OUR BLOG

You’ve likely followed the recent news story of the remains of 215 Indigenous children found at a former residential school in Kamloops, BC.  This week I spent a few minutes reflecting at the temporary memorial in downtown Barrie. It was moving to see family after family from our community come with their arms around each…

On a great day, your job can be uplifting.  On a hard day, it can feel discouraging.  On a routine day, it can feel mundane. But how do you insert more meaning into your workday, regardless of the situation? When you look at scripture, you can see a God who wants your work to bring…

Over 20 years of ministry, I’ve observed a few trends in people. One of the most glaring ones is this… Rarely do people feel over-encouraged. Think about yourself. How often would you say to yourself, “I just don’t think I could take any more encouragement. I’ve just had too much!” …Never. Why do you, and…

Hard conversations are an essential part of your life. To lead well at work, see your friendships grow, parent well, or build a healthy relationship, you have to figure out how to have them. But they aren’t easy, are they? I was speaking with a leader this week who asked me, “Jeff, how do I…

At Connexus, we genuinely believe that nothing and no one changes lives like Jesus. We also know that you, your friends, and your neighbours are in different places on the journey of figuring that out. It’s that way for all of us, including me. You also know that Jesus is someone that our culture wrestles…

By Carey Nieuwhof, Founding Pastor Sometimes when you look at your life or at the world, you might be tempted to think God really has no idea how terrible things can be. That’s why today matters so much. This is the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter—the day between Jesus’ death and resurrection. Saturday must…

By Carey Nieuwhof, Founding Pastor Have circumstances ever gotten so terrible for you that you thought: “There’s no way God could possibly be present?” I’ve wondered that at times. Honestly, I think most of us have. Maybe you’ve: Lost your job. Had someone very close to you die tragically. Seen your family fall apart. And you ask…

By Carey Nieuwhof, Founding Pastor So if you really mess up, does that end your relationship with God? It’s a great question. The reality of most of our lives is this: we promise we’ll obey God, then we don’t. Does that ever mean God will simply reject you? That you’ve gone too far and it’s…

By Carey Nieuwhof, Founding Pastor Ever have a hard time forgiving someone? Especially someone who has hurt you … deliberately? It’s hard to imagine how Jesus must have felt the final week of his life. He had come to offer God’s forgiveness and grace to each of us, but the very people to whom he extended that…

By Carey Nieuwhof, Founding Pastor If you had ultimate power, what would you do with it? My guess is you would change some things you’ve always wanted to change, likely for you and for others you’re close to. But then what? Interestingly enough, when people become powerful in this world (think business leaders, politicians and…