SonDay in Vancouver

SonDay (Jan 22) in Vancouver found me traveling to the Caribou Hill corps for their second service of the day. At both services this day, The War College and students were featured as a missions focus for the corps. At my service, they showed The War College's new video "I am The War College" in which many different people involved in various TWC ministries were spotlighted on the streets of Vancouver. This was set to the music of Rent and the ending tag is: "Measure the year in love." Two students then gave their testimonies and the corps people were encouraged to get to know them all personally by inviting individuals to their homes for SonDay dinner. I believe ALL students found a home and, my guess is, they ate well!

Later that evening, I got to participate in a join ministry effort by the Caribou Hill corps' evening congregation (led by Michael Collins) and TWC students- feeding people from a canteen that visits the Down Town East Side twice a week. I've helped here before, but this time I was privileged to take the role Michael usually takes and serve the soup!

While some serve soup & bread, sandwiches (with the peanut better and jelly right to the edge of the bread!), hot drinks and sweets, etc, others move around the crowd and interact with the people. Michael, in particular, is a master at interaction! He has so much fun talking with people about Jesus! He always makes this time serious and fun at the same time.

It was raining lightly (which it almost always does in Vancouver!), so by the time we were finished, I was fairly soaked through. My left arm was almost asleep because of the position I had to stand in to take the soup from the canteen and deliver it to the people in the never-ending line. When there is no more soup and/or food, most people sadly disburse, but some remain for continued discussion about spiritual things, pray and joke with Michael.

The best thing about this ministry that I can see is that the people serving aren't just there to "deliver food." Rather, their mission is to get to know these people from the DTES and deliver hope through Jesus Christ. Friendships are developed and in some cases, lives are changed by someone caring for them- perhaps for the first time in their lives. That's what ministry should be all about. One of these servers has actually adopted the child of one the street people.

Afterwards, I walked back to Steve & Danielle's place for the evening a bit cold and soggy, but warm and satisfied in spirit.