​EXTENDING JUSTICE AND COMPASSION IN BANNERMAN

​EXTENDING JUSTICE AND COMPASSION IN BANNERMAN

As Christians we know we are “to act justly and to love mercy” (Micah 6:8). Jesus told us to do so without fanfare. However, sometimes we need to talk about what we are doing as a community so that we will be encourage in our efforts. It is in this spirit that I share with you what Bethel has been doing in the Bannerman community in the last few months.

We are currently supporting Carley Clarke who leads a “Ladies Tea” group in the Capital Region Housing units. This is a small group of new-Canadian women who show up each week to enjoy tea, learn English, and discover resources that can help them adapt to Canadian society and succeed financially. Carley is helping two of these woman prepare for their Canadian citizenship tests. She directed a third woman who wants to do her citizenship test to the local C5 Hub to learn English from Loretta Dell, another Bethel member.

Bethel has been able to provide a hand up to several other people in the Capital Region Housing units who are going through a time of transition as they adapt to Canadian society and seek employment that will give their family’s financial stability. You may remember that, at Christmas time, Bethel provided 25 food hampers to local families and 84 gifts to children. Subsequently, the deacons provided two families with a variety of items: a donated queen-sized mattress, a bed frame, blankets, a dresser, a dining room table with chairs, a kitchen cabinet, a playpen and baby toys. Two other families received dishes and kitchenware. One Bethel member went shopping at Value Village to supply three families with winter coats, scarves, and boots. Another Bethelite came out to give haircuts.

Especially through Carley Clarke’s efforts, several children from the neighborhood are attending either our Cadet’s Boys’ Club or our Gems Girls’ Club. Many of the children from the units go to the Kids’ Club which Bethel runs on Thursday evenings. Two families from the neighborhood attended the last Alpha course. Not infrequently members of the local community will come to a Sunday service.

​Be encouraged. God’s love and Good News is touching lives, and He is using Bethel to do that.—Pastor Tom

---