Norm Dyck Reflects on Seven Years of Ministry at MCEC

“The greatest blessing has been walking with emerging congregations as they develop and find their place in MCEC until they can call this family their own,” says Norm Dyck, MCEC Mission Minister as he concludes his ministry with MCEC. “It has been a privilege to walk alongside their churches; those relationships are deeply meaningful to me.”

Norm Dyck has faithfully served Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC) for the past seven years, first as Mission Engagement Minister for two years and then as Mission Minister for five years.

"God doesn’t plant churches because He needs more churches. God plants churches for a particular reason—because there is a purpose for it in this place, at this time and in this moment of history. This is true of MCEC.”

His expertise in disciple-making, leadership training, cross-cultural relationships and international experience has strengthened Anabaptist missiology, fostered intercultural engagement and supported the growth of new congregations and leaders in MCEC.

“I believe in discipleship and a call to mission—it shapes who I am,” Norm reflects. Throughout his ministry at MCEC, he has helped 23 congregations transition from church plants to provisional status and, in some cases, full membership within MCEC. He invested in 48 congregations and over 200 leaders through the ReLearning Community/INNOVATE initiative. Driven by a conviction that “every neighborhood deserves a Jesus-centered, disciple-making presence,” INNOVATE began with a deep commitment to discipleship—an investment in the lives of others that would help them grow in both understanding and appreciation of what God has done and continues to do in their lives.

Most recently, Norm has played a key role in supporting two congregations—Shalom Worship and Healing Centre and First Mennonite Church—as they forged a new co-ownership relationship over a shared facility. “I was there to help steward a process where two churches did a lot of the heavy lifting. My job was to encourage them to keep lifting,” he says. He further reflects on the importance of MCEC paying attention to this partnership and others like it, as it may offer a path forward for churches discerning their next steps.

“We have a fantastic opportunity to serve as a beacon of hope for what a regional church could look like in the Canadian religious landscape."

Through Norm’s role as a liaison worker with Mennonite Church Canada—a position he will continue to hold—he has helped build bridges between MC Canada and international church bodies such as the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia and the Bible Missionary Church in Myanmar. These partnerships reflect deep pastoral and congregational connections within MCEC.

Fanosie Legesse, MCEC intercultural minister, expresses his gratitude for Norm’s ministry: “Norm has been a great mentor to several diaspora pastors in their journey to find belonging in MCEC and has been intentional in helping leaders communicate interculturally. His leadership and discipleship training have transformed the lives of many leaders within MCEC and beyond.”

“God is doing something unique in MCEC,” says Norm. “I’ve often said that God doesn’t plant churches because He needs more churches. God plants churches for a particular reason—because there is a purpose for it in this place, at this time and in this moment of history. This is true of MCEC.”

He continues, “We have a fantastic opportunity to serve as a beacon of hope for what a regional church could look like in the Canadian religious landscape. We are diverse culturally, ethnically, theologically and geographically. These differences could easily be barriers to unity, yet churches continue to join us because of who they become when they are part of MCEC. There is great potential and possibility here, and I hope we can continue to see that. That’s the challenge we face.”

In March, Norm embarks on a new chapter of ministry and joins Movement Leaders Collective as director of strategic partnerships. This global community is dedicated to equipping leaders to spark transformative Jesus movements, a mission that resonates with Norm’s passion for discipleship and church growth.

“Someone told me years ago that it’s a true blessing to work with friends and to have friends you can go to work with,” says Norm. “I have been deeply blessed by the relationships I’ve had here. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to serve within MCEC.”