The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada
Choosing membership in an Alliance Church is not only about choosing the body of Christ, but the cause of Christ. You are joining a world-wide movement of Christian churches that have chosen together to fulfill the cause of Christ in the world.
“O God, with all our hearts we long to be a movement of churches, transformed by Christ, transforming Canada and the world.”
The Christian and Missionary Alliance has been a world-wide movement for more than a century. A. B. Simpson, founder of the C&MA began as a pastor of a Presbyterian church in the late 1800’s. Fueled by a sense of urgency to develop a deeper relationship with God—Simpson called it The Deeper Life—and a call to take the message of salvation to the world, he began to hold a series of nationwide meetings across the United States and Canada, challenging them to walk deeper in relationship with Christ and to take His Gospel around the world. What began as a movement became a partnership which became a denomination —stamped distinctively by its focus on “The Deeper Life” and “World Mission”.
There were four theological realities that weighed heavily on Simpson and these four—sometimes referred to as the four-fold Gospel—became distinctive flavour of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the basis for it’s emblem.
Our Saviour
The Cross stands for salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Our Sanctifier
The Laver (a wash basin) is representative of sanctification, that daily cleansing from sin by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Our Healer
The Pitcher speaks of oil for divine life and physical healing that come through obedience to God’s Word.
Our Coming King
The Crown symbolizes the return of our Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.
C&MA MISSION
One of the unique things about the the C&MA is that we send our own missionaries (we call them international workers, or I.W.’s) as well as partner with other mission sending organizations. We currently have 237 I.W.’s serving in 4 designated regions we call the 5-S Venture:
• Silk Road (Europe, Middle East, Central Asia): 61
• Caribbean Sun (Latin America): 53
• Desert Sand (Africa): 37
• Asian Spice (Asia): 86
The fifth “S” is Sea to Sea—a new initiative to plant 76 new churches in communities across Canada by 2012.
C&MA Statistics (2011)
In Canada:
• Number of churches: 435
• Members (baptized): 47,719
• Inclusive membership (members and adherents): 129,432
• Professions of faith: 5,855
• Baptisms: 3,160
• Average Sunday AM church service attendance: 84,179
• Official workers: 1,642
(based on Local Church Annual Reports, as of Dec. 31, 2010)
World Wide:
• Countries / territories with C&MA ministries and / or churches: 81
• Countries where Alliance international workers serve: 60
• Churches, unorganized church groups and preaching points: 16,378
• Organized churches: 13,246
• Baptized church members: 2,825,256
• Inclusive membership: 4,528,170
• Ordained national ministers: 6,764
• National workers (including ordained): 29,508
• Full-term theological schools: 76
• Enrollment in theological schools: 5,663
(based on reports as of Dec. 31, 2009)
