I’m Starting at…

I am so excited to let you know that I have begun a new chapter of my life and am involved in ministry at Inner City Youth Alive (ICYA)!

For some of you this may be the first time that you have heard about this, so I will provide some background information. I have already begun my work at ICYA and I am so excited to be part of the team at this incredible place. It has only been a few days, but it really feels like home and these people feel like my people.

In 2020 I felt that it was the right time to leave my job as a Pastor at Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church and Grace Point. The past year-and-a-half I have been alternating between driving truck and working at Nicky’s family farm. I have enjoyed that work, and it was great to have the opportunity to do things that were less mentally and spiritually taxing. This summer however, I began to get the itch to get back to working with people. For the first time in a while, I felt ready to return to ministry. I sensed a renewed call to ministry and to working with people in need.

On “Linked In,”  a social media site for professionals, I had posted that I was looking for work. A friend of mine from Point Douglas, who happens to be an atheist, saw it. He took note and a week or so later he was with Kent Dueck, the founder and director of ICYA. He mentioned to him that I was looking for work and that he should get in touch with me. I also know Kent. He connected with me and we had breakfast together a week later. During our conversation he presented a job to me that seemed to really fit with how I am made and I knew the organization really lined up with what I value. After applying, interviewing and more it was determined that this was a good fit both for me and for ICYA. I think it is pretty cool how God used an atheist to get me a job at a Christian organization.

My role here is Director of Community Ministry. At this point Inner City Youth Alive has four Community Ministers. They are not directly tied to any one of the programs, but have a role of coming alongside people in the North End and caring for them.  In times of crisis they are there to mentor/disciple and be available for them when spiritual or mental care is needed.

During my time at Grace Point, a church that a group of us planted only a few blocks from ICYA more than ten years ago, I spent quite a bit of time doing this kind of community ministry, and  LOVED it. Now that my primary job is to support people who are doing this very important work, I feel as though my experience there and my heart for people in need will be put to good use. Another part of my job is to do the work of a Community Minister. This gives me the opportunity to connect with people from the North End, and even gives me time to continue some of the relationships I already have through Grace Point.

The Community Ministers have an important role. They are available to community members who are already involved with, or are at risk of getting involved with gangs, drugs, crime and other high risk behaviors. These community members desperately need stable people in their lives who can point them to hope and to a God who loves them dearly. Just recently there was a murder in our community, and  some of our Community Ministers knew the person who had been murdered. That is obviously a  painful situation.

Harvey, one of the Community Ministers, spent the next week connecting with the family, supporting them through this incredibly difficult time, and helping to arrange and officiate a funeral for the family. He made calls to the Reserve to help arrange funding, and made visits to the Mother, who is basically homeless and struggling with addiction. He also made calls to her brother who is in prison.

This family would not have had the ability to do these things, but it was so meaningful for them to have that service and the opportunity to say goodbye. The mother now considers getting into a treatment program for her addictions. Harvey did an amazing work to connect with these people in a very difficult time, and I am so proud to be part of the team that supports and encourages him in his work.

Besides the community ministry team, Inner City Youth Alive has many incredible programs:

1. Gem Lake Wilderness Camp – specifically for Inner City Youth
2. The Bridge Drop-In – open four nights a week for kids and youth
3. Step-up Construction – a social enterprise, teaching work skills
4. Engage Education – engaging young people and their families in their education
5. Meals 4 Kids – feeding children nutritious meals regularly
6. Leadership Initiative – developing Indigenous Leaders in the North End

Check out ICYA.ca for more information on these and other things they are doing. If you are interested and able to make a donation to ICYA or to my Support Fund, you can see the sidebar for more info or go to the ICYA donation page.

ICYA has been around for more than 35 years and is very well respected in the community. I value the opportunity to be part of this organization.