also on staff at 541 Eatery & Exchange, where he has served its guests and articulated its mission for the better part of eight years. Living in the North End of Hamilton with his family, Rob spends his days walking, reading, and playing the fiddle.

Adolescence can feel like a foreign world, even for those who were just there. So, how can we as caring adults and youth leaders engage teens with the hope of the Gospel? This breakout session will explore how meeting teens where they are—before they step into our churches and ministries—lays the groundwork for them to experience true hospitality and belonging. Drawing inspiration from 1 Thessalonians 2:8, we’ll discuss how sharing not just the Good News, but our own lives, can make all the difference in reaching today’s youth.

Scott is the Area Director for Young Life Hamilton, where he has led missional work with high school teens for 13 years. Originally from North Vancouver, he knew Hamilton was meant to be home after discovering the city has a "mountain"—a perfect fit for his love of nature and community. With 20 years in youth ministry, including 17 years on staff and 3 as a volunteer, he is passionate about reaching young people with the hope of Christ. Living in Westdale with his wife, Grace, their four kids—Milli, Lincoln, Parker, and Oscar—and their dog, Sophie, he enjoys hiking the local trails, road cycling, and cultivating his love for gardening.