Doing Justice
Thinking “Local” at Christmas
“We wanted to encourage our congregation to be generous both locally and globally and find ways to use their gifts and passions in ways that would contribute to the partnerships we were trying to establish with a few local organizations,” shared Jean DeBeer, former deacon, current World Renew Ambassador, and Diaconal Coach for Diaconal Ministries Canada. “Getting our church more ‘invested’ with a local Giving Tree is one way we as a church are growing our relationship/involvement with our community.”
Read MoreFlood Relief Efforts Continue in BC Thanks to new Coalition
While most of the country has moved on, relief efforts continue in the southern part of British Columbia as many still work to rebuild homes and businesses and feed their families. One church that has led the way is Gateway CRC in Abbotsford, setting up a Flood Response Strategy to help address the intermediate and long-term spiritual and material needs of local residents.
Read MoreThe Gospel Lived Out Through Fire & Flood
Through the ongoing challenges of natural disasters in their community, Evergreen CRC near Edmonton, AB, has been able to develop new relationships with people in their city as well as with other non-profits and organizations, all because they were able to use the gifts they were entrusted with to show people the love of God.
Read MoreNew Year… New Approaches(?), Part II
A food bank that doesn’t give out any cans??
What if food banks are making people dependent on short-term solutions, focusing only on symptoms while dismissing long-term answers and/or underlying problems?
Watch this interview with John Klein Geltink about a different way to help!
Read MoreAddressing the “Other Pandemic”
Faith leaders are in a unique position in that they may be approached for support before anyone else. How can deacons live out their mandate to “be compassionate to those in need and treat them with dignity and respect” in regards to the opioid crisis?
Read MoreKitchener Church Serves Up Hope Through Community Meals
Community CRC in Kitchener has had the pleasure of being involved with serving meals at their city’s Ray of Hope Centre.
Read MoreNew Year… New Approaches(?) -Part I
What if food banks and community fridges and a lot of our well-meaning efforts are actually making people dependent on short-term solutions, focusing only on symptoms while dismissing long-term answers and/or underlying problems? What is a church to do?
Read MoreOntario Church Cooks Up Ways to Help Refugees
The Refugee Committee of Meadowlands Fellowship CRC (“MFCRC”) has been very active for the last 7 years. During that time, the committee has helped eight (8) families – a total of 39 people – move from places of desperation to settlement away from conflict and into a place of peace and hope for their futures. In order to support another refugee family that the church is working hard to bring to Canada, the committee held a unique fundraiser on Saturday, November 6th: an online Arabic cooking class!
Read MoreHelping that HELPS During Christmas (and beyond!)
We all like to be helpful, don’t we? Opening a door for the elderly man walking with a cane, making a meal for a neighbour or friend when they are sick or just overwhelmed with life, lending a hand at the school fundraiser, and the list goes on. These kinds of ‘helps’ are wonderful and meaningful and are a wonderful way to bless another person.
So as we enter into the Christmas season, many of us are looking for even more ways we can help those who are less fortunate than us. But what if I told you that some helping doesn’t really help?
Ongoing Care and Connection Despite Covid Helps London Ministry Thrive
Sanctuary London has always at its core been about creating relationships with people experiencing oppression and exclusion. Overnight Covid changed the way Sanctuary interacted with each other. In many ways, they went from being intentionally and intensely relational to a service-driven, needs-based ministry. Despite the many challenges, Covid has affirmed their mission and they have continued on!
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