Not every act of devotion happens in a sanctuary.
Beyond the Sunday sermons, pastoral visits, community work and committee meetings, many faith leaders carry quieter callings: the hobbies that fill the margins of their days.
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Some unfold over an empty canvas, others amid the clang of weights in a gym or along open stretches of road. Often cultivated over several years or even decades, these practices mirror the disciplines of ministry itself, requiring patience, care and devotion.
“What we preach on Sunday is just a small part of pastoral work,” says Olumide Ademidun, pastor at The House of David in Milton, Ont. “For some people, the church is their only refuge. They come every day seeking prayer, food or help with their challenges.” Carefully tending to his backyard trail has become a necessary counterbalance for Ademidun. In these moments, the work of caring for others gives way to the work of sustaining one’s self.
Across faith traditions and congregations, these are the hobbies that make the rest of the work possible.
Rev. Michael Fleming, Anglican (Painter)
For Rev. Michael Fleming, a self-proclaimed introvert, his painting studio in Magnetawan, Ont. is a place of solace and renewal. After successfully leading a handful of parishes in the Ottawa region for 40 years, his retirement in 2011 has allowed him to immerse himself in his art. Nestled above the trees on the top floor of his sister-in-law’s cottage garage, Fleming spends his summer days slathering acrylics and watercolour on canvases of all sizes. He thinks of the studio as a creative sanctuary. There’s just one unwritten rule: visitors are welcome, but never unannounced.
“My favourite painting is the biggest one in my studio. It’s a black canvas with a little bit of blue and a shaft of soft yellow. I painted it as part of my recovery from cancer treatment. I got plunged into darkness. I had no desire to find the light. That painting sort of brought me back.”
Imama Farheen Khan, Sunni Islam (Powerlifter)
There’s a polarity between her immense strength and the gentle empathy Imama Farheen Khan brings to her congregation at The Women’s Mosque of Canada in Toronto. She stumbled into powerlifting in 2024 as part of her journey to get healthier and, a few months later, created Sisters in Power. The program gives Muslim women — including those experiencing violence or living in situations where they cannot fully be themselves — the opportunity to try barbell lifting in a private gym. Khan sees strength training as a way to rebuild self-esteem in the wake of trauma. Today, she represents her gym’s team and recently competed at the first women’s-only powerlifting competition in Ontario.
“Supporting women so they feel empowered is such an important part of my life, so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see that as part of a competition. I lifted more than I ever have before — a 325-pound deadlift.”
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Pastor Olumide Ademidun, Redeemed Christian Church of God (Forest trail maker)
It’s not uncommon for Pastor Olumide Ademidun to dedicate more than 50 hours per week to The House of David, the Redeemed Christian Church of God congregation in Milton, Ont., he has served for 19 years. As the church has grown, it’s drawn many people of African descent, including newcomers to Canada. On his wooded property, also in Milton, Ademidun has spent the past five years sculpting a 250-metre trail. Each season brings more pruning and clearing of shrubbery and leaves. The trail gives back by providing a serene and tranquil place for him to recharge.
“I moved to Canada from Lagos, Nigeria, about 24 years ago. Lagos is a city of 20 million. When I came here, I told myself I didn’t want to live in a densely populated place. I always liked the idea of being able to go into the trees and walk around alone: thinking, meditating, praying.”
Rabbi Emerita Elyse Goldstein, Reform Jew (Cyclist)
Beyond founding Toronto’s City Shul, Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, who retired in 2024, has an impressive list of pursuits outside her religious work: author, Fringe Festival actor, choir singer, tour guide and even curler. Cycling, however, stands out as her greatest passion. More than just a way to stay fit or get around, it’s an activity she’s woven into her Jewish traditions. In 2022, she organized a Sukkot-holiday-themed congregational ride along the Toronto waterfront.
“I grew up in New York City, so I didn’t bike much as a kid. We rode the subway instead. When I moved to Toronto as an adult, my job as a rabbi could be very stressful at times. I needed an outlet, and biking became that for me. We even sold the car in 2024.”
Rev. Carolin MacMillan, United Church (Embroiderer)
Appleby United Church’s Rev. Carolin MacMillan picked up her first crochet hook when she was just five years old. She learned the craft from her grandmother, who taught classes at the local YMCA. Young Carolin would often sit in on adult sessions, where students were struck by how quickly she worked. Today, at her home in Belwood, Ont. MacMillan uses her 10-needle embroidery machine to make quilts, shirts and baby gifts — often donating them in-kind. She even designed an elaborate banner for the neighbouring St. Paul’s United Church in Metz, which made a formal dedication and hung it in their sanctuary. Next, she’d like to try her hand at making stoles for ministers.
“I don’t really think of myself as a creative person — this is just who I am. But making things like the church banner lets me join my hobby with my joy in ministry. I really love that.”
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Shlomi Amiga is a commercial and editorial photographer who works in Toronto. Devon Amiga is a storyteller and a marketing professional. They both work in Toronto.
This story first appeared in Broadview’s July/August 2026 issue with the title “Passion Projects.”
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