​Giving Thanks for God’s Work in Bannerman

​Giving Thanks for God’s Work in Bannerman
 
I was at an amazing meeting in our Church’s local community recently. The meeting was called to discuss afterschool programming for the kids at Bannerman elementary school. 
 
It turns out that the local school has an especially high number of new Canadians and special needs students who attend there. These kids need some extra assistance.  Many of these children also return to homes where there are no parents present because of work obligations, meaning that they have unstructured and potentially wasted hours in their day.
 
That is what this meeting was all about. The new school principle, Lena Corrigan, is eager to address this situation.  Supported by Community League President Dave Ball, and local volunteer Maureen Murphy-Black, she hopes to develop an afterschool program for these kids.  Lena is strongly committed to working side by side with Bethel Church and other community organizations to do so. 
 
The meeting impressed me for two reasons especially.  First, not all communities have such a high level of cooperation and commitment to see their neighborhood thrive.  People at this meeting were passionate, and I have witnessed this wonderful spirit in many similar meeting in Bannerman in the past five years.  I couldn’t help thinking that I was seeing God answering our prayers.  For decades we have prayed that God would bless our church’s community, and we continue to do so today.
 
Second, I was impressed because Bethel Church was singled out for special commendation a couple of times during the meeting.  The group’s leader noted our church’s offerings for children, including Taekwondo, the GEMS Girls club, the Cadets Boys Club, Kids Club, our summer sports programs, and summer kids’ camp.  Then later someone cited our Kids Club as a good example to follow for keeping children safe, since our volunteers escort kids to and from the program.
 
I tell you these things, not to make us proud, but to give us reason for thanks. God is answering our prayers.  I felt humbled and full of gratitude—thankful for God’s moving in the Bannerman community and for the dedication of many Bethelites to Bannerman over the past decades. We serve a wonderful God. –Pastor Tom

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