2025-2026
Annual Report
B A P T I S T C H U R C H
W e s t M e a d o w s
Pastor Mark Dixon
Lead Pastor
As I reflect on this past ministry year at West Meadows, I find myself filled with gratitude—not only for what God has done among us, but for the growing clarity of who He is calling us to become.
Over the past decade, much of our focus has involved faithfully stewarding and improving the facilities God entrusted to us. From major renovations and improvements to ongoing maintenance and development planning, these projects required significant prayer, generosity, leadership, and perseverance from our church family. This year marked another major milestone as we completed the flat roof replacement and fully funded the upcoming sanctuary roof replacement without compromising our ministry priorities. We are deeply thankful for God’s provision through your faithfulness.
Yet while these projects have been important, it has become increasingly clear to me that God is now leading us into a new season—one with an even greater emphasis on ministry development, spiritual formation, and preparing for the future He is unfolding before us.
Personally, this reality was reinforced during my sabbatical earlier this year. My time traveling through Europe and visiting biblical sites gave me the opportunity to slow down, reflect deeply, and reconnect with an important truth: our calling is not simply to “do” for Jesus, but first to “be” with Jesus. Like many pastors and leaders, I naturally gravitate toward activity, vision, and responsibility. But throughout this season, the Lord reminded me again that fruitful ministry always flows out of abiding in Him. I returned encouraged, refreshed, and even more convinced that our greatest priority as a church must always be spiritual health and faithful discipleship.
And praise God—we are seeing exactly that happen among us.
Yes, our congregation has continued to grow numerically again this year, but even more encouraging has been the evidence of spiritual growth throughout our church family. We celebrated more baptisms than any previous year, increased participation in discipleship and LifeGroups, saw expanded volunteer and leadership involvement, as well as our church’s continued generosity through their time, giftings and finances. These are not merely statistics; they are visible signs that people are taking deeper steps of faith in Jesus Christ and experiencing genuine transformation—they are experiencing New Life!
At the same time, growth always brings new opportunities and new challenges. As our congregation grows and our campus development vision moves closer to becoming reality, we recognize that it would be easy for change to begin shaping us rather than us intentionally shaping change. Because of this, one of our major themes was reaffirming the God-given DNA of West Meadows through launching our “This Is Us” initiative. I believe this has helped clarify and strengthen the values, culture, and mission that have defined our church for many years. It serves both as a reassurance to those who already call West Meadows home and is a loving invitation for new people to understand who we are and what we believe God is calling us to become together.
Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about. Our development vision is becoming increasingly tangible. New ministry staff and leadership support are joining us. Our youth ministry is entering a promising new season. Our continued investment into the Lewis Farms community is producing meaningful spiritual and relational fruit. And most importantly, I believe God is preparing us not simply to become a larger church, but a deeper, healthier, and more impactful church.
Nadine and I continue to count it a tremendous privilege to serve alongside you. Thank you for your faithfulness, your generosity, your prayers, and your commitment to Christ and His church. The best days of ministry at West Meadows are not behind us. By God’s grace, I truly believe there is still much more ahead for us all.
Blessings,
Rev. Mark Dixon
What we’ve Learned
Summer on the Mount
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Caution & Calling: The Seven Churches of Revelation
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Everyday Wisdom
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O Little Town of Bethlehem
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From The Inside Out
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From Promise to Passion
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Pastor 411
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This Is Us
Dream it
Summer on the Mount | Caution & Calling: The Seven Churches of Revelation | Everyday Wisdom | O Little Town of Bethlehem | From The Inside Out | From Promise to Passion | Pastor 411 | This Is Us Dream it
This series explored Jesus' teachings on Kingdom Living, calling us to a deeper righteousness that transforms our heart and actions. Each week unpacked a key theme from the Sermon on the Mount, concluding a challenge to not just hear Jesus' words but to build our lives upon them.
Jesus’ message was written to seven churches in Asia Minor 2000 years ago, but His revelation is for all churches across the ages.
The book of Proverbs is filled with Godly wisdom for the everyday decisions in life. We sought to reflect upon and apply God’s wise words regarding our work, words, walk and wealth.
During the Advent season, we reflected on Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and discovered how God delights in using all who surrender to Him, no matter how great or small they may appear.
Jesus organized His life around intentional circles of relationships — with the Father, a few close friends, a committed community, the gathered church, and the crowds He came to invite into his kingdom. When we follow Jesus’ pattern, we grow stronger in God, healthier with others, and more effective in reaching the world.
From the garden to the grave, we see a God who prepares the Way, provides for our needs, and ultimately becomes the Saviour who forgives and heals. This series was an invitation to fix our eyes on the One who was promised, pierced, and whom we praise!
Pastor 411 is where we answer your questions – questions about life, the Bible, relationships, and social issues. We’ve explored questions like, “how can I find purpose in life?” and “how can there be an absolute truth?”.
As our church continues to grow, we took time to clearly define the God-given DNA that has shaped who we are and made us a blessing to many. These are not new ideas, but proven strengths – values God has used to build our church and will use to lead us into what’s next. Together, as we align around them, we step into the future with unity, purpose, and a renewed passion to impact our church and our community.
Your Board
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Michael Shepansky
This was my first year serving as Board Chair, and as I reflect on this ministry year, Psalm 107:1 comes to mind:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
It has been exciting to witness God’s continued blessing and direction for our church. I feel truly privileged to serve alongside a board that is committed to seeking God’s voice in every decision. Each board member faithfully brings their unique skills and talents, serving with the highest level of integrity and joy. Their passion is evident not only in board discussions but also in the way they lead and contribute within the committees they serve. I am deeply thankful for the unity we share, as well as for the transparency and vision that Pastor Mark brings to each meeting. Our church is truly blessed to have such an outstanding team of pastors and staff.
At the beginning of each ministry year, the board gathers to prayerfully plan for the year ahead. This year, we anticipated continued growth within our church and recognized the likely need to expand our pastoral team by adding a Pastor of Youth and Young Adults. A pastoral search committee was established, and they did an exceptional job identifying a candidate whom they believe will be a strong fit to lead this area of ministry. This is a significant answer to prayer and will create additional capacity for our pastors to further focus on their respective areas of ministry.
We also had the opportunity to support the pastoral team in identifying and defining our core values as a church; articulating what makes our church such a special place. This work led to the development of the DNA statements that Pastor Mark shared during our services in May. It has been inspiring to see these statements come to life and how clearly they reflect who we are as a church community.
In addition, we continued our journey in relation to campus development. The Campus Committee invested many hours working alongside consultants to develop a vision for the future and to test the feasibility of various potential plans. It was especially encouraging to see the level of engagement from our congregation throughout this process. Hearing God’s voice through His people is powerful and serves as a reminder of what makes our church such a special community.
It has also been humbling to witness the faithful stewardship of our congregation, which has allowed us to complete a number of important, and in some cases urgent, capital projects. These included much needed roof repairs, continued updates to the interior of the church, and enhancements to the audio and video components of our services.
Thank you for the honour and privilege of serving as your Board Chair. As I look ahead to the coming year, I am excited to see what God has in store for us. We will continue moving forward in our campus development journey, and continued growth will undoubtedly bring both new opportunities and challenges.
Thank you for your consistent prayers and faithful stewardship. I would ask that you continue to pray for the board; that God would give us clear direction, strength, and unity in the year ahead. Please also pray for the new members who will be joining the board, as well as for a special blessing on those who are completing their terms. They have served faithfully, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions.
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Cathy Jensen
This year I had the opportunity to take Christina Zasiedko’s place as Chair of the Nominations Committee for the last few months of this ministry year. Christina moved over to the Pastoral Search Committee and had done most of the foot work. Working with a terrific committee depending upon God’s guidance through prayer and discussion, we have two candidates who have demonstrated strong servant hearts and leadership skills to be part of the Board.
West Meadows has been blessed by God with beautiful people who are the building blocks of our welcoming loving community and the backbone of our growing Church is effective Church leadership of the Board Elders who serve.
Please keep our present and future members of the Board in your prayers.
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Matt Boily
The Governance Committee had another productive year focused on strengthening and maintaining the Board's governance framework through the review and updating of several key policies and board resources. This year, the committee completed updates to the Board Policy Manual, the Church Board Code of Ethical Conduct and Covenant, Board Evaluation Forms, the Record Retention Policy, and the Long-Term Facility Rental Policy. These updates help ensure that our governance practices remain current, effective, and aligned with the mission and values of the church.
I am very grateful for the thoughtful contributions and dedication of the committee members throughout the year. Their insight, collaboration, and commitment were invaluable in supporting this important work.
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Peter Doell
The Campus committee has worked through another busy year, bringing us to a Mount Nebo experience of looking over to the promised land. Where will God be leading us next as we work with our consultants, City of Edmonton staff and other leaders and seek a partnership for development that aligns with our vision and values?
Beginning in January, we initiated a Campus Blog and have since issued six updates. Some of our team members travelled to the Vancouver area to meet with other churches and organizations that have already journeyed down the road of meeting housing needs for their communities.
Please pray for discernment and wisdom for our team as we move into the next steps on our Campus Development journey.
Our Ministries
WM Kids
We have 2 large group sessions each week...one for grades 1-3 & one for grades 4-6! We have 3 set times a year that WM Kids connect with their Senior Friends...Christmas, Valentines, & at the Summer Tea Party! We have 5 elementary students who got baptized this year! We have 11 distinct Sunday School classes ranging from Nursery to Grade 6! We have 94 Disciple-makers! We praise the Lord for our volunteers!
We’re grateful for God’s continued blessing and the opportunity to help children Know, Grow, and Show His love. Our dedicated volunteers are being purposefully equipped as disciple-makers, committed to caring for the hearts and souls of the next generation—children who are learning to Fully Rely On God!
WM Youth
WM Youth lived out our Gather, Grow, Go vision in full. Students gathered weekly for classic youth group staples like Nerf Wars and Sumo & Sushi, alongside brand new experiences like Calamari Contest, Barthalomoo's Christmas, and Lock In. As they built community together, they also pursued intentional growth — journeying with Jesus through Camp Caroline retreats, Agape Youth Band Worship & Testimony Nights, Summer Campout, the GEM Missions Conference, Bible Quiz Team events, focus groups like Life Hurts. Love Heals., and Binge Jesus & Binge Bible Studies. And they didn't keep it to themselves — our teens went out as the hands and feet of Jesus, serving every generation right here in Edmonton through Courage Castle VBS, the Carnival and Eggstravaganza community events, childcare at the Kids Christmas Banquet and Parents Night Out, and hosting seniors at the Crokinole Tournament — then ventured all the way to California for The Gathering and to help restore the Jean Carter Nature Center.
Community Engagement
This year, we again had the privilege of connecting with our neighbourhood through several beloved events. Our Canada Day Pancake Breakfast welcomed over 500 people into our building for pancakes piled high with toppings. At our annual Gingerbread Night, around 500 guests gathered around tables to create their festive masterpieces. And our Eggstravaganza drew over 3,000 people through our doors — a mix of new and returning faces coming together for this much-loved community celebration.
Retirement Resident Services
Our ministry to retirement residences has continued to bring hope and connection to seniors in our community. At Shasta Care Community, we've held consistent weekly services throughout the entire ministry season, averaging around 25 residents each week. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with regular expressions of gratitude from residents who are grateful to have church brought to them — and we count it a privilege to be present with them in this season of life.
Local Outreach
Our local outreach efforts have continued to grow in impact and reach across every area of ministry.
Foodbank Ministry & Second Stories Our Foodbank Ministry saw continued growth this year, adding over 10 new volunteers to help serve more than 11,000 clients from our community. Alongside food support, thousands of families in need received free clothing through our on-site store, Second Stories.
Benevolence & Moving Team Our benevolence program supported over 55 households with emergency, day-to-day needs throughout the year, and our moving team provided free moving services to more than 5 families — practical expressions of care at some of life's most stressful moments.
English Language Learners Our English Language Learners program saw wonderful engagement this year, with 15–20 participants at each session. We were also able to host an Alpha for English Learners, where every participant had the opportunity to hear and explore the gospel — a meaningful milestone for this ministry.
Grow West Gardens Our Grow West Gardens continued to thrive, with all 12 plots in full use throughout the summer. Some new gardeners joined the mix this year, adding fresh energy to an already vibrant community that keeps growing season after season.
The Discipleship Pathway
This ministry year saw a full Pathway from start to finish, with strong participation at every stage. Alpha ran in the fall and moved online, making it accessible even through the harder winter months. The Bible course drew over 40 registrations for the second year in a row — an encouraging sign of continued hunger for biblical literacy. Foundations followed with a great group, and this year we also offered two Spiritual Formation courses for those further along the Pathway: Practicing the Way, with 22 registrants, and How to Make Space for Jesus, which drew 40. Across every course, participants have continued to take meaningful next steps in their faith — including one attendee who felt called to step into co-leadership of one of the Pathway courses themselves.
Our Wednesday Night Bible Studies for men and women continued throughout the year, with over 50 people engaged in a range of Bible and topical studies across both groups.
Our Discover classes maintained a consistent quarterly rhythm — and then some — as we continued processing people through the step of baptism. Since our last AGM, we have celebrated 31 baptisms and welcomed 24 new members into West Meadows.
Life Groups have remained steady throughout the year, with 3 new groups added. Plans are already in place to launch 4 more in the coming months, and we're hopeful that some groups that have paused recently will be reinvigorated for a fall relaunch.
Men’s ministry
Men’s Ministry took some meaningful steps forward this year. One of the most significant developments was the formation of a Men's Ministry leadership team — a foundational move that creates a framework for what's ahead. We also took our first group of four men to the ABA Men's Retreat, where deeper community and meaningful conversations marked the experience. Our Men's Breakfasts continued to be a place of connection and growth, with Pastor Mark leading discussions around leadership and what it means to live as men in the world today. With a new leadership structure in place and growing momentum, Men's Ministry is well-positioned for the season ahead.
Women’s Ministry
WM Women continued to be equipped and mobilized to influence their world as godly women. Equipping happened through Wednesday Night Bible Studies and Momtors Connect, while women gathered in prayer through the Grandma & Gals Prayer Group and the Secret Sister ministry. Major events gave women the opportunity to mobilize and invite their circles of influence — from the Peace-themed Spring Tea and Summer Salad Soiree to Autumn's Puzzle Battle and the Winter Calm Before the Storm evening. The Retro Rewind event added another layer of fun and connection, creating space for women to play, laugh, and lighten the load together. Led by a dedicated and joyful team, Women's Ministry continues to be a place where encouragement, prayer, and community thrive — and there is plenty of excitement for what the year ahead holds.
Missions
WM Missions had another active year of engagement both locally and around the world. We currently support 18 missionaries and 9 missions organizations, staying regularly connected through prayer and conversation. The congregation was kept engaged through the annual GEM Missions Conference, our Missions Book Club, and White Cross Workdays — each creating touchpoints with the global work God is doing through our partners.
Two short-term missions teams headed out this summer. Twelve students and leaders travelled to California for a conference and serve project, helping to revitalize a nature centre. A second team journeyed to Hungary to partner with our West Meadows missionaries and help lead a weeklong day camp for Roma children — a deeply meaningful experience for everyone involved.
And there is more ahead. We are in the process of adding two full-time missionaries to our support list, and preparations are well underway for our next short-term trip — this time to Brazil. We are constantly reminded of the great honour it is to bear witness to God's presence and to learn of all the ways He is at work locally and in every corner of the world represented by our incredible international workers.
CONNECT EVENTs
It was a fruitful year for Connect Events, with groups across our church finding meaningful ways to gather, serve, and grow together. Our Young Adults had a full year of connection — Sunday Connect Lunches and Oilers watch parties continued to be a reliable heartbeat for the group, while a fall Bible Study on The Call of God, a fun thrifting event during a Sunday service, and an Easter Dinner that reportedly required fifteen pounds of potatoes rounded out a memorable year. Our GenX community came together for a creative escape room event held right here at the church and a well-attended Oktoberfest celebration. Our Seniors enjoyed two wonderful bus trips — a visit to the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin and a trip to the Telus World of Science — and Monthly Seniors Lunches saw a notable increase in attendance following a format change that invited members to share testimonies of God's work in their lives. The Compassionate Crafters continued their faithful work, producing a generous number of donated items while deepening the relationships that make that group so special.
Each of these groups reflects something we deeply value: that genuine community is built in the ordinary moments we share together. We look forward to seeing these ministries continue to grow in the year ahead.
Sports Ministry
Our Sports Ministry continued to grow as a place where faith and community intersect through shared activity. Basketball had a strong year, with an average of 10 community members joining our core group on a regular basis — and plenty of nights where the gym held 15 or more. Ball Hockey ran from September through April, drawing as many as 25 guys out to play, with each game anchored by a half-time devotional from one of the leadership team. Pickleball has grown in both interest and frequency, now running twice a week and welcoming over 10 new participants this ministry season. Slo-pitch expanded to three West Meadows teams once again, with around 45–50 people participating weekly — and the relationships being built game by game were just as exciting as the games themselves. Two of those new players joined simply because they spotted us playing while watching their own kids in a nearby soccer game — a natural and beautiful picture of outreach through sport.
Worship Arts
This has been a remarkable year for Worship Arts, and we are grateful for all that God has done in and through this ministry.
A significant milestone was reached with the completion of our new sanctuary sound system — a meaningful investment in the long-term future of our church. Throughout the year, we also gathered for church-wide worship and prayer nights that proved to be an encouraging and unifying time for our congregation.
Our special services this year were a particular highlight. Christmas Eve welcomed 655 people despite considerable snowfall, Good Friday drew nearly 500 for a rich and reflective evening centred on the sacrifice of Christ, and Easter Sunday saw the highest attendance in recent history with 884 people gathered to celebrate the resurrection of our Saviour. Each of these services was a meaningful reminder of why we do what we do.
We were also encouraged to see our volunteer team continue to grow. Notably, three members of our youth worship band took on leadership roles at both special and regular Sunday services this year — a development we consider one of the most exciting signs of health and growth within this ministry.
To every volunteer who gave of their time and talent this year — thank you. Your faithfulness makes it possible for people to encounter God through worship, and we are deeply grateful for each one of you.
Online Ministry
Our online ministry continued to welcome more people into the West Meadows community this year, averaging around 106 viewers per service. More than a broadcast, our live stream serves as a genuine front door for people exploring our church — and time and again we hear from those now attending in person that they first found us online. It remains one of the most natural and low-barrier ways for someone to take a first step toward West Meadows, and we're grateful for every person it reaches, including those who are unable to join us in person.
Guest Services
We welcomed newcomers almost every Sunday this year, giving out 120 welcome gifts to new faces at West Meadows — and serving over 300 pounds of coffee to everyone who walked through our doors. More than 15 new volunteers joined our Guest Services teams over the course of the year, creating space for people to learn new roles, serve in fresh capacities, and deepen the culture of welcome that makes West Meadows feel like home. We also invested in our team through a dedicated Guest Services team night, pouring into the people who pour into others every single week.
Facility Improvements
Rentals
Our facility is one of the most tangible ways we serve our community — and our rentals ministry ensures it is active, welcoming, and available well beyond Sunday mornings. From weddings and graduation celebrations to school performances and private events, opening our doors to the broader neighbourhood is both a practical expression of hospitality and a meaningful extension of our mission. Every group that walks through our doors is an opportunity to build goodwill, foster relationship, and be the kind of presence in West Edmonton that people are glad to have nearby. As we continue to steward this building well, we remain committed to maximizing its use in ways that serve our community and reflect the values of West Meadows.
4 weddings
13 School performances
13 private events
Finances
July 1, 2025 to May 30, 2026 (June Projected)
$1,521,500
Income
• General Fund: $1,025,000
• Benevolent Fund: $34,000
• Govt. Revenue: $9,800
• Investment Interest: $2,500
•Facility Revenue: $376,000
• Rental Revenue: $40,000
• Church Ministries: $35,000
$1,342,100
Expenses
• Admin: $41,750
• Ministry: $155,000
• Missions: $75,000
• Facility: $515,350
•Personnel: $555,000
Noteworthy Items
Total Number of Donors: 442
First time Donors: 132
Benevolent Assistance: $34,000
Property Assessment Value: $8,832,500
City of Edm. Taxable Property: 4.65%
$73,281.76 in GIC investments since March 2023
invested $200,000 for the roof repairs in a 3-month GIC and earned $1,085.21 in interest.
2025-2026
Annual Report