Moving in Faith: The Story of the New A Rocha Ontario Centre

Written by Amanda Hildebrand (Ontario Program Manager)

October 2025

After a long summer day planting trees, hot and sweaty, I took a quick look at my phone before getting into my car to drive home. A voicemail waited for me. “Hi Amanda, this is Colin. I work for a missions organization. We heard that A Rocha is in need of a property and we have one that might be suitable for you. Would you like to come look?”

That was the beginning of several steps of faith that led to A Rocha’s new home at 1440 Westover Road. As with all good stories, it is still unfolding. But let’s catch you up to the story to date. 

A week after that initial phone call, one of my teammates  and I went to look at the property in question, a mere 10 minutes down the road from our previous home at Cedar Haven. As we walked through the fields, birds flew up from the grass, frogs leapt out of our way, and snakes slithered past. The place was teeming with life! We loved it.

WEC (Worldwide Evangelization for Christ) had been gifted the property many years before from a couple who had a vision that the place be used for “Rest, Restoration, and Healing to the glory of God.” A ministry dedicated to doing just that ran on the property for about 10 years, but now they were winding down and WEC was looking for someone else to use and take care of the place for the next year while they prayerfully discerned what was next. In faith that we would be good partners and caretakers, they offered A Rocha the lease.

But there was a small catch. They wanted someone to live onsite full-time. I went home from my tour of the land and, half-joking, asked my husband “So, do you want to live on a 55 acre farm?” His answer: probably. We prayed about it and within a couple of days felt sure that God was calling us to say yes. While it meant uprooting our family and leaving a neighbourhood and community we loved, there were also so many pieces of our personal life vision that fit with this opportunity! My dear husband and his faith! We said yes before he had even seen the property.

A Rocha leadership met and prayed and discerned too. They took a similar step of faith – yes, this seems like the right next step for A Rocha in Ontario. A few weeks later A Rocha had committed to leasing a property that only two of us had seen. But we trusted God that it was the right place for us to be.

What joy awaited us all. As we have settled over the last month, we keep learning more about this place and the opportunities for creation care and we are just so excited about what lies ahead.

The land consists of 55 acres of rolling hills. Drumlins, I’ve learned they are called. A neighbour farms the land organically. And he leaves the fields unharvested until July 15 ensuring that the nesting grassland birds have a chance to finish raising their broods unharmed. In addition, WEC has worked with Hamilton Conservation Authority to designate a section of the property as bobolink protected habitat. Our birding efforts have found caring partners and we have the gift of nurturing homes for several species of grassland birds.

Speaking of birds, a pond and wetland to the west edge of the property seems to be home to green herons, wood ducks, and several migratory wetland species. Whoever designed the pond once upon a time did a wonderful job maximizing the edges. Edges of ecosystems are where we typically find the greatest biodiversity, so there is great potential to be found in these waters. In the case of this pond, phragmites (an invasive species common to Southwestern Ontario) threatens to take over the edges, so we also have restoration work to do. We are already working with Hamilton Conservation Authority to develop a plan. 

Beyond the drumlins and the fields at the north edge of the property, winds Spencer Creek. Well-known to Hamiltonians, Spencer Creek and Cootes Paradise Marsh where it empties are home to several species at risk. Care for this watershed is critical for the chinook salmon which spawn in the creek and for the many fish and waterfowl species that make their homes here. We are working with the Natural Areas Inventory to get data on the health of this section of the creek and to take action that can care for our whole watershed.

As we dream about the future in this place, we picture a pollinator garden at the top of the hill with benches and resting spaces for people to connect with Jesus as they look out over the view of his beautiful creation. We look forward to transforming the 4000 square foot garden into a productive plot of vegetables that can provide food for those facing food insecurity. And we imagine deep important conversations over mealtimes at the large dining room table.

At this point we don’t know whether the lease will extend beyond this year, but we know that we are called to continue walking out the story by faith. Whether we are here for a short season or long, we have a gift that we are grateful to steward. We pray that it is a blessing to the fish, the birds, and the people that cross our path.