Update Tuesday - Celebration

We are celebrating a new job!  Not for us, but for one of the members of our fellowship.  More than just a job, however, this new employment opportunity really represents a fresh start.  We first met this young lady while we were on the street serving coffee and sandwiches to the homeless.  She herself was not homeless, but just happened to be walking by.  After a street closure, her bus had been diverted and so she was walking to the next stop to get a transfer when she happened upon our group.  We had the opportunity to chat, and she seemed intrigued by a group of people who would give of their time to hit the streets and serve our neighbours in need.   We exchanged contact information that afternoon, but to be honest, I wasn't really expecting much to come of it.  That was until the next week when she called to ask about our Wednesday fellowship meeting.   That was 9 months ago and this young lady has been coming ever since. We have been able to learn a lot more about each other.  She grew up with the Children's Aid (Child Protective Services) in foster care and group homes.  At seventeen she was sent out on her own with an allowance and moved to Hamilton because rents are cheaper.    Even with cheaper rents, finding and keeping quality jobs has been difficult and she has needed help at times for basic necessities such as groceries.   In a new city, with few relationships, and little support as she tried to figure out a direction for her life she found us.  To be honest, we are not the most obvious fit.  We have few people in her age bracket and no "young adult" programs geared for her.  But, on the other hand, what we do have is equally important if not more so.  We have people who are willing to give of themselves.  We have people willing to give love, time, advice and spiritual council.  Some of the more mature ladies have been able to walk with her, encouraging her spiritual growth and giving wise council.  The past few weeks have been fun to watch.  She was the first to invite a friend to our social night.  She also took the challenge of planning the music part of our worship time last week, pouring over the passage we would be looking at and picking music accordingly.  While most people just pick their favourite songs, she picked a song she had never heard just because the words fit so perfectly with the theme of the night.  She is really engaged in our bible study times, not afraid to ask the honest and tough questions.  After much discussion with other ladies on our group, she was finally able to begin to share some of the goals and direction that she has begun to set for the upcoming year.  In the midst of this, she was able to find a new job, one into which she has been pouring herself, diligently studying and working hard.  Even last night my wife got a text asking what she could be studying while we are away.   It has been a priviledge to watch her begin to get her life on a healthy trajectory with Jesus.   In all the planning and talking about growth and numbers, I can sometimes forget that what we do really is about people, it is about helping people connect to Jesus and walking with each other to see Jesus change lives; hopeless to hopeful, purposeless to purposeful, needing to giving. 

This week has also been full of some great conversations.    Some things are being put into place and details are coming together so that hopefully I will have some exciting news to share in the coming weeks.
I am out of town for the next few weeks, a week of vacation followed by some visits to ministry partners.  I am not sure there will be updates over the next two weeks or not but at the very latest I will be updating things again in three weeks.
Thanks for all of you who continue to support and pray for our ministry here in Hamilton.  We so appreciate all you do!!!