Hamilton is a city in transition.
Once a steel city, factories which once dotted the landscape are giving way to artistic new expressions of creativity and change. People are stepping out to do new things, promote new ideas, and re-invent what was existed previously to turn it into something relevant for today.
It is in this context that Calvin Lam and the faith community he leads are also undergoing some unexpected changes together.
The Gathering is a New Venture which was launched in early 2016 in the city. After completing his undergrad at McMaster Divinity School, and serving in a Vietnamese church for several years, Calvin experienced a call to plant a new church in the city.
After spending some time seeking for a space, someone put forward the idea of the Perkins Centre, a government-subsidized residential building with three floors of tenants and a multipurpose space available for rent. At first, Calvin and his team were hesitant because they did not feel equipped to serve well alongside the existing tenants, 90% of whom have a mental disability. However, just as Hamilton is in the midst of transformation, so Calvin and his team were being called to experience a transforming journey.
As Calvin and The Gathering began to meet in the space they were soon recognized as a welcoming faith community.
People would call out across the parking lot to ask for prayer. Eventually they started a weekly prayer drop-in, and they have also asked to start a Bible study. Currently, Calvin is investigating partnership opportunities with other local churches to build a church/residential building in the downtown core.
When asked to name one word that describes The Gathering, Calvin lands on “togetherness.”
He says, “We’re at a stage where we’re learning that it takes the whole community to reach the whole city.” The very name “The Gathering” alludes to people coming together – a characteristic that is especially important while serving alongside a population which has need for real relationships with a variety of people.
When asked about the challenges that The Gathering is currently facing, Calvin says, “Given that we are at the Perkins Centre as the tenants have come we have seen two different communities at the gathering – one being the tenants and the second being a younger demographic. The two groups are very different culturally and socio-economically. In the recent months, the question has been: how do we create community between the two groups and how do we continue to break down the barrier? It still remains a challenge because people feel comfortable with those who are like-minded.”
The Gathering, like many other New Ventures, is figuring out the answer to these questions in a unique space afforded by their context and the obedience of Calvin and his team.
Please pray for Calvin Lam and the gathering as they continue to navigate this journey of ongoing transformation.
You can follow along with what's happening at The Gathering on Facebook. Consider supporting them through a gift online via Canada Helps: The Gathering.