To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…
2 Thessalonians 1:1 NIV
To the Church
As of February 2026, Poidata.io reports there are 13,478 churches in Canada, which is one church for every 3,000 Canadians. That is a long way from the goal of Church Planting Canada, which is a living church for every 1,000 Canadians. The highest number of churches are in Ontario and Alberta – one third of them in Ontario. It is likely that there are many more churches in Canada than being reported, with many of Canada’s newest immigrants being Christians, and starting churches to reach their cultural communities.
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Like many Christians in our world today, the believers in Thessalonica were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. It wasn’t easy in a day when proclaiming Caesar as Lord was critical to a good life, to instead proclaim that Jesus alone is Lord. So, when the apostle Paul wrote his second letter to the followers of Jesus in that northern Greek city, he did so to encourage them to stand strong in Jesus. He begins by addressing the body of Christ there. 2 Thessalonians 1:1 begins, “To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…” God loves His people and knows how difficult it can be as one of His faithful followers. Jesus experienced the worst the world can throw at a person throughout His ministry, and He experienced the loneliness that comes when His friends fell asleep when He needed them in the Garden of Gethsemane. So, Jesus gives us each other in the fellowship of believers called the Church. It’s why we need to be in regular fellowship with other Christians. Being an active part of a local church is critical as we live for Jesus.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley