George Boujakly, a Home Mission Board missionary had served in Montreal for thirteen years. He had a vision in his heart for an English church on the West Island of Montreal . God fulfilled his vision when John Mark Clifton of the North American Mission Board came to Montreal with a heart to reach Quebec with the gospel message of Jesus Christ and the vision to start this English congregation. They started a home Bible study in St. Anne de Belleview which grew into a church they called Renaissance Church , the French term for ‘rebirth.’ It was dreamed that Renaissance would become a church that would birth new churches throughout Quebec and beyond.

In 2001, Gary Smith, his wife and two children (now four children), moved to Montreal from Nebraska to take over the leadership of Renaissance Church from John Mark Clifton. Under Gary’s leadership, Renaissance grew and truly became a church to plant new churches. Gary, under the leadership of the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists, and the support of the North American Missions Board, helped to start 20 churches in Quebec and 38 churches in the eastern provinces and in Ontario.

Renaissance Church has been supported by several partnerships including the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists, the North American Mission Board, and multiple churches in the US and by the multiple families who have invested in Renaissance throughout the years.

In 2005, Renaissance began to meet in the Kirkland Colisee movie theatre where Renaissance continues to meet today. Under the growing demands of church planting, Gary handed over the pastorate of Renaissance to Andrew Brereton who had been an active member in the church for four years. Gary is still an active and vital part of the leadership team, but is now working full time as the Regional Church Starting Coordinator of the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists for the Eastern Canadian regions, having started 50 plus churches in Eastern Canada since his arrival in 2001.

Renaissance Church is the only evangelical church in Kirkland and is focused on spreading the gospel in this suburb of Montreal .