(Re)Building Christian Community
In a culture more connected than ever, many Christians still find themselves isolated, fragmented, and longing for something deeper. The language of “community” is everywhere, yet genuine Christian fellowship often feels increasingly rare. What does it look like to rebuild the kind of covenantal, sacrificial, joy-filled community described in Scripture?
Join us for a two-day conference focused on recovering a biblical vision of life together in the local church. Through teaching, discussion, worship, and fellowship, we will explore how Christian community is formed through Lord’s Day worship, strengthened through hospitality and integrity, tested through conflict and forgiveness, and sustained across generations.
Speakers
Rev. Uriesou Brito is the Senior Pastor of Providence Church (CREC) in Pensacola, Florida. He is the founder of Kuyperian Commentary and the author of several books, including The Trinitarian Father and The War of the Priesthood. He writes regularly on theology, culture, and the Christian life at The Perspectivalist and is a frequent speaker at conferences. Uri and his wife, Melinda, have been married for over 20 years and are parents to five children.
Kenton Spratt is the pastor of Christ Church. He was privileged to study under J.I. Packer at Regent College in Vancouver. Originally born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, he immigrated to the United States in 2006, moved to Spokane in 2013, and became an American citizen in 2020. He has been married to his wife, Sheryl, for 40 years and has two faithful grown children and one grandchild.
Melinda Brito is a wife, mother, and active member of Providence Church in Pensacola, Florida. She holds a degree from Clearwater Christian College and has long been committed to Christian education, family life, and cultivating a hospitable home. Alongside her husband, Pastor Uri Brito, she supports the church’s life and ministry through hospitality, women’s gatherings, and encouragement for younger families. As a mother of five children, she is especially devoted to nurturing the spiritual and educational formation of the next generation.
Pastor Jason Farley is a screenwriter, comedy writer, and poet from Spokane, WA. He pastored for a decade before becoming a writer and teacher. He is married with four kids, ages 15-22, and a grandchild on the way.
Chris Cousine is a pastor with Covenant Presbyterian Church Cochrane. Previously he was a missionary with the North American Mission Board and a pastor of a Reformed Baptist church for five years. He studied at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. He lives in the scenic countryside near Cochrane with his wife. They have three grown sons and a dog.
Conference Schedule
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM
Registration and Welcome
Information and attendance lanyards to be handed out in the foyer of the Ranchehouse. Aslan’s Book Store will be in attendance.
02:00 PM – 02:30 PM
Opening remarks and singing
Bring your singing voices as we will open our conference with singing God’s praises, followed by some housekeeping before we start the first session.
02:30 PM – 03:15 PM
Session 1: “The Community We’ve Lost — And Why We Must Rebuild It”
Chris Cousine
• This session introduces the conference by examining not only the loss of meaningful Christian community, but the rise of modern substitutes that have reshaped the very definition of the word. While the language of “community” remains common, it is often detached from the covenantal, sacrificial, and embodied life described in Scripture. Drawing from biblical teaching and present-day realities, this session will expose these thin imitations and recover a vision of true Christian community as essential to the life, health, and witness of the church.
03:45 PM – 04:30 PM
Session 2: The Foundation of Loving Community: Worship on the Lord’s
Uri Brito
• Every genuine Christian community begins with worship. Before we share meals, extend hospitality, or pursue acts of service, the people of God must first gather on the Lord’s Day to lift their hearts together in praise. Sunday worship is not an optional add-on to community life; it is the fountain from which love flows. In Word and sacrament, God pours out His grace and renews His covenant with His people.
05:00 PM – 05:45 PM
Session 3: “From Sermon to Supper – The Integrity of Love”
Kenton Spratt
• Focus: Directly based on C.S. Lewis’s essay “The Sermon and the Lunch,” this session would delve into the theme of integrity in Christian love. It would explore how love should be consistent between public preaching and private life, particularly within the home and church community.
08:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Social Event @ Lions Club Event Centre (extra ticket needed)
Come for the singing and fellowship. Complimentary desserts and one free alcoholic drink per ticket. Bring your pipes and cigars, and maybe a jacket.
08:20 AM – 08:30 AM
Worship with Singing
08:30 AM – 09:15 AM
Women’s Breakout Session – Women: The Heart of Community Life
Melinda Brito
This session would focus on the theological underpinnings of the importance of women in the building up and maintaining Christian community.
08:30 AM – 09:15 AM
Men’s Breakout Session – Men: Builders of Christian Community
Jason Farley
This session would focus on the theological underpinnings of the importance of men in the building up and maintaining Christian community.
09:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Women’s Breakout Session #2 – Women: Practical Ways to Build Community
Melinda Brito
A natural extension of the first session, this time focussing on the practical ‘how-to’ of building the Christian community.
09:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Men’s Breakout Session #2 – Men: Building Community in Practice
Jason Farley
A natural extension of the first session, this time focusing on the practical ‘how-to’ of building the Christian community.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Breakouts Q&A
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Session 6: “Conflict and Forgiveness: Love’s Hardest Lessons”
Kenton Spratt
• Focus: This session would address conflict resolution and forgiveness as essential aspects of love. It would explore how to handle disagreements, misunderstandings, and offences in a loving manner, drawing from Jesus’s teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation. Practical steps for moving from conflict to restoration would be discussed, emphasizing love’s trans-formative power.
02:00 PM – 02:45 PM
Session 7: “Building Lasting Community: Creating a Legacy That Endures”
Uri Brito
• Focus: This session would explore how love can lead to enduring change within the church community. It would discuss the legacy of love in church history and how acts of love today can shape the future. Attendees would consider how to make love not just a temporary feeling but a permanent fixture in church culture. This could involve discussions on mentoring, creating traditions of love, and setting up systems or ministries that sustain acts of love over time, ensuring that the church remains a beacon of Christ’s love long after the conference concludes.
02:45 PM – 03:30 PM
Q&A Session (panel style)
Questions will be posed to the panel of speakers from the audience.
03:30 PM – 04:00 PM
Session 8: Final Remarks – Commission
Chris Cousine
• This closing session commissions attendees to put into practice the vision of Christian community presented throughout the conference. Rather than leaving with ideas alone, participants will be urged to pursue real, embodied, and sacrificial community within their own churches and homes. With Scripture as the guide and Christ as the head, this session will call believers to take responsibility for building and sustaining a faithful community that reflects the love of God.
Cost and Registration
*9 and under free*
Hotel Information
Days Inn
Group Name: God Keep Our Land Conference
Valid until Sept 16
Special: $179/ night
20 Rooms Held (w/ 2 Queen Beds)
Canalta
Group Name: God Keep Our Land Conference
Valid until Sept 16
Special: $203.65/night
14 Rooms Held (w/ 2 Queen Beds) OR $194.65 (6 Rooms Held w/ 1 King Bed)
Covenant Presbyterian Church meets at the Cochrane RancheHouse
101 RancheHouse Road, Cochrane, AB T4C 2K8
Covenant Presbyterian Church 