Gospel Transformation In An At Risk Neighbourhood

May 15, 2024 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Housing, Kevin Rogers, Kevin Saunders, Mental Health, New Song Church, PAOC, Religion & Spirituality, Street Ministry Worker, Substance Abuse, Urban Ministry, Windsor Ontario, Elizabeth Anderson, Paula Saunders, Community Gardening, Assisted Living

For 10 years, New Song Church has been alongside one of Windsor’s more challenging neighbourhoods of social housing. What we affectionately call the Glengarry neighbourhood is a series of four high rise apartments, several rows of townhouses and an assisted living facility. It experiences the most tragic of life experiences as well as a quieter majority that are just trying to survive.

Through collaboration initially with The Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative and partnership with Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation, we run a 4 day per week drop in centre, a community garden, the cafeteria contract in the assisted living facility along with a weekly Bible study and prayer meeting for residents with spiritual desire.

In this episode, Kevin Rogers interviews Kevin and Paula Saunders as well as Elizabeth Anderson.

Widows, Orphans and Warming Centres (Jess Disabatino interview)

March 01, 2024 by Kevin Rogers

Today I’m talking with my friend Jessica Disabatino. Jess and her husband Dave co-lead Journey Church in Calgary. Our connection goes back to the early 2000’s when they were pastoring Lakeshore Church in Toronto. We began dreaming together with Braeside Camp to launch Camp Inner Change, a week of summer camp for inner city children and youth.

Eventually Dave and Jess moved to Calgary to lead Journey Church. Jess also worked for a season in the lead team of Mission Canada.

She has also been a podcaster and a frequent speaker at conferences.

Links:

Journey Church, Calgary

https://www.myjourney.church/

Braeside Camp

https://www.braesidecamp.ca/

Down To Earth Podcast

https://www.downtoearthpodcast.com/

Sage From The Mexican Mennonites - Kevin Wiebe interview

January 01, 2022 by Kevin Rogers in Canada, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

Kevin Wiebe is a pastor that grew up below the poverty line, with his mother hunting for change in the couch to buy food for the baby. Pastor Kevin now pastors a low resource church of mostly immigrants—a congregation that transcends definitions of the helper and the helped and that doesn’t fit neatly into any stereotype of poverty.

A few years ago he developed Pov.ology, a small-group curriculum on poverty and the church.

Most recently he has authored a new book entitled ‘Faithful In Small Things: How to serve the needy when you’re one of them.’

The book shows readers that writing big cheques isn’t the only—or even the best—way to alleviate poverty. It’s small acts of love that change the world, and a vital aspect of following Jesus.

Jesus ministered to the poor, even though Jesus was poor. If both are true of our Saviour, both can be true of us too.