It’s Time to Paint on a Bigger Canvas

A few years ago, I took myself away to a small apartment in Chicago for a couple of days of prayer and, to be honest, I was feeling a little frustrated with how slowly our vision microchurch was developing in St. Louis. I was oblivious to the fact that the struggle was such an important part of the journey.

Within the first hour, I sensed God ask me a question that would prove life-changing, followed by a statement:

“It is time to paint on a bigger canvas.”

I knew that meant widening our sphere of influence, and I interpreted that as within St. Louis but I was wrong. Since then, Canvas Network has spread across St. Louis as well as Central Illinois, England, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, with opportunities in France and other countries too. It has been an amazing journey.

Preparing for the Next Phase

Now we are gearing up for the next phase of the journey.

We have:

• an established website

• an online administrator

• legal charitable status

• some great microchurch leaders

• wonderful resources

• and great mentors in the Underground Network and the leaders of Stonecreek Church in Urbana, Illinois

  
  

The foundations are laid, the nations are calling, and yet we remain constantly aware of the call to surrender to the One who has given us the heart for America, Europe, and beyond.

Pioneering has its moments, but truly it is a joy to see new things open up, then blossom and bloom, as it has with the Canvas Network.

Canvas Network is a collaborative network of people who are simply wanting to see their communities and cities transformed by small groups of friends who believe they can play their part.

A Growing Story Across Cities and Nations

In St. Louis, Missouri, small groups of believers are meeting as microchurches, serving amongst their friends and neighbors and making a difference.

In Champaign, Illinois, the story is the same.

In Poltava, Ukraine, Sergey Murza and his wife Natalie lead a wonderful church and are releasing people to become disciples who make disciples.

In England, through the Bristol Chaplaincy, the story continues as teams serve the poor and marginalized, uncover individuals, and help them recover their call to make disciples.

Please Pray With Us

As Canvas Network prays and strategizes its way forward, please pray that God would:

1. Keep us in a posture of surrender to Christ and His will

2. Empower us with His Spirit

3. Help us live without limitations

People Collaborating Alongside Canvas Network

Here are some of the people who collaborate alongside Canvas Network.

‘Devoted’ Microchurch – Wright City, MO, USA

Christopher & Elaina Ervin

‘Devoted’ are serving faithfully in O’Fallon and Wright City, MO, where they make disciples who are living on mission.

‘Abide @ Green Gables’ Microchurch – Wentzville, MO

Michael & Kim Schulz

‘Abide’ have served St. Louis faithfully for many years and are involved with many people, bringing the Kingdom of God wherever they go.

The Ville Neighborhood – St. Louis, MO

Larry Gray

Larry prepares food for victims of the May 2025 tornado every day. This is an iconic neighborhood that Canvas Network has served for several years.

Bristol Chaplaincy – UK

Rich & Lois Evans

The Bristol Chaplaincy are busy serving as chaplains across the city of Bristol, UK, including in the court system, the business district, and many other places throughout the city.

Bread of Life Church – Ukraine

Sergei & Natalie Murza

Serving a nation at war is incredibly difficult, but Sergei and Natalie continue to build a strong church that serves their nation as they explore and develop missional groups in their city and at the frontline.

Chyhyryn – Ukraine

Sergei & Nadia

Canvas Network loves collaborating with Sergei and Nadia as they serve their city and the surrounding region. Despite the challenges they face because of the war, they remain open to fresh ideas for how they might see the Kingdom of God become more evident in their city.

Ukraine

David & Tanya

David and Tanya are true servants to the work of God in Ukraine and are a huge encouragement to the work of Canvas Network there. We love collaborating with them.

Rostock, Germany

Daniel & Larissa Reimer

Daniel and Larissa lead a wonderful church, Christliches Zentrum, in the city of Rostock and are great collaborative partners with Canvas. We have served together through training, prayer walking, and much more.

St. Louis, MO

Jackson & Kellie Bick

Jackson and Kellie have led house churches for several years and recently launched another in St. Louis. They are creatives, and we are trusting that our collaboration will bring great fruit.

St. Louis, MO

Destin Mouser

We struggled to find a photo where Destin was not surrounded by friends and neighbors because he is a brilliant people person, a true disciple, and a blessing to Canvas. He is helping us cultivate a culture of prayer in our network.

Stonecreek Church – Urbana, IL

Pastors Ricky & Shea Spindler

We are also partnering with Pastors Ricky and Shea Spindler and Stonecreek Church as they seek to develop a decentralized network of Neighborhood Gatherings across the cities of Urbana–Champaign and central Illinois, USA. Ricky, Shea, and the church have been a major part of the reason Canvas has developed over the past few years. Respect to them for being such valiant leaders.

As you can see, Canvas Network has a lot of responsibility, and we would value your prayers as we serve and seek the way forward.

To those of you who pray for us and donate financially, we are eternally grateful and we trust that many others will join us too.

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