God’s Call for Centre Church
We’re embarking on an exciting new chapter as we relaunch as Centre Church this Easter Sunday, 2025. This isn’t just a name; it’s a commitment to our purpose: to place Jesus at the centre of our lives, worship, and mission. Our journey to this moment has been exciting, and we want to share the story because we’d love for you to be a part of it!
The Call to an Eternal Mission
God’s words were unmistakable: “These people are willing to lay it all on the line to achieve their earthly visions, for things that will one day wither and die. Will you do whatever it takes for the sake of my everlasting kingdom?”
I felt God speak these words to me during one of my periodic biography binges, this time reading about people like Phil Knight (who founded Nike), Elon Musk, and Winston Churchill. Each achieved great things in the face of overwhelming odds because they were willing to do whatever it took for their company or country to succeed.
Now, few of us are giant corporate CEOs or prime ministers. But we are part of something much greater: the mission to proclaim the Gospel and play a role in advancing God’s kingdom.
I believe many of us—in fact, much of the Church in the West—have been wandering in a fog without a clear sense of direction. But staying in this fog isn’t an option.
Eternal destinies are at stake.
Are we willing to do whatever it takes for the sake of God’s Kingdom?
The Lighthouse in the Fog
A crucial turning point came through Isaiah 6, a passage God pressed on my heart repeatedly through songs, prophetic words, and personal study. It’s a chapter that recounts Isaiah’s vision of the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and offers a road map for stepping out of the fog and into God’s light.
Look at the passage; we’ll see it unfolding in four stages: perspective, response, grace, and commission.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.4 The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 Then I said:
Woe is me for I am ruined
because I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips,
and because my eyes have seen the King,
the Lord of Armies.6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said:
Now that this has touched your lips,
your iniquity is removed
and your sin is atoned for.8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking:
Who will I send?
Who will go for us?I said:
Here I am. Send me.
Perspective: Seeing God Rightly
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth (Isa. 6:3).”
Isaiah’s vision begins with a revelation of God’s majesty and holiness. He’s utterly overwhelmed.
When we see God as he truly is, seated on His throne, it shifts everything. A small view of God leads to complacency and spiritual stagnation. But a grand view of God compels us to worship, be transformed, and pursue His mission with urgency.
Our perspective of God determines the direction of our lives. When was the last time we were overwhelmed by God’s holiness?
Response: Recognizing Our Need
In Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah cries our, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Armies.”
The great prophet’s rightful perspective of God necessary led him to a rightful perspective of himself. A greater understanding of God’s holiness reveals the depths of our need for grace and transformation. True repentence is uncomfortable, but it’s often the spark for revival.
Grace: Receiving God’s Mercy
In Isaiah 6:7, one of the Seraphim touches Isaiah’s lips with a glowing coal, symbolizing the removal of his guilt. Isaiah’s guilt isn’t removed because he has earned it, but because of the lovingkindness of the Lord. Today, our guilt and sin aren’t removed by a burning coal in a vision, but by the blood of the lamb; by the grace that comes through Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection atone for our sins, freeing us from guilt and shame and equipping us for His purposes.
Grace isn’t just a gift; it’s the fuel for our mission.
Commission: “Bless Send me”
Finally, in verse 8, after pouring out this abundant grace upon Isaiah, God asks, “Who will I send? Who will go for us?”
Isaiah’s response is simple but profound: “Here I am. Send me.”
This isn’t just a question for Isaiah. It’s a question for each of us. Will we step out of our comfort zones to be part of God’s mission? When we say, “Here I am. Send Me,” we’re opening ourselves to lives of obedience. To potential challenges and hardships. To conversations or ministries or challenges we’d never imagined.
For many of us (myself included), our prayers would be more accurately summarized as something like this:
“Here I am, Lord! I’ll go wherever you want me…as long as it fits within my schedule. Oh, and as long as it doesn’t cost too much. Ah, and as long as it doesn’t affect the lifestyle I’m accustomed to or it’s not too awkward. And of course, it can’t be too awkward or damaging to my sense of dignity, and obviously it needs to be fun enough or interesting enough for me.”
Too often, what we’re really saying it “Here I am, Lord. Bless me!” In other words, “give me nothing but good things, comfort, ease, and personal gain! Amen!”
But this is not how God is calling us to live.
And this is not the type of church God is calling us to be.
God is calling us to be a “Here I am, send me” church.
Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it’s inconvenient, or difficult, or frustrating. Whatever it takes, for the good of God’s Kingdom.
When we have the right perspective, our response is inevitable. We recognize the grace poured out on our lives in light of Jesus, and so stepping into the Great Commission is the natural next step.
A New Season of Bold Faith
As we prepare to launch Centre Church, we’re declaring our commitment to:
Jesus at the Centre: we want our lives, worship, and mission to be centred on Christ.
Grace at the Centre: we’re committed to living out and sharing the transformative grace of God.
Holiness at the Centre: we seek to reflect God’s holiness in every aspect of our lives.
Our mission is straightforward: love God, love people, and serve the city in Jesus’ name. As part of this vision, we’re trusting God for 100 salvations by the end of 2030—not just new members, but people whose lives have been utterly transformed by the Gospel.
Will You Join Us?
We’re at the start of a mountain, and this new chapter requires all of us. Here’s how you can step into this vision and join us for the adventure:
Pray with Us: We want to saturate this next season with prayer. We’re asking everyone who wants to be a part of Centre Church with us to make prayer a top priority.
Serve with Us: Use your gifts to build up the church and reach our community. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in!
Give with Us: Invest in God’s kingdom work through your time, resources, and finances.
Share the Gospel: Be bold in sharing the good news of Jesus with those in your life.
As we prepare for the official launch of Centre Church, let’s step out of the fog and towards all that God is calling us to. Will you say with us today, “Here we are, Lord. Send us”?
Visit us: If you’re searching for a church in Red Deer or a community of believers who are passionate about stepping out in faith on God’s mission, we’d love to invite you to join us at Centre Church. Join us for a vision night, the official launch, or reach out to us by emailing info@wearecentrechurch.ca now.
