This past month, several staff teams from within our Fellowship Pacific family of churches participated in the Safe Sanctuaries Seminar: Nurturing a Culture of Safety and Dignity in the Church. This seminar, led by Lorrie Wasyliw, Executive Director of WINGS Fellowship (Women In Need Gaining Strength), provides in-person training to church leaders, drawing on Lorrie's extensive advocacy work for victims of abuse.

"What's wrong with me?" Emma (not her real name) asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I frequently forget what I am doing and where I am going. I've missed my bus stop several times and arrived late at work. I am not acting normal," she concluded, her eyes welling up with tears as she bravely narrated her harrowing experiences from the past week. Under the weight of stress, her mind often went blank, leaving her feeling painfully slow and overwhelmed, exacerbating the frustration of her coworkers. Emma’s self-confidence was at an all-time low; she was exhausted from restless nights and frequent panic attacks. Before me, with her head bowed low, sat a terrified woman grappling with the traumatic aftermath of domestic abuse.

Standing Still Gets You No Where

Believe this truth?

I am not talking about pausing to catch one’s breath or stopping to enjoy the view or slowing to evaluate one’s direction or recalibrating from failure or resting from energy well spent. I am talking about stopping, and not moving again.

The heart of the gospel is movement. God drawing close to us. Us responding back to Him. Us moving with Him. God does not call us to stand still.

God reveals this movement—His gospel—through church planting.

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: NEW HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES

“I would never wish the Mexican border crossing to anyone, but we had no choice. We crossed a river with my baby on my husband’s shoulders – the current was so strong that I thought we would be swept away. One week later, six people died in that same river crossing.”

Can you imagine living years of your life in hiding, afraid to go outside for fear of being hurt or threatened by soldiers? For Gabriela, one of our recent New Hope graduates, this was a daily reality. Gabriela and her family were hunted, threatened, and persecuted for years. With no options left, they were forced to leave the country. After a long journey, they finally arrived safely at New Hope, where they were welcomed to a home with clean beds and cabinets full of food. They were surrounded by a brand new community of people ready to support and encourage them as they began the next step of their journey in Canada. “I cried tears of joy for the blessing I found here.” 

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: W.I.NG.S (WOMEN IN NEED GAINING STRENGTH)

“To provide women and children in need the opportunity to gain strength and to live according to their true worth.”

This is the mission of W.I.N.G.S. (Women in Need Gaining Strength), and for 22 years they have been serving the community and caring for the vulnerable women and children who so desperately need the love, hope, and safety that they provide.

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: MIGRANT WORKERS MINISTRY

Every year, there are about 6,000 temporary farm workers living in BC during the height of the agricultural season. These workers have left behind the people they love in order to provide for their families, and it’s not easy. There are always challenges—leaving their families behind, those families having to face not having their dad/husband there, language and cultural differences, housing issues, discrimination—and of course, just as with all things right now, COVID-19 has only made it harder.

NEW HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES

Some prayer updates from New Hope.