Southridge Magazine - Summer 2012

www.southridge.cc

SUMMER 2012

THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS

SAINTS, MINISTERS & PRIESTS

THE MEANING BEHIND OUR MOVEMENT

HOW SOUTHRIDGE SUPPORTS

GLOBAL MISSIONARIESMAXIMIZING HIGH INVOLVEMENT & SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

SOUTHRIDGE VINELAND

BUILDING THE CHURCH

LIVIING A LIFESTYLE OF PARTICIPATION

Everything Has Changed pg.24

To Love As God Loves pg.12

discoversouthridge

For an opportunity to learn about

the Southridge story,

God’s vision for the church,

the programs we deliver,

the lifestyle we promote

and what it could all mean for you...

Our past. Our tOday. Our FuturE.LIVING rEaL LIFE tOGEtHEr.

suNday, JuLy 22

How do I fit church? How does church fit me?

for more information please visit southridge.cc/discover

HAVE YOU EVER sensed that something big was about to happen? Have you ever felt like you were on the verge of something significant, something massive? Lately, this would describe how I feel around Southridge: that as a church, God has us on the verge of something huge! And I believe that He is calling every single one of us of us to be a part of it.

This feeling probably began shortly after we launched our new Vineland location. As I took time to reflect on what God had done by bringing two churches together (Southridge and Vineland MB) and how He both guided and provided through the facility renovation project, I stood back in awe of how such a thing could have only been orchestrated by God Himself.

Further though, I considered all that God was up to in the lives of people throughout our church community, across all locations, in the ‘lower-profile’ (but equally significant) stories of life-change, love, and legacy.

I thought of the hundreds of kids who are being loved, served, and filled with hope each week by dozens of volunteers at Rose City Kids. I thought of the thousands of people who have been given a home when they had no other place to turn over the seven-year history of our homeless shelter. I thought of the doors God has recently opened for us to partner with local agencies

whose mission is to care for senior citizens who are too often forgotten; agencies that are absolutely thrilled that a local church is eager to partner and show love and support to people that Jesus would never forget.

I sat back and thought, “Wow! God is even bigger than I give Him credit for, and I am humbled, inspired, and incredibly grateful that He includes us in His world changing movement!”

But now, as I look ahead with a sense of anticipation - a sense of something big - I believe our movement is primed to take off as much or more than ever in our church’s history. I believe God has massive things in store when it comes to global mission.

You see, over the past few years we’ve been working diligently to develop a strategy to achieve the greatest global impact possible. We’ve believed that God can use a local church of four regional locations and hundreds of Christ followers to make a global impact that can only be credited to the God of the universe. And we believe He’s ready to do this on one condition: if you and I are willing to be a part of this movement together.

This is the focus of the third issue of Southridge magazine, to introduce you to our approach of living a lifestyle of global action - a lifestyle that we believe is the calling of every Christ follower. Our hope in this issue is that you’d not only know more about global missions here at Southridge, but that you’d engage more in global missions here at Southridge as part of this world changing movement!

So as you read through this magazine, read with a sense of anticipation. Read with a sense of imagination. Read with a prayerful heart that longs to see God’s Kingdom come on earth (all the earth!) as it is in heaven.

Finally, read with a desire to be included in what God is doing… With a hunger to be part of a movement… With a sense that God wants something massive for your life...

I believe He does. Don’t miss out! S

Editor’sNoteby: Jeff Martens

3 | SOUTHRIDGE MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2012

Southridge

PUBLISHERS:Brad Gesch, Jeff Martens & drew unruh

SENIOR EDITOR:Jeff Martens

CREATIVE DIRECTORS:Mike Fulson & drew unruh

EDITOR:Brad Gesch

EDITORIAL DESIGNERS:Mike Fulson & drew unruh

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS:allison alley, tommy alley, Jenn st. amand, tim arnold, debbie Burns, annie duross, Brent Esau, Vicky Giles, Mike Krause, Jeff Lockyer, Chris Loewen, tom

Loewen, Jeff Martens & rachel Webster

PHOTOGRAPHERS:tim arnold, Brenda Clarke, Compassion photography, Jason dyck, Leah duerksen, sarah Hancox, Joel Hannigan, paul Joyce, Ängsbacka Kursgård, Chris Loewen, aaron phelps, Emili tjernström, Miss Ohara, Clive sax, Jonathan stushnoff & drew unruh

COVER PHOTOGRAPHERS: Joel Hannigan & drew unruh

COVER DESIGNERS: Mike Fulson & drew unruh

COPY EDITING, LINE EDITING:Kristy duncan, Josie Martens, darlene Gesch, Leslie Gillespie, dee Neuman & dave Zaikos PROOFREADING:Jill Van Weelden, Coralene Loewen, darren peters & amy peters

HEAD LINE EDITORS:tim arnold, Jeff Martens & Jeff Lockyer

WEB EDITOR:arran Fraser

PRINTING:Bertie printers


Editor’s Note 3

Welcome to Southridge 5

Going Global: Our International Approach 6

Anchor-Cause Update: North End Location 8

Saints, Ministers & Priests 10

To Love As God Loves: Child Sponsorship 12

How Southridge Supports Global Missionaries 15

Global Anchor-Cause Update: Cuarto-Lote 18

The 7 Strategies of Child Survival 20

The Global Leadership Summit 22

Everything Has Changed 24

The Need For Child Survival 26

Anchor-cause Update: Welland 28

Your Next Steps in a Lifestyle of Action 31

Try It... (You’ll Like It!) 32

When Helping Hurts: Book Review 34

Worship: A Balanced Response 37

Southridge Missionaries 38

Building the Church 41

Where Does The Money Go? 44

Anchor-Cause Update: Glenridge 46

Calendars 49

Anchor-Cause Update: Vineland 50

201 Glenridge avenue, st. Catharines, ON 905 682 9901 [email protected]

TWITTER: @southridge FACEBOOK: facebook.com/southridge

WEB: www.southridge.cc

Southridge(magazine) is published seasonally throughout the year. If you feel that you could play a contributing role to the creation process we would love to have you involved. please email Jeff Martens at [email protected] for more information on how you can be involved. all content copyright southridge unless otherwise noted, 2012.

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SouthridgeI f you are new to Southridge,

we know that church can be a very overwhelming experience

as you begin to get to know who we are and what we are all about. Let me start by taking you on a short tour of Southridge in order to help you know what to expect from our church.

In short, we are about loving people through genuine and authentic relationships. When you arrive on a Sunday morning our hope is that you feel comfortable and welcomed. We are always trying to understand what a guest would want or need on their first visit. We provide a smiling face to greet them in the parking lot, clear and visible signage as they make their way through our facility and a special gift when you join us for your first time. We also have a Café that opens early and closes late where we offer free coffee and tea, and more importantly, a place to relax and read one of our Southridge magazines. We would love our Café to be a place where you can spend time before and after our services getting to know other people from our church.

If you have kids, we want you to know that our children’s ministry volunteers put in many hours to find creative ways to make your child’s Sunday morning experience the best hour of their week. We provide screening and training for all of our volunteers to make sure that your children are safe, secure, and having a great time while they are in our care.

We believe that church is a place to come as you are, and we want everyone to be able to feel at home. Therefore, please feel free to come as casual or dressed up as you wish. Allowing everyone to come as they are is just another way of making sure that your experience is a positive one.

Two of our locations have a Connection Lounge that we invite newcomers to visit each Sunday. This is a place where no question is silly or out of bounds. You will find a pastor there to speak with and some snacks to enjoy while getting to know one another. The Connection Lounge is also a place to go when you are ready to learn more about your next steps at Southridge. I would encourage you to stop by the Connection Lounge at our Glenridge or Vineland locations. At our North End and Welland locations there is a pastor waiting at the Welcome Centre to chat with you at any time.

As you spend more time around our church, we want you to stay in the loop, and the best way to do that is through our website: southridge.cc. All the events that take place around our community are regularly updated online, and the website is a great place to find more information about getting involved in a Life Group, volunteering on a Sunday morning, or how you can reach out by getting involved in one of our anchor causes of compassion.

Our Sunday morning messages are shown on video three out of every four weeks with live teaching

at each location once a month. Live worship bands are at all locations each Sunday. Our hope is that you will find the messages very applicable and relevant to your everyday life. This is our way of equiping you to learn more about what God has in store for you and your life in a fresh new way.

Finally, the best starting point around our church is an informal event that is offered every couple months which is called Discover Southridge. This is a one-hour session that is led by one of our pastors, who explains our history, our vision, and what your next steps at Southridge might look like. This time together allows guests to begin asking questions that might include anything from what we believe to how many pastors are on staff. Most importantly, this informal setting is a great way for us to begin to get to know you. No sign up is necessary; just visit our Welcome Centre to find out when our next Discover Southridge is taking place.

In my experience as one of our leaders here at Southridge, the questions and uncertainties that many guests feel when they enter the church are not all that different from those that my family experienced when we first came to Southridge ten years ago. Our hope is that all of our efforts work together to make your experience comfortable, welcoming, and worthwhile. Also, that these efforts help you to feel at home as you explore what God has for you. But ultimately, what kept my family coming back each Sunday is the same thing that I pray you will discover and experience at Southridge–that is, the warmth of the people and the significance of the relationships as you get to know us and we get to know you!

Thanks for checking us out! S

welcome to

by: Vicky Giles


You are a missionary. This is a radical statement of faith that we are asking every person in our community to embrace. By doing this, together we can change the world. Through a lifestyle marked by a humble per-spective, responsible choices, and generous priorities, we become key players in God’s redemptive plan.

As a church, we are committed to help you embrace this missional challenge by providing a variety of outreach opportunities. Each Southridge location has developed a local “anchor-cause” of compassion that rallies the church community around the most marginalized folks in their neighbourhood. This has resulted in involving hundreds of people being used by God as missionaries, right where they live. We can see the massive impact of the anchor-cause strategy changing lives through the Southridge Shelter. Our partnership with Rose City Kids has produced incredible support for hundreds of families in need across Welland. And our efforts to reach out to marginalized seniors in the North End of St. Catharines are producing wonderful connections, and linking stories of our past, present, and future.

Now we are about to start

an exciting new chapter in this story.

Our goal all along has been to extend this anchor-cause strategy to the “very ends of the earth.” We believe that similarily to reaching out locally, global missions are a responsibility of all Christ followers and an integral part of everyone’s faith journey. Because of this belief, our goal is to have hundreds of people view themselves as global missionaries, even though most of us may never leave the country. This is a radical mindset, a paradigm shift. You are a global missionary. Take a moment and process this amazing truth. You really can make a difference throughout the world!

As a church, we want to have the greatest impact possible in fighting global poverty. As a result, we are rallying all of our loca-tions around the one uni-fied global anchor-cause of child survival (see page 18 for more information about our global anchor-cause). Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who can-

not speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” As we con-sidered how we could live these verses out, we just could not ignore the glaring truth that 10 million chil-dren die each year from preventable causes before their fifth birthday. These children cannot be ignored.

There are a few ways that our international approach differs from what has classically been understood as global missions. First, although we’re asking every person in our community to take part in global missions, we will not be sending teams down to work directly in our anchor-cause of child survival. Instead, through our partnership with Compassion Canada, Southridge will resource and equip the local church to fight poverty and injustice in their indigenous setting. Equipping

Going global


and utilizing local leaders has been proven to have the greatest long-term impact. This approach is often a slower one, and sometimes feels less exciting than sending teams of missionaries from North America, but we believe that it is the most humble, economical and effective strategy. Southridge will continue to occasionally send teams to the developing world; however, these trips will be learning and exposure experiences, aimed at catalyzing a lifestyle of global action in our community.

Second, we’re challenging every individual to engage in developing “a lifestyle of global action,” through embracing child sponsorship and participating in the Global Action Plan. Child sponsorship is a powerful way for every person in our church to lift a child out of extreme poverty and change their life forever, and is one of the very best ways for people to engage in a real relationship with someone in the developing world. Child sponsorship facilitates relationships that have the power to produce incredible change in the children we sponsor, and in our lives as well (see page 14 for more information on child sponsorship).

Developing a lifestyle of global action takes time.

The Global Action Plan is a six-month discipleship journey that allows for this transformation to take place at a slower, more realistic pace. Because we believe that life-change happens best in relationship, throughout the program you will be connected with a mentor, working in a small group setting, and occasionally meeting with a large group of others from the Southridge community, who are also dedicated to developing a lifestyle of global action.

It is very important to understand that our end goal is not just to see our church community serving the poor in the areas where our anchor-cause is located. The Global Action Plan guides people in reaching out to the poor, based on their unique skills and individual God-given

passions. As a result, our vision is to see hundreds of people from Southridge involved in fighting international poverty and injustice all all over the world.

For the past decade, the philosophy of seeing all of us having a role to play in local outreach has allowed us to see so many “God moments” in the Niagara Region - moments that only God can truly take credit for. We know a lot more of these moments are in store for us as we expand our missional responsibility to the developing world. Through a lifestyle marked by a humble perspective, responsible choices, and generous priorities, we believe that each of us can be a part of fighting global poverty and injustice. Together, through God’s strength and grace, we can change the world! Let’s go global! S

Tim with Compassion Ecuador’s Pastors and Promoters in Cuatro Lote, Ecuador. Southridge is partnering with them to resource the Child Survival Program there.

by: Tim Arnold

Seniors & Widows

NORTH END LOCATION

Anchor-cAuse

updAte


H UGE NEWS! The Café, tuck-shop, chapel, and birthday parties at Tabor

Manor are only the beginning. Now it’s time to take serving seniors to the next level. It is with great ex-citement that I get to announce an amazing opportunity that has devel-oped in recent months!

Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) is a provincial organization that provides connections and care for seniors. The programs are ac-cessible to everyone without finan-cial barrier, and the organization has expertise in understanding the needs of seniors across Ontario. We have developed a relationship with CCAC over the past few years, which has resulted in the soon to be launched “Southridge Friendly Visit-ing Program”. In this program, CCAC will provide the link between volun-teers from Southridge and seniors who are living alone, many of whom are on waiting lists for a long term care facility. It is this community that is in desperate need of ongoing visi-tation, help with simple household chores, and assistance with running errands and other tasks that grow increasingly difficult as we age. These services can be completed during weekly visits. It is our hope that the frequency of these visits will result in natural friendships.

Research has proven that when an individual is more content with life, overall health actually improves. We expect that the friendships and relational connections developed through this program will result in fewer emergency room visits and shorter hospital stays. As seniors in our city experience friendship, we will see more folks in our community aging with dignity.

The beauty of the program is that the only required skill for anyone to be involved is an openness to rela-tionship. You can sign up on your own, serve with your Life Group, or participate as a family.

We are hearing more and more stories of seniors who are aging in their own homes and who are dealing with extreme loneliness, while at the same time facing in-creasing barriers to their daily ac-tivities. Here’s a story that was emailed to me recently from CCAC:

Mrs. Smith is an elderly woman who lives alone and is widowed. She has five children and four of them live on the West Coast. She has one child locally who is active in mission work, and thus, out of the country a great deal. She used to own and operate a bed and breakfast and loved the com-pany it provided. She can no longer manage the business and she is hav-ing difficulty managing her own day-to-day care. Her clothes are often dirty, there are crumbs on the floor, and her home is starting to look unkempt. She is very lonely and often cries. She is on the waiting list for Friendly Visi-tors and she has CCAC support twice a week for a bath. The Personal Sup-port Worker often has difficulty pro-viding care in the one hour allotted twice a week, since Mrs. Smith would like to spend the time talking. Due to her visual impairment, Mrs. Smith would love someone to sit and read her mail to her. She could also benefit from someone watering her plants, going through her fridge periodically to throw out spoiled food, and doing some general tidying to prevent clut-ter and potential fall hazards.

The fact is, there are men and women all across the North End, se-niors like Mrs. Smith, who are living out each day in isolation. Maybe you read that story and thought to your-self about the ways that you could work a visit into your week. Maybe you thought about the ways that you enjoy cooking for someone else, or would enjoy sitting down to a cup of coffee and a game of Scrabble. All of these are great ways to serve!

We are gearing up for a Sep-tember launch of this program and are looking for you to get in-volved! Regardless of which South-ridge location you attend, if you would like to be involved in this exciting opportunity, email me at [email protected] to sign up now! .S

“Thank you so much for connecting with us and

seeking our input. We are extremely grateful and so excited about this project and the difference it will

make in the lives of seniors.” – Gail Riihimaki, Director,

Client Services HHNB CCAC

By Annie DuRossby: Annie DuRoss


I want to do a quick exercise with you. When you think of the word ‘saint’, what comes to mind?

How about the word ‘minister’? How about the word ‘priest’? Think about the images and ideas that those words create in your mind…

When it comes to the word ‘saint’, perhaps you think of a Mother Teresa-type person—someone of the highest moral standards, or someone who lived out the greatest level of sacrifice. Sometimes that term suggests a sort of ‘super-Christian’ level of spirituality that few of us ordinary followers of Jesus could ever achieve.

When you think about the word ‘minister’, maybe you think about the political use of the term—like Prime Minister—and think of formal authoritative roles. Or maybe you imagine someone in the religious realm who performs the spiritual functions of preaching, teaching, marrying, burying, baptizing, and communion. For many of us the term ‘minister’ represents some sort of official status or leadership position.

Regarding ‘priests’, maybe you imagine someone wearing a long robe or one of those white collars over their black shirt. Maybe the term conjures up the image of men who are mystically called by God to a life of celibacy in order to tend to a spiritual flock. Often times there seems to be a sense of separateness

between those of us regular folks and the elite who serve as priests.

What may be interesting to learn is that the Bible provides some very different definitions to these kinds of words than what our cultural understanding assumes. For example, the term ‘saints’ refers to anyone called out and made holy by God through the saving work of Jesus—i.e. every single believer in Jesus Christ. From the Bible’s perspective, if you’ve accepted the forgiving work of Jesus and are seeking to follow His leadership through the power of His living Spirit, you’re a saint! The term applies to every believer in Jesus.

Similarly, the term ‘minister’, from a biblical perspective, literally means ‘servant’. To be a minister is simply to perform service to others for common good. There’s actually no position or qualification required. Anyone who serves anybody in any capacity is a minister.

The same thing is true when it comes to the term ‘priest’. In the Old Testament, there was a role called ‘priest’ among the people of Israel that served as a mediator between God and His people. The priest offered sacrifices to God on behalf of people and communicated God’s Word on behalf of God to people. However, in the New Testament, Scripture

teaches that this role was a b o l i s h e d once and for all through the spiritually mediating work of Jesus. The Bible actually refers to Him as “the great high priest” and, as a result, encourages all believers to play this mediating function to one another because of the life of Jesus within them. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” Because of Jesus, all believers are, in fact, priests.

Do you see the trend emerging from this exercise? Where many of us would assume that only very few, mystically-selected people become priests, from the Bible’s perspective, the term actually refers to all believers. Likewise, often times we assume that a minister is someone within the church (even the leader of the church), when in reality a minister is anyone who serves—thus, the term ‘minister’ refers to all believers. What’s more, while many of us might assume that only a select few Christians ever

The Meaning Behind Our MOveMenT

by: Jeff Lockyer

SaintSMiniSterS& PrieStS


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earn their way to the designation of a saint, the term is used scripturally to describe everyone in the family of God—the term ‘saints’ also refers to all believers.

So what does this exercise have to do with this edition of our Southridge magazine? In essence, everything! In fact, the concept that this exercise (hopefully) reveals is bedrock to understanding how we think and function as a church.

Technically, this exercise illustrates a theological idea called “the priesthood of all believers”. It refers to the biblical reality that because of the work and life of Christ in all Christians, every single follower of Jesus has the life of Christ in them in order to do the work of Christ through them. Put more simply, because of Jesus, all believers are saints, all believers are intended to be ministers, and all believers are priests. Or put even more plainly, thanks to Jesus, every follower of His can do His work!

If you’re a church history buff, it is this theological point that was a key piece of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses in the Protestant Reformation of 1517. What’s interesting though, is how unrecognized this theological concept is today—even (or especially) in the North American church of the 21st century. Truth be told, in the way many churches function, we still assume that the work of Jesus is done by a select few in the church as opposed to by, in, and through every believer.

For the purpose of this issue of our magazine where we are focusing on Global Action, or what is often referred to as ‘missions’. In today’s church we often assume that only some of us, perhaps a very select few of us, are intended by God to become missionaries. ‘Missionary’ is another one of those misunderstood terms that we mistakenly apply to only some of us as followers of Jesus. The theology of the priesthood of all believers teaches that, in the same way that every believer is intended

by God to be a saint, minister, and priest, all believers are called to be missionaries.

That’s the bedrock idea I don’t want us to miss, and hopefully it helps make sense of everything else in this issue of our magazine (if not many of the things we do as a church): that, biblically speaking, all believers are to be missionaries.

See, in many churches today, the approach to global missions assumes that only a few select people are called by God to be missionaries, and the church tends to build its system of global missions around this assumption—investing its money and programming into facilitating these select few.

At Southridge, in applying the theology of the “priesthood of all believers”, we understand the Bible to teach that God desires for all believers to be missionaries. As a leadership, we are entrusted with the responsibility of stewarding our church’s resources in ways that maximize the difference our church can make in the world, as well as maximize the degree to which we can disciple people into the image of Christ. Therefore, we feel it’s necessary for us to take an approach to global missions that seeks to develop all of us as believers to become missionaries as opposed to disproportionately investing our resources into a very select few.

What this means is that Southridge has an incredibly unique approach to global missions that I’m hoping this edition of our magazine helps you understand. Foundational to it though is this theological concept called the “priesthood of all believers”, which in this case simply means that at Southridge we believe that every follower of Jesus is to become a missionary and, as a leadership, it’s our job to help facilitate that.

So, unlike many churches whose global missions approach invests in a few key people, the Global Action Plan here at Southridge

seeks to turn every single one of us into followers of Jesus who live lives of faith as global missionaries in our own unique ways. Here at Southridge, we’re literally seeking to create thousands of global missionaries rather than supporting just a few.

The reality is that people often ask me why our church doesn’t support a few missionaries. Personally, it’s difficult to answer that question in a sentence or two, because the answer is rooted in the theological concept that we are all called to be missionaries, and that as a church we’re seeking to foster that dynamic. So what I often say, in summary, is that Southridge is seeking to make everyone into a missionary instead of only supporting a select few people to live that kind of lifestyle.

I hope that through this issue of our magazine, our Global Action Plan makes a whole lot more sense to you. More than that, I hope that through these articles and stories, you’ll realize God’s dream for you and your family to become missionaries and that you’ll get involved in letting us help develop that aspect of your faith to a greater degree.

The truth behind the theology of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ isn’t just that every believer is intended by God to be a missionary; it’s that all of us together have been forgiven and empowered by Jesus’ death and resurrection to each be missionaries in unique ways.

Imagine what God would be doing through us if every one of us lived as a missionary! S


Child SponSorShipto love as God loves


M y childhood has completely shaped the way in which I live, think, and make decisions. I often

wonder what kind of a man I might have become if God had a firm grip on my heart at the age of five instead of seventeen. Would engaging in daily “family oriented” rela-tionship with my biological father, instead of only through cards and holiday phone calls, have significantly increased my ability to love? It’s questions like these that have helped boost my passion today–a passion to see children loved as God loves.

I first embarked on this journey of love by sponsoring a little four-year-old boy from Ecuador by the name of Jimmy Villa. The day I received Jimmy’s picture and in-formation in the mail, I could feel the world I had come to know begin to slowly turn upside down. God was expand-ing my borders of reaching out to global lengths in ways I hadn’t imagined.

In January of 2012 I had the awesome privilege of jour-neying to Ecuador, in partnership with Compassion Cana-da, to get an up close and personal view of the global mis-sion field into which we at Southridge have plunged. Not long after our arrival I learned that I would be able to meet little Jimmy Villa during our stay. I was overwhelmed. It felt as if I was about to meet my long lost brother for the first time. The next day, Compassion had arranged for Jimmy and his father to leave their indigenous village at 4:00 a.m. to travel many hours north, by bus, in order to meet me in Quito.

“Wow!” was the only word I seemed to muster up when we first locked eyes. Hearing his laughter and see-ing the smile on his face was an incredible experience! This was indeed very real. Despite the language barrier, we effortlessly shared so much love between hugs and small phrases that I could recall from my days of Span-ish. Seeing such a strong bond between Jimmy and his father was joyous to watch. It’s very unusual in Ecuador that you would ever get to see such a relationship, but in the village where Jimmy lives, the fathers have a much closer interaction with the children than any other family member. Jimmy and his father spent the day with us eat-ing, traveling, and exchanging photos and gifts. Then we

said our good-byes. I promised Jimmy that I would write very often, pray for him, and come to visit whenever God allows me the opportunity. We hugged one last time, and I waved as he gazed out the back window of the taxi and drove out of sight.

Leaving Ecuador, I quickly discovered that my “absence of human connection” feelings from my childhood were being filled by a deeply rooted passion for child sponsor-ship. All those years God had allowed that disconnection in my life in order to develop something greater–to see our sleeping generation awakened through its relationship with God and those God has called us to be in relationship with… The poor. The forgotten. The children.

I believe that child sponsorship is one of the single greatest long-term strategies in conquering the effects of poverty, but it has to go beyond that! It has to be more than a transaction, more than just an automatic withdraw-al. It has to be more than just a photo on my fridge as tangible proof of my choice for global action. It’s all about reaching far beyond ourselves and praying for God’s hand to do the rest.

What does doing more look like you might ask? The greatest difference you can make in the life of a sponsored child is through prayer. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authori-ties, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV) If we really believe this to be true, then we know that a transaction only goes so far. It is the love of Christ shown by a sponsor, through prayer, that can shine a light into the dark injustices of poverty.

Another great difference you can make in the life of a sponsored child is through letters and correspondence. I’ve seen, first hand, the impact that a letter from a sponsor can make upon a child. I’ve been to the mailrooms where the letters get translated, sorted, and sent out. I’ve seen it! Witnessing the children’s eyes well up as they speak of how encouraged they are by their sponsors’ letters convinced me that this is very real and it makes an immeasurable difference. The children would unveil their letters, wrapped in plastic bags and kept safe in secret


One of the most powerful ways that you can make a difference in fighting extreme

poverty is through Child Sponsorship.

Sponsored children receive educational opportunities, life-skills and vocational

training, Christian foundations, nutritious meals, and access to medical care –

all through a local church.

Your on-going support will bring about lasting change, not only to the

child you sponsor, but to their families and communities.

You can sponsor a child today!

hiding places in their cinderblock huts. With much pride, they would recite all of their letters by memory. These experiences have shown me that in the end, it is the relationship we develop with the child, that serves as a piece of the puzzle that will wipe away every trace of hopelessness and fatalism.

My prayer for Jimmy is that God will completely shape the way in which he lives, thinks, and makes decisions in his daily life by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide him, and that his ability to love and reach out to others would significantly increase with each and every day. My prayer for us is that God would awaken our hearts and reveal the truth of pov-erty through His Word. I pray that we would find the strength and clar-ity, in Christ, to rid our lives of un-necessary consumption in order to globalize our thinking and mobilize a lifestyle of change. Thoughts and prayers like these have helped boost my passion today–a passion to see children loved as God loves. S

If you would like to learn more about sponsorship, we have volunteer sponsorship advocates at each Southridge location that would love to meet with you. Contact Brent Esau at [email protected] to set up a meeting with an advocate right away.

Option 1 - Choose a child from 27 countries across the world by visiting

www.compassion.ca

Option 2 - Choose a child that lives close to the Child Survival Program that

Southridge supports in Ecuador by visiting www.compassion.ca/southridge

Option 3 - Pick up a child sponsorship package at the Welcome Centre at ANY

oF Our Southridge locations

by: Tommy Alley


F or us, that’s what global missions is all about: maximizing high involvement and significant impact. On the surface

that sounds great, but the concept is filled with challenges. Traditionally, churches express their missions strategy very differently, by making large financial contributions and providing high exposure to a few people in the community who are full-time missionaries living overseas. This traditional approach is incompatible with our goal of high involvement and significant impact.

From the perspective of encouraging high involvement, our Global Action Plan seeks to develop missionaries by the hundreds across

our church community. As a result, instead of only promoting a few missionaries, this means we’re trying to profile many people doing many incredible things both locally and globally. From the perspective of having significant impact, our anchor-cause of Child Survival financially invests in indigenous people through their local church to make an ongoing and long-term difference. So instead of funding our own people, we’re resourcing local leaders through partnerships.

In the case of a full-time international missionary at Southridge, it can feel like we’re not really ‘supporting’ them. With our approach, our promotion and our funding

How SoutHridge SupportS

gLoBAL MiSSionArieS:

Significant

ImpactThen in reading Tim Arnold’s article, “Going Global: Our International Approach” (pg. 6), you also learned that in order to have the

greatest impact possible in the developing world, our church is rallying around the specific anchor-cause of Child

Survival.

High Involvement

In reading Jeff Lockyer’s article, “Saints, Ministers & Priests: The Meaning of Our Movement” (pg. 10), you learned that at Southridge we believe that everyone in

the church is called to be a missionary; therefore, the church is responsible to

equip and deploy “the many” as opposed to “the few”.

by: Brent Esau


look very different than a typical church’s global missions approach. So a big question for us is: how does Southridge support people who have answered God’s call to a life of full-time missions internationally? How does our church support full-time missionaries?

What we’re learning is that there are unique needs for people who live out the call to missions in this way, and as a church we’re working to find ways to provide significant and on-going support to these individuals and families. We’re excited to be growing in how we provide this kind of support—before, during, and after their international experience.

Our goal is to develop a strategy that will first help these global missionaries prior to departure by providing some guidance through the process of discerning whether or not this is the right decision. In addition, once the decision has been made, we hope to offer resources to help navigate difficult issues in global outreach, as well as to serve by becoming a sounding board to solidify a fund-raising strategy.

While these individuals and families are living abroad, support looks different than it does before departure. To this end, we are working on a system that connects these missionaries with individuals and Life Groups from Southridge who can regularly connect with them to provide the emotional and spiritual backing they need while they’re separated geographically from us. Our hope is that, as these missionaries are living overseas, they also consciously contribute to what is happening here at Southridge, in spite of the distance that separates us. This will provide opportunities for our missionaries to update us on the encouraging things that God is doing in their ministry, and ways that people right here in Niagara can become practically involved.

Finally, an often-neglected aspect of support comes after the plane has touched down again in Canada. While we aren’t experts in the emotional aspects of re-entering life in Niagara, we can offer pastoral care and resourcing that will help to navigate some of the issues that may arise. We also recognize that, having seen and felt things that the average person has not, our returning missionaries have gained an expertise in a particular issue and can now help to lead others into a lifestyle of global action in some unique ways.

So, how do we support missions? First of all, for the few for whom ‘global missions’ becomes a full-time vocation, we want to work toward a system that will help them to be supported and connected before, during, and after their return. More significantly, we support missions in a way that aims to see hundreds of people from Southridge living as global missionaries–where all of us live with a sense of global purpose and responsibility.

We currently have several individuals and families from Southridge living internationally to try to help others living in poverty in the developing world.

Here are some of their stories...

Geoff & Rita Doppenburg Geoff and Rita, along with their three boys, Zack,

Luke, and Gabe have been working in Guatemala at

the “Hospital Infantil Padre Pedro” in El Progeso. They

work alongside the nuns there to help rehabilitate

malnourished children of the region. They also serve

the remote Mayan people in the mountains of Jutiapa

and Jalapa by helping to provide shelter, medical

clinics, and higher levels of nutrition.

Jason & Corina Reimer This year, Jason and Corina have begun a three-year term in Thailand with their two sons, Jesse and Chase. In Thailand, Jason and Corina will be overseeing day-to-day operations of a home that provides orphans affected by HIV/AIDS with a loving, family environment. In addition to providing oversight to administration and facility at the orphanage, they will be providing support for an indigenous church, providing nutritional training, English classes, and children’s programs.


To learn more, go to www.southridge.cc/global-poverty

Dave & Louise Sinclair-Peters Dave and Louise, along with their four children, Kyla, Micah, Grace, and Sierra, have been working in Thailand since 2000. They are committed to evangelism and church planting in Thailand, with a focus on developing Thais who will lead the church. They are involved in leadership training and mentoring, as well as serving the children, youth, and families in poverty in the neighborhood where they live. Recently, another church has been planted from the church they launched, aimed at serving refugees from a neighbouring country.

Kris & Laurie WarkentinIn the summer of 2011, Kris and Laurie, along with

their two boys, Bennett and Ryan, spent three months

in Zambia to explore what God might have in store for

them there. In July of 2012 they will be returning to

join the Lifeline team for two years. While there, they

will oversee the start up of a new water/sanitation

project, mentorship, leadership training, and personal

development for staff and volunteers at several non-

government organizations (NGO’s) in the Ndola region.

Matt & Mandy WilsonSince the summer of 2011, Matt and Mandy have been living and working in Guatemala, along with their three children, Max, Gabe, and Mercedes. Through several shorter trips, Matt and Mandy were affected by the need at a girl’s orphanage and shelter, and felt God’s leading to do more with the girls and the facility. As a result, they committed to serving full-time in Guatemala for one year to improve educational and financial management programs. In addition to that, they are working to improve overall hygiene for the girls while also mentoring younger mothers. S

Robert & Anne Thiessen

Robert and Anne have been working with indigenous

communities in Mexico for several years with their

children, Ruth and Philip. They are part of a team

focused on the Mixtecs of southern Mexico through

evangelism, Bible translation, leadership development,

and income-generation skills for church leaders.


Child Survival Program

GLoBAL

Anchor-cAuse

CUARTO-LOTE, ECUADOR

updAte


W ith the anchor-cause of Child Survival, we are working with a

local church called Iglesia Nueva Jerusalen in a small, indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Andes, called Cuarto Lote. Surprisingly, even though Cuarto Lote sits almost directly on the equator, cold weather is a factor of life there. At more than 11,000 feet above sea level, life is difficult in this remote place where basic services like water, electricity, and transportation are rare.

As subsistence farmers, with potential for only seasonal employment, many families earn between $40-50 per month. That’s not enough to provide children with healthy food, medical care, or a safe home, so the rate of children who die before they are five years old is four times higher than that in Canada. Many mothers have not studied beyond elementary school, and so they lack basic knowledge of how to keep their babies healthy, such as what to feed their babies, the importance of hand washing, and the importance of clean water. As a result, many children suffer from malnutrition, parasites, and respiratory infections.

The Child Survival Program gives mothers and caregivers the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills they need. They are taught income-generating skills to earn a living, and parenting skills to be able to care for their children. They are also given access to much needed health care for themselves and their babies. Most significantly, the local church helps entire families find hope that comes from Jesus, in the context of a community that is giving them the emotional support they need.

In describing the community, Marco (Pasquale) Cabscango, the director of the Child Survival Program in Cuarto Lote, says that the families they are working with face an incredible uphill battle. The most common disease that affects many families is cholera because of a lack of hygiene. The biggest social issue is the lack of jobs. Most young men and women want to migrate to the cities to have better job opportunities. The mothers have never attended school because only men are valued highly in the community. Little girls are sent to the pastures to feed the animals, instead of being able to go to school. Mothers wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. to do the chores, help their children get ready for school, milk their cows, do the laundry, and so on. Yet, as Marco is quick to point out, “The parents of these children truly care for their children’s education. They work very hard in agriculture to help their children as much as possible.”

As a result, they are implementing a program that, he says, will help the mothers by teaching them about nutrition and how to organize their homes better. In addition to that, he says, “Many mothers used to mistreat their children. This is why we guide these parents and help them improve their communication with their kids. We are working with dads to improve their communication with their children, and for moms to do the same. We’ll also teach the mothers who didn’t finish elementary school, and provide them with a certificate that enables them to continue with the formal education process.”

Maria Limaico is one of the mothers currently involved in the Child Survival Program at Iglesia

Nueva Jerusalen in Cuarto Lote, along with her daughter Jennifer. Maria’s home is made of dirt, straw, and clay, and is infested with mice. Jennifer was regularly suffering from malnutrition prior to her involvement in the program. Maria says, “The weather is extremely cold here, so there are times when we can’t get out of the house to buy what we need. We really need food for our babies. The doctors keep on saying that we have to eat fruits and meat, but we can’t afford them.” Yet, she says that the Child Survival Program has allowed her to become “more confident because now I can go to the program’s office and ask for help every time my daughter gets ill. They are always ready to give us a hand… My baby girl suffers from malnutrition, but they’re already helping me with vitamins and I’m thankful to God for it.”

In speaking from what he has seen with the Child Survival Program, Jose Farinango, pastor of Iglesia Nueva Jerusalen, says, “Many of these mothers live in the countryside and have been totally forgotten by the country’s government. But now we can reach them and their children, thanks to the love of the Lord.” S

By Annie DuRossby: Brent Esau


Children are most vulnerable to disease, malnutrition, and neglect in

their early years. Nearly 10 million children die each year before their

fifth birthday from preventable diseases. The Child Survival Program

rescues moms and babies from desperate poverty by equipping and

empowering moms to take care of their children and prepare them for their first steps toward a life of

promise and purpose–all through the local church.

From the time they are pregnant until the children are four years old,

the CSP educates mothers on how to provide a safe home environment and age-appropriate developmental

opportunities so their babies and toddlers have an increased

likelihood for healthy growth. Mothers are taught literacy and

numeracy skills, and receive support for vocational training and income-

generating activities to help improve the long-term economic capacity of their families. Mothers and children

also receive spiritual nurturing so they can develop a lifelong

relationship with Christ.By reducing infant mortality and

developing strong and healthy babies, there will be more children able to

enter into child sponsorship programs. This gives individuals from Southridge

the opportunity to sponsor these children once they are four years old, providing relationship-based support

to them for years to come.

Trained workers from the local church provide all seven of the below strategic supports. Through weekly home visits and regular group meetings at the church, this relationship-based approach allows moms and babies to thrive in body, mind, and spirit.

Growth MonitorinGProgram staff monitor children’s growth by maintaining records of each child’s height and weight. Steady growth is a good sign that a child is receiving adequate nutrition and reaching developmental milestones.

oral rehydration therapyGastrointestinal illness and diarrhea lead to the life-threatening dehydration that causes several million child deaths each year. CSP implementers use an inexpensive sugar-salt solution to replace fluids lost during illness, and teach moms how to prepare the solution at home.

BreaStfeedinGIn many of the countries where the CSP works, breastfeeding is not the norm. Helping mothers focus on breastfeeding promotes infant growth, facilitates bonding with the mother, and reduces frequency of illness.

iMMunizationThis is an effective way to reduce or eliminate many diseases that cause childhood death and disabilities. In the least developed countries, only 60 percent of children have received immunization against measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and tuberculosis.

1

2

3

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“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy”Proverbs 31:8-9, NIV

Child Survival Program


THE 7 STRATEGIES OFChild Survival

feMale literaCyA mother’s level of education is strongly linked to child survival. A literate mother can benefit from available resources on health and child-rearing practices.

foodHigh-quality food is not always available or affordable. The CSP provides food supplements to malnourished children, as well as to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

faMily planninGWhen children are born close together, the mother’s body does not have time to fully recover between pregnancies. The older child is more likely to be weaned at an earlier age, which can lead to impaired growth and increased vulnerability to illness.

5

6

7

For mE, it actually started by accident. Back in August of 1997, I wasn’t initially booked to attend an event called “The Leadership Summit” at a suburban Chicago church called Willow Creek. But when someone else backed out at the last minute and I was invited to go, I agreed and embarked on a weekend road trip with little to no expectation. Then I experienced the very first session.

I can still remember the title of the session: “Leadership: A Life and Death Deal”. The message was rooted in the Ephesians 6 metaphor of a spiritual battle and compared the learnings of a U.S. military general to the realities of leadership in God’s Kingdom. More than anything, it awakened me to what was at stake in local church leadership—that literally, eternal life and eternal death is on the line—and it motivated me to want to give the very best of the rest of my one and only life to what mattered most in the world. As a volunteer leader in our church’s Youth Ministry at the time, with no plan of full-time vocational ministry on my radar, the trajectory of my life was virtually re-

routed by that first message and initial experience of The Leadership Summit.

Since then I’ve seen countless peoples’ lives changed in similar ways through this event. I’ve watched marketplace leaders melt when confronted with Jesus’ challenge to drop their nets and follow Him, resulting in the ministry calling of some of our church’s most senior leaders. I’ve

seen next generation leaders gripped by the experience in ways that made them unable to leave the 2-day event the same as when they came. I’ve even seen leaders closer to retirement age gain meaning and purpose

for their futures in ways that have given them new leases on the second halves of their lives.

More than that, I’ve seen our community change through the vision, inspiration, encouragement, challenge, and conviction that comes from each session. Perhaps even further, I’ve seen communities change over the years and decades. I’ve seen groups of churches relegate their differences to the back-burner for the sake of Kingdom

THE GLOBALLEADERSHIP SUMMIT

OCTOBER 18-19, 2012 | growingleadership.com/summit

LEAD WHERE YOU ARE.

“I’ve seen countless peoples’ lives

changed... through this event.”


partnership, and have seen the local church reclaiming its rightful place as God’s primary agent of restoration in the world, both locally in North America, and globally in some of the most impoverished areas of our planet. In some sense, without exaggerating, I’ve literally seen this event change the world.

That’s actually the undergirding belief of The Leadership Summit: that if you can change a leader, you can change a church, and if you can change a church, you can change a community, and if you can change a community, they can change the world. In my 15 years of experiencing The Leadership Summit, I’ve been able to watch God not only revolutionize my life and my family, but also our church,

the Niagara Region, and many other places around the globe through this event.

As well, I’ve watched the event itself change. What started as a conference for church leaders out of this Chicago church, soon grew to a ‘multi-site’ model which it broadcast to many other churches across North America. For a few years, participants from our church attended The Leadership Summit in Toronto and then Stoney Creek, before Southridge became a host site back in 2007. While the event was expanding across our continent, it was also beginning to broadcast itself in other countries like Germany, the U.K., and Australia, which resulted in an official name change a few years ago to The Global Leadership Summit (GLS).

Today the event truly lives out its name, where over 120,000 people

experience the event in over 100 countries around the world. Here in Canada, Southridge is one of 20 host sites that experience the GLS together from coast to coast. Not only does this event give us the opportunity to develop leaders across our Southridge locations, but it allows us to share this blessing with the broader church of Niagara as we partner together to grow as leaders to reach and serve the part of the world where God has placed

us as the one unified Church Jesus prayed for in John 17.

This year, The Global Leadership Summit will be held here at Southridge, at our Glenridge location, on Thursday and Friday, October 18-19. This year’s event offers world-class speakers from ministry environments (like Bill Hybels, Craig Groeshel, and John Ortberg), as well as the marketplace (like Jim Collins and Pat Lencioni). And this year, for the very first time in its history, there’s even a Canadian speaker—Marc Kielburger from the Me-to-We Campaign! For more information on this year’s faculty, check out www.growingleadership.com/summit.

We’d love for you to be involved in this experience—either by attending the event or by helping serve the participants as a member of our volunteer team. To sign up, talk to your ministry team leader, or simply drop me a line at [email protected].

Unlike me, you don’t need to end up at this event by accident. Mark your calendars now to experience The Global Leadership Summit, and to be part of what has become an incredible movement of God! S

“...if you can change a leader, you can change a church, and if you can change a church, then

you can change a community, and if you can change a community, then they can change

the world.”

October 18-19, 20

12

Glenridge Location

To register as a Southridge participant visit

ww

w.southridge.cc/sum

mit

Cost is $50

for Southridge attendees

by: Jeff Lockyer


IF you AskEd mE a couple years ago what faith in action entails, I would have answered doing God’s work. However, since becoming one of our church’s core Heart Beats three years ago – it has been made clear to me that faith in action is less about what we do and more about who we are. It’s about becoming like Christ, knowing Him more, and allowing His love and service to flow freely from us.

Everything HasChanged

BY: Allison Alley

> This article was written by Allison Alley, a wife to her husband Tommy and a mother of two kids. Allison and Tommy have been a part of the Southridge community for a number of years, and currently attend and serve in our North End location. After attending Passport in November 2011, they signed up for the six-month Global Action Plan discipleship program. This began an experience of re-learning God’s call on their lives. The article below is a letter from Allison, explaining the journey that she’s been on over the past year, and the exciting and unexpected adventure that God is launching her family into!


As far as who I am?, I’m miles away from where I’d like to be… but I’m on a very real journey of changing that.

Conversations about “what to do with the life we’ve been given” have been a constant around our dinner table for many years, so when our church started to discuss the same thing this past summer, God really spoke to us. It forced me to take a long, hard look at myself and ask questions like, Why am I getting up in the morning? How am I using my time and money? Am I using it to better God’s Kingdom–or am I hoarding it? We were at a point in our lives where we were tired of the everyday grind, sick of worrying about tomorrow and stressing about things that really didn’t matter, and the “Jones” were making it very difficult to keep up.

So we started praying and fully submitting ourselves to God.

Then an amazing thing happened - our perspective changed. We moved away from the selfish goals we had for our lives, and towards wanting to give everything we had to Him. We had to start trusting–I mean really trusting God enough to live under His leadership and move into action.

It was in God’s perfect timing that, while we were finally willing to take a leap of faith and move out of our comfort zone, the

church was launching its first ever Global Action Plan. This process has been incredibly eye opening. We learned about the factors (or spokes) of poverty, what God’s Word says about loving the poor, and the importance of prayer. We’ve evaluated our own lifestyle,

discovered that we are indeed rich, and brainstormed how to be the change. Although the term life changing may seem dramatic–the experience has changed everything. It has changed my heart for the poor. It has changed the way I pray, changed the way I view my wealth, and forced me into action. It made me realize that I have a responsibility to be generous with my time, finances, and prayer-life for others.

If nearly 30,000 children under the age of five are dying each and every day of hunger and preventable diseases, how can I tuck my two little girls in at night and just ignore the thousands of others that are slipping away? And, if 1.2 billion people in the world are living in extreme poverty on less than a dollar a day, how can I justify where my money is going?

God has since been filling me with compassion for those in need, and speaking volumes to me, through His Word, about His heart for the poor and marginalized. I finally got to a place where I was able to say that no matter how significant my worldly successes were, they would never compare to hearing God say, “well done my good and faithful servant.” I felt called to live differently than normal and status quo.

So we have started out on a journey. One of asking God to lead us from wealthy to enough, and to show us how we can help others go from poverty to enough. The one thing that God clearly asked us to give up was the possession we held the dearest, our home. I once said “I’m never moving; there is nothing better for me out there than this.” These words now make me cringe

when I hear them. So, the For Sale sign went up this week - and we are waiting on God to reveal the next step in His perfect timing.

My husband and I have spent much time dreaming and praying about how to make an impact on our world. Though the specifics are

still unclear, one thing is for certain: we want to be more like Jesus. The thing that mattered to Jesus was people–listening to them, loving them, and helping them. He

always took time to care for people.We are so thankful to be a part

of a church community that has encouraged our growth with regard to global missions and has helped us foster a lifestyle of action. I know that God has big, big plans for our church as we throw caution to the wind and serve the poor both at home and around the world–and I can’t wait to be a part of it! S

“... Give me neither poverty, nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.” Proverbs 30:8

“To whom much has been given, much will be required.” Luke 12:48

“...the experience has literally changed

everything. It has changed my heart for

the poor.”

“... we want to be more like Jesus. The thing that mattered

to Jesus was people...”


I could be described as many things: a Christian, a wife and mother, a midwife and lactation consultant, and a shelter volunteer. All of

my endeavours stem from a genuine concern for humanity and they provide me with a way to live out my faith. More specifically, my

passion is supporting women and children on a local and global level.

by: Jenn ST. AmAnd

the need for child survival


When I graduated from university as a midwife, I travelled to Guatemala and volunteered at a

women’s health centre called Ixmucane. I assisted with teaching local “comadronas” (traditional birth attendants), provided care out in the “pueblos” (small towns), and assisted rural women in the delivery of their babies. I worked with many amazing women and their families. The “comadronas” are trained through years of experience but have little or no formal education. They would travel long distances to meet with us and learn skills in an effort to decrease maternal and infant mortality rates.

Prior to this adventure, my doctor-husband and I trained in some isolated areas of northern Ontario where access to health care is a challenge. All of these experiences opened my eyes to the necessity of quality and accessible health care to all women and children. I know that poverty, isolation, and under-developed cultural practices directly correlate to an increase in both maternal and infant mortality rates. Programs that focus on reducing these barriers are necessary and have far reaching implications.

When I learned that Southridge was focusing its global efforts toward a single anchor-cause of the survival and development of children living in poverty by empowering moms, I was elated. The Child Survival Program (CSP) has developed an excellent strategic plan to address seven areas that will allow

children who are poor to thrive. Based on my experiences, I can speak first-hand about the importance of a few of these.

One area is to educate mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding, an often culturally opposed idea. Breastfeeding is a simple and free way to decrease illness, promote healthy child growth patterns, and assist with mother and infant bonding. The CSP will also provide immunizations. During my more than seven years as a midwife, I became well versed in the benefits of immunizations, and I worked to empower families to make informed decisions. In many developing countries immunizations are a luxury – many families cannot afford them or do not have access to them. Supporting moms to become literate is another strategy that the CSP will implement. It is always inspiring to me to know that, by simply helping mothers learn to read, we are by extension, increasing their child’s survival rate!

I believe that inequalities against children and their moms are our greatest moral challenge. As long as the victims of global inequalities are poor, rural, and illiterate, we must be their voice. A life of faith, for me, includes striving to suppress such inequalities, and I am so proud that my church has made the decision to choose this as our global anchor-cause. I feel that as a community, Southridge has been blessed with an opportunity to assist our global “family” through the Child Survival Program. S

“I believe that inequalities against children and their moms are our

greatest moral challenge.”


Single ParentFamilies

& Kids at RiskWELLAND LOCATION

Anchor-cAuse

updAte


R ose City Kids (RCK) contin-ues to grow at an almost ex-ponential pace. With almost

460 kids registered to date, and five buses on the road, the Saturday afternoon program pulsates with energetic children and enthusias-tic volunteers who are personifying love in action. Children who partici-pate in the program continue to tell their friends about Rose City Kids, resulting in new faces every week. Facilitated by volunteers on stage, children enjoy an afternoon of fun games, band-led worship songs, a biblically based life lesson, and a hot snack. An hour and half later when it’s time to go home, kids leave the theatre and board the buses with the knowledge that they are loved, that they are significant, and that they are a part of a larger and special plan. Teams of volunteers continue to build relationships with the chil-dren and their caregivers by con-ducting bi-weekly home visits before each Saturday program. Home visits provide the perfect opportunity for volunteers to answer any questions and learn about the unique experi-ences of each child in the program.

However, the number of reg-istered children for the Saturday afternoon program is not the only aspect of Rose City Kids that contin-ues to grow. Did you know that Rose City Kids has developed three other branches of the program in the past two years? Here’s a brief update on the spectrum of outreach that Rose City Kids provides to families in Welland:

After-School TutoringOn Wednesday afternoons, chil-

dren who would benefit from extra support with their schoolwork make

their way to the RCK theatre to participate in the tutoring program. Children eat a nutritious snack and then work with the same volunteer tutor each week in order to facilitate the foundation of a trusting relation-ship. Academic challenges unique to each student are addressed through on-going encouragement and af-firmation. Letters are sent to the child’s teacher letting them know about the tutoring program and ask-ing for helpful feedback or suggest-ed teaching strategies. To date, over 50 children have benefited from this program.

Cole is attending his third session

of the Rose City Kids After School Tutoring program. This means that he has attended 1.5 hours of tutor-ing each week for 30 weeks! For most children, they can only get into 1 or 2 sessions, depending on how full the current program is, but Cole was given special allowance based on his consistent attendance and great need for extra academic support. Cole amazes volunteers because he comes to the program on his own will. It is his responsibility to get himself to the theatre and he rarely misses a pro-gram. When he initially started tutor-ing, his teacher communicated that he was reading and writing at a grade 2 level even though he was in grade 7. He was quiet and content to work on his own, doing the work he was as-signed. He was paired with a specific tutor, and the two of them hit it off right away. After a few sessions, his personality started to shine through, and volunteers started to see a very witty, sharp boy with an incredible sense of humour. The encouragement and support he received from his tu-tor gave him the confidence to try

without being afraid to make mis-takes. Now into his third session, vol-unteers have seen Cole grow from a boy whose writing was barely legible at best, to a boy who is writing com-plete, humorous, and incredibly imag-inative stories. He is now thriving and taking well-deserved pride in the work he accomplishes!

Junior Leadership Program

The RCK Junior Leadership program was developed to act as a bridge for students who are growing out of the Saturday Rose City Kids program, but are still very much attached to the support that the program and volunteers provide. Youth between the ages of 13-16 are paired with a Junior Leader Volunteer to help with various aspects of the Satur-day afternoon program such as rid-ing buses, sitting with the children in the theatre, and distributing snack. Throughout the program, the Junior Leaders are mentored to develop leadership skills including compas-sion, commitment, and courage.

Amy first started to attend Rose City Kids four years ago. She was ten years old at the time and made sure everyone around her knew that she didn’t care about anyone or any-thing. Looking back, she recalls that she caused a lot of trouble and posed a challenge to the volunteers. But the volunteers at Rose City Kids refused to see Amy the way she saw herself. Each week they pushed her to see good things in herself, good things in the world, and the love that God freely offers to anyone who will ac-cept it. Today, Amy will proudly share that the volunteers at Rose City Kids

By Annie DuRoss


made a huge impact in her life. She credits Rose City Kids for teaching her how to set personal goals, care about the world around her, and live to her full potential. When Amy heard about the Junior Leadership program she jumped at the chance to be a role mod-el and to make a positive difference in the lives of children, just as she had experienced. This is her second year in the program. She loves the oppor-tunity to grow her leadership skills. Her passion is to make a difference in the world, and she is achieving this on Saturday afternoons in Welland.

Parent NightThe RCK Parent Night was born out of the question: Why should only the children get to have all of the fun? The last Tuesday of every month, parents and caregivers whose chil-dren attend Rose City Kids are invit-ed to the theatre for a relaxed and casual evening of adult time. Over mugs of hot coffee and plates filled with delicious snacks, parents have the opportunity to meet other par-ents. Guest speakers are often in-vited to share on topics that the par-ents identify as relevant and helpful, such as Internet safety, how to get children to eat nutritiously, and the importance of self-care in the midst of life busyness.

David found himself in the unex-pected situation of raising his eleven-year-old grandson. With limited social connections, he took a chance and came out to Parent Night to check it out. What David found was a com-munity of other parents and caregiv-ers who not only cared about him and his grandson, but who also shared similar parenting challenges. Every time David attends Parent Night, he intently listens to the topic and ac-tively joins in the discussion. David has felt safe enough to share his fears and concerns about being an aging caregiver while managing his own health concerns. More often than not, David and his grandson are the first to arrive at Parent Night and the last to leave. He freely expresses his ap-preciation for Parent Night and what it provides for him. And of course in return, David is affirmed that he has become a valuable and vital member of the Parent Night community! S

by: Rachel Webster

Single Parent Families & Kids at Risk

WELLAND LOCATION

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Here are ways that you can take the next step

in developing a lifestyle of global action:

Your next stepsin a lifestyle

oF acTIon:

To sign up for any of these next steps, or to find out more about

Global Action, contact Brent Esau at (905) 682-7978 x253 or email [email protected].

As a first step in living out your faith globally,

child sponsorship will allow you to develop

a relationship with a child who is living in

extreme poverty. You can start sponsoring

today by visiting compassion.ca/southridge.

We also have sponsorship “advocates” located

at every Southridge location who can meet

with you to answer any questions you may

have, and assist you in finding the perfect

sponsorship situation.

Sponsor a child.

The Global Action Plan is a six-month

discipleship program aimed at fostering a

lifestyle of global action. Discover God’s

heart for the poor, understand some of the

key factors that contribute to poverty, and

realize how our lifestyle can positively or

negatively affect these issues. This all happens

through daily personal reading, weekly email

reflections and activities, and seasonal large-

group events.

Global action Plan.

This three-hour interactive event brings the

realities of global poverty to life in a powerful

way. You will grow in your understanding of

the complexities of poverty, while gaining

practical takeaways that can be immediately

applied to make a difference in other parts of

the world.

The next Passport event will take place at the

Glenridge location on Saturday, October 27th

from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Childcare will be

available.

Passport.

Each year we offer an opportunity to travel

internationally to explore first-hand the ways

in which our global anchor-cause of Child

Survival is changing lives in the developing

world. Our next trip is scheduled for November

6-11, 2012 and we will be travelling to Ecuador.

Registration is required by June 17.

To learn more, go to our website at www.

southridge.cc/trips.

Exposure Trips.

For each of the six Spokes of International

Poverty, we have a list of recommended

resources including books, movies, and

experiences that will help you understand each

situation better. You will find a copy of the

learning list on our website at southridge.cc/

lifestyle/action/global-poverty.

The Learning List.

RCK STATISTICSBY YEAR

by: Debbie Burns

try it...(you’ll like it!)

“TRy IT… You’ll like it!” You may re-member this as the catchy slogan from an old Alka-Seltzer TV commercial. You may remem-ber it as something your mother said as she presented you with a plate of spinach.

Whatever this saying means to you, it speaks vol-umes into a life lesson we all need to embrace.

Recently I sat down with D’Arcy Tresham and Brad Gesch to hear the story of a group of people at Southridge who decided to use their time to serve others. These folks carved out a few hours each month, stepped outside of their comfort zone, over-came hesitation and misconceptions, and in the end were delighted to find life-changing relationships and genuine rewards.

The Life Group that D’Arcy and his wife Michelle belong to is well established and large in number. Solid friendships have developed over a few years of meeting regularly. As a group, they knew they were ready to put their skills and talents into action to make a difference in the Southridge community. They decided to volunteer as a group to serve Sun-day dinner once a month at the Southridge Shelter.

D’Arcy remembers the first time the group vol-

unteered in the shelter as being sort of like the first day of kindergarten. “We were unsure, nervous, and a little challenged by this new undertaking. Now it is second nature; we are very comfortable and familiar with names and faces. I challenge ev-eryone to embrace something even if it’s a little dif-ferent. If it’s scary, try it anyways, you may like it”.

For all the members of this Life Group, vol-unteering at the shelter has been very reward-ing - relationships and friendships have devel-oped. D’Arcy explains, “After preparing and serving the meal, we would sit down to eat and mingle with all the people who were there. We would strike up conversations.”

One of the people that was there, a man by the name of Sal Paez, has had a huge impact on D’Arcy’s life. “I got to know him and we began to build a friendship. Sal is an easy going guy who could talk with anyone – you could not help but like him.” D’Arcy observed God at work as he watched Sal move from homelessness to independence and along the way they both moved forward in what has become an equally rewarding friendship. Brad adds, “I know both Sal and D’Arcy fairly well and I


can honestly say the most beautiful thing here is the true friendship that has evolved. They are unique indi-viduals and equals in every way”.

Serving at the shelter has spawned additional opportunities for D’Arcy and other members of his Life Group to grow in relationship with the residents of the shelter. Providing transportation to events such as the Promise Keepers (a Men’s Ministry) at the Hersey Centre in Missisauga allows time for conversation that goes well beyond the surface.

Just last summer, Sal, D’Arcy, and Paul Taylor embarked on a fishing trip together. There is nothing like time and the stillness of nature to help people bond. Over the past few years, D’Arcy has come to depend on and cherish Sal’s friendship.

In fact, D’Arcy just beams with pride when he announces: “Sal is joining our Life Group this Fall!” Sal

would often join D’Arcy’s Life Group monthly on Sunday nights and help with serving dinner at the shelter–that’s how it began–and now he will be a fully participating member at their weekly Life Group meetings!

The transformation of people and their lives is a remarkable thing. D’Arcy reflects, “I’ve always had empathy for people who are less fortunate or those struggling with addictions. I come from a place of poverty myself and my life has been radically changed in the last 10 years–emotionally, financially, and spiritually”.

When writing this article, I could not help but wonder where D’Arcy and the others in his Life Group found the time to meet weekly and in addition, turn one of those weekly meetings into a full blown 3 hour service event. D’Arcy admits it was hard. “Most people in the group

have young children and are balanc-ing busy careers and home life along with extracurricular sports and other volunteer initiatives. At first, most of us thought we could have lived with-out this, but we scheduled time and now volunteering at the shelter has become a central part of our lives and relationships–it’s a ‘can’t miss’ event in our world”.

Brad summed things up perfectly: “It’s all about what you prioritize and what events become ‘can’t miss’. Learning about, and spend-ing time with people who have had different life experiences than me has changed everything. Not being caught up in my own life has allowed God to change the way I see the world around me. So, try something new and watch what God does in your life and the lives around you!” .S

“the most beautiful thing here is the true friendship

that has evolved”

Ready for action? Practical Steps:

For those looking to join a Life Group, be sure to attend the next Life Line event at Southridge on Sunday, September 23 or contact Jeff

Jantzi at [email protected]. For those individuals or Life Groups looking to volunteer at the shelter, please contact Annie DuRoss, at

[email protected].


Imagine: your passion for Jesus and heart to serve the poor has you on a two-week missions trip in the slums of

Africa, teaching a small-business training class to refugees in a local church – empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. One day you discover that one of your students, an HIV-infected, former witch doctor and alcoholic who had recently given her life to Jesus, was in danger of succumbing to an infection that could take her life because the local hospital would not treat her and she could not afford the eight-dollar penicillin treatment. What would you do?

This is precisely the situation the co-author of When Helping Hurts, Brian Fikkert, found himself in. How many of us would instinctively do what Fikkert did: reach into his pocket and hand over the $8.00? Probably most. But how many of us would do what Fikkert did later: weep over that choice – in fact, grieve the entire trip because it

accidentally did significantly more harm than good in the lives of the church, its pastor, the refugee students, and even the witch doctor, whose life you saved? Probably none of us.

How is it possible that such incredible, selfless sacrifice for the sake of the poor could have accomplished very little good and, instead, inflicted so much damage on those he intended to serve? What if most of our efforts actually perpetuate poverty, rather than relieve it? What if our best intentions and efforts are actually, “wasting human, spiritual, financial,

and organization resources... [and worsening] the very problems they are trying to solve” (p. 28)? Is it possible that our best efforts to help are actually hurting the poor? The authors of When Helping Hurts say they absolutely are.

This book destroyed every assumption I’ve had about serving the poor–and I loved it. I loved that it was built on a thoroughly biblical perspective of the Kingdom of God–the belief that Jesus’ death was not only to forgive sins so we can go to heaven when we die, but to reconcile all things to God (Col. 1:15-20); to restore His creation to health, beauty, and freedom under the rule of Jesus Christ (p. 32). This is the foundation of the church’s call to spread the good news among the hurting, the weak, and the poor.

Yet, the book utterly revolutionized my impoverished perspective on poverty and what it means to effectively relieve poverty, locally and around the world. Just like many of us, I have

How To AlleviATe PoverTy wiTHouT HurTing THe Poor... And yourself

“This book destroyed every assumption I’ve had about serving the poor-and I loved it.”

[ moody PUbLISheRS, 2009 ]


instinctively thought of poverty as the lack of material things like food, money, clean water, medicine, housing, and so on. I have believed that the task of serving the poor is to supply what they need. The poor, on the other hand, describe poverty very differently than we do. They describe it in social and psychological terms: shame, inferiority, fear, powerlessness, humiliation, hopelessness, depression, isolation, and voicelessness. Poverty, to them, is not the lack of money, it is “the result of relationships [with God, self, others, and creation] that do not work, that are not just, that are not for life, that are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of [peace] in all its meanings” (p. 62). To relieve poverty is to bring

healing to a person’s relationships with God, self, others, and creation, so they can find work to support themselves and their families (p. 78).

The difference is significant. If we misdiagnose the disease, we are virtually guaranteed to prescribe the wrong medicine. If we think of poverty simply as a lack of resources, we will naturally try to relieve poverty by supplying resources, ignoring (and possibly worsening) their spiritual, psychological, social, and environmental brokenness. For example, we could create deeper feelings of inferiority, or disempower the poor from being the solution to many of their own problems. It was devastating for me to realize how misunderstanding poverty actually results in helping

the poor in ways that actually deepen their poverty! That’s helping that hurts them.

Misunderstanding poverty does significant damage to us, the wealthy, as well. If poverty is the result of broken relationships with God, self, others, and creation, then, in many ways we are all poor and we are in this fight against poverty together. But when we only focus on supplying resources, our assumption is that we (the wealthy) are fine and have exactly what they (the poor) really need. This inevitably reinforces the God-complex of the wealthy, who subtly and subconsciously believe that they know how to best serve the needs of the poor. We end up believing that it is our job to “fix” them and their situation, instead of humbling ourselves and dignifying them by walking together with them, asking God to fix both of us. That’s helping that hurts us.

So, how do we help the poor without hurting either them or us? Corbett and Fikkert give several answers, all of which stretched my thinking. The first is that we have to stop responding to need as though every situation is a desperate crisis and every solution requires speedy access to our resources. The best answer is not always an immediate infusion of cash and goods. Sometimes what we perceive to be a crisis isn’t actually a true crisis at all. For example, in some cases there is no immediate threat of serious harm, and in others the individual (or community) was personally responsible for the crisis. In other cases, the people “in crisis”

could actually help themselves, or the root of the problem is a pattern of behaviour that will happen again. Throwing cash or aid at these

kinds of situations, without first asking what is actually

needed, is the kind of help

that is destined to hurt.

Secondly, we have to stop

doing things for people that they

could and should do for themselves.

Most of our attempts to help fall straight

into this trap. We instinctively rush in

with clothes, building supplies, or food, even

though, when properly organized, the community

would have enough of their own resources to

meet their own needs. In doing so, we actually undermine local businesses that exist to provide these goods, stealing their profits and threatening them with further poverty. Or we assume that they need us to take control of their spiritual needs by supplying the preaching, Bible study resources, Sunday School materials, and/or Vacation Bible School programs–programs they are more than capable of running themselves. Or we assume that we always have the best ideas and solutions for every

situation. We know the best way to plant crops, build businesses, and cure diseases, impeding local knowledge from leading the way. Often we build and paint homes that they could do themselves, or take the lead in every project–emphasizing speed, efficiency, and

“If poverty is the result of broken relationships with God, self, others, and creation, then, in many ways we are all poor...”

“Sometimes what we perceive to be a crisis isn’t actually a true crisis at all.”


productivity, at the expense of relationships, dignity, and empowerment. Every time we do something for someone that they could do for themselves, we disempower them, increase their sense of inferiority, and create dependence on the wealthy, thereby entrenching them further in poverty. Our help actually hurts.

Finally, we have to stop trying to solve problems by focusing only on the needs of the community. We tend to look at situations of poverty and ask, “What’s wrong with you and how can we fix it?” This is the most destructive question that we could ask because it reinforces the feelings of inferiority in the poor, and it feeds the God-complex of the rich. Instead, we need to ask the

more dignified and redemptive question, “What is right with you and how can your community work together to improve your own situation?” We need to figure out not what they need from us, but what they already have that they could use to solve their own problems. This empowers the community to take ownership of their own development, and gives them the keys to lift themselves out of poverty permanently, instead of being continually dependent on others.

The point, again and again, is to empower the materially poor by including them in the process of addressing their own poverty–encouraging them to participate in identifying needs, proposing solutions, implementing strategies, evaluating success, and suggesting necessary changes. The truth is that we do not understand the complexities

of their situation as well as they do; so, our role is to facilitate and empower them to find and create their own solutions, rather than imposing our ideas and solutions on them. This approach is so much more redemptive in how it restores people’s relationship to themselves, creating dignity; and to their environment, creating expertise. Ultimately, it helps to restore the poor to the experience of humanness that God intended. Practically, it creates the enthusiasm and ownership required for the community to inspire the development they need to make poverty a thing of the past. The best way to serve the materially poor is not to build them homes or increase their crop yields, as helpful and

as necessary as these things sometimes are. The best way to serve them is to participate with them in restoring their humanity, reconciling them to God, themselves, each other, and their environment.

All of this tends to be counterintuitive to us, and may even rub us the wrong way as it goes against our natural assumptions. As Westerners, we tend to value material success over human dignity, productivity over relationships, efficiency over empowerment, and results over participation. Deep and lasting change takes more time, more effort, more energy, and produces fewer measurable results than we’re usually comfortable with. And yet, in the long term, it is the only way to truly help the poor, rather than hurting them with our best intentions. S

“Deep and lasting change takes more time, more effort, more energy...”

by: mIKe KRAUSe


worship:a t first glance, Psalm 98 appears to be

a rather typical psalm of praise. It is a call to worship the Lord, to celebrate

His love and His amazing accomplishments in our world and in our lives. We are urged to praise the Lord with a symphony of shouts, songs, and musi-cal instruments.

As you read the first eight-and-a-half verses, it almost feels like you’re being invited to partici-pate in a creation-wide party, as even the hills and rivers are instructed to clap and sing.

And then you arrive at verse 9, where the psalmist explains what all the fuss is about - the party’s theme, if you will.

“For the LORD is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.”

To a Western mind, this hardly seems like something to be cel-ebrated. Why would we throw a party in honour of the com-ing judgment of God? It sounds more like something that should cause us to run for cover! The reason for this probably lies in the sense we have that when the time comes for us to finally get what we de-serve, we may not like what’s coming.

As children, we are taught that life isn’t fair. And it’s true. Life has been very unfair to those of us who live in the Western world, and we know it. We have unfair access to the world’s wealth and opportunity. We wear designer fashions made by children who can’t afford adequate clothing, eat exotic foods grown by farmers who don’t earn a fair wage for their work, and vacation at resorts that the locals could never afford to stay at. Be-tween health care and welfare, even the poorest of us are among our planet’s wealthiest people. We could feed the world with the table scraps we throw away, and end needless poverty with the amount of money we spend on ice cream.

To the beneficiaries of life’s unfairness, God’s coming judgment is a scary thought. But to the poor and mistreated, the disadvantaged and dis-

carded, it is very good news. To those who have been victimized by the unfair realities of this world, God’s fairness means that the lopsided distribution of wealth, power, opportunity, and dignity doesn’t go unnoticed and won’t go unac-counted for.

According to the Bible, God never throws up His hands and says, “Oh well, life isn’t fair!”

Proverbs 16:11 says: “The LORD demands ac-curate scales and balances; He sets the standards for fairness.”

So, if fairness is a core feature of God’s charac-ter, how then should that impact the way in which we worship and follow Him? What is an adequate

response to this revelation?As God’s fairness and justice

shine into our hearts, in and through our worship, we begin to emanate these values in our everyday lifestyle. This is not merely a call to compassion or charity; it is a call for justice. To worship the God of fairness means to bring balance to the scales, economically and so-cially. It is not about giving out of the goodness of our hearts;

it is about living sacrificially to make sure that my extra goes to the person who does not have enough or who had none at all, because God has no favourites.

Restoring justice and fairness to the world is not something we do out of guilt, shame, or a fear of judgment. When acts of justice are a response to the revelation of the fairness of God, they become a celebration of His goodness, inspiring songs, shouts, and symphonic displays of joyful worship. We have been invited by God to not only attend the creation-wide party, but to actually participate in causing it, as we partner together with God in bringing His justice to the world, and His fairness to the nations. So, let us sing, shout, dance, and play, but let us also bring a “balanced” response to the God of honest scales, as we reflect His fair-ness in how we live every day. S


G od calls us to a lifestyle of full devotion to Christ–and one aspect of this lifestyle is living out our faith in action. This means we take the words “to whom much is given, much is required” seriously, and reach out to the poor and the marginalized. We also believe that by embracing this lifestyle,

God deepens our faith, growing us in ways that would never otherwise happen.

Having a local anchor-cause at each Southridge location has provided hundreds of people the opportunity to make this lifestyle a reality in their lives. The recent launch of our Global Action Plan is helping people develop a global expression of this lifestyle as well. However, the end goal isn’t that everyone is participating in a Southridge program. Instead, it’s that God reveals to each of us how He wants to uniquely use us to be the hands and feet of Christ to those in need.

The great news is that this is becoming a reality in our church community! More and more people from Southridge are tapping into their personal “calling” and, as a result, our church is reaching out to all sorts of needs both here in Niagara and across the world.

That is what a “missional church” is all about: turning all of us into missionaries in our own unique way. Here are a just a few examples:

SouthridgeMissionaries

by Tim Arnold

Ben Van Weelden: Colombia

I first visited Colombia in 2009 on a business trip, where I was able to see first-hand the countryside and lifestyle there. After I returned

home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted to go back for an extended period of time, so at the beginning of this year, I flew down to teach English as a second language in a city called Rionegro. My original purpose for going was to have an adventure, to try something new,

and to master a new language. Now, we all live in the same global economy, and it’s no secret that the main language in the business world is

English. For someone living in the third world, knowledge of this language can really open up a lot of doors for future educational and workplace opportunities.

Shortly after I arrived, the coordinator of the Language Centre told me that he was working on a special project. This involved reaching out to a rural school in the mountains with very limited means, by giving the young students the opportunity to learn English for free. The coordinator asked me if I would help with this project, and I didn’t have to think twice about it.

While I came down to Colombia for my own personal reasons, God has blessed me with this opportunity to serve missionally through my work. The kids at the school are excited, enthusiastic, and very energetic; and I am truly humbled and thankful for the chance to teach them. I’ve learned that no matter where someone is in their walk with God, and no matter what their intentions are, God can use them to fulfill His plan and His purpose for the world.


J ust over two years ago, I travelled to Bangkok, Thailand. The two and a half weeks that I spent

there broke my heart for something that would set me on a road I could have never imagined for myself. The focus of this trip was to show love to the men and women in the red light districts, one of the darkest and most loveless areas of the world. I witnessed firsthand that individuals being sexually exploited are by far the most oppressed human beings in the world. I left feeling that, as an individual who has the ability to stand up for my own rights, I must also stand up for those who cannot stand on their own.

This drastically changed the way I live my everyday life here at home in Canada. I realized that although human trafficking may not be as visible in my community, it most definitely happens in the Niagara Region. I have been privileged to volunteer at a local drop-in that specifically caters to the needs of women who are in the sex trade. My eyes have been opened to the harsh realities of what women in our community endure day in and day out. I have also found many individuals who like me, have a passion to advocate for abolishing human trafficking. Together we have been able to host several events that educate individuals on how they can join the fight to end human trafficking. Through serving those who are affected by human trafficking and by raising awareness about the topic, God is transforming who I am. He is giving me confidence and hope that there are greater things in store for our world. Through God giving me freedom, He is allowing me, in turn, to give freedom to others.

o ver the past 5 years, I have volunteered at Isubilo Community Resource Center in Zambia. In 2011,

I was able to spend the entire year working as the director of the child and youth department. We support orphans and vulnerable children by reaching out to the kids and their families with physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. This includes helping get them into school, providing school uniforms and supplies, and supporting the family through food supplements, cooking fuel, and soap. This past year we developed an extra lessons program to improve the literacy and numeracy for our kids, and we were so excited to see what a difference this made in their year end results! It’s so amazing what can happen when people are given opportunities! I love working at Isubilo because I work hand in hand with local Zambians, and we are all able to use our strengths to make a difference in the community. Now the centre’s day to day operations are run by local Zambians–all serving God through serving the poor in their community. Awesome!

Going to serve for a full year meant selling my car and many of my possessions, renting out my house for two years, and taking a leave of absence from my job. In the beginning, this seemed very daunting but I was amazed at how God allowed things to fall into place. That being said, missionary life is far from perfect. Daily, I would feel frustrated by a variety of things and would see injustices that made me want to scream. The beauty is that God has been there in all of it–in the amazing triumphs and the miserable messes, and it’s through the good and the bad that God is able to develop my character and help me discover who I am. I’m finding now that the longer I do this, the harder it becomes to continue developing the best ways to make the most significant, sustainable impact on the communities that we serve.

I’m loving every minute of it!

Jennelle Duerksen: Canada

Kristi Lockyer: Zambia


o ne day an idea just popped into my head. I thought that I would make pillows and sell them. Then I would give the money to the

poor. I have now made over $120.00. With some of the money I have bought a chair for a friend of Daddy’s who was homeless and just moved into his own place. He didn’t have a chair. I also bought Christmas presents for two girls at Daddy’s school that probably wouldn’t have gotten any. Just a little while ago, I bought books for a class of students that don’t have many books at home. I feel great being able to do this, especially since I like making things like pillows. This was easy for me and I hope it helped others. S

Sennet Janzen: St. Catharines

goto southridge.cc/events for more student ministry events

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ON APRIL 22ND of this year we officially launched our Vineland location–a Southridge location that emerged as a result of a partnership and adoption of the former Vineland MB Church. In preparation for the launch, our first major undertaking after becoming one church community was to renovate the Vineland facility; to make it more functional for our ministry together as Southridge, and to create a fresh and welcoming environment as we seek to reach the people of Lincoln.

The scope of the renovation was intense as we crammed what some described as six months worth of work into a three-month time frame. Few aspects of the building went untouched as we tore down partitions, constructed new features, painted walls and ceilings, refinished bathrooms, installed new fixtures, and brought in ministry gear and equipment. It was absolutely incredible to witness the rapid progress and spectacular transformation of the church building!

by: Jeff Martens

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But since the completion of the project, as I reflect on everything that was accomplished, what I find even more amazing was the spectacular growth and transformation among the people involved. There are so many stories of what God was up to in the lives of people throughout the renovation, making it seem as though the building project was so much more than just a building project. Instead, it was a means to a greater end: the building of us as the church.

In Ephesians 2 the author says that we, as God’s people, are actually God’s house – that we are carefully joined together like the blocks of a foundation, creating a dwelling for the God of the universe in our hearts and among our communal spirit. And the cornerstone of this foundation is Christ as He is the one actually building the church – growing and transforming the people of God into His likeness.

So as we look back on the renovation, I thought it would be worthwhile to highlight the God-story – to share what God was up to in building His church and growing His people as we rallied together to tackle this project. On this note, instead of a feeble attempt to capture this story on my own, I invited folks who were involved in the project to share some of the ways that they saw God at work.

I hope you enjoy reading their thoughts, reflections, and praises as we celebrate the way God has been building our church – not the bricks and mortar, but us as God’s people into His image!

“Right from the beginning, there was an enthusiasm and energy among our many volunteers. As I called or sent out emails to invite people to help out, the response was always positive. Every time I expected 10 or 15 people to be there on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, it was thrilling to see many more just arrive, ready to work. There was such a sense that this renovation and construction project was about much more than paint and drywall. Together we are building a sense of community and God has something really exciting in store for Vineland!”

- Judy Willems

“As a previous pastor of Vineland MB back in the 80’s, I am excited to see what is taking place in the Vineland community. One Sunday at the North End location where we now attend, it was announced that there was a need for volunteers to help with the renovations. I couldn’t resist helping with the painting. I was so impressed with how organized the project was, how volunteers from all the sites were involved, and how the Vineland location members were encouraged amidst all of the major changes. For me personally, I can see some of my long-time dreams and prayers for the community coming into reality.”

- Murray Unruh

“Both Jay and I have been totally blown away by the time of “renovation” at Vineland. We truly believe that God used it in a huge way to build relationships, shape vision, and unite us in His plan for Southridge. It was so cool working alongside so many people from all the different locations. At first, three months seemed like a long time to be waiting for Vineland to reopen,

but honestly it was an extremely powerful time. In some ways we got a tiny taste of what it must have been like for Nehemiah and his people to be working together to rebuild the Temple wall in the Old Testament. Whether sweeping, drilling, painting, or whatever the task, we knew in our hearts that this was just the beginning of a life-changing journey!”

- Susan & Jay Ballanger

“We certainly feel that God was at work in this project. In fact, it’s been amazing to see God at work throughout this entire process. From the start with the high percentage vote from VMB to begin this journey, to God providing the financial resources, the many volunteers, the tradespeople, the good weather, and solid leadership – He has given us everything to get the job done! We are waiting with anticipation to see how God will continue to lead into the future.”

- Bob Loewen

“The ways in which God was evident on this project are too many to name, yet are deserving of so much thanks and praise. I am thankful for health and safety, as we were free of accidents on the job site. I am thankful for support and favour from the Town of Lincoln and the building planning officials. I am thankful for the countless hours of volunteer support and commitment, especially from those who served on the project as if it was their full-time job. I am also thankful for strong leadership and teamwork. Most of all, I was inspired to see God at work just as He was among the Israelites in Exodus 35 where it says, “All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their offerings... They


brought all the materials needed for the Meeting Place... Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing.”

- Dave Wiens

“In the spirit of wanting to see God sear the hearts of two churches, one can only celebrate the early stages of this union through the activity of the renovation. Without a doubt, the renovation was the best first step we could have taken as a Vineland location. Through the project I saw relationships begin, friendships strengthened, and momentum gained as groups of people rolled up their sleeves, swung hammers, installed new fixtures, added colour to the walls, and committed to the task at hand. Throughout the project, there was great energy to meet the demands of an aggressive renovation schedule, but better yet, the efforts highlighted a heart and a passion to be ONE church in Vineland, a place where God will be honoured, and a place where lives can be changed for God’s purposes. May God continue to have His way in us! Sear our hearts God!”

- Rick Zwiers

“I loved seeing the Senior Youth chip in to help out with the renovations! It’s great seeing young people contributing in such an amazing way to the work that God is doing in and through our church community.”

- Kenny Hildebrand

“The most valued aspect of this project was developing relationships with acquaintances and total strangers. It was so encouraging to see the excitement and energy and to hear the faith stories of the Vineland MB people, even in some circumstances where they were not originally in favour of the church adoption proposal.”

- Erv Krause

“When I first heard about the potential partnership of Vineland MB and Southridge I wasn’t convinced that this was the right option for VMB. In fact, I was doubtful about whether it could work and therefore not very enthused. However, as we began to work together and I began to get to know the leaders and people of Southridge during the time of the facility renovation, I experienced a dramatic–if not surprising–change of heart. Now, because of the ways I have seen God at work I am on board completely!”

- Helmut Koop


E arlier this year our church completed our annual budget development process. This season inevitably triggers the question, “Where does the

money go?” Personally, I think that’s a terrific question because Jesus clearly taught an expectation of ROI (Return On Investment). Consider the parable of the talents, for example, where He describes a king who entrusted servants with some of his talents, intending them to each use the resources for financial gain. To the servants who generated gain on their investment, the king called him “good and faithful servants,” but to the servant who generated no gain (not a loss, just no increase on the original investment), Jesus called them a “wicked servant.” As a leader at Southridge, I want people to care about where our church’s money goes, because we have a responsibility under God to use the resources God has entrusted to us for maximum Kingdom gain.

Often, people assume that the best use of our church’s funds is to invest directly in the needs of people. Frankly, this assumption isn’t just prevalent in our church, it’s pervasive across ministries and non-profits everywhere, forcing many service-oriented agencies to quantify

the percentage of every organizational dollar that is “invested directly into meeting the needs of people”—as opposed to spending on things like infrastructure and staffing costs. It often seems that our desire to see funds invested to make the greatest difference assumes that the way to do that is to maximize the money directed to meeting specific needs.

is that the way the Bible encourages funds to be invested?

Think about a passage like Matthew 9 for a moment. The text says that Jesus is looking over the crowds and His heart is being broken over the immensity of the needs around Him. It says His heart was filled with compassion. In response, in verse 37, He says this, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more work-ers into His fields.” To Jesus, the antidote to the ills of so-ciety was to produce more Kingdom workers. In essence, Jesus taught that in order to meet the most needs most effectively, you need the most workers possible and the most effective ones at that.

HERE’S A cHALLENGING qUESTION

THOUGH:

Where does the money go?oby: Jeff Lockyer


Now consider what the Apostle Paul teaches about how churches work. In a passage like Ephesians 4, he reminds people that God intends all believers to share in the work of ministry (see the article called “Saints, Ministers & Priests: The Meaning Behind Our Movement” for more detail). But he notes in verse 11 that,

Paul explains that to enable ev-eryone in the church to do the work of Christ, certain people of a spe-cific giftedness—known as “equip-pers”—are required to bring out the best of everyone to be effective Kingdom workers. Therefore, to en-able the most and most effective workers possible, you require as many effective equippers as pos-sible.

To optimize a church’s capacity to meet the needs around them, they should seek to develop the most and most effective work-ers possible. To develop the most and most effective workers pos-sible, a church needs as many effec-tive equippers deployed as possible.

So in the case where a church is responsible to steward resources, or specifically money, to have the greatest return on its Kingdom in-vestment, here at Southridge we actually believe that the best way to do that isn’t to invest directly into meeting specific needs. I’ll say that again just so we’re grasping the significance of what I’m saying: we understand the scriptures to teach that the way to serve the greatest

needs isn’t by investing into directly meeting those needs, but rather by investing into equipping people who, in turn, can develop and mobilize workers who, ultimately, can make the greatest and best investment into the needs of people.

To be clear: we believe that by in-vesting in equipping—or, more spe-cifically, in freeing up people with equipping gifts—we can make the greatest difference for Christ and realize the greatest Kingdom return on investment.

So when people ask me, “Where does the money go?” (often won-dering how many dollars go into meeting needs directly) I feel like there are two answers I could give. On the one hand, only a very small percentage of our church’s operat-ing budget is actually earmarked to directly meet the needs of people. At the same time, because the vast majority of our budget is intended to fuel our system of equipping (by supporting staff, facilities and pro-grams),

Like Jesus prescribed though, instead of in-vesting those dollars directly into meeting needs, they’re invested in-directly into a system of equipping to develop and support Kingdom workers to meet more needs, more effectively. In some sense we see our approach to stewarding money as a way of multiplying our capacity instead of merely limiting our dol-lars to the end of the line need. We believe this multiplication strategy meets more needs more effectively, and produces a far greater return on investment.

So if you’ve ever wondered or wrestled with where Southridge spends its money, I hope you can hear our heartbeat on this.

Instead of using those funds to meet needs directly, we understand the Scriptures to encourage a church to invest re-sources in equipping, in order to op-timize the capacity of its workforce, in order to meet the greatest num-ber of needs the most effectively. More and better equipping leads to more and better workers, which ul-timately leads to much more and far better need-meeting capacity than simply meeting needs directly could ever achieve.

It’s our hope that as you under-stand how we see the Scriptures guide us in this way, and more clearly understand how Southridge spends its money, in response, that you’ll be encouraged to partner to-gether with us to invest a greater number of resources into the system that ultimately seeks to make the greatest difference in our world! S

“THESE ARE THE GIFTS cHRIST GAVE TO THE cHURcH: THE APOSTLES, THE PROPHETS, THE EVANGELISTS, AND THE PASTORS AND TEAcHERS.

THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EqUIP GOD’S PEOPLE TO DO HIS WORK AND BUILD UP THE cHURcH, THE BODY OF cHRIST.”

I FEEL LIKE EVERY

SINGLE DOLLAR WE SPEND

SEEKS TO INVEST IN PEOPLE

AND MEETS THE KIND OF NEEDS THAT BROKE

JESUS’ HEART WHEN HE WALKED

THE EARTH.

WE FEEL RESPONSIBLE TO USE THE FUNDS GOD ENTRUSTS TO US

TO MAKE THE ABSOLUTE GREATEST DIFFERENcE POSSIBLE.

cAN YOU FOLLOW THE KINGDOM LOGIc HERE?


HomelessnessGLENRIDGE LOCATION

Becoming a home.

Anchor-cAuse

updAte


I n the spring of 2005, Southridge Community Church opened its doors to the homeless popu-

lation of Niagara to begin provid-ing emergency accommodation for people who find themselves with-out a place to call home. On April 1, 2012 we celebrated our 7th birth-day as a shelter while on retreat at Muskoka Woods Sports Resort with 80 friends, staff, volunteers, cur-rent residents and former residents of the shelter. Our retreat included worship, teaching, activities, music, story telling, and laughter as we celebrated 7 years of existence as a community service and ministry, 200,000 meals served, and 68,000 bed nights provided, as we serve over 1000 people each year!

God has been using the shelter to shape and grow Southridge so much over the past seven years and our retreat was a fantastic way for us to recognize His work and to praise and thank Him for His goodness to us. We were able to have a highlight-of-the-year level experience together, as we grew closer as friends and closer to God throughout the week-end. Now, seven years into this jour-ney of relationship and service to people experiencing homelessness, Southridge has really become what God was calling us to in 2005. We are not just a place of temporary accommodation or an emergency social service, but we have actually become a home, a home to a diverse community of people. I see now that we are not only a home for the homeless, but also a home to any-one who is open to participating in our beautifully diverse community.

I came to see this again recently in hearing the story of Natalie, a vol-unteer and Brock University student

from Perth, Ontario who has been able to find a home away from home here at Southridge. Natalie came to St. Catharines nearly two years ago but struggled to find fulfilling re-lationships in a new city. Being so far from home and not enjoying her classes, she was becoming lonely, depressed, and lost.

Hoping to find thought-provoking teaching and, most of all, meaning-ful friendships, Natalie came to a Southridge Sunday service where she met Vicky Giles at the Wel-come Centre while collecting her free “New Attender Gift.” Vicky and Natalie’s friendship quickly blos-somed into lunches together and afternoon tea times, and ultimately led to Natalie getting involved in the kitchen, preparing Tuesday dinners for the shelter. Beyond the joy of serving, Natalie quickly found great friends among staff, volunteers, and residents alike, as Tuesdays soon became the best day of her week.

Before long, Natalie was staying around after dinner to join the rock climbing program. Natalie describes the program like a sports team in high school having fun training to-gether: “I was surprised at how close everyone was, sharing inside jokes, cheering when someone touched the red tape on the ceiling, standing around chatting and so on.” Natalie describes her fellow program partic-ipants as friendly, polite, and helpful, in contrast to her experience with some of her peers at school stating, “They somehow seemed friendlier.” As Natalie tells her story of finding belonging at Southridge she reflects with this thought: “I have to say, though, what surprised me the most was the fact that I felt more at home volunteering at the shelter, and in-

teracting with the residents, than I did in any group of friends, small groups or bible studies I had tried to integrate with for the past two years of being at Brock.”

Natalie’s experience of finding belonging and a true sense of home at the shelter is becoming more and more common. I have spoken with volunteers, residents and staff throughout the years who have, over and over again, been trans-formed by the warmth and accep-tance of our home for the homeless. We hope you will you join us in the next seven years of creating home.

Happy Birthday Southridge Shelter! .S .

By Annie DuRossby: Christopher Loewen

7 yearS200,000 meals

served 68,000 bed nights

provided to over 1,000 people each

year!


Free financial coaching. 2nd Monday of every month.The purpose of Good $ense is to equip you with the tools needed to be financially free, so that you can live a life full of generosity and of significance. By attending a free monthly finance drop-in, you can connect with a volunteer coach and learn how to track expenses, create a budget, or develop goals of generosity and missional living.

Come to the Glenridge location the second Monday of every month and have all of your financial questions answered and take advantage of our free financial coaching.

Good $ense

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sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday

JULY/AUGUST 2012

sUnDay eXPerIenCe All Locations 10:00am

sUnDay eXPerIenCe+ ICe CreaM sOCIaL All Locations 10:00am


DIsCOVer sOUtHrIDGe +sUnDay eXPerIenCeAll Locations 10:00am






GOOD $ense Glenridge 7:00pm

GOOD $ense Glenridge 7:00pm

r!Otat Sherkston Shores

sHeLterCOMMUnIty bbQ at burgoyne Woods

r!Ot at Wild Water Works

sHeLterCOMMUnIty bbQ at burgoyne Woods

tabOr ManOrbIrtHDay Party Tabor manor


Serving is part of our ideal...

We are God’s plan for bringing hope to a hurting world...

As we engage in this lifestyle of action, we find our own lives powerfully changed...

Life change happens best in relationship...

on July 1st check out

www.southridge.cc/news

VINELAND ANCHOR-CAUSE:

Anchor-cAuse

updAtes

Southridge Magazine - Summer 2012

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Transcript of Southridge Magazine - Summer 2012