Journey Church’s Roots

If you’re new to Journey Church, you may be wondering where Journey has come from. It’s a common question, and a good one. Many people find it helpful in getting to know a church to learn the background and context that has shaped that church. If you’re one of those people, read on! Any further questions can be directed to .

Journey Church has launched from a network of churches and organizations in Calgary and across Canada that were interested in starting a new church in a new area of Calgary. This network is made up of people and groups who come from a background known as the Restoration Movement. This movement is less of a denomination than it is a network of groups that – while independent from each other – are connected by a common background and common basic ideologies. Churches associated with the Restoration Movement are often called “Churches of Christ” or “Christian Churches”.

In the early 19th century, some leaders in major religious denominations started to unite in their desire for renewal in churches of all kinds. They wanted to see churches unite in following the Bible rather than the creeds and traditions that dominated various denominations at the time. They longed for a biblical faith, unhindered by the distractions and unnecessary burdens of man-made traditions and built upon Jesus’ example. This simple but powerful approach resonated with many people and a new movement began to spread in influence and numbers.

Tragically, in spite of the intentions of its founders, the Restoration Movement has not had an overly peaceful history since those early days. There have been numerous schisms and splits over the last century, in many cases causing hurt and resentment. Recently, however, it has been exciting to see some moves towards regaining the spirit of unity so evident in the Movement’s early years. Journey Church is a living example of these efforts toward unity and reconciliation. We are thankful at Journey for the heritage we have been birthed out of, especially the dynamic and evolving nature of a movement with freedom to pursue what it means to be the church that represents Jesus to the world.