Oct 2023

Artizo is expanding. We welcome St. Peter’s Fireside, St. John’s Richmond and King’s Cross as our new Artizo Institute training churches. This expansion is vital to our mandate to train and equip people for the ministry of God’s word across the country. They allow us to expand the number of interns we can train at one time, and help us in growing other training bases to widen our scope. This is an exciting time for Artizo.

Sept 2023

When I started with the Artizo Institute five years ago, I was given a mandate to refresh and renew our curriculum and training methods. We wanted to reinvigorate our ministry and ready ourselves for another twenty years of successful training. To use a building metaphor, this was the work of firming up the foundation that we were building on, and clarifying the blueprints we were working from – making sure our training methods were top notch and our training outcomes were gospel-driven leaders…

June 2023

Director of Training Update
We’ve had a fantastic year of training at Artizo, which is just beginning to wrap up as we approach the summer holidays.
Over the spring term…
From April 17-19th…
On May 2nd…
May 14th…
On Jun 11th…
On Jun 25th…

December 2022

MEET THE 2022 APPRENTICES

Will Gray…

Meet Richard Sandlin…

Meet Ryan Spear…

Meet Fiona Lee…

Meet AndrewHochholter…

Meet Jacob Vandliver…

Curriculum progress

CURRICULUM PROGRESS

The vision of Artizo is “to fill Canada with the sound of God’s word”, and our strategy for accomplishing this is to train gifted young men and women for gospel ministry. But after twenty years of training, it became clear that our program needed to be refreshed and refocused. In particular, our curriculum needed to be developed into a more robust tool that could be more effectively and widely used for training in other churches and ministry contexts.

October 2021

MEET THE 2021 NEW APPRENTICES

FIONA LEE

My name is Fiona Lee. I was born in Canada and raised in Hong Kong. My major is Traditional Chinese Medicine focusing on Herbal study. I researched in related areas for three years after I graduated from the university. Prior to this, I went on several mission trips, to China, Cambodia and Athens, which influenced me a lot concerning the understanding of the gospel and ministries.

September 2021

September 2021 – UPDATE

Dear Friends of Artizo,

“Be present, O merciful God, and protect us… so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may rest in your eternal changelessness.”

With the world swirling about us, we can find great solace in the constancy of God. During COVID, Michael and I have so thoroughly enjoyed Morning Prayer and Compline online a few times a week.

June 2021 Update from the Director of Training

June 2021 – UPDATE

Dear Friends,

This May marks my third full year as the director of training for the Artizo Institute, and the move to refresh and refocus our training program. We’ve pursued this by consolidating our training within St. John’s Vancouver while developing and strengthening our curriculum. After three fantastic years of growth, learning, and experimentation, it’s time to actually articulate what we’ve developed with an eye towards the future growth and sustainability of our program.

Daily Office – Morning Prayer & Compline

Daily Office – Morning Prayer & Compline

The daily office is part of our Anglican DNA. Simply put, it’s corporate prayer and Scripture twice a day. But more deeply, it represents the Anglican vision of Christian formation. In 1549 the first draft of our prayer book was prepared by Thomas Cranmer. He took the voluminous and complicated latin system of spirituality and simplified it for wider use. Critically, the monastic pattern of prayer eight times a day (!),

Preaching from the Bible – Getting It Right

Preaching from the Bible – Getting it right

The work of preaching and teaching God’s word is a listening work before it is a speaking work. In the book of Isaiah, the Servant of the Lord gives us a window into the heart of his ministry:

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.

Video – An Inside Look at Artizo: Running the Race

Willie Shain-Ross is training for a lifetime in pastoral ministry. Interested in the challenge of week-to-week ministry, he took on the task of delivering the daily office each Friday. It has all the elements of rigorous ministry: pastoral care, Bible study, a homily, and the daily office itself.

Video – May 2021 Graduation

Willie Shain-Ross and Tom Douce Graduate!

From Artizo’s Director of Training:

I am grateful to God and very excited to announce two more graduates from the Artizo training program this year: Tom Douce and Willie Shain-Ross.

And yet, I have to acknowledge that their graduation is bittersweet. The aim of Artizo is to help our apprentices grow in conviction, competence, and character through training and applied Gospel ministry in the church.

Video – Mega Church Planter

Artizo alum Rev. Ger Jones planted the Vintage Church in 2011. The Vintage Church now has four locations and serves over 1,500 parishioners. Ger had been a practicing lawyer in the UK for 10 years before obtaining his M.Div. Degree at Regent College. Ger and his wife Lizzie, and three children Amy, Naomi and Sam, live in Santa Clara, CA.

Read about how Ger Jones planted the Vintage Church here…

Video – Great Training for Lay Leaders

Kimberley Graham talks about how Artizo gives lay leaders time and space to practice under experienced leaders.

Video – Three Connections Artizo Provides

Rev. Allan Tan: I had a sense of a call to pastoral ministry many, many years ago. But it was not clear to me how I was going to go from a sense of call to actually being ready and equipped to go. Artizo gave me a path and a concrete plan. As I went into Artizo, I realized how many relationships were being built among churches. My favourite part was a sense of belonging.

Video – An Inside Look at Artizo: Preparing a Sermon

Joel Strecker re-enacts the training experience of how Artizo interns receive training in preaching. We follow Joel as he prepares a sermon, wrestling with the passage, presents it to the Artizo group, receives criticism and direction, and close with him formally preaching the sermon.

RELATED ARTICLE

Preaching from the Bible – Getting it Right. “The work of preaching and teaching God’s word is a listening work before it is a speaking work.

Video – Artizo 100

During the last 20 years, 100 Artizo apprentices have graduated from the training program. This is a significant milestone for which we give much thanks. We estimate that our more than 100 Artizo graduates are now regularly preaching and teaching to over 10,000 people across North America, and themselves helping train others to follow in their path. But it’s not just about Artizo training apprentices. Congregations thrive when they are involved in the work themselves – helping to train new leaders to pass on the gospel to future generations.

Meet the New Artizo Apprentices

MEET THE 2020 NEW APPRENTICES

VIVIAN LEE

Hello there! My name is Vivian Lee. I was born and raised on the Prairies in Calgary, Alberta. I love reading, painting, and marvelling at mountains – especially the ones you can hike up! 🙂

Over a year ago, I left my job as a lawyer, moved to Vancouver and began my studies at Regent College. I wanted to grow in my faith and love of God,

Updates from the Director of Training

November 2020 – UPDATES

We’ve had a fantastic year of training and growth despite the challenges and disruptions of COVID-19. So far, we’ve been able to meet together in-person every week (with appropriate physical distancing measures) which has been invaluable for our cohesion as a cohort and ease of feedback and training exercises.

From a curriculum standpoint, our main focus this Fall has been in-depth work on “Preparing to Preach or Teach” ,

Artizo Residency – Going Deeper

Artizo Residency – Going Deeper

Artizo is committed to church growth. The Artizo Institute Residency Program equips Artizo graduates in a supportive environment at a participating church. ‘Growth’, in this context, is threefold: growth of the graduate as they hone their abilities in leadership, growth of the church in their scriptural role of supporting and encouraging the graduate, and growth of the church in Canada as increasing numbers of well-trained, capable pastors proclaim God’s word.

Video – Divine Multiplication

Rev. Sean Love talks about the power of Divine multiplication. For the past 20 years, Artizo has been equipping ministers to proclaim the Gospel with comprehension and quality. The curriculum falls under three categories: Character – embodying the character of Jesus Christ, Conviction – the Gospel conviction, and Competency – we give apprentices the competency of preaching scripture, leading small groups, leading in children’s ministry and leading youth. The apprentices sit under experienced ministers as ‘models’ in actual congregations.

Video – Artizo Mentorship

Deacon Marion Karasiuk at ANiC church plant Christ The King Church in Toronto.

Video – “I grew up with Artizo”

Rev. Chris Ley talks about his Artizo experience.

Video – June Graduation

Artizo 2020 June Graduates Katy Der and Andrew Buchanan.

Evangelism in Japan – Andrew Buchanan

MINISTRY IN JAPAN

Insight from Andrew Buchanan, Artizo Graduate

There is great potential for the Gospel to take root in Japan, even as there are also great obstacles. The Japanese are a refined society with a strong national identity. Being a collectivist culture, it is difficult to step out of line. While the Japanese will often express interest in foreign ideas, there is little inclination to adopt them as their own. The challenge is to present the Gospel as a global phenomenon.

Artizo Adapts

ARTIZO ADAPTS

With the pandemic changing seemingly every aspect of our lives as we search for a “new normal”, how is Artizo affected? We asked four Artizo interns how their ministry has changed over the past year, what gains or losses there have been as a result of changes in ministry formats, and how this experience shapes how they think about ministry in the future. The answers are both encouraging and discouraging.

FROM ANDREW BUCHANAN

One of the great things about God is that He’s sovereign over everything.

Trinity Anglican Church Plant

“OUR CHURCH LAUNCHED ON EPIPHANY OF 2019 WITH 175 ADULTS AND 80 CHILDREN

Artizo profile: Rev. Tripp Prince
Years at Artizo: 2008-2010
Status: Pastor, Trinity Anglican Church (Northside), Brookhaven, GA

REV. TRIPP PRINCE

“There’s an old Greek proverb that says, ‘A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never enjoy.’ I think of this saying when I think of those who choose to invest in Artizo.

Ben Robert’s Updates

In our training, we continue to train for growth in conviction, character, and competency. Over the last month, the competency we’ve focused on is our apprentices’ rhetorical skills. Practically, this means giving them weekly communication challenges to do in front of our group, speaking both with prepared materials and off-the-cuff. It may sound silly to have someone stand up and speak for two minutes on, “The pineapple: king of fruits”, but it quickly and effectively builds comfort with speaking to a group by helping them face a fear that controls a lot of new preachers: “What would happen if I looked totally ridiculous in front of a group of people?”

Video – Empowered Canadians

Artizo pastors and church planters Rev. Josh Wilton, Rev. Jonathan Ellis, and Anna Spray share their stories.

In Memory of Harold (Merv) Hanson

September 16, 1937 – September 17, 2019

Merv Hanson, a long-time Director of The Artizo Institute, supported Artizo’s vision whole-heartedly and faithfully. Merv was an amazing mentor to Artizo’s young apprentices and believed strongly in supporting their apprenticeships at St. John’s Vancouver and other ANIC Churches. We will miss Merv’s infectious and constant sense of humour, his unfailing dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ and his strong vision for the future of Artizo.

Trainer Susan Norman – On prayer

ARE YOU A PERSON OF PRAYER?

Recently, I attended a small church where I knew very few people. As the service ended, I turned to introduce myself to a woman with whom I had just passed the peace. I expected to engage in one of the usual conversation topics among strangers. Instead she looked me straight in the eye and said, “Are you a woman of prayer?” I didn’t know what to say. I do take prayer seriously.

Message from the Chair

Dear Artizo family,

If you are like me, since the beginning of COVID-19 you’ve heard from almost every organization, business and individual you have ever had contact with. Everyone seemed to want to tell me how they were managing COVID-19. While this note from Artizo may seem a little late, I hope it won’t get lost in the fray of COVID-19 oversharing. But more importantly, I hope this message finds you healthy, safe and well.

Vintage Church: 1 + 8 = 1,500

“WE’RE NOW 1,500 PEOPLE ON SUNDAYS, WITH FOUR CAMPUSES ACROSS LOS ANGELES – JUST EIGHT YEARS AFTER THAT FIRST EASTER SUNDAY

Artizo profile: Rev. Ger Jones
Years at Artizo: 2004-2006
Status: Rector, Vintage Church, Santa Monica, CA

REV. GER JONES

I attended Regent College with the aim of doing general pastoral ministry. Part of the discernment process at St. John’s Vancouver (where I was an Artizo intern) led me to be ordained into the Anglican Church.

5TH GENERATION

THE NEW TESTAMENT IMPERATIVE

Artizo profile: Canon David Short
Executive Director, The Artizo Institute

Near the end of the New Testament era the Apostles wrote to local churches shaping them as incubators and greenhouses for growing Christian believers in all kinds of ministry. The foundation for the flourishing of spiritual gifts and growth into the image of Christ is the gospel, taught by those who are set aside for the ministry of the word.

St. John’s Richmond – Artizo church plant #1

“I WAS TRAINED HOW TO EXEGETE SCRIPTURE, TO BE CONFIDENT IN IT, TO TEACH IT, PREACH IT, APPLY IT, PASTORALLY CARE WITH IT, LEAD A CHURCH WITH IT, PRIORITIZE IT, AND TRAIN OTHERS TO TEACH IT ALSO.

In our 21st year, Artizo celebrates the graduation of our 100th apprentice. In this new series of articles, we feature Artizo alumni and their stories in successfully leading new churches

Artizo profile: Rev. Sean Love
Years at Artizo: 2001-2003
Status: Rector,

The Training Church

IF A CHURCH IS NOT A TRAINING CHURCH, IT IS A DYING CHURCH. IF WE DO NOT EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION TO CONTINUE IN GOSPEL MINISTRY, THEN THE MESSAGE DIES WITH US.

An Artizo apprentice receives training and mentorship from Artizo Trainers as well as from the rector of the training church. In this article, Rev. Ben Roberts, Rev. Sean Love and Artizo Chair Lesley Bentley speak about six different aspects of a training church.

Artizo Hires New Director of Training

Dear Friends of Artizo,

I would like to share with you some exciting news, The Artizo Institute and St. John’s Vancouver wish to announce the appointment of a new Director of Training, Ben Roberts.  This comes after extensive review, consultation and prayer and it represents a strategic fresh start for the Artizo programme.  Ben will be working under the guidance of St. John’s Vancouver and will be responsible for Training Artizo Interns.   Ben begins in his new position August 6th.

Gifts suited to formal ordained ministry

When I first entered the Artizo program, I had three primary goals in mind: to gain experience in preaching, to become more familiar with the duties and dynamics of Church ministry, and to discern
whether entry into the Anglican clergy would be an appropriate response to God’s call over my life.
After a year and a half in Artizo, I can, praise God, look back and see that those goals have in large measure borne fruit.

Bailey Carrick – Speaking the Gospel

During my internship at Artizo, I have had the chance to preach both in St. John’s where I am an apprentice, as well as in other churches. This experience has been one where I have seen growth, not only in the art of preaching itself, but personally in my own character and walk with God. I am naturally shy and find public speaking to be quite challenging, since I find I do not feel comfortable in the pulpit and this tends to be reflected in my speaking style.

By Grace – Allan Tan

Before I began Artizo, it would be fair to say that I was lost in many ways. I didn’t know it at the time, and neither did those around me. On paper, things looked great. I was 32 years old when I began Artizo, and had received a call to full time ministry at the age of 16. After many years of discernment I had enrolled in theological training, and my community was thrilled for me.