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October 2010 - November 2010
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Helping at Every Age
Community is a Growing Part of Ark Aid
Most Christians don’t decide to take their first mission trip at the age of 84, but that’s exactly what Catharine Scott did. When she heard about a trip to Macedonia that focused on teaching ESL, she knew it was for her. “I love to read and I know how to speak the English language. They allowed me to go despite my age. I thought I could be helpful and useful.” Organized through ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism), Catharine went to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, to help launch a new church and community centre developed by Beverly and Andrew Geldart. Catharine’s mission group was there for the first church services held in the new centre. Attending prayer meetings for ABWE since 1974 and OMF (Overseas Mission Fellowship) meetings
Two of the hallmarks of the Ark Aid mission on Dundas Street are compassion and community (www.arkaidmission.com). Founded in 1984, and headed up by Rev. Doug Whitelaw, “The Ark” is a place where people living on the margins of society can get a warm meal, learn life skills, and be part of a caring community. A new addition to the Ark’s activities is a creative initiative headed up by artist Jeremy Jeresky (jereskytacc.wordpress.com). The Ark Creative Concept (TACC) was born of Jeremy’s interest in contemporary art that facilitates dialogue and exchange in communities. In partnership with Doug Whitelaw, the Ark is transformed each week by Jeremy’s love for art and the eager Ark community. A walk through the Ark’s interior shows a wonderful array of styles, techniques and artistic expression. Says Jeremy: “I feel honoured to work with Ark Aid. There are so many warm hearted and intelligent volunteers. Douglas Whitelaw, Robert Docherty and Wade Foss are tremendously generous and interesting people. I feel better off in life having met and become friends with them.” Jeremy’s creative sharing inside the Ark has branched into an outdoor project, as part of the Community Monument. “The Community Monument is a celebration of people,” Continued on page 2
By Vanessa Brown
Aaron Groat, Josh & Teresa Stainton, Phillip Walker, Catharine Scott and Ruth Fesahaye
for over 50 years, Catharine is clearly interested in God’s work overseas. While tagging along with young people might seem intimidating, it was very rewarding. “In spite of the differences between us, we all got along so well. We just accepted each other.” Catharine has also spent years working with children through Bible Clubs and Sunday School programs. One of the members of the team was a former student of Catharine’s. During the trip, they set up a Vacation Bible School, attracting Macedonian children who were excited to participate Continued on page 2
Rob Hueniken is the Managing Editor of Christian Life in London. His blog can be found at MakingMoreOfToday.com.
Journeying Together
Generous Servings By Nancy McSloy
“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 When I found out that the theme for this issue of CLIL was about reaching out and helping others I decided to do some research on the many hospitality meals throughout the city. I was amazed at how many churches are reaching out and helping those in need by offering meals. I also realized that hospitality meals are not just to feed the body, but to nurture the soul as well with the socializing and fellowship that comes with sitting down to share a meal with others. I had the opportunity to talk to a few people who are involved with the organizing, preparation and serving of meals and was delighted at what many churches are doing to give back to the community. The meals are not only served at dinner, some churches offer lunch, while others
London artist, Jeremy Jeresky, and Ark Aid Director, Doug Whitelaw, help share the community spirit. Visitors to the Ark Aid event brought momentos to add to Jeremy’s Community Monument art project.
By Darryl Reckman of Youth for Christ
offer breakfast. On the third Tuesday of the month East London Anglican Ministries (ELAM) offers a community breakfast. A hearty breakfast of bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, home fries and toast is served, as well as hot cinnamon oatmeal, cold cereal, granola bars, The Trinity volunteers are happy to be helping. yogurt, fresh fruit and juice. The parish and teenagers attend on a regular basis. generously donates toward the breakfast Karen Robinson of ELAM says “we supplies. Ten to twelve parishioners volunstarted out slowly in March of 2007 with teer each month and occasionally students numbers between 8 and 30. Word got out help out to get their community hours. Men and we are now and women of all ages, and some children Continued on page 3 averaging
At Streetlight, we believe that what our friends living at or near street level really need is not money or a job or more stuff, but rather a sense of belonging – a meaningful place in a healthy, loving community. That is why everything we do is based on relationship. Yes, we offer specific programs with food and we try to meet other basic needs, but all of these are simply tools towards building deeper relationships with the people we meet. Think about it, how would you live your life differently if you had no significant relationships in your life with friends, family or a higher power? We can continue throwing money and food, and more and more stuff at them all we want, but what's the point if they have no reason for living? Continued on page 10
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Christian Life in London - October 2010
In This Issue...
When gratitude grows wings
By Mike Wilkins It’s not a tough thing to get behind the idea of gratitude. Everyone knows that being thanked sincerely is a sweet experience and that being owed an outstanding debt of gratitude is at the very least annoying. So an emphasis on giving thanks in this issue of Christian Life shouldn’t be a problem concept for any of our readers, which is just as well considering that this issue will be distributed a few days before Thanksgiving Weekend. The particular point of our emphasis in this issue is that gratitude is more than just appropriate. It is also energizing. This principle is being well illustrated over and over again, all over London, as people filled with thanks to God for the blessings and kindness he has shown turn their feelings of
gratitude into action – and involve themselves in interesting and exciting projects as a way of living out their thanks. We encourage you to read on – and let your own heart catch the energy that gratitude produces. When gratitude grows wings, it is sometimes surprising how far it flies.
Mike Wilkins is the pastor of West London Alliance Church on Wonderland Road North. www.wlachurch.org
Helping at Every Age Ark Aid Community Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1
through a translator and see a puppet show with Pingy the Penguin. There is something different about traveling during your senior years. “I was slower walking, but everyone herded me along and made sure I didn’t get lost,” she jokes. There were physical challenges too, but she says, “Somebody always helped me.” In Toronto Airport, Associate Pastor Aaron Groat made sure that Catharine could keep up. “There was a wheelchair sitting there,” she relates. “Aaron was right behind me. ‘Catharine, you get into that wheelchair!’” She laughs as she remembers. “And I did. I was embarrassed, but kind of relieved too. And he just pushed me right along. He said, ‘Don’t think of it as a wheelchair, it’s a transportation vehicle.’” It’s easy to think you should leave mission and service trips to young people. However, as the body of Christ we each have our strengths and gifts to offer. Older people should remember that they have unique talents as missionaries and evangelists. Catharine says, “If you are healthy and in your right mind, go!”
says Jeremy, a UWO Fine Arts graduate student. “It is a new ongoing monument which celebrates and commemorates the diversity, growth and creativity of the community. By inviting the community to coauthor a public artwork, a sense of individual and collective identity can unfold in a uniquely creative way.” Said Doug: “Jeremy has brought a unique dimension to the Ark. His creativity, talent and passion to connect with people struck an immediate response from our clients and attracted wider attention. He is also a finalist for the Pillar Community Involvement award in November. Jeremy is representative of the diversity of Ark volunteers.” At a recent community open house at Ark Aid, people were invited to bring a small item to add to a collaborative outdoor art exhibit, which may one day cover the entire outdoor wall of the Ark. The event also had live musical performances by Chord Calling, Kyle Peterkin, Pilots of Dawn and Half-times. Said Doug Whitelaw: “The Community Monument events bring together people to collectively express their stories. It’s a way for our clients and the wider community to collaborate and dialogue on issues of community, public space and to inspire the future. Perhaps most significantly, we are demonstrating to the city that the Ark is more than a soup kitchen – that we add value to both individuals and the city.” “The number of clients needing the help of Ark Aid seems to be rising. Maybe we are doing some things better and so more people are responding. Maybe the slow job recovery from the recession means more people are being left behind. We help provide the last line of defense against despair. But we are having successes: seeing friends getting back on their feet with some part-time work. Several folks are working towards their high school diploma with help of our volunteer tutors. It is great to see people striving towards a better tomorrow. The trick is to see where God is working, and get in on that, one person at a time.” Ark Aid can use the help of individuals, churches and agencies. It is a vibrant point of hope in London, and I encourage you to connect with Doug, to see how you might help. www.arkaidmission.com 519-667-0322
Vanessa Brown attends Connections Community Church at Silvercity Theatre and is a local freelance writer. (connectionschurch.ca).
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Beyond Charity By Leslie Damude Dirt-poor son of a black Mississippi sharecropper, he would have starved to death in infancy after his mother’s death apart from the intervention of a kind neighbour. The unjust death of his brother at the hands of a white policeman at the height of segregation in the 1950’s led to an intense hatred of whites, and escape from Mississippi poverty to California. Yet today, at the age of 80, Dr. John Perkins is widely known as a pioneer in Christian Community Development, a movement that seeks to demonstrate the love of God “across racial, cultural, social and economic barriers.” He attributes the miraculous transformation in his life to a profound experience of God’s love that led him to move back to Mississippi with his family in 1960 to live and work among the poor to help alleviate poverty and oppression. In early September, 15 Londoners from five different churches traveled to Chicago to participate in the 20th annual conference of the Christian Community Development Association ( www.ccda.org ), which was formed in 1989 “when Dr. Perkins called together a group of Christian leaders from across America who were committed to expressing the love of Christ in America’s poor communities, not at arm’s length, but at the grassroots level.” Throughout the conference there were many opportunities to learn about, and visit, remarkably effective ministries that modeled a “wholistic approach . . . that deals with the spiritual, social, economic, political, cultural, emotional, physical, moral, judicial, educational and familial issues of each person” in ways that empower people without creating dependency. In his book, Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development, John Perkins offers a powerful challenge to go beyond quick fixes and easy answers to a humble willingness to learn and grow in our attempts to help others. “Acts of charity can be dangerous because givers can feel good about actions that actually accomplish very little, or even create dependency. The result is that their sense of satisfaction takes away any motivation
to seek more creative long-range development strategies. Overcoming an attitude of charity is a difficult task because it requires givers to demand more of themselves than good will . . . Christian charity should never be discouraged, and there will always be a place for acts of sharing and kindness, but charity is only a beginning point, not the final strategy or solution . . . Sometimes our giving is motivated by guilt. When this is the case, we are giving for selfish reasons – to make ourselves feel okay. This can be very dangerous for the poor.” From anyone else, these challenging words might seem offensive, but from a man who has spent over 35 years living out the principles of Christian Community development, and training indigenous Christian leaders in three desperately poor communities in Mississippi and California, they ring out as a prophetic challenge for the church to wrestle with tough questions in order to become more effective at loving God and loving our neighbour.
Leslie Damude is a family doctor who attends Gateway church. She is involved in the GPS (Global Possibility Service) Team, and enjoys creative writing.
Want to learn more about Christian Community Development in London? Please send an email to ccd@clilondon.com
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November 2010 - Christian Life in London Visit www.ccnl.org for upcoming Christian events and to find helpful resources and links.
Generous Servings Continued from page 1
101 each month this year. Our guests really enjoy and appreciate it.” Jeannette Shaw and Reverend Mike Shaw
At Trinity United Church a hospitality dinner is held on the first Sunday of the month. Reverend Mike Shaw and Jeannette Shaw hold a contemplative service prior to dinner. In addition to the hospitality dinner, Reverend Mike and Jeannette hold a “care and share” service every Sunday evening, followed by soup and sandwiches. “The meals help those in need certainly, but I think for many people the social interaction, the feeling of welcome and belonging is just as important” says Rev. Paul Browning, who leads the congregation at Trinity United. “Not everyone is in need financially; some of those who come are able to put meals on their own tables, but a table for one can be incredibly lonely. For others, they absolutely rely on our meals to help stretch their grocery budgets a little further. Whatever the need, everyone is welcome at Trinity.” For one family it is a great outing. They have children in wheel chairs and with Trinity being wheel chair accessible it is an opportunity for them to go out for dinner and to borrow movies from the church library. Trinity feeds an average of 70 people, however the numbers are rising. In September the numbers surpassed 85. Depending on what is being served, 15 to 20 members of the congregation volunteer their time to prepare and serve the meals. With the help of the Trinity Green Team, they have been able to share even more with the community. The children planted a garden in the spring and on Sunday, September 12 they committed “random acts of vegetables”. They harvested the vegetables and not only prepared
veggie trays to share after the service, they also left a tomato or cucumber along with a note on each car at the church. After that they went to an apartment building close by and shared the rest of their vegetables with the residents of the building. When Reverend Delta McNeish of Beth Emmanuel Church saw how many people were coming to her for donations of food, she realized the importance of providing a meal for the needy. Beth Emmanuel is a small church with a big heart! For the past several months, on the third Sunday evening, barbecues have been held at the church. On average 100 people are fed. If the weather is favourable everyone sits outside,
Christian Churches Network of London
Reverend Delta McNeish and Rick, one of the volunteers.
otherwise they congregate in the basement of the church for food and fellowship and prayer. With winter approaching, the meals will continue, but a hot meal will be served inside the church. The third Sunday was chosen since the last week of the month is sometimes the most difficult in making ends meet and putting food on a table. It warms my heart to see the many churches who have stepped up to the “plate” (no pun intended?) to provide meals and fellowship for the less fortunate. The donations by the members and the volunteer hours are a beautiful example of giving back to the community. Let us all be thankful for what we have during this season of harvest and Thanksgiving, and let us reach out and help those in need. Nancy McSloy is a freelance writer and a church warden at St Mark’s Anglican. She can be reached at nancy.mcsloy@ gmail.com
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Christian Life in London - October 2010
40 Days of Love and Community
There’s Something about Mary By Herman Goodden
By Allison Stephens
In the fall of 1996 our family was travelling up to Midland, Ontario to visit the reconstructed Jesuit mission of Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons. Midway along our trek, I let my wife and kids check out the local bakery in one of the small towns while I ducked into a not terribly promising looking Christian bookshop. It was one of those tacky emporiums where you instantly regret your impulsivity the moment you've stepped inside. Sappy panpipe music was noodling away on the shop's ghetto blaster sound system. 'Inspirational' posters liberally decorated the walls - pictures of puppies, ponies, kittens and sunsets - overlaid with kitschy quotes from such towering spiritual thinkers as Scott M. Peck and Leo F. Buscaglia. The book selection was not extensive and, except for the obligatory C.S. Lewis rack, was of the very lowest grade. I could and perhaps should have spun around on my heels and left, but not wanting to appear rude or suspicious to the middleaged woman behind the counter, I put in three or four minutes of pretend-browsing and then headed for the door. "Not from around here, are you?" asked the proprietress as my hand reached out for the doorknob. "That's right. Just passing through on our way up to Midland." "Midland? You got relatives up there?" She was feeling chatty, was she? Well, why not spare her a few minutes of simple cordiality? I was probably the first person to set foot in her little shop all day. I knew if I'd been in her shoes, I'd be going loopy with that twittering music and the sickly aroma emanating from that dusty shelf of scented candles. "No, we're going up to see Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons and the Martyrs's Shrine." "Oh, you're Catholic then," she said, with an unmistakable suggestion of contempt in her voice. "That's right," I said and I turned again to get out the door. "Well, then, there won't be anything here that will interest you," she said. "I can see that now. We don't have a line of saints' cards or little plastic statues. But if you don't mind my asking, could you just tell me what is it about you people and Mary?" "I beg your pardon?" I asked, feeling a little light-headed at the sheer bare-facedness of her bigotry. She pointed to a small display of ornamental crucifixes, most of them unoccupied. "That's not Mary up there on that cross, you know. So why do you all pray to her as if she's the one who saved you?" It had been 12 years since I'd joined the Catholic Church and I was feeling caught out and embarrassed because I didn't have sufficient understanding of Mary and her place in the Church to refute this outrageous woman. Like a lot of Catholic converts, I didn't really 'get' the whole Mary thing but assumed that all that would become clearer as time went on. The greatest obstacle that a lot of converts bump up against is how to reconcile the veneration (no, not worship) Mary receives, in various Catholic prayers and hymns and art, with what so often seemed like Christ's casual and even dismissive attitude toward his Mother, as related in the Gospel accounts. One film, one book and a lot of reflection have helped me come to terms with this apparent discrepancy.
I know he's not getting very good press lately as his life has gone careening off the rails but I found Mel Gibson's presentation of Mary in his film, Passion of the Christ, very instructive. For the most part relegated to the boundary of the main action as Christ is scourged and crucified, there is one scene where Mary protectively runs to her Son after he takes His third fall while carrying His cross and He simultaneously consoles her and makes her step back from any motherly interference by saying His words from the Book of Revelation: "Behold, I make all things new." On Gibson's part this is an interpolation or transplanting of text but, I think, an inspired one. This is precisely what Christ came to Earth to do and as agonizing as it is for her to stand by as this blasphemy is enacted against her Son, Mary knows that it is her essential duty to do just that. The name 'Emmanuel' literally means, 'God with us'. And Mary is the great 'with' in that divine equation. Without her consent, He doesn't come to us at all and our desperately needful redemption will not be won. In her 1945 book, The Reed of God, Catholic apologist, Caryll Houselander, sees an echo of that distance we may seem to detect in the relations between Christ and Mary, at a ceremony where a newly ordained priest has just celebrated his first Mass and, in the reception that follows, his family is pushed out of the way by a crowd of well-wishers. "The faithful were flocking around their new shepherd, and his mother and his brothers had become part of the crowd, waiting their turn until the end. For one moment the young priest looked over the bowed heads into his mother's eyes, and his face shone. 'My mother and my brethren are they who hear the word of God and do it.' Because the priesthood had made him the Christ of the people, he belonged to them. He was their kith and kin, their son and brother, their Christ, the priest at the altar. People often seem to think of Our Lady as aggrieved, slighted, when this happened to her! I think she and her Son looked across the heads of the crowds to one another with just that understanding and gratitude that shone on the faces of the young priest and his mother, and Christ's words on that occasion were spoken to Mary and in thanksgiving." Herman Goodden is a columnist for the London Free Press, Christian Life in London, The Canada Post and Catholic Insight. He is a member of Saint Peter’s Basilica here in London.
You can read more great articles at
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This fall, Byron United Church is embarking on another 40 day journey. The two previous campaigns were Purpose Driven Life – 40 Days of Purpose and the most recent, Better Together – 40 Days of Community. This new campaign is titled 40 Days of Love – once again, the congregation have been asked to commit to reading a short devotional each day for 40 days as well as joining a small group for discussion each week of the campaign. Many of the small groups continued to meet following the last campaign and as well carried on with their local outreach projects, however there are a number of new groups forming and once again – each group will be asked to reach out in love to individuals and the community around them. One way that Byron United Church is doing this currently is through the development of an after school youth drop-in time on Thursday afternoons from 3-5 pm. It is a great place and a safe place to shoot hoops, listen to music, do homework or just hang out. Refreshments are offered
O 4 Days of LOVE
and on occasion even pizza. Jesus commands us firstly in Mark 12:30 to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your heart and with all your strength” and secondly in verse 31 to “love your neighbor as yourself”. Through offering this new program we hope to show our love for the youth in our community. Our “theme song” for this latest 40 day campaign is titled “Give It Away” – simply put, it states that “love isn’t love until you give it away” – we look forward to any and all opportunities to show Jesus’ love to the community around us as we put into practice His commandment to “love our neighbors as ourselves”. www.byronunited.ca
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6 Christian Life - October 2010
Helping One Village at a Time By Phil Downes The youth group at Calvary United church heard that there was a drinking water storage problem in the village in India, of the family that the youth group had sponsored for four years. The family did so well with the help that the Save a Family organization declared them to be an independent family who were making enough money to support themselves. The youth group had purchased a small farm and supplied equipment and livestock to get the family started. The village, Hathight, is at the top of a mountain and the females have to walk three hours down the mountain to get fresh water. Then of course, walk the three hours back with jugs of water for the family needs. It was suggested that water containers (barrels) be purchased so each family could have a ready supply of water. The youth group has managed to send enough money to purchase half of the water barrels needed. The cost is fifty dollars per barrel. There are seventy families in the village. In June of this year the village had a meeting with expert water technicians and were thrilled to learn that there is a practical solution to their drinking water problem. The experts suggested that the village dig an open well across a monsoon stream and construct a small check-dam in the far corner of the village. "Save the Children India" has offered to finance the cost of construction of the open well and check-dam. (Estimated cost is $350 U.S.) The villagers themselves will supply the labour. Although they have now completed the planning, the actual digging of the well and the construction of the check-dam could not be taken up until after the monsoon season, hopefully by late October. After the rains come and the construction is completed, the village will have accessible drinking water for the first time in their existence. The members of Calvary youth group enjoy helping individual families but it is even more rewarding to be able to help an entire village. One of the 70 families in India, being helped by the Calvary Youth Group.
Phil Downes is the Youth Director at Calvary United Church in old South London. calvaryunitedchurch.on.ca
Trish West - Drama Team member at FCCC I've been part of the drama team at Forest City Community Church for over 5 years, acting and writing for their main stage. I love how it's given me an opportunity to be seen as someone other than a 'Wife' or 'Mom'. Don't get me wrong, I love being both roles in real life, but there are times I wonder what it'd be like to walk in someone else's shoes. Each new role I get to play on stage, gives me a chance to see things from someone else's perspective, such as a co-worker, neighbor or a character that's like no-one I've ever met. It puts me into a position where I will laugh, cry or yell at the top of my lungs...then I get to step back, catch my breath and simply walk away. Though sometimes it's not that easy. The dramas that are used in our church service often help make the sermon relatable and real. It can take words from the past and give them relevance to our lives today. You might see something portrayed on stage where you'll catch a glimpse of your sister, your friends or even the individual panhandling on the street corner. I love it when you hear someone in the congregation say "I never thought if it that way" or "I never realized." I'm always surprised how everyone will be watching the same drama, but not everyone will see it the same way. I believe that God works in such moments so He can be seen in our lives and
of those portrayed in the drama – that He uses this as a way to whisper into our hearts, guide us when we can't see and give an opportunity to experience His love in a new way. There are times I will write from personal experience, being that is what I know best as a mother, daughter, wife and friend. Once in a while there are moments I know it's not “just me” as the words just flow onto the screen. I'll look back and am amazed to see what He has shown me through these words – seeing the hurt, the angry and the lost. I am thankful for each opportunity that takes words I write and shares them on stage. I hope that in all that I do, that God's love is seen in every attempt I make while writing or acting – to respect the individuals who may be watching and see themselves up on that stage. Writing and acting can be very personal and, at times, intimidating as you put yourself out there for others to see. I appreciate being on a great team that plays a part of what gets seen on stage every Sunday. There are no solo acts, no reviewers or competition for recognition. You won't see credits listed in the bulletin or waiting for the applause at the end. We all work together in hopes that we can bring a story to life: someone's story that needs to be shared; to create moments for you as an audience to react, using music and drama on stage in a way that moves a person to laugh, cry or simple reflect – opening our hearts to accept God's word. Trish West
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November 2010 - Christian Life in London
Mission Services has a new Director By Heather Rall, Director of Development and Communications at Mission Services Mission Services of London is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Rozeluk as their new Executive Director. Peter is a lawyer, chartered accountant and tax specialist. For the last seventeen years, Peter has been a Partner at Rozeluk & Company in London, Ontario. When asked how he came to this point in his life, Peter replied, “this job is simply a progression in my personal, professional and spiritual development; everything I have done and everywhere I have been has been a preparation for where I am today.” Since 1951, Mission Services of London has been, and continues today to be a Christian social service agency with a focus on serving those who struggle with poverty and homelessness; men, women and children. It provides food, shelter, clothing, crisis intervention and rehabilitation – meeting the need at the point of need. Peter understands this and his enthusiasm for Mission Services of London is apparent even so early in his tenure. We then posed the question, “why Mission Services of London is important?” Peter answered, “I could provide political commentary and discuss government cutbacks in health care, particularly mental health care. I could provide sociological commentary and talk about shifting moral standards and endemic drug use. I could provide philosophical commentary and talk about ... (well perhaps I can’t provide philosophical commentary). I could provide religious commentary and talk about sin. Instead, I’ll say Mission Services of London is important because God, our God, said that “the poor you will always have with you.” Our God, tells us to love your neighbour as yourself. Our God, yours and mine, tells us who our neighbour is. Mission Services of London will always have an open door. Open for those who want
to come in, and open for servants who want to go out.” In support of this mission and vision, one of Peter’s many goals for the organization is to spread the word, to engage people and their community. He believes if you tell people how they can help, you will have a partner for a day; teach them how to help and you will have a partner for a lifetime. “I want lifetime partners for Mission Services of London. I want people to own their participation,” states Peter. So with that he encourages you, the reader, to check out their Mission Services of London website (www.missionservices.ca) for information on its five branches, call the store and ask what needs donated, call the administration office to speak with the Volunteer Coordinator, and generously respond to donation appeals. Donating to an organization that ministers to people without a home and/or to people struggling with addiction, is neither glamorous nor chic – but it does make a difference, one life at a time. www.missionservices.ca
For Information or to volunteer or donate online
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Free to Show our Faith By Darlene Turner “Beat you to your house,” Fred said to his best bud Jim before taking off in a sprint. “No way. I’m faster,” Jim said, beaming a big smile at his friend. As they arrived at his home, Jim saw his mother in the window and jumped up. “Gotta go. See ya tomorrow.” As he reached his front door, Jim turned around and watched his buddy disappear down the street. Sadness washed over him as he wondered how his friend would feel when he found out about his family’s recent conversion to Christianity. This is a fictional, but fact-based story. It happens in many countries today. Boys and girls play together happily at one moment, but worry the next about sharing their faith. In some of our world, Christians worship in secret. What would it be like to have to hide our true beliefs, and to only praise God behind closed doors? The concept is hard to imagine here in Canada. We live in a country where we are free to express our faith by going to church and raising our hands in worship without the fear of being sent to prison, or worse. Do we as Canadians take this freedom for granted? Very likely we do. Many of us get wrapped up in things like what type of music is best, what clothes to wear, or who’s right on day-to-day issues. We can forget to be thankful for being able to worship freely.
Meanwhile, Christians in other countries are being persecuted for their faith, just like in Christ’s time. All we need to do is turn on the television, surf the Internet, or open a newspaper to see it’s still going on today. Foreign Christian aid workers have been killed abroad, believers are wrongly accused of crimes they didn’t commit, Christians are denied access to their town’s water supply, and girls are being abducted just because of their family’s faith. The amazing and powerful thing is that these believers still stand true to their faith, even amidst the persecution. A recent convert to Christianity, we’ll call him Bob, told me his story of faith and freedom. ‘Jesus revealed Himself to me in a dream”, Bob said. “That night Jesus brought a fresh wind of the Spirit to me from heaven. He gave me a new lease on life. He passed the good news to me in a country where to be in possession of the Gospels is a crime.” Despite the dangers, he chose to praise God anyway. The next time we feel like grumbling about something in our church, let’s remember our freedom, and be thankful that we can worship freely. Darlene Turner is a London writer with Women Writing for Christ, and is a member of the Word Guild. She attends Stoney Creek Baptist Church with her husband, Jeff.
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Christian Life in London - October 2010
Ear to the Sound DELIRIOUS: feverish, restless, confused, elated, ecstatic, transported, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven, beside yourself. DELIRIOUS? : a band made up of 5 guys from an easily forgotten town in England called Littlehampton. The members of this band are Martin Smith, Stu Garrard, Jon Thatcher, Tim Jupp and Paul Evans. But if you are an avid Delirious? fan, and there are many, you already know that. The band was formed in the early 1990s when three of these guys decided to write some songs and play some instruments together and see if anyone liked their sound. At this time they were known as the Cutting Edge band. Their music took off. “When we played together, at the very first Cutting Edge event, we knew something was different. From 1992, once a month, we’d take over the local school hall on a Sunday night, gathering the kids from the town to sing, pray and find out more about God. There was nothing particularly special about us or the music we tried our best to play, but even then there was always an electricity generated when we cried out to God to meet us. There was always something in the air.” – Deliri-
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ous? (from the Farewell Show CD) Since the early days, Delirious? has had great success: 40 top UK singles, 20 top UK albums, 20 top US albums, they have become mainstream in Germany, and more! Why the question mark after the band name? Delirious? The band decided it fit because people were always asking if they were Christian, if they were rockers or if they were any good. The answer to all of these questions, by the way, is YES. Recently, Delirious? has released their last album. “Farewell Show…Live in London” The band has decided their time has come to pack it in and say goodbye. They filled an auditorium in London and gave the Delirious? fans (pun intended) a thrill. The band played all the favorites, mixing it up with some loud, rocky songs and some chillingly beautiful ballads. The album is full to the brim of audience participation and the cheers of recognition and appreciation is infectious. It is also full to the brim with the overall feeling of thankfulness. Thankfulness to God, to their fans and to each other. “In some ways, 17 years later, nothing has changed. None of us knew how we would feel standing on the stage in London for the very last time. None of us could have predicted it would get this far. None of us knew that what started as a bunch of mates singing songs about God would grow to become more than a band, more than the music and more than the songs.” – Delirious? (from the Farewell Show CD). Delirious?...we just wanted to say thank you. Well done.
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November 2010 - Christian Life in London
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Fair Trade a Church Concern Too
By Robin Saylor Coffee and church, they just go together, like peanut butter and jelly. But, if weĘźre honest, church coffee is not always worth the caffeine – watered down, flavorless, and often served in styrofoam cups. LetĘźs add one more – unfair. In a world where 12,000 cups of coffee are consumed every second, coffee beans are a hot commodity. It might be logical to assume that coffee farmers are among the wealthy in this world. This is not the case. Meet Rodolfo Juracan, one of 25 million coffee farmers world wide. Many coffee farmers like Rodolfo work long, hard days yet they make less than $2 a day. Two dollars: that’s less than most of us pay for the average grande cup of joe. Marcelo Sabuc, a representative for coffee farmers (campesinos) in Guatemala says, "The way that the coffee system functions is unjust because it Patrick Dunham leaves the producer with very little, not taking into account the value of waking up very early, cutting coffee cherries all day, and carrying 100 pound sacks large distances." Unfair? Yes. Unnoticed? No. Connections Community Church (www.connectionschurch.ca) and other churches in the London area noticed. They realized that you canĘźt drink your typical cup of church coffee at the same time you read Micah 6:8 “What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.â€? When Connections Church was planted in January 2008 they set a mission to connect with God, connect with people and connect with the world. Second to that mission was the commitment to serve great tasting coffee that was fairly traded. So where do you turn to get a fair cup of coffee? Meet Patrick Dunham and David Cook, roasters at Fire Roasted Coffee, located in the farmers market area of the Western Fairgrounds. Fire Roasted Coffee is committed not only to a good cup of coffee, but also to a fair cup of coffee. A cup of Fire Roasted Coffee is locally roasted and fairly traded - meaning that the farmer who grew the coffee gets a guaranteed minimum price on the coffee he sells. This February they took their commitment to fair trade one step further. They hopped a plane to Guatemala and met Rodolfo and other Mayan campesinos from the Campesino Committee of Highlands. They took another step, no longer just Fair Trade, now they have Direct Trade. They know the farmer who grew the beans - now that is coffee worthy of the name Cafe Justicia. A cup of Cafe Justicia does come at a cost, as do the bio-degradable cups it is served in. A church serving Fair Trade or Direct Trade coffee may have to pay a little more for their coffee. “But,â€? says Patrick, “ItĘźs an easy sell to churches. Their values are already inline with ours.â€? And, for churches wanting to show a commitment to justice, mercy and a fair cup of coffee, working with a local company like Fire Roasted couldnĘźt be easier. They just need to drive downtown to the Western Fairgrounds, to meet the man who knows the man, who grew the coffee, that they roast. Coffee and church. They go together. Like justice and mercy. For more information on Fair Trade check out www.transfair.ca
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Christian Life in London - October 2010
Ma and Pa By Dean Crawford Who sees with equal eye, as God of all, a hero perish, or a sparrow fall (Alexander Pope) Tillsonburg may be a small town in Oxford County, Ontario but it has been home to many notable natives and residents – Colin Campbell, former NHL player and Vice President of the National Hockey League, Gary Green, the youngest Head Coach in NHL history and Jay Triano, NBA coach of the Toronto Raptors, just to name a few. But for the will of God there might be one more name to add to the list….James Hosner. Golf legend, Lee Travino said, “There are two things you can do with your head down – play golf and pray.” For over 120 souls, August 28/2010 was the picture perfect day to do just that as each would challenge Tillsonview Fairways at the 7th Annual James Hosner Memorial Golf Tournament. James Hosner’s dream was to become a golf pro. Still a teenager, but well on his way, the young, avid golfer had been offered scholarships and was sought after by college scouts. Tragically, his dream would be cut short. “We found out James had a dark side” said Barry Hosner, James father “He was using crack cocaine.” Feeling it was time for tough love his parents offered James a choice. “We told him he could either get treatment through Teen Challenge (a one year, faith-based, drug and alcohol treatment center), or he would have to leave their home. James agreed to an intake interview at Teen Challenge and was given an entry date of September 10/2003. On September 3rd, 2003, just six days before his entry date, James Hosner died of an overdose. Barry and Cheryl’s only son was gone. They were devastated. “A month later the Lord gave us peace and comfort” said Cheryl “ and laid on our hearts that we needed to do something… so that’s what we’ve done. He’s taken our love and given it to hundreds of young men across Canada through Teen Challenge and we love them all dearly.” Each August, for the past seven years, Barry and Cheryl, together with many family friends, host a golf tournament in memory of James which to date has raised over $25,000 in support of the Teen Challenge Farm in London, ON. As ambassadors of Teen Challenge, Barry and Cheryl organize food and clothing drives and travel with the Teen Chal-
lenge National Choir promoting the life changing program offered at TC wherever they go. Known affectionately as Ma and Pa to TC students, nation wide, Cheryl and Barry have found peace. “ Although we lost our son, we gained many more. We adopted all those boys and they’ve become a real part of our family.” “The Lord never wastes your tears” said Cheryl “He turns tears of sorrow into tears of joy – we have a lot of those now” she says with a little smile as she looks up at her husband sitting beside her and wipes away her tears. For many TC students this event is the highlight of their year. Ernie, a Teen Challenge graduate said, “To us, Ma and Pa embody God’s expression of love.” And God’s love was playing through the 75% of golfers at this event who are non-Christian, but hooked on helping young men struggling with addiction in whatever way they can. Cheryl, whose faith has been since childhood, believes God always has a purpose. “We may not like that he took our son, but we know He had a reason and now our son is in His care.” Barry and Cheryl are passionate about bringing hope to families whose lives have been turned upside down by addiction and substance abuse. Emphasizing that through Jesus Christ men’s lives can be changed, Barry said “We do not want other families to go through a loss as we have… lives can be changed, the past is the past. These are new men.” Tillsonburg might be a small town… but it’s home to people with big hearts… like Ma and Pa’s.
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Journeying Together Continued from page 1 What we all need are people who care for us and love us, people whom we can begin to care for and love in return. One of the biggest challenges to this whole philosophy is, ironically, the people who we are trying to reach out to. Just yesterday when I was doing one of my usual 'walk-abouts' downtown, I ran into a young man whom I recognized from our drop-ins sitting on the sidewalk on Dundas Street. He was flying a sign that read: "Smiles and 'I'm Sorry' won't help me get drunk". I wanted to ask him about this sign, so I shook his hand and, just as I was about to sit down beside him, he immediately rebuked me, saying, "No, No, please don't sit! I don't have time to talk to you, I'm trying to make some money". Out of respect, I quickly stood back up and tried to dismiss myself as graciously as possible. I must say that I was more than a little shaken up. Didn't he recognize me? Didn't he realize that I was simply trying to love on him? And, after much pondering I began to wonder, how much hurt does it take to bring someone to this place where all they can think about
Dean Crawford is a Marketing Associate at the Teen Challenge Farm. dcrawford @teenchallenge.ca www.tcfarm.org
Teen Challenge students and graduates, with Cheryl and Barry Hosner (Barry is in the centre, wearing a white shirt and a ball cap). Photos by Dean Crawford.
is getting their next "big hit"? (for some of us the next "big hit" could be a bottle of booze to help forget the pain, for others of us it could be our newest big purchase to help distract us from the pain... for me it's currently a new mountain bike that I'm after). Unfortunately, many people have been so damaged by relationships in the past, relationships with people who were supposed to love them the most, that they have given up on humanity and, consequently given up on God (recognizing that God works primarily through humanity). Therefore, people start to live solely for themselves, but where is the joy in that if you have no one to share it with? The culture of poverty is constantly creeping at our backs. The young man that I tried to sit with on Dundas Street actually believed that what he needed was not a relationship or someone to love and be loved by, but rather, more money in order to by more stuff, maybe a bottle of tequila, maybe something to fill his hungry stomach for the day. I mentioned earlier that everything we do is based on relationship. Everything we do is also based on invitation. We are constantly inviting others into deeper relationship and fellowship with ourselves, with the community, and with Christ. But love is, and must always remain, a choice, and the choice is whether we will
accept or reject that love, that invitation. We will not manipulate or coerce anyone into accepting our love, but we must constantly be finding new ways of inviting them in. I must constantly be trying to find ways of loving this young man, no matter how much it hurts. You can read more of Darryl’s blog, at http://journeyingtogether.webs.com You can read more about how YFC is helping in London at www.londonyfc.org.
Page 11
November 2010 Christian Life in London The calling was clear: to train and to build up a small group of God’s people, specifically two social workers, working the front line on behalf By Melissa Page Nichols of the marginalized and the abused with International Justice Mission (IJM) in Bolivia. IJM’s Bolivian team of lawyers, investigators and social workers seek justice for impoverished victims of sexual violence. As a Social Worker in Private Practice, I had volunteered my professional services to provide outside expertise and training for the team. I did not look forward to being separated from my husband and young daughter for 12 days, but as always, God gave me peace and did so by teaching me about God’s name, El Roi (El raw-EE), The God Who Sees Me. Genesis 16 tells the story of Hagar, a woman mistreated and abused, first by forced impregnation by Abram, then by mistreatment from her mistress Sarai who had arranged the forced impregnation. Understandably, Hagar flees her situation. God comes to Hagar at the moment when she is totally vulnerable and alone, in the desert, bearing a child, and although God instructs her to do the most paradoxical thing – return to her mistress, Sarai – Hagar experiences God’s tenderness and compassion and says, “I have now seen the One who sees me (Genesis 16:13)”. In my work I frequently encounter clients with experiences of trauma and abuse and I witnessed this firsthand on a hospital visit with an IJM client in Bolivia. The client is a timid 16-year old young woman, a survivor of multiple incidents of sexual assault, with a child who was just 13 days old at the time I met her. IJM attorneys are pursuing the prosecution of her abuser, and the social workers with whom I am serving are providing her with support and counselling. She lives with her mother who is rarely home as she works long hours to ensure their survival, which leaves the young woman very literally alone with her child. Knowing this, my heart felt heavy for this young woman on her journey of motherhood – alone and vulnerable. In my sense of helplessness to support her in any significant way, I was reminded that I was to be God’s hands and feet in that moment, quietly walking with and accompanying this young woman just for a day, helping to care for her child and sharing a few things that may be helpful to her as a new mother. I was also reminded of El Roi – The God Who Sees Me. Just as God saw and came to Hagar when she was alone in the desert with her child, I pray that this young woman will come to understand and know El Roi as the one who sees her, cares about her infinitely more than anyone else does or can, and is closer than a breath away. For more information about my Private Practice, please visit: www.melissapagenichols.com
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Meeting the need... At the point of need… Get Involved! Become a Supporter! Easy as 1. Buy a Meal
Each time you shop at Giant Tiger, ValuǦMart, Sunripe Marketplace or Sobeys during the months of November – December, buy a meal (or several meals) for someone who needs it by adding $3.11 (per meal) to your grocery bill.
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HOME! What does home mean to you? Home means many different things to many different people. Join us on October 28, 2010 for our Annual Fall Banquet Fundraising Event! Silent Auction! Interactive Program! Seating is limited! Call us at 519.433.2807 to buy your tickets today!
This holiday season Mission Services of London is hosting its’ innovative & exciting option for our donors. The online Christmas Gift Catalogue returns! From a warm blanket to a healthy school lunch, these are just some of the gifts options you can give this season. Launching on October 1, 2010, you will be able to visit: http://missionservices.givingǦhope.org
and help us meet the need at the point of need.
Mission Services of London opens doors of hope to those seeking emergency shelter and support, by offering safe shelter, food and clothing and by facilitating rehabilitation as needed, in an atmosphere of compassion.
For more information on these campaigns and/or other ways to become a supporter, visit www.missionservices.ca or call 519.433.2807
Christian Life in London - Autumn 2010
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