Launching Young Adults at FAC Southwest

From left to right: Connor, Aidan, and Sharmaine 

At FAC, we believe renewal happens as we join Jesus in what He’s already doing. Sometimes that begins with noticing a need and saying, “How can I help?” Other times, it can look as simple as asking, “Want to grab lunch after church?” 

That’s part of the story behind FAC SW Young Adults, a new community at the Southwest Campus where young adults can discover what it looks like to follow Jesus together. “I’m excited for this group because it has formed organically from the passion of people within our church,” shares Carter Reimer, Southwest Campus Pastor. “It was a move of the Holy Spirit. Our team didn’t approach anyone. They came to us.” 

Connor, Sharmaine and Aidan each joined the Southwest Campus within the past year, and as they became part of the church community, they began noticing a need for young adults to gather and build friendships. A simple invitation to have lunch has grown into a community where young adults can share life, grow in faith and make room for others. 

“We’ve been praying that our young adults would feel like they had ownership within the church, and this is an answer to prayer,” Carter says. “I have seen Connor, Sharmaine, and Aidan move from attending to owning the mission and vision of the church. They saw a need for people their age to gather and create community, and they said, ‘I can help do that!” 

On Saturday, August 8, the group gathered for its kickoff. We asked leaders Connor, Sharmaine and Aidan to share a little about their stories, what drew them to lead and what they hope this community can become. 

FAC: Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey to Jesus. 

Connor: I’ve been attending FAC for almost a year now. Before that, I was agnostic, but I hit a really tough spot in my life and Jesus came to me in that place. From there, I felt like I needed to find a church and devote my life to following Christ. 

Sharmaine: I grew up at FAC, but it wasn’t until July 2025 that I found my way back as part of the Southwest Campus family. God has been present in my life for a long time, but I really started taking my faith seriously when He met me as a high school student in one of my darkest moments. 

Since then, I’ve loved youth and camp ministry, and I’ve become a teacher. I’m passionate about helping people grow in their faith and creating spaces where people feel known and welcomed. 

Aidan: I’m Aidan, I’m 30, and I moved to Calgary from Lethbridge just over two years ago. I’ve been attending FAC Southwest since November 2025 and have really loved the community. I recently started working as an arborist in Cochrane so I could be home more and get plugged into a local church community. Before that, I worked as a wildland firefighter, which meant travelling quite a bit for work. 

I grew up in a Christian home and committed to following Jesus more deeply when I was 18 while attending Bible school in Austria. A few years ago, a serious skiing injury also challenged me to think deeply about where I found my identity. Through that season, God taught me more about what it means to find my identity in Christ, and Jesus has become my treasure as I continue learning to walk with Him. 

FAC: What drew you to want to lead this group? 

Connor: I was drawn to leading the Young Adults group because there wasn’t really anything specifically for young adults, and I felt like I should try to do something about that. 

Sharmaine: Normally, I spend months discerning before jumping into ministry, but leading Young Adults just fit. The timing truly had God’s fingerprints all over it. 

Other commitments in my life ended just as friendships with Connor, Aidan and other young adults were beginning to grow. There was a need for Young Adults at FAC Southwest, and our leadership team had the space for it at just the right time. It’s a huge prayer answered to be leading alongside Connor and Aidan, especially knowing I can lean on them. 

Aidan: I wanted to help create a young adult community where everyone feels seen, heard and loved. I hope it can be a place where faith-centred friendships are formed, people are prayed for and cared for, and everyone has fun! 

We serve an awesome God who created us and He has prepared some awesome works for us to do! And He has given us His Holy Spirit who empowers us to do them! I’m excited to see what He does through this community. 

FAC: What do you hope people experience through this community? 

Connor: I hope people find a good, solid community of people around their own age. I also hope that through this group we can grow closer to Jesus and create long-lasting friendships. 

Sharmaine: It’s easy to get caught up in our own lives, our success and our suffering. In my life, friends and family have helped me see an eternal perspective where God’s purpose prevails and the rest falls away. 

I hope we can be that kind of community for each other in Young Adults: a community that helps people, no matter where they are on their journey, catch a glimpse of what eternity and the goodness of God look like. 

Aidan: I hope that, at the very least, people know that God loves them incredibly deeply and that He has a plan for their lives. I also hope they discover that there are other young people just like them trying to figure out this whole life thing, and that they’re not alone. 

As this community takes shape, Carter sees an opportunity for the wider FAC community to walk alongside them too. “Pray for meaningful connections to be made,” Carter says. “This is a great space for those who are spiritually curious to come and see what the church is about before deciding to come join on a Sunday.” 

“There is also something so special about someone who is older coming alongside someone who is younger to help them navigate life and faith,” Carter notes. “As you pray for this group, ask the Lord if that is the role for you. How can you step in and walk with someone through the joys and sorrows of life as you both pursue Christ together?” 

Whether you’ve been following Jesus for years, curious about faith, or still figuring it all out, there’s a place for you here! Explore ways to find community at FAC. If you’re in your 20s or 30s and looking to find community in Southwest Calgary, we’d love to connect. Reach out to Carter Reimer, Southwest Campus Pastor, to get involved with FAC SW Young Adults!