A day designed especially for pastors and ministry leaders
Pastors’ and Ministry Leaders’ Day returns on June 3, 2026, just ahead of CBOQ Assembly (June 4–6). This dedicated gathering offers space for pastors to be encouraged, equipped, and reconnected with colleagues from across our Baptist family.
Through meaningful workshops, thoughtful conversations, and time together with ministry peers, this day is designed to strengthen and support those serving in pastoral leadership.
Pastors’ and Ministry Leaders’ Day flows into CBOQ Assembly, our annual gathering of churches within Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Join us as we worship, pray, discern, and make decisions together as a Baptist family.
Need financial support? Subsidies are available for both Pastors’ and Ministry Leaders’ Day and Assembly. If cost is a barrier, we encourage you to apply below by April 17.
There is so much I want to say about why I hope you will join us in Assembly this year. Like every year, I hope you will join us because Assembly is such a rich time of connection, support and celebration. I also know how much it matters to others that you are there. We are a family in CBOQ, and, like anyone helping coordinate a family reunion, I know how meaningful it is to have the whole family present.
But this year, I hope you will know this is extra important. Our theme for 2026 is “And Then They Prayed.” As we looked to Assembly this year, we felt that more than a theme or a topic we needed a posture. We needed to come before God together, to pray and seek God’s leading for this time and place in our CBOQ family, our provinces and our world. We need to pray.
“And Then They Prayed.”
What do we mean by that?
How did we move from pencils to prayer?
This year, the theme of Assembly invites us into something deeper, not just planning, not just visioning, but seeking. Because before anything else comes next… we need to ask:
Where are we now?
What is God doing among us?
And what is He calling us into?
Instead of rushing to answers, we are choosing to begin somewhere else. We are choosing to begin with prayer. What would it look like if hundreds of us came together, not just to listen, not just to decide, but to truly seek God? That question is shaping this year’s Assembly.
Together, we will create space listen to scripture, reflect on prayer, sit in silence, worship and respond, and pray both individually and corporately. Not as a formality, not as a transition, but as the foundation.
This theme is grounded in the story of the early church. At every critical moment of uncertainty, decision, mission, they did something simple and profound: they gathered. And they prayed.
Prayer wasn’t an afterthought.
It was their starting place.
Scripture reminds us that where two or three gather, God is present. So what happens when hundreds gather with one purpose and that is to seek Him together? We believe something powerful can happen. Not because of a program. Not because of a plan. But because God meets His people when they seek Him.
This Assembly is not just something to attend. It is something to enter into. A space to listen. A time to seek. A moment to be formed together.
So come and pray with us. And let’s discover what God has for CBOQ next.
Assembly is an annual gathering of CBOQ’s family of churches. Part annual general meeting, part conference, and part family reunion, Assembly aims to provide a nurturing environment that fosters spiritual growth, encourages dynamic collaboration, and celebrates the unity that binds our family of churches.
Assembly is a dynamic and evolving event that adapts to the changing needs of our attendees while remaining grounded in the core principles of faith, community, and service. During Assembly, we gather, worship together, pray for one another, make decisions together, and grow as a family of churches. We hear from engaging speakers, thoughtful and talented worship leaders, and delegates from our churches.
This year, we have a variety of people who will share reflections with us, including the General Secretary of the North American Baptist Fellowship, Rev. TaNikka Sheppard, our Executive Minister, and various staff and leaders in CBOQ. On Saturday, we look forward to a concluding key note address from Rev. Dr. Raphael Anzenberger, a prolific speaker and evangelist who speaks around the world and also serves as Executive Minister of the French Union, to wrap up our time together and send us out in the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit.
As our theme is prayer, we look forward to not only talking and learning about prayer, but also spending time in prayer together as an important part of our Plenary sessions. We will do this in many creative and engaging ways, which will make space for everyone to engage as they feel comfortable.
9:00 – 10:30 AM
Pastors’ and Ministry Leaders’ Day Registration
10:30 – 11:15 AM
Arrival, Coffee and Fellowship
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Opening Plenary
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 – 2:15 PM
Prayer and Discernment Session 1
2:15 – 2:35 PM
Break
2:35 – 3:50 PM
Prayer and Discernment Session 2
3:50 – 4:10 PM
Break
4:10 – 5:25 PM
Prayer and Discernment Session 3
5:25 – 7:00 PM
Dinner (Market Hall)
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Past Presidents’ Dinner (By Invitation)
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Prayer and Discernment Session 4
8:00 – 8:30 PM
Closing Worship and Blessing
8:45 PM
Black Pastors Late Night Gathering
This gathering is an intentional opportunity to honour and care for Black pastors. We recognize the unique experiences they carry in ministry and want to create space for encouragement, support, and meaningful connection. It is an added time of investment within our shared day together.
11:00 AM
Registration Opens
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Celebration of Milestones Lunch (By Invitation)
2:00 – 3:15 PM
Seeking God in Prayer (Sean O’Sullivan Theatre)
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Choose From:
1. Prayer and Reflection (A quiet room to receive pray and reflect on your own)
2. Spiritual Director One-on-Ones (Registration Required)
3. Q and A with CBOQ Board (Sean O’Sullivan Theatre)
4. Workshop led by TaNikka Sheppard (TH 247)
5:00 – 6:30 PM
Dinner (Market Hall)
5:00 – 6:30 PM
Board/Association Dinner (By invitation)
7:00 PM
Plenary: “And Then They Prayed”
(Sean O’Sullivan Theatre)
In the book of Acts, the fledgling Church faced many moments of challenge and strain. Some Christians lost their lives, some were thrown into prisons, others were brought before the local courts. What did the early Church do in times when they felt politically powerless and unsure of their future? They prayed.
9:30 PM
CBWOQ Late Night Gathering (Fireside Lounge)
7:00 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast (Market Hall)
7:00 – 8:30 AM
McMaster Divinity College Alumni Breakfast (Pond Room)
7:00 – 8:30 AM
Gym and Pickleball
8:00 – 8:45 AM
Bible Study – (TH247)
Led by Cynthia Long Westfall
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
AGM – Part 1 (Sean O’Sullivan Theatre)
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Lunch (Market Hall)
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Children and Family Ministries Lunch
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Young Adult Luncheon (Market Hall)
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Young Adult Luncheon
12:30 – 2:00 PM
Retired Pastors Lunch
2:30 – 4:30 PM
AGM – Part 2 (Sean O’Sullivan Theatre)
5:00 – 6:30 PM
Dinner (Market Hall)
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Plenary: “And Now We’ll Pray”
(Sean O’Sullivan Theatre)
Sometimes in the Church we can be guilty of talking a lot about prayer without actually taking time to come to God in prayer together. As Baptists, we are diligent in making time for discussion and decision-making, but not always diligent to spend equal time praying together. On Friday night, we will worship in song, hear meaningful stories, and learn about prayer—but we will pray together: with one another and for one another, in many varied and meaningful ways. We need all our prayers as we move forward as a Baptist family.
10:00 PM
Friday Late Night with CLL and NextGen (Pond Room)
7:00 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast (Market Hall)
7:00 – 8:30 AM
Presidents Breakfast with the EM (By Invitation)
7:00 – 8:30 AM
Pickleball and Gym
8:00 – 8:45 AM
Bible Study (TH247)
Led by Francis Pang
8:45 – 10:00 AM
Workshops
1. Prayer Trail
This is a quiet, self-guided prayer time using nearby walking trails. Participants will be invited to move at their own pace, using a simple audio and written prayer guide to reflect, listen, and pray. This is meant to be unhurried. It will be a chance to step outside, in nature, to breathe, and spend some intentional time with God.
2. Learning to Prayer Walk
Prayer walking is a practice that can be done anywhere. You could do it in a neighbourhood, around a church, or on a trail. In this workshop, participants will learn what prayer walking is and how to apply it for your own purposes, as they engage in a prayer walk around the Brock campus. The focus is on giving people something they can easily take home and use.
3. Prayer Practices to Revitalize Your Prayer Life
Sometimes prayer starts to feel routine. This workshop introduces some prayer practices that can help you pray in fresh and meaningful ways. Participants will have space to consider different prayer approaches and consider which practices might fit best in their own lives and churches.
4. Creating a Culture of Prayer in Your Church
Many churches want prayer to be more than something they “tack on” at the beginning and end of a committee meeting. Do you desire to have prayer shape who you are in your church? This workshop is a conversation about what it looks like to build a culture of prayer. With insights from a panel of prayer practitioners, we’ll explore practical ways prayer can be woven into leadership, worship, and everyday church life.
5. Praying Through the Dark Night of the Soul
There are seasons in life when prayer feels hard. Sometimes God can feel distant, where words don’t come easily, or where faith just feels fragile. This workshop creates space to talk honestly about those seasons and how to pray during what has famously been called “the Dark Night of the Soul.” It is a gentle, reflective time for those navigating grief, doubt, or spiritual dryness, or for those who are journeying with someone who is.
6. Creative Workshop
Let your creative juices flow. This workshop offers simple, hands-on creative work that invites participants to engage in prayer through creativity. No artistic skill is needed.
7. Prayer and Discernment
Discernment is about learning to listen where God may be leading. This workshop explores how prayer helps shape wise and faithful discernment, both personally and in our church community. Participants will reflect on practices that support listening, patience, and trust when decisions need to be made.
8. Becoming the Answer: Prayer and Faithful Living in an Uncertain World
In an uncertain world marked by conflict, injustice, and deep need, God’s people are called first to prayer. Led by Canadian Baptist Ministries, this workshop invites participants into guided prayer for our world, grounded in the stories and realities of CBM’s global partners. We’ll also reflect briefly on the story of Ruth, a reminder that God often answers prayer through ordinary people who choose faithfulness, courage, and compassion. As we pray together, we will listen for how God may be inviting each of us to become part of God’s response, allowing our lives to be shaped by obedience, hope, and love.
Led by Rev. Adrian Gardner Director of Partnerships, Americas and Asia and CBM staff
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Plenary: “And Then We’ll Pray”
(Sean O’Sullivan Theatre)
As we close our time at Assembly, this plenary will invite us to reflect on what we have shared, to listen for where God may be leading next, and to commit ourselves once more to a posture of prayer. We will leave Assembly 2026 reminded that prayer steadies us, shapes us, and carries us forward even when the journey feels uncertain.
Assembly is an annual gathering of the CBOQ family of churches. Part annual general meeting, part conference, and part family reunion, Assembly is a chance for our family to meet, connect, and make decisions. We learn and grow together through teaching, worship, fellowship, and prayer.
Assembly will be held June 4–6, 2026 at Brock University in St. Catharines.
Pastor and Ministry Leaders Day: June 3, 2026
Address: 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1
Early Bird: $200 (Thursday–Saturday) Early Bird has ended for this year
Regular: $325 (Thursday–Saturday)
Meal Plan: $165 (Thursday dinner to Saturday breakfast, buffet style)
Dorm Room: $135 (Thursday and Friday nights, single room with shared bathroom)
The AGM will be held on Friday, June 5, 2026.
You can register online at baptist.ca/assembly. After submitting your registration form, you will receive a confirmation email.
The final day to register is May 5, 2026. No registrations will be accepted after this date.
The Registration Form is completed by the individual attending Assembly and includes details such as role, session selection, and program needs.
The Church Clerk must confirm voting delegates. This confirmation must be received before a delegate is approved to vote. The Church Clerk will receive an email about this.
If you have…
100 or fewer members: Two delegates
101–150: Three delegates
151–200: Four delegates
201–250: Five delegates
251–300: Six delegates
Each church may also send one additional Young Adult Delegate (ages 18–25).
Yes, rooms are available at a discounted rate at the Four Points by Sheraton across from the university. Booking details are provided during registration.
A meal plan is available for purchase and includes buffet meals from Thursday dinner through Saturday breakfast at Market Hall.
Yes, the campus is accessible. Golf cart transportation will be available for those with mobility needs. Please indicate accessibility needs during registration.
This year, we have a variety of people who will share reflections with us, including the General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, TaNikka Sheppard, our Executive Minister, and various staff and leaders in CBOQ. On Saturday, we look forward to a concluding keynote address from Rev. Dr. Raphael Anzenberger, a prolific speaker and evangelist who speaks around the world and serves as Executive Minister of the French Union, to wrap up our time together and send us out in the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit.
As our theme is prayer, we look forward to not only talking and learning about prayer but also spending time in prayer together as an important part of our Plenary sessions. We will do this in many creative and engaging ways, which will make space for everyone to engage as they feel comfortable.
Friday: Dr. Cynthia Westfall, Associate Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College.
Saturday: Francis Pang, Assistant Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College.
If you are bringing a car to Assembly, you must submit your license plate number prior to May 5th. Please email assembly@baptist.ca if you have not submitted your license plate number already.
Parking must be in CBOQ designated parking areas only. Anyone who is parking in a different lot than those indicated WILL be ticketed.
Registration takes place in the Lobby of the Residence 8 building. When you go through the doors of the building, follow the reception desk around to the left and you will find our registration stations. If you have indicated that you need a dorm room, you will get the keys at check-in, but rooms are not available until after 3 pm on Thursday, June 4.
The dorm beds have a light blanket and sheet set. Each room has a basic towel set. Please bring extra towels if you desire. Soap is included but we suggest you bring your favourite toiletries to feel at home.
NOTE: Dorm keys must be returned before 9 am on Saturday morning, to the reception desk in Residence 8 Lobby. Failure to return your key will result in a charge of $55.00.
Please send an email to cboqkids@baptist.ca
There is Wi-Fi at the University, but it is not the most dependable.
There are Tim Hortons and Starbucks on site. They are open during the week but closed on Saturday. There are restaurants in the area and a list of them will be available in the program book.
The AGM will be held on Friday, June 5, starting at 9:00 AM.
The meeting will be held in person at Brock University. Delegates must attend in person to vote.
The AGM fulfills our requirement to gather members to review and discuss the business of CBOQ for the past year.
Reports will include the Board Report, Executive Minister’s Report, and Treasurer’s Report, along with opportunities for delegate feedback.
Yes, a Q&A session will be held on Thursday, June 4 from 3:30–4:30 PM at Sean O’Sullivan Theatre.
Questions can be submitted in advance until May 25 at 12:00 PM.
Formal motions must be submitted in advance in accordance with the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (CNCA). The deadline for 2026 has passed and no new motions will be accepted.
Dial 911 immediately.
First Aid: Rev. Karen Wong: 514-621-1211
Campus Security: 905-688-5550 x3200
Email assembly@baptist.ca. Our team will respond within 24 hours.
© 2025 Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec
