How to Pray for the Canadian National Gathering

As the Canadian National Gathering approaches, much of the focus is on preparation, participation, and the conversations that will take place in May. But underneath all of that is something quieter and just as important: prayer.

The Canadian National Gathering is a space shaped by planning and conversation, and also by a shared posture of listening for God’s leading. Prayer is one of the ways we enter into that posture together, whether we are attending in person or participating from our local communities.

So how can we be praying in this season?

Pray for a posture of listening

At its heart, the Canadian National Gathering is about discernment. It is about noticing where God is already at work and paying attention to what is being stirred within the church.

Pray that participants would come with open hands rather than fixed agendas. That there would be a willingness to listen deeply to Scripture, to the Spirit, and to one another.

Pray for humility, attentiveness, and a shared desire not just to speak, but to understand.

Pray for the six streams

The six streams—Leadership Ecosystem, Conflict Navigation, Faith Formation for Children and Youth, Discipleship Pathways, Community Outreach, and Building Authentic Community—each hold areas of both hope and complexity within the church.

Pray for the conversations that will take place within each stream. Pray for honesty about challenges, wisdom in navigating tension, and imagination for what could be.

Pray that these spaces would be marked by grace and truth, where people feel free to share openly and to learn from one another.

Pray for those who are leading

Stream leaders, facilitators, and planners have been preparing for months, shaping spaces where meaningful conversation and discernment can take place.

Pray for clarity and wisdom as they continue to lead. Pray for energy and endurance in the final weeks of preparation. Pray that they would be attentive to the Spirit in both the planning and the gathering itself.

Pray for the details we don’t always see

There are many logistical pieces that make a gathering like this possible—travel, schedules, coordination, and countless behind-the-scenes decisions.

Pray for these details to come together smoothly. Pray for flexibility when things don’t go as planned. Pray for a spirit of patience and grace in all the small interactions that shape the experience.

Pray for the conversations themselves

Not every conversation will be easy. Some will touch on areas of tension, uncertainty, or even disagreement.

Pray that even in those moments, there would be a deep sense of unity in Christ. Pray that conflict, where it arises, would be navigated with care and would lead to deeper understanding rather than division.

Pray for courage to speak honestly and for gentleness in how we hold one another’s perspectives.

Pray beyond the gathering

The Canadian National Gathering is not an endpoint. It is part of an ongoing journey.

Pray for what comes after. Pray for the ways participants will carry what they’ve heard back into their churches and classes. Pray that the conversations will continue, that insights will take root, and that the broader church will be shaped in meaningful ways.

Pray that the impact of the gathering would extend far beyond those in the room.

As May draws closer, prayer is a way for all of us to participate. Whether or not you are attending, you are part of this shared discernment.

Wherever you are, take time to pause and pray. Ask God to guide the Canadian National Gathering, to shape the conversations, and to lead the church in Canada with wisdom and grace.

From foundation to future, we trust that God is already at work—and we join in that work through prayer.