Starting Local, Going Global
Starting Local
Our “Starting Local” campaign supports the women who take part in our weekly New Life Ministry. This ministry provides a supportive, spiritually encouraging setting where the women who come experience the love of Jesus through our leaders, teaching, prayer and sharing.
Each Christmas, we ask these women to let us know how we can support them in providing gifts and groceries for their households’ Christmas celebration. They told us that gift cards for gift buying and a grocery voucher would allow them to purchase what would be best for their specific family. And so, our goal for Staring Local 2022 is over $6000.
We make sure that each household receives sponsorship at a level equal to the approach of the Salvation Army and Greener Village. And, in addition to supporting our New Life participants, any financial gift you designate as “Starting Local” will allow us to provide a Christmas gift to our friends who attend our Third Sunday Supper ministry. Many are unable to connect with families and/or friends during the Christmas season. We hope this remembrance will remind them of God’s love and our love during what can be a challenging time.
Your Social Action Team
Going Global
Each year for Going Global, we focus on a place of need in an area of the world where Canadian Baptists are partnering with local Christian denominations to bring life-changing support directly to the lives of those who live there. In the past we have focused on children living in prison with their parents in Bolivia, providing school uniforms and tuition for children in Rwanda or Kenya and funds to allow local women to be trained in micro-business leadership to support their families.
This year, as a church family, we will focus on Ukraine and the situation there. An area close to many of our hearts as our own Julia and Sergiy Polyachenko are from the country and have family living in this war-torn land.
At the end of September, we were pleased to have quest preacher Adrian Gardner, from our national office. Adrian serves as the Director of Canadian Partnerships with Canadian Baptist Ministries. In March of this year, Adrian was sent to Romania and to the border with Ukraine to observe the burgeoning work of Ukrainian Baptists in response to the war.
He writes: The trip was heartbreaking as I saw firsthand the human suffering caused by the war. It is currently estimated that over 6 million people have fled Ukraine. Many have sought refuge in countries in the region… When I was there, the train station in Bucharest was overflowing with refugees seeking safety for their families.
As heartbreaking as the trip was, it was equally, if not more so, inspiring. It was inspiring to see the Church step into the brokenness of our world to compassionately obey the command of Christ to love our neighbour and care for the oppressed. I am constantly amazed by the sacrificial love of God’s people in challenging times.
Adrian has encouraged us to raise funds in support of Ukrainian refugee relief with our partner All4Aid, a group working with local pastors in Romania to create Ukrainian refugee ‘stations’ in that county. Through this partnership three locations have been started: The House of Grace, The House of Peace and The House of Hope. The House of Grace is in a former church parsonage and provides living accommodations for 12 Ukrainian refugees who are provided with shelter, groceries and pastoral care. The House of Peace is in a commercial building offered by a developer and houses 20 refugees shelter, food and help finding more sustainable accommodations, opening a spot for a new refugee to be housed and helped. The House of Hope is located in a rural area close to the city. Working with the mayor, a former Kindergarten has been converted to provide housing for 40 Ukrainian refugees to live long term and in addition to shelter and food they are connected with medical professionals and the care and support of the local church.
Adrian writes: This work with All4Aid is one example of the many inspiring ways that local churches are embracing a broken world through word and deed. In the heartbreaking context of war, the people of God are working to offer God’s peace to those in need. I pray for peace in the region. I pray for an end to the way and conflict and suffering. And in the midst of conflict, I pray for that as churches let their light shine before others, people may see their good works and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Every dollar that you give to Going Global, will make its way directly to our partner churches to minister to the people of The House of Grace, the House of Peace, The House of Grace and beyond.
Your Missions Committee
