Daring to Welcome More

St. Paul’s United is a fast-growing congregation in Saskatoon, yearning to join God in making a difference in the world.

I was ordained into rural ministry in 2019 and then called to St. Paul’s in August 2020—at the height of the pandemic—to cast a vision for growth and renewal in a time of crisis.

God has shaped St. Paul’s to be deeply missional i.e., oriented outward for the sake of others. We long to join God in the renewal of all things, making a difference in the world every day. God has placed on our hearts a particular call to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with younger generations, newcomers to Canada, and those who are new or returning to faith—especially within the neighbourhoods of Saskatoon that have been our home for 115 years and counting. We seek to practice radical hospitality, creating space for deep welcome, belonging, and connection.

In pursuit of joining God’s mission, we have been willing to do things that others haven’t. Our vision states, “We will do what others won’t to reach the people others can’t.” We have refreshed our music so that most of the songs we sing are written in the 21st century while we renew the classics. Borrowing a phrase from our Anglican sisters, brothers, and relatives, we describe our theological posture as one of “inclusive orthodoxy.” Our willingness to adapt in pursuit of God’s mission has been remarkable.

This shows up in numbers—and in stories. In-person attendance is now 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Including those who join worship online, 60% more people worship than before, and counting those who engage throughout the week, the number has more than doubled. The number of people who call St. Paul’s home has grown by nearly 70% in five years. We’ve nearly doubled our revenues and eliminated a significant deficit while launching new ministries focused on children, youth, and young adults. The number of millennials and younger adults has increased fourfold, and the number of people of colour has grown fivefold. The number of people who identify as LGBTQ+ now matches the proportion in the wider population.

And behind every number is a story of transformation: people coming to the Lord’s Supper for the first time; adults being baptized after years of wrestling with faith; newcomers finding home and belonging; queer and trans people discovering a community where they can be fully themselves. Every one of these stories bears witness to God’s renewal.

Early in my ministry at St. Paul’s, God gave me a prophetic dream. I was running a food truck, and the line of hungry people stretched farther than I could see. I scrambled to hire more cooks, get more equipment, and serve those waiting. When I woke, I asked God for clarity—and by grace, understood that the people in line represented the many in Saskatoon without spiritual community, hungry for connection and the good news of Jesus Christ. The food truck dream symbolized our congregation: we needed more cooks (staff and volunteers), more equipment (programs and structure), and a greater capacity to serve the food—the Gospel—more widely and faithfully.

Again and again, this prophetic dream continues to guide us. Growth brings joy but also challenge—spiritual, structural, and cultural. As attendance has grown by 12–15% each year, we’ve had to expand systems, reimagine leadership, and create space for newcomers to both serve and lead. Half of our new members are new to following Jesus, and a quarter come from outside the United Church. The resulting diversity stretches and strengthens us.

The food truck dream symbolized our congregation: we needed more cooks (staff and volunteers), more equipment (programs and structure), and a greater capacity to serve the food—the Gospel—more widely and faithfully.

In 2024, we spent time discerning where God was leading us next. We adopted a growth plan and a vision for 2030, echoing the words of Isaiah 54:2: “Expand your tents! Don’t hold back!” Together we asked: In what ways must our culture shift to make room for new people? What structures must we build and rebuild to make space for a larger and growing organization? What spiritual practices will ground us? How will we disciple so many new people, many of whom are new to following Jesus?

God gives me hope. Jesus said: He will build His church (Matt. 16:18). Not that he might build His church, and certainly not that we will build His church. Jesus will build His church. Trusting in that confidence and in the abundant grace and provision of God, I am hopeful that God will lead us boldly forward. When I have needed God’s powerful provision, God has worked miracles.

As a relatively young 35-year-old millennial, I’m filled with hope for the generations rising after me. I see in Gen Z and Gen Alpha a profound spiritual hunger and yearning for community that God has positioned the church to answer. God is lifting up new generations who will transform both the church and the world.

Mitchell Anderson is lead minister of St. Paul’s United Church in Saskatoon, one of the fastest growing congregations in the United Church. In addition to an M.Div., he holds an MBA and has served on the boards of local, provincial, and national organizations working at the intersections of finance and social change. Mitchell enjoys fitness, great coffee, and experiencing the natural and human beauty of the Prairies and Saskatoon with his fiancé Jordan.