For the first time in 40 years, a Presbyterian church has been planted in the city of Winnipeg. Trinity was launched on Easter Sunday, 2007, with opening ceremonies attended by 90 people. At that point, the congregation met at a community centre. "Since then we've had anywhere from 40 to 60 in worship consistently," says Rev. Matthew Brough, a Winnipeg native and former pastor of Knox, Selkirk, Man.
In 2003, the Presbytery of Winnipeg decided there was a need for a Presbyterian church in the southwest. By the following spring, a New Church Development Committee had been formed and land purchased by Canada Ministries. In November 2006, Brough was called. "I had been involved with the committee for a few years, and it had been really exciting work."
Brough resigned from the committee and submitted his profile for the position. "Throughout the process, I felt the Holy Spirit confirming this as a true call from God," says Brough, who is married to Cheryl, a teacher who currently directs the church's children's ministry.
Most members are under 40 years old, with the largest percentage between 18 and 30. "The greatest need I think we're fulfilling is people's need for community," says Brough. "There is a lot of isolation in the suburbs, and overwhelmingly when we ask people what they like about Trinity they use words like community, home and family."
Two groups were started to study what it means to follow Jesus; once they were complete, the groups continued meeting, becoming the church's first care groups. In May, a third care group was created for young adults.
"I believe we need to have a wider witness within Winnipeg," says Brough, "and I hope that Trinity will play a key role in the development of the next new church in our presbytery."
