Update Tuesday

We are having a great time serving the city of Hamilton with our friends from from Fairlawn Baptist Church of Parkersburg, WV.  As we hit the streets to love our city through LoveLoud projects like feeding the homeless, guerrilla gardening, and praying - sharing Jesus in word and deed, I thought I would leave you with this video to watch.  This is a great video that tells the story of one homeless man here in Hamilton.  It reminds us of the many similar stories that we hear from our neighbours in the city, as well as gives some really interesting insights into Hamilton in general.  Enjoy, and don't forget to check back next week for some stories and pictures of our adventures with Fairlawn! 

Watch it below or follow the link.

Jed the Dancing Guy

Update Tuesday

It was a bit awkward.  It was the first time that anything like that had ever happened.  I had to explain to her that what had transpired was not exactly what we had in mind by the term LoveLoud.  They assured me, however, that Shirley had not done anything to bring on the marriage proposal, it just happened.  There was not a flirt-and-convert strategy being employed by the teams octogenarian!   

All kidding aside, we had a great week with our team from Woodville Baptist Church Hertford, NC.  They were real troopers and I worked them to the bone loving, serving and praying for Jackson St.  We prayer walked, did some

Guerrilla Gardening and even went door to door.  We also spent time feeding the homeless downtown.

This week our intern Blake has been exploring the city as well as the campus of Mohawk College as we get to work laying groundwork for new groups.  We are also getting ready to host our next group from Fairlawn Baptist, Parkersburg WV.  Looking forward to another great week next week.

Trains...

It has been a while since I have posted any art on a Friday but here is a recent work.  It is from the CN rail grounds at Longwood and Aberdeen in Hamilton.

Update Tuesday - Jackson Street

Shortly after we arrived in Hamilton and got settled in our neighbourhood, we began a prayer initiative in which we got individuals or groups to pray for a particular street in the area.  One of the groups who signed up for this initiative was a small group of ladies from Woodville Baptist Church in Hurtford, North Carolina.  For approximately two years now, this group has been faithfully praying for the street and its residents.  Yesterday, after two long days of driving this past weekend, a group of ladies from the church finally had the chance to visit the street in person.  We spent the afternoon prayer walking the street, in the rain, as they got to put sight, sound, taste and smell to the street that they have so faithfully been lifting to the Lord.  I realized yesterday morning, as I spoke about the street and began to see tears in the eyes of some of the team, just how fortunate we are, and how fortunate the residents of Jackson St. are to have such faithful prayer partners.  We will be returning again today to do some "Gorilla Gardening" as we spruce up some empty lots along the street.  We will also be doing some door to door survey work trying to hear from our neighbours regarding what they think are the best things and the biggest needs within our community.  I am looking forward to another great day.

I am also happy to say that one of our interns, Blake Williams, has arrived, and we are expecting the other hopefully this week.  I am excited about all that they will be able to help us accomplish over the next few months.  

I am also excited to share with you that our new web site is in the final stages of completion.  We would love for you to have a sneak peak.  You can check it out at:

www.hamiltonfellowships.com

A big thanks to Jeff Boulton, George Qua-Enoo, Michael Wilson and Gerry McGibbon who all contributed art, ideas, design, tech. skills, editing and lots of time.

Update Tuesday

Well this is going to be short as I am preparing to welcome some interns tomorrow and a mission team on Monday.  I am looking forward to the opportunities these next weeks will bring.  

If you would like to pray along with us next week, and for the coming weeks of summer in general, then please read and pray through Matthew 9:35-38, and Luke 10:1-12.  We will be mining these passages for some principles to be applying to our time here in Hamilton.  

We will be thinking through things like how to:

Be Present

Be Prayerful

Be Proclaiming

Be Praying and Providing for needs

Be searching for People of Peace

If you read, think and pray along with us I would love to hear your thoughts, observations and insights.

Update Tuesday -and they called the police

A part of  what we really hope to do as we serve here in Hamilton is help people to learn some missional principles that they can bring into their everyday lives.  For Kimberley, God has been teaching her about justice and opening her eyes and heart to the vulnerable on the fringes of society.   It is no wonder then that when Kimberley arrived in the small town of Penetanguishene (our son is currently performing there in a production of Oliver) she would come across maybe the only homeless guy in town.  Charlie, along with his big German Shepherd, approached her in the Tim Horton's parking lot (it is literally the only business open after 5:00pm!) asking for change. Kim said that she did not have any change but that she would buy him dinner if he would join her.  He did not want to leave his dog, and so they ate together on the curb outside the restaurant.  As a police cruiser entered the parking lot Charlie began to murmer "oh no...oh no." Kim assured him that they were not there for him, it was a Tim Horton's, they were just there for a coffee and doughnut.  She was wrong, they were there for them and they, very politley, came right over to ask if everything was OK.  Kim kind of laughed and assured them that everything was fine and that she and Charlie were just having dinner.  As it turns out, someone saw Charlie and was worried that he was  coercing Kimberley into giving money.   Kimberley learned very quickly that Penetanguishene is not Hamilton!  On the one hand, it was nice to think that someone was concerned enough for her safety to call.  On the other hand, it was strange to think they were that concerned over one homeless man.  

Kimberley finished dinner at which point she tried offer Charlie help to find a shelter or place to stay, but he "had places to go."  It is strange, but they always have somewhere to go and somewhere to be...I have no idea where or for what...but they do.  

Although the two places that Kimberley finds herself in these days are very different, there is one thing they have in common.  When we look more closely, and our hearts, as well as our eyes are open, we can see the vulnerable on the fringes of society.   I think that God calls us to such places and people as we join him on mission.  Will we have the heart and eyes to see?

Oh Canada - Canadian Tire, a case study

On the surface the following story that appeared in The Hamilton Spectator is just a local story of a store re-opening.  Read a little closer however, the story provides a fascinating study of Canadian culture, including some history, rural vs. urban vs. suburban demographic trends, a iconic Canadian brand and more.  Have a close read and see what you can pick up.

http://m.thespec.com/news-story/2882359-old-is-new-again-the-main-and-victoria-canadian-tire-gets-a-facelift/