Rev. Matt Usherwood and his family are stepping into a season of training and discernment toward church planting in Ottawa and the surrounding areas, with a heart to see people come to know Jesus and grow as His disciples. He’s been given the opportunity to serve as a part-time Church Planting Apprentice at Messiah West.

This position is specifically designed to provide church planting experience, which means the salary must be fully fundraised. This is a key requirement for church planters, though many don’t gain this experience until they are planting their own churches. For a part-time salary, the fundraising goal is $50,000, with a deadline of the end of April 2026. God has already been gracious in this process, and Matt and his family are thankful to share that they have raised 20 percent of their first-year goal.