The Mission Field We’re Avoiding:
Financial Stress and the Gospel.
When over 40% of Canadians say finances are their #1 source of stress, that represents a frontline local mission field in our churches, neighbourhoods, and workplaces.
Financial stress fuels anxiety, shame, relationship breakdown, and spiritual disengagement. It escalates into sleeplessness, hunger, family crisis, and hopelessness yet churches often feel ill-equipped or hesitant to talk about money.
As a result, financial pressure is not just 'difficult’; it becomes a destructive force that drives despair, isolates people, and robs them of hope.
This focus room reframes financial stress as a local mission field – where Jesus invites us to respond with compassion and truth in ways that restore dignity, protect life and bring hope and healing as people recognize God is with them in their trials.
Together we’ll explore
what
financial stress looks like in our communities,
why
avoiding money conversations harms pastoral care and missional impact, and
how
churches can engage this topic with compassion, clarity and confidence
Addressing money is not a distraction, it’s a critical element of mission and discipleship.
Will is the CEO of Christians Against Poverty Canada, a registered charity equipping and inspiring local churches to walk alongside people facing financial stress and insecurity, demonstrating God’s love in tangible ways. Through CAP’s work with churches across Canada, Will has seen how financial pressure intersects with mental health, relationships and faith - often pushing people to the edge of hope.
Originally trained as a teacher before serving as a community and outreach pastor, Will moved to Canada in 2013 to help launch CAP. He is passionate about helping churches engage finances not as a taboo topic, but as a vital local mission field and discipleship opportunity.