Sh'ma Christian Ministries

Sh'ma Christian Ministries is a non-denominational Reformed church in Saint Thomas, Ontario.

"Sh'ma" (Sh-uh-Ma or Sh-M-A; שְׁמעַ) is a keyword in the book of Deuteronomy, where it occurs 92 times, usually in the sense of what God wants from us in response to the commandments.The verb “sh'ma” means: to hear, to listen, to pay attention, heed, to understand, to obey.

"Sh'ma Prayer" is also a traditional pledge of allegiance to One God (Deuteronomy 6). It is said upon arising in the morning and upon going to sleep at night. It is said when praising God and when beseeching Him. It is the first prayer that a Jewish child is taught to say. It is the last words a Jew says prior to death.

Sh'ma began in January of 2016, with several families meeting in a private home of Pastor Richard Vander Vaart. As the number of members grew, the church moved to a banquet room of Le café Siam: Thai Cuisine; a restaurant on the East side of downtown Saint Thomas.

As of now, Sh'ma offers a variety of ministries: Bible study every late Thursday night and very early Saturday morning, corporate worship every Sunday evening, pre-marital counselling, marriage counselling, and pastoral care.

Most of our programs base on a concept of FIT: Faith in Training. Sh'ma will enhance the community of St. Thomas and surrounding communities by bringing the contribution of spiritual fitness which in turn empowers every other fitness in life. When Christ is at the centre of our lives, all the other areas experience change. When Christ is at the centre of our lives, our relationships with others change, our physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health change. It is the Good News, Christ takes us from death to life.

Our corporate worship and Bible study are in-depth biblical teaching that helps people know God and equips them to effectively serve the Body of Christ then enjoying a communion meal.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Word of God which is the bible draws us closer to God and helps us better understand Him, His Word and His love. Through a stronger relationship with God, we are continuing to discover how to build better and stronger relationships with others.

"And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts," the early Christian devoted themselves to the Word and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:46)

The communion we share with one another is not just food for the body, but the soul. We believe that the nutritional, social, emotional, and spiritual benefits of the communion meal offer the opportunity to bring adults, youngling, and children together to share their individual experiences of the day. It becomes the place where life issues are raised, discussed, and resolved. Rather than each family member (of the Body of Christ) continuing to drift into his or her own individual world, the interaction during mealtime strengthens family bonds and enriches the daily experience of life.