This isn't just tolerance, it's radical hospitality

By Rev. Marty Levesque

IF YOU READ my Media Bytes column regularly, you know we talk a lot about "Micro-Communities" and "Digital Front Porches," but eventually, the digital must become flesh. In the heart of Waterloo, that flesh and blood reality lives at the SideWalk Centre (sidewalkcentre.ca).

SideWalk is the main outreach ministry of All Saints, Waterloo, but if you walked in on a Tuesday evening or during the changing of the seasons, you might see something that doesn't look like a traditional Anglican Church.

Besides all sorts of sports groups, SideWalk has become home to an incredible array of cultural and spiritual activities that reflect the true diversity of our region. Between the Mugara Temple, Golden Triangle Marathi Association, the Persian Unity and Heritage group, and others have found a home at SideWalk.

Think about that for a second: a Hindu temple making its home within an Anglican outreach centre!

This isn’t just tolerance, it’s radical hospitality. It’s the realization that in 2026, the Church’s role in the community is often to be the convener. By hosting annual celebrations like Diwali (the Festival of Lights) and the Holi Festival, SideWalk becomes a space where the neighbourhood doesn't just "see" diversity; they live it.

You might ask: “How is hosting a Hindu temple part of Anglican evangelism?” In a fractured world, the most powerful witness we have is our ability to be a center of peace. We are saying that despite the global headlines of division, right here on a sidewalk in Waterloo, we can share a roof, celebrate light, and throw colours of joy together.

This is the ultimate front porch. When a seeker or a neighbour sees the church building as a hub for the whole community and not just a gated club for the initiated, the barriers to entry begin to melt away. They see a church that is for the whole city, and that makes them curious about the "why" behind our "how."

The beauty of what happens at SideWalk is that it allows us to follow the Way. You don't need a marketing script when you have photos of Holi colours against the backdrop of our community space or the quiet glow of Diwali lamps. These aren't just events; they are shareable moments of communities journeying together and learning from each other that tell a story of a church that is vibrant, inclusive, and deeply rooted in its local context.

Evangelism in 2026 isn't about winning an argument; it’s about winning the trust of your neighbourhood. And sometimes, that starts with sharing a sidewalk.

Rev. Marty Levesque is the rector of All Saints’ in Waterloo.