A bad perm, enormous eyeglasses and untied Cougar boots with the red felt tongue sticking out—an unmistakable '80s look. That's the teenage picture of me I came across recently in a family photo album. Clearly, my foray into fashion was off to a questionable start. Thank the Lord for frequently changing trends!

Change is necessary in other areas of our lives, too. In fact, it's essential for growth. My 94-year-old grandmother regularly reminds me of all the changes she has seen in her lifetime: 12-lane superhighways where horse-drawn milk wagons once travelled, moon landings, two World Wars, television and the dawn of the technological age.

If we can embrace change so readily in our world at large, why is it so daunting for the Church? When it comes to popular culture, have we taken the admonition “Do not conform to the pattern of this world”― (see Romans 12:2) to an extreme? Do we sometimes isolate ourselves in a “holy huddle”? Does the prospect of change cause people in your congregation to recoil?

As newly appointed corps officers at North Toronto Community Church, my husband and I have been cautioned to avoid making changes in our first year of ministry. While I appreciate the good intentions behind that advice, I respectfully disagree. Being new to an appointment doesn't prevent me from being able to discern where God is moving.

The challenge for the Church is to embrace change as constructive, not destructive. From the beginning of time, God has been creating and re-creating his world and all that inhabit it. He invites us, his Church, to become a creative community that partners with him.

Change is the cornerstone of our teaching and preaching. Transformation is the heart of the Holy Spirit's work. We invite people to accept Jesus as Saviour and celebrate when they become a “new creation” (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). We don't tell new believers to wait before they make any significant changes. We expect the saving work of God to be dynamic, immediate and ongoing.

If we have the same expectation for our corps ministries, then we will see change as essential for a brighter future. Of course what this looks like will vary from one context to the next. While our core mission never changes, we need to adapt our language, strategies and methods to positively impact our neighbourhoods with the gospel.

Here are a few practical points to consider:

1. Foster a climate of creativity. God has lavished his people with an abundance and variety of talents, skills and abilities for the building of his Church. We often refer to these as spiritual gifts, though we sometimes limit their scope. Expand your creative vision by hosting an art exhibit, inviting neighbours and members of your congregation to share their handmade creations such as stained glass, needlework, pottery or paintings. Ask the artists to share their stories about how their gifts were developed in their lives.

2. Move from social service to social justice. Think about espousing the worldview of community, togetherness and mutuality in mission by breaking down the barriers that separate “us” from “them.” Mission is about what we do with other people to make this world a better place to live. For example, put your skills and experience to work alongside a family who needs housing by joining a work project with Habitat for Humanity or have your church host community initiatives such as the Good Food Box, an alternative food distribution system that provides fresh, nutritious foods at an affordable price.

3. Keep conversation of the gospel, the Church and culture alive. By honouring the truth of the gospel, the traditions of the Church and the reality of the world in which we live, we will be equipped to manage change in a healthy way.

Our corps is approaching its 100th anniversary, a significant milestone. But past accomplishments are not a guarantee of future success unless we understand the nature of change in our community and respond swiftly and appropriately, moving and creating with the Holy Spirit.

As I flipped the pages of my photo album, I came across another picture of me holding my infant son the day he was dedicated. He is now 20 and attending university. What a change! It's a reminder to me that life is constantly evolving. Just when we think we have it all figured out, we have to change again. If we want to be a growing Army, we must pray that God will open new doors and that we will have the courage to walk through them.

Captain Deana Zelinsky and her husband, Rick, are the corps officers at North Toronto Community Church.