“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” ‭
Jesus in John‬ ‭15‬:‭5

Our Annual Report is more than just a summary of our accomplishments; it's a sincere expression of gratitude to God for His guidance, blessings, and faithfulness over the past year. This report serves as a moment for us to pause and thank God for all that He has done. It offers a glimpse not only into what we are doing, but also into who we are becoming as a community.

2024 was a year where we were blessed with stability and growth as a congregation. Under the leadership of our exceptional Eldership and Staff team, we have increasingly fulfilled our mission to help others find and follow Jesus.  The result has been a steady increase in growth and impact across nearly every area of ministry.

In the Fall of 2024, we transitioned to a two-service Sunday morning format, which has led to increased attendance, a higher number of volunteers, and a renewed sense of connection as new relationships are formed. Our staff team has adapted well to this change, and we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead as we continue to discern our next steps with this format.

Our facility remains a thriving hub where hundreds of people engage in Kingdom work each week. However, we often find ourselves with limited space to accommodate all our ministries and community service initiatives. In response, our Elders have announced plans for a building renovation and expansion to address our current needs and future growth. These are exciting times to be a part of BVCC and I am continually amazed and thankful that God is growing our congregation into a united outpost of His Kingdom!

Steve McMillan

Here are a few encouraging stats from 2025.

575

Avg. Sunday Attendance

XX

Community Groups

XXXXX

Total Online Views for Sunday's
Message/Service
(xxx views/week)

24

Baptisms

800+

Christmas Eve Services Attendance

720+

Easter Sunday Attendance

1600+

Stampede Breakfast Attendance

     I’m Elizabeth, and I got baptized in November 2025. I got baptised because I feel God's presence in my life and His mercy and grace. When you experience God's love, at some point, you yearn to be intertwined with it and experience it for life. I got baptized to be reborn and be able to fulfil God’s purpose for me in His kingdom.  

     In Matthew, John the Baptist tells us we are baptized in water and the Holy Spirit. During the summer of 2025, I made this decision after summer camp, and it was nevertheless the best decision I’ve ever made. The difference in my transition to a new life was visible not only to myself, but also to the people around me.

Elizabeth (Grade 9)
 

     Our children look forward to church every Sunday because they both feel welcomed, accepted and loved. They have become more confident in being themselves there, where they used to be very shy around other people.

      The things they have learned and have done in Sunday school have been mentioned throughout the week at home; like, during Bible studies in homeschooling, they might say things such as "Oh, I know that from church" or "We played a game about that" or "Next Sunday we're doing a draw that I don't want to miss".

     As parents, Elvina and I are so encouraged that we know our boys aren't deprived of good wholesome social interaction and feel loved outside of home through BVCC. You guys are an extended part of our family. We are grateful, that through things like birthday cards in the mail, we feel important and cherished by our church family, not only while at the church on Sundays, but in general all the time.

     Noah is really enjoying the extra opportunity to be connected and have fun in Club 56 once every two months, and Micah is looking forward to joining those when he is old enough to be in that group. We hope for more of those throughout the year, and we always look forward to each year's day camps. You have greatly enriched our lives in your ministry to our children. Thanks for what you do. God bless you!

Curtis (A Parent's Story)

     I attended the ladies' ministry weekend at King’s Fold retreat in October. Upon signing up, I did not know anyone personally on the roster. I am glad I did not let that stop me. King’s Fold itself is a beautiful place to meet with God. With its breath-taking views, quite contemplative places to pray and create, and plenty of beautiful walking paths to meet God along the way. It was rich, spiritual, and refreshing. 

        As an introvert, that would have been enough for a wonderful weekend, but the time spent with the ladies of BVCC enhanced the experience one hundred percent. When we gathered for meals or as a group, the conversation flowed easily, and I was touched by so many stories of grief, joy, and life experiences. There are very few times when I gather with those who are in different seasons than I am, and I was grateful for that chance. The level of sacred sharing strengthened my faith and my love for each of the women at BVCC.  

     The program that was set out for us was another layer that brought meaning to the weekend. As women, we engaged the senses as we participated in several new spiritual practices together and through each activity, we sought God’s heart. After each session, we would have time to go and rest, contemplate, or enjoy one another’s company. It was one of the highlights of my year to just sit in a quiet library in an old, comfortable chair while watching the birds and spending time with my favourite authors. No need to hurry, prepare anything, or be busy. It was a weekend of spiritual growth, belonging, and retreat. 

Chelsie P, BVCC Member

     Because of the community that I have joined at BVCC’s youth group, I have been able to build my relationship with God as well as feel stronger and more secure in my faith. 

     I have felt such a sense of belonging joining this group since the day I walked into youth. The sense of family and community within this church is so strong, and it made me feel really welcome. I connected with people right away and have already built strong relationships with other people my age who have dedicated their lives to following Jesus. 

     I had been really wanting a community of people that I could be with that I knew cared about their faith as much as I do, and now I have found that. My identity with Christ has shone so brightly since I have joined. I have gained confidence to open up about my faith and religion to friend circles that aren’t religious, and I didn’t feel that confidence before joining.

Lily (Grade 10)

     Serving at BVCC for the Lord has been so cleansing and definitely helped me along my spiritual journey with God. I feel more connected with Him as I serve and please Him. I have seen kids grow through their faith from age 1-4. An example would be a little boy who I helped with in the nursery and is now in 4s-5s with me. He has grown immensely as well as other kids. They start to understand who Jesus is and that he loves them and it is really special to see that. 

     The most rewarding thing for me is seeing the kids begin to recognize that this is a safe space and a good community. As well as seeing them understand that Jesus loves them. 

     As a volunteer I feel that I am definitely supported and appreciated by Judi and her team here at Bow Valley. I find that this ministry is being run very well, it's organized and safe. I am honored to be a volunteer in the children’s ministry here at Bow Valley Christian Church. 

Lily

     Serving in kids ministry has given me an opportunity to be both a disciple and mentor to different peers around me and it's given me a great insight on how faith looks in different people. Serving in BVCC Kids has impacted my faith through the kids' questions, despite teaching a younger age group. I have many kids who are so curious about different passages of scripture, prayer life, theology and things like that.

     The most meaningful part of serving in BVCC Kids is building connections with the kids. learning names, likes, dislikes, funny habits. It's so exciting to see how they will grow and flourish and become leaders themselves.

Gracen

     It is such a privilege to be able to serve at BVCC in the youth ministry and lead students in our monthly youth worship nights. Once a month, we gather at Bow Valley with other churches in Calgary to worship and praise God in community. God is working in such amazing ways in each and every one of these students' lives, and being able to lead and watch each of them grow in their faith is so inspiring. These students have such big hearts for Jesus and are continually wanting to seek the Lord and His goodness.

Delaney Anderson

     Kim and I have been attending BVCC for the past two years, and we've felt totally welcome and included from the start. The initial draw was the strong preaching from Steve, Cal, Andrew and Gary, but what was soon apparent was how all the congregation live out their hope in Jesus through relationships with each other and the community. We were both welcomed into the BVCC community and have become involved with weekly bible studies, seniors get togethers, such as the regular trips to Rosebud Theatre, and also a thriving supper club group.

   We have also been blessed to be able to contribute to the Benevolence and Worship ministries. It has been particularly inspiring serving on the worship team, witnessing Pete expressing his Love for Jesus through pure joyful worship and care for the team. It is just another example of how relationships and community, modeled after Jesus, are the core of everything that happens at BVCC.

Tom Danshin

     My wife Barb and I were looking for a church family after we moved from north central Calgary to the Ranchlands community. After attending BVCC for a few weeks in the summer and fall of 2022, we decided to make Bow Valley our home.

     One of the first meetings I had was with Pastor Pete Justine, during which I gained the leadership’s vision for worship and the arts. I then shared my interest and background in the dramatic arts to determine if there was a fit with my experience and gifting. After connecting with Pete, I sensed there was a connection between the church’s vision for worship and the arts and my desire to continue using what God has blessed me with.

     Since that time, I have been fortunate to be part of the arts scene at BVCC and have been involved in a number of dramatic sketches and reader’s theatre presentations with other like-minded artists at the church.

     Barb and I have also had opportunities to participate in many of the activities and events held or sponsored by the church, such as theatre productions at Rosebud, the International Potluck supper, and small group ministry and have developed numerous meaningful friendships.

Conrad Hild
 

     In May of this year, I had the opportunity to travel to Pikeville, Kentucky, to partner with Lifeline Christian Mission on a short-term mission trip. Four other gentlemen and I were tasked with providing construction labour to a family in the small town of Jenkins, Kentucky, not far from Pikeville. A few years ago, the family had purchased an old church building as their home. Aside from being a roof over their families’ heads, they are also called to be a light in their community and see their home as a gathering place for future mission teams to help spread the gospel in their community and beyond.

     Our work centred around doing remedial foundation work and constructing bedrooms for the family’s two teenage sons, who had previously been sharing one room with their young adult sister. You can imagine how excited these two young men were to help in whatever way possible. We also replaced several windows in the house, including one in the sister’s bedroom. Honestly, I think she was the most excited to have some privacy from her brothers. Equally as important was having the opportunity to hear the heart this family has for the people of their community. It was unmistakable that this family had heard God’s call for them to be ambassadors of the gospel and to share Christ’s love with every neighbour and resident of their town and county. 

     What I was reminded of through this opportunity is that there is Kingdom work being done in places I had never heard of before boarding a plane to a state I had never visited. It was a reminder that we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, are called to support one another in ways we may not have previously considered. I want to thank Bow Valley for their generous support in making this trip possible.

Brad Anderson

In the late fall of 2023, the Elders of BVCC provided a clear mandate to a newly formed Building Development Team to explore an Expansion and Renovation of our current building.

The primary purpose is to create a ‘Community Family Centre’ which will provide opportunities for our surrounding community to come to BVCC for a variety of reasons aside from Sunday services.  Our current facility is busy 7 days a week from 8am to 10pm, with up to 260 people in the building during weekdays alone.  This project will have long-term impact, providing a facility that can serve future generations of folks that will call BVCC their church ‘home’.

Throughout 2024, the team met with Architects, Construction Management Professionals, and selected a Capital Campaign Consulting firm to assist us with this endeavor.  We recognize and firmly believe God is ‘well ahead of us’ in our efforts, and this project will be a historical event in the continued life of BVCC well into the future.  You can click the link below for a glimpse into the project and expect to hear more updates throughout 2025 as we seek to hear God’s voice to help us move down the path of bringing this dream to fruition.

Without a doubt, live streaming our Sunday worship gatherings is the first impression most have of Bow Valley Christian Church. We continue to experience strong viewership with many people watching the service after it broadcasts.

To many of our viewers, watching online serves as a means to get and stay connected while otherwise there would be no way to do so. The top four locations of our viewers are Canada, the United States, France, India, and Israel! Our gratitude continues to the many volunteers who provide a great online experience every week for those unable to attend our live service.

     There are many life circumstances, such as illness, work schedules, and travel, that make it difficult for some to attend church in person regularly.  The online service at BVCC allows those of us who can’t always attend, to join in worship with our church community. It’s also an opportunity to reach out to those who live outside of our community, or those starting to seek Jesus.  In John 4:21-24, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that “a time is coming where you will worship neither on this mountain, or in Jerusalem……God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth”.  Our family appreciates the efforts made by BVCC to bring the worship service to those of us who can’t be there in person every week, so that we can still worship with our church community in spirit and in truth.

Anonmyous

790

YouTube Subscribers

805

Instagram Followers

1,600

Facebook Followers

11,832

Livestream views (227/week)

10,733

YouTube Sermon Views (206/week)

     This grandpa and grandma decided to learn more about the role of grandparenting! We were very fortunate to attend a multi-session video-assisted seminar at BVCC presented by Larry Fowler of Legacy Coalition (https://legacycoalition.com), Grandparenting Matters. In a culture that often views the role of a grandparent as merely "spoiling the kids" or a season reserved strictly for leisure and retirement, we felt a tug to explore what the Bible says about this significant stage of life.

     We found the seminar to be exceptionally well-presented and deeply informative. It did not merely offer sentimental advice; it provided a robust, biblical framework for family discipleship. As other attendees of this curriculum have noted, the material is a "phenomenal resource" that transforms understanding of a grandparent's role from passive observer to active spiritual influencer.

     The most profound takeaway for us was the shift from being "supportive" grandparents to becoming intentional grandparents. The seminar opened our eyes to the unique position we hold to impact our grandchildren's eternity. We were challenged to look beyond simply leaving an inheritance of finances or memories and instead focus on leaving a legacy of faith.

     The curriculum equipped us with practical tools to overcome distance, navigate complex family dynamics, and model a Christ-centred life. We walked away with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear mission: to prepare our grandchildren for life intentionally and, most importantly, a lasting walk with God.

     We believe this material is vital for the health of our families and the future of the church. It bridges the generational gap and empowers elders to be the spiritual anchors their families need. We are grateful for the opportunity to attend and highly recommend that our church consider using these resources to equip other grandparents in our congregation.

Hendie & Lyné

     My wife and I have been retired for over 10 years.  We have had wills and other legal documents in place for even longer but haven’t put much thought into aging recently.  In 2025, Bow Valley made available “Aging Matters” seminars and we attended a couple.  The “Finishing Well” one by Gary Lepine explained and encouraged us to have updated wills, power of attorney documents and personal directives.  Gary also encouraged us to speak to our loved ones about the inevitable and how we would like matters (material, personal and spiritual) handled.

     A second seminar we attended was about downsizing and how we might go about doing it so we don’t burden our children when we die.
We found both seminars very informative and they have prompted us to action on a number of fronts.
I was also privileged to attend an intergenerational event with a group of young adults.  It was a games night held after hours at Friends Cafe (my wife was away and unable to attend).  It was a great evening where I met a number of young adults and got to know a couple of them as we played games.  We don’t normally have opportunity to mix with folks outside of our age group so this was a great experience and very encouraging.

Paul Da Silva, BVCC Member

The short-term mission trip to the Philippines in February 2024 was a big win. Beverley Rutherford longed to take a team to the Philippines and it was her calling and determination that made the trip happen.

Seven people from Bow Valley, along with a team from Grace Baptist Church, spent two weeks in the Philippines learning from, and working alongside the UCCP Christian Learning Center in Lamut as well as BVCC’s global partner Tabuk Refuge of Hope International.

While in Tabuk, the team shared testimonies, taught classes, cut hair, and worked on the Refuge of Hope’s new building. International travel, with a ministry focus, expanded and deepened the team’s love for God as the staff and girls at the Refuge of Hope shared their stories of God’s redeeming love and faithfulness.

Sandra Osborne - Associate Pastor

We are so thankful for our faithful, generous, and committed donors that support our work for His Kingdom! For 2024 Audited Financial Statements, 2024 members can contact our church office or pick up a copy at the Welcome Centre in the foyer.

If I have a question or comment about our finances or ministries who do I speak to?

The leadership and staff want to hear from you at any time of the year! Please call (403-286-5300) or email the office ([email protected]) and we will direct you to the person who can answer your questions. If you would like to have a conversation regarding a specific area, consider these options:

Finances: [email protected]

Elders: [email protected]

Global: [email protected]

Prayer Requests: [email protected]

Those wishing to become a member of Bow Valley Christian Church community can find out more on our membership page.

If you have any other questions, use the Connection Card below.
 

Every dollar given to BVCC goes to support ministry to our church members, to our local community and to our partners around the world. We could not do this without you. Our leadership is overwhelmingly grateful for your financial partnership in the gospel. We look expectantly to the next year of ministering together.