Inspiring ideas
SHOWING THEIR COLOURFUL SIDE
Webpages with staff bios and responsibilities can be bland – not at Bakerview Church in Abbotsford, B.C. At first glance their staff page seems innocent enough, but if your mouse rolls across one of the staff members’ pictures, it suddenly changes from a standard bio-shot to a fun replacement. WWW.BAKERVIEW.ORG
A MINISTRY OF CLEANING UP
Wanting to build more inroads with their neighbourhood, Community Life Church in Ottawa teamed up with a local men’s ministry to see how they could support two local community associations. After distributing flyers to notify local residents, the ministries’ volunteers came by to haul away items not accepted by curbside garbage collection. The men took reusable items to a local furniture bank that supports refugees and hauled the rest to the dump. The two ministries have stayed in contact with the community associations, and plan to help with yard work and other community support starting in the spring. WWW.SPUROTTAWA.COM
PRACTICAL GIFTS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
After learning their region has high rates of human trafficking, Blue Mountain Community Church set out to see how they could offer help. They organized information nights for leaders in their community of Thornbury on Georgian Bay. They also put together ten first-response bags for police and nurses to provide to human trafficking victims who decide to run away from their trafficker. The bags provide necessities like toiletries and pajamas victims need when they leave in a hurry. WWW.FMCIC.CA
SUPPORT FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING DEMENTIA
Caring for someone with dementia can be overwhelming. Every Thursday Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church hosts its Side by Side program for people experiencing dementia. Each participant gets partnered with a volunteer for a four-hour social gathering. The program is a positive experience for those with dementia and offers caregivers a chance to have some downtime. WWW.VAPC.CA
A COFFEE SHOP THAT GIVES BACK
With a vision to live and make a difference in hurting areas, Vancouver’s Coastal Church opened a business in the city’s troubled downtown eastside. They operate a for-profit coffee shop named Eden Café, but the profits are all reinvested in the local neighbourhood. The café also intentionally hires people who face challenges in entering the workforce, like those transitioning out of jail, offering six-month programs to build the person’s resumé, gain job experience and train them in essential life skills. WWW.CHURCHFORVANCOUVER.CA —CRAIG MACARTNEY