As we BUILD more room for God in our lives and our church, we are reminded of the ways He moves despite of personal limitations or physical space constraints. Leading up to Christmas, we are celebrating what God is doing in various Compassionate Ministry programs. If you have missed any, visit here. This week we are excited to share how God uses food as a doorway to deeper love and community for marginalized people seeking hope and help.
PART 2: A Safe Place on Monday Nights
Today, Centre Street Church, in partnership with the Calgary Food Bank, provides food hampers three times a week to families in need.
“It’s a great opportunity to pray with people, hear the stories and build relationships in the name of Jesus,” says Pastor Steve, adding
that many families return again and again, not just for food and clothes, but for love, fun and community. Monday nights at West Campus are especially designed for building connection with people in deep poverty. People from the surrounding community who are often recently homeless, low income and surviving on government welfare will often come to use the food bank or clothing hamper and stick around to enjoy a hot drink, maybe some games, and a listening ear.
BUILDing room for Compassion
“It’s a comfortable place to go,” says Christy Fowler, a single parent and Compassionate Ministry volunteer, “People come, they get food
and then go to the café (The Well) where they get some sugar and love.” Having been helped by CSC’s Freedom Session, she gives back
to God by serving other women taking Freedom Sessions and serving at Compassionate Ministry with her 16-year-old daughter on
Monday night.
“Together, my daughter and I are building room in our lives for compassion,” says Christy. “Whether we’re tired or not, Monday
nights are a top priority. Faith learns how to give God’s love freely, without hesitation or judgement as she serves with God’s people
who are modeling His love. Our relationship has grown too because I have this time to disciple her into God’s girl without
society’s distractions. We are all very aware of the privilege we have been given to serve our Neighbors by loving them through the
darkest valleys.”
A victim of abuse and recovering from addictions, Shelly (not her real name) had been in cycles of poverty for her entire life. “She felt
isolated and lonely and told us she had never experienced a true friendship she could count on,” said Christy, recalling how
volunteers could see as soon as Shelly arrived that she was seeking a deeper kind of love and connection. “We gave her a
snack, some groceries, and some free clothes from our clothing bank. After she received prayer, Shelly spent the whole night visiting
with others. She told us as we were closing for the night that was the first time she ever felt safe. She is now one of our regulars and
we love her deeply. Everyone should experience that kind of love. Everyone should see themselves the way God sees them
WHY BUILD MORE ROOM FOR COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY?
The Calgary Food Bank wants to send us more people in need and our vision at Centre Street Church is for people to
walk through a doorway where they will not only be fed for an evening, but for life. We want to see people and
resources, community and deeper meaning in the name of Jesus. To accommodate growing crowds with diverse needs, we
need to BUILD more spaces that are designed with a missional purpose. God is moving through Compassionate
Ministry. To support this and other amazing CSC ministries facing physical space constraints, please visit here.