This past June, I had the opportunity to attend my very first General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. While new to me in a church context, the structured format—plenary sessions, debates, networking, and reports—felt surprisingly familiar due to my prior years participating in business conferences and seminars. It was a full and often intense experience, but one that left me reflecting deeply on the future of the church in our country and the resilient hope God continues to instill in us.
The context is sobering: congregations are aging, giving is tightening, and our cultural landscape is shifting rapidly. And yet, amid these realities, I was comforted and challenged by the voice of the prophet Jeremiah, who writes to a people in exile: “Seek the welfare of the city… for in its welfare you will find your welfare… For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord… to give you a future with hope” (Jer. 29:7, 11). That word “hope” in verse 11 has stayed with me.
At Assembly, I witnessed that hope stirring through the younger generation. Rachael Chen, though not officially nominated as a Young Adult Representative (YAR), chose to attend as a guest—observing the court in action, and building relationships with a passionate cohort of YARs from across the country. It was moving to see her and others like her choosing to be part of something larger than themselves, asking hard questions and exploring how to be faithful in this time of change.
One key decision was the creation of a Change Leadership Team, tasked with helping our denomination reimagine its future. It was especially encouraging to see the court affirm the importance of young adult representation on this team. That, in itself, is a hopeful step.
Beyond Assembly, I commend to you an article in the summer issue of Presbyterian Connection (p.38), titled “The Value of Defending Faith for the Church Today.” The writer makes a compelling case that apologetics—the thoughtful and faithful defense of the Christian faith—is not a relic of the past, but a vital practice for today’s church. In a time when many are leaving religion behind or grappling with doubts, we are reminded that the Gospel still speaks. People are still asking life’s big questions: Is there truth? Is there hope? Does faith make a difference?
Apologetics today is not about winning arguments; it is about walking alongside others with humility, listening deeply, and gently offering the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). It’s about rediscovering the Gospel’s beauty and clarity—not just for seekers and skeptics, but for ourselves as well.
Dear friends, we are not without direction. Even when the path forward feels uncertain, we are reminded: God is not finished with His Church. God calls us not to fear, but to plant, to build, to pray, to seek the good of our city—and to trust that His plans are not to harm us, but to give us a future filled with hope.
Let’s keep seeking. Let’s keep hoping. And let’s keep being the Church—together.
With you on the journey,
The Rev. Eric Lee
“… Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
– 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)