INNOVATE was created out of a deep desire to intentionally resource leaders and congregations across Canada, catalyzing and equipping a movement of missional discipleship across denominational and theological boundaries so that God’s Kingdom can truly be on earth as it is in heaven.
INNOVATE began as a movement within Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) to resource interested congregations on how to form disciples equipped to be a Jesus imitating, community oriented, mission presence in a post-Christendom world.
Initially resourced and lead by Catalyse Change (formerly 3DM Europe), a team of leaders who were part of this initial movement through the 2 year engagement of ReLearning Community here in Canada were intentionally equipped and trained to assume responsibility for the movement and build a uniquely Canadian expression.
Out of a desire to become more overtly non-denominational, INNOVATE has been birthed out of MCEC as a separate organization thanks to the generous financial and resource support of MCEC through their Legacy Initiatives Fund.
INNOVATE continues to form partnerships with other organizations around the globe who share a similar missional discipleship DNA. Through in person and online training, INNOVATE provides coaching and resourcing to pastoral leaders and congregations as well as marketplace leaders and entrepreneurs across Canada who are eager to explore the call to join God on mission in their context.
Our Team
Norm Dyck
INNOVATE Team Leader
Norm is committed to the belief that every neighbourhood deserves a Jesus centred, disciple-making, peace presence. He is blessed with friendships that span the globe and counts many of these relationships among ministry partners. Vocationally, Norm is employed as the Mission Minister for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, charged with oversight of denominational church planting efforts which has been largely newcomer/immigrant focussed, challenging the established church to reclaim her mission heart, engaging global mission partners, and generally agitating for change within denominational structures. Married to Rose, they live in Listowel, Ontario and together have four sons who are growing up too quickly – Malachi, Jonah, Elijah, Nehemiah.
Born to immigrant parents who grew up in the Mennonite colonies of Paraguay, Norm has always seen himself as being between cultures. Much of his childhood and now into adult life and career has been engaged in interpreting and translating cultures. Whether that was translating Canadian culture for his parents, trying to interpret Canadian culture for pastors and leaders of newcomer congregations, or simply wrestling with the massive seismological culture shifts happening within and around Canadian church culture (accelerated by Covid).
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Mollee Moua
Mollee provides administrative support to the INNOVATE team. Mollee, her husband Johnny and four boys live in Kitchener ON where she is the Event Coordinator and an Administrative at Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. She serves as the worship leader at First Hmong Mennonite Church, studies part-time in the MTS program at Conrad Grebel and in her free time enjoys reading, watching movies and writing.
Sean East
Sean has been engaged with Innovate as a learner, a leader, and a practitioner, leading a congregational team through Relearning Community and Community of Practice and participating in the training of 20+ congregations in the cohorts that followed. A trained accountant with a thirteen year career as a CFO in the manufacturing industry prior to shifting vocational call towards ministry and ordination as a pastor within the Mennonite Church. Sean loves teaching new ideas to eager learners and walking alongside leaders and congregations who seek to grow in missional discipleship so that as many as possible can experience the love of God and be invited to thrive in life changing relationship with God.
Sean, soon moving to Nithburg, whose bi-vocational employment includes co-pastoring at Listowel Mennonite Church and serving as the Financial Manager for Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. Married to Jacquie, they have four children: TJ, Daniel, Rebekah, and Emma. They are passionate about church being about more than Sunday morning gatherings, and about participating in the Kingdom coming on earth (or in Nithburg or Listowel or wherever they may be) as it is in heaven.
Craig Frere
Craig and his wife Kim live in Drayton where he is the pastor at Community Mennonite Fellowship. They have 3 young adult children, Geordi, Mairi, and Shona, who are at various stages of “leaving the nest”.
While Craig is the pastor, he and Kim serve together as a team in ministry. They enjoy making connections and building new relationships with people in the community where they live and they deeply desire to equip and inspire people in the church to do the same. Craig is a servant leader who has been through the ReLearning Community process twice with two different churches. He is excited to be a part of INNOVATE where he can walk alongside others on their discipleship journey and help them to become who God has called them to be.
Janel Hiemstra
Janel, her husband Rodney and two children, Noah and Jensyn live in Listowel ON where she is an Educational Assistant at Listowel Christian School. Janel loves to learn and teach. Janel is deeply involved in her church and surrounding community. Janel and her family strive to be a family on mission, whether it be having people over enjoying a backyard campfire or skating on the front lawn. In her "spare time" Janel loves to play baseball and challenge herself physically by participating in Triathlons and crazy hiking adventures.
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Andrew Kabbes
Andrew is married to Kim and has four wonderful children. He currently works at Wilfred Laurier as a Mathematics instructor and laboratory coordinator. He enjoys biking (especially in winter) and keeping things light.
Kevin Peters Unrau
Kevin is married to Kara and has 3 children. He currently serves as a pastor at Hillcrest Mennonite Church and enjoys akido, curling and recently video editting.