“Go get my kids. Teach them what I’ve said. Invite them to my table.”
This invitation, drawn from Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28, has taken on profound new meaning for Heather Hitchcock, a Dinner Church leader shaping a missional expression in Western Canada.
Heather recently shared her transformative journey through the Dinner Church School of Leadership (DCSL) and the Seattle Immersion Experience, offering a compelling testimony of formation, calling, and community.
A New Way to See Church: The Dinner Church School of Leadership
For Heather, the DCSL was more than a program—it was a shift in how she understood mission, discipleship, and what it means to be the Church in a post-Christendom world.
“As I prepare to launch a Dinner Church in my city, I am deeply grateful for how this program has equipped me—spiritually, theologically, and practically—for this mission.”
The program walks students through the roots of the early church, focusing on Jesus’ model of ministry: meals, storytelling, and presence. This isn’t just about theology—it’s about transformation.
One of the most striking shifts came as Heather began to understand evangelism not as a performance or strategy but as an act of love and hospitality. “It’s about inviting people to Jesus’ table,” she says, “and letting the Spirit do the transformative work.”
“In the past, outreach often looked like giving someone a meal followed by a quick sermon. But Jesus focused on connection and belonging. That shift has helped me lead more relational, meaningful ministry—particularly with the least, the lost, and the lonely.”
Through DCSL, Heather has not only been equipped to plant a Dinner Church in her neighborhood but also to support others in doing the same. The result? A simpler, more joyful, more hopeful view of church—centered not on programs, but on people and presence.
Embodying the Vision: The Seattle Immersion Experience
While the DCSL laid the foundation, it was the Dinner Church Seattle Immersion that brought it to life.
“There is something truly powerful about seeing it and experiencing it in person. It was where theory and theology met real people and real ministry.”
Heather and her core team visited various Community Dinners across Seattle, each tailored to meet the unique needs of its neighborhood. Whether serving people in transitional housing or gathering residents of an apartment complex, the common thread was the simplicity and authenticity of the model: a shared meal, a story of Jesus, and space for relationship.
“The form may change from place to place, but the heart remains the same—creating space for connection, belonging, and the message of Jesus.”
One highlight was the personal investment of the leadership team, led by Verlon Fosner. They didn’t just teach—they shared. With honesty and humility, they opened space for dialogue, discernment, and deep reflection.
Heather recalls the Christlike spirit that permeated every gathering:
“We saw people serving with joy and sitting with guests as equals. There was no separation—just a shared table and a shared need for grace.”
More Than a Method—A Movement
The Seattle Immersion helped Heather and her team see Dinner Church not as a program, but as a way of being—a tangible expression of the gospel that welcomes people into community and into the story of Christ.
“It reminded us that we are not just recipients of grace—we are called to extend it. Jesus is not just our Savior; He is our Sender.”
This combination of theological depth, practical training, and lived experience has left Heather—and her team—changed. They’ve returned home with a clearer vision, renewed passion, and a deeper commitment to inviting people to the table of Jesus.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re sensing a call to lead a missional expression of church that emphasizes hospitality, storytelling, and the simplicity of the gospel, consider these two opportunities:
- Dinner Church School of Leadership (DCSL): A spiritually formative program that equips leaders to plant and lead Dinner Churches. Next cohort begins September 2025.
- Seattle Immersion Experience: A hands-on, three-day journey into the heart of Dinner Church ministry. Next Immersion: October 9–11.
“If you’re sensing a call to reach your community in a fresh, relational way—this is the place to start.”
