 By Cindy Larsen, Calgary AB I am the mother of three daughters and was a single mother for a long time, so I learned firsthand how expensive basic needs for women can be. Over the years, I began noticing more efforts to raise awareness about the need for feminine hygiene products. Shoppers Drug Mart had a collection bin, my softball team supported Tampon Tuesday, and my health-care union held a supplies drive. I loved seeing people respond to a need that can so easily be overlooked, and when I reached a point where I could be a giver, I wanted to do the same. When our Calgary Congregation held a brainstorming session about mission opportunities that would work for our small congregation and limited volunteer resources, I brought the idea forward. Parker Johnson suggested the name “Dignity Box,” and the congregation immediately embraced it. We had already been supporting the local food bank, but this gave us a particular way to respond to our growing awareness of the indignities experienced by marginalized people around us. It also fit naturally with what we had learned through our welcoming and affirming work and our experience as a downtown congregation. We started the Dignity Box at the beginning of 2025. It sits at the front of the church, under the church seal that remains as a legacy from our previous building, and it is always there for people to add donations. Feminine hygiene products are an important part of what we collect, along with deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, socks, and other basic necessities. We all deserve a life where our basic hygiene needs can be met without embarrassment. The box fills surprisingly quickly. Once we have a good amount to donate, we work through two local organizations already serving people in need: the Calgary Drop-In Centre and the Calgary Food Bank. The Drop-In Centre works with people experiencing homelessness, while the Food Bank supports people experiencing food insecurity. The Food Bank has also seen increasing requests for feminine hygiene products, and through the Dignity Box we can address that need in our own small way. Getting the donations where they need to go is simple. When we donate to the Food Bank, my husband, Pastor Doug, passes the supplies to a neighbour in our building who takes them along when he works his shift there. When we donate to the Drop-In Centre, Doug and I take them to the Donation Centre ourselves. At Christmas, we also check the organizations’ wish lists and concentrate our giving on the items they particularly need at that time. We don’t have direct contact with the people who eventually receive what we collect, but that doesn’t seem necessary. We know the good goes out into the world, into the hands of people who will make sure these basic necessities reach those who need them.
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 By Karen Newman, SLIM Pastor of Mission Mission is a passion of mine, and one of the things I love about our SLIM family is how willing everyone is to help others. Sharing Love In Mission (SLIM) is a fully online congregation based in Chatham, Ontario, with members mostly from Canada and the United States, as well as a few from other countries around the world. A typical Sunday gathering brings 10–15 of us together on Zoom to socialize, share our joys and concerns, pray, worship, and talk about mission. We try to take on a mission project every month, and this summer gave us two wonderful opportunities to make a difference in our community. For our July mission project, we decided to provide some much-deserved treats to our local first responders. I contacted each location to find out how many people worked there and whether they had freezer space so we could make sure there was something for everyone. On July 20, our Spiritual Advisor, Margie Lamoure, and I delivered almost 400 frozen treats and nine large fruit trays to Chatham-Kent EMS, Chatham Police, Chatham Fire, and the Ontario Provincial Police. Everyone was so appreciative — and surprised that we wanted to do this for them! It felt great to give something back to people who give so much to their community. In August, we once again supported FreeHelpCK’s annual backpack program, which helps local families provide their children with the supplies they need for school. My original goal was to purchase and fill 40 backpacks. With financial support from the SLIM family, that original goal grew from 40 backpacks to 64, which I delivered to FreeHelpCK on August 13. I love watching our members get behind these projects, especially when a particular need speaks to someone and they decide to give a little extra to help us do even more. I have always been someone who likes to help others in need, even when I didn’t have a lot myself, and I was honoured when I was asked to become SLIM’s Pastor of Mission a few years ago. Members bring mission ideas to our Sunday gatherings or contact me directly, and our pastors then talk about how we can respond and what resources we have available. As Pastor of Mission, I help turn those ideas into action by connecting with organizations, finding out what they need, and coordinating our projects. We may gather online from many different places, but we consider ourselves a SLIM Family, and together we keep finding ways to share love in mission. Do you have a story like this one? We would love to hear it and share the good news with members and friends around the world. Send us your notes at [email protected], and our team will be happy to help you turn them into a story. Let’s Celebrate Mission together!  By Leandro Palacios, Director of Communications When people ask, “Why should I join Community of Christ instead of any other mainstream Protestant church?”, what should we say? Chuck Boyd, a former pastor of the Toronto congregation who is now a member of the Woodfield congregation, asked President Stassi Cramm and members and friends from across Ontario a question along those lines when they gathered at the Corinth congregation last Saturday to celebrate its 150th anniversary. When he was baptized in 1945, our members believed that ours was the one and only true church. While Chuck admitted that he himself wasn't fully comfortable with the claim and its implications for relations with our neighbours, he believed that it offered solid ground for our faith and identity, and also gave us a solid “sales pitch” to invite people to Christ. In the decades since that time, we stopped teaching that we had a monopoly on the true gospel and acknowledged that other churches—and in fact other religions—could also be valid spiritual paths or ways to connect with the divine. That’s when our old invitational sales pitch became obsolete. Now what? The question led to a fruitful conversation about our shared identity and mission, but in the end, I think we weren’t able to fully address Chuck’s main concern. Since that weekend, I have reflected back on the question. And it seems to me that the answer to questions like “Why this church and not others?” or “What does this church have to offer that others don’t?” was all around us at the Corinth congregation that day: When I arrived, I took a few photos of the building’s exterior. Everything looked beautiful, yes, but I wouldn’t say it was unique—although the flower bed was amazing! But when I opened the door and walked in, our church history greeted me with what felt like an unexpected warm embrace. That was special! I was effusively embraced by historic artifacts including photos, hymnals, letters, stories, articles, membership records, games, a model of the Independence Temple, and more. Led by congregation historian Nancy Baer, the Corinthians—that’s what local members call themselves and I love it—had laid out the congregation’s history on a wonderful display, filling tabletops and walls with their inheritance. Nancy also did something that made me—as Communications Director and as someone who loves history—extremely thankful and excited: she invited everyone to write down their memories, testimonies, and other stories and compiled them all together into a large binder. But that day I was also embraced by a giant “Map of Ancient America” that was likely still used back when Chuck was baptized, even though today we understand it does not reflect at all the history of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. And during the worship service, we sang hymns that no longer reflect our understanding of the gospel. While the congregation today is fully welcoming and is actively promoting the gospel in mission without making exclusive claims, the Corinthians proudly embrace and celebrate their own story, even those parts that we often hide away and don’t talk about for fear that someone will find out about our Restoration roots. Today we know we are not the one and only church. Neither are we better than all other churches. So what should be our sales pitch today? What I witnessed at Corinth reminds us that in Community of Christ, as we learn new and better ways to understand scripture and the good and not so good chapters of our shared story, we learn to discern the path forward. We certainly cannot claim to be the “one and only true church,” but perhaps we can invite people to true transformation. Our heritage gives us a unique lens to continue to grow and learn and be transformed not only as a church, but also as individuals. In our lives, we all have things we would rather hide away from others, things that make us feel guilty and unworthy. But what if the embarrassing things we try to hide in the closet are actually what make us special? I believe that celebrating our story while recognizing past errors and remaining prayerfully committed to always becoming more inclusive, more loving, and more Christ-like is very special indeed. A huge shout-out to the Corinth congregation for showing that responsibly celebrating our heritage can bring about the honest transformation we need to discern our path forward. Congratulations on your 150th anniversary! Hopeful signs of courage and creativity — Apostle Lach Mackay reflects on his Ontario visit7/2/2026  By Apostle Lachlan Mackay
Apostle Shannon McAdam and I spent the second week of June visiting members and friends from eight Community of Christ congregations in Ontario. Accompanied by Sam Smalldon, Bishop of Canada and member of the Mission Center Presidency Team, we began our journey at the Grand Valley congregation, followed by a detour to see the home of Joseph Smith III's wife, Ada Clark. From there, we shared tea with members of the Proton congregation before visiting the Proton building and cemetery. The day ended with an evening gathering at Owen Sound. On the second day, we spent time with the Wiarton and Port Elgin congregations. On the third day, Mission Center Presidency Team members John Hamer and Leandro Palacios joined us as we attended the weekly home gathering of the Guelph congregation and an online evening with the Willow congregation. Everywhere we went, we were met with warm welcomes, delicious food, meaningful fellowship, and thoughtful questions. Throughout our visits in Ontario, we were impressed by the faithfulness, warmth, and resilience of the members and friends we met. Many congregations are sustained by long-serving disciples who continue to offer ministry with commitment and care. Again and again, we experienced communities shaped by deep relationships and a clear desire to steward what has been entrusted to them for the sake of mission. Their relationships with one another are central to their identity. In some places, congregations are also recognizing the need to move beyond a building while continuing to serve faithfully and creatively. These visits also revealed the many ways congregations are gathering and serving during this time of rapid change. Some communities remain deeply connected to their buildings as places of mission, memory, welcome, and ministry. Others pioneered what it means to continue as a congregation after selling a church building, while some have more recently transitioned to home gatherings. Still others are gathering in hybrid in-person and online ways. Together, these settings showed us that congregational life in Ontario is not defined by one model. It is shaped by faithful people discerning how best to embody Christ's mission in their local context. Several consistent themes emerged throughout the journey: the importance of strong relationships among field, mission centre, and congregational leaders; the need to name honestly the challenges we face; and the willingness to risk something new. In many places, there was a growing recognition that the future will require taking church to the people rather than waiting for people to come to the church. Our Ontario visit offered hopeful signs of courage and creativity as congregations continue discovering faithful ways to live Christ's mission in changing times.  The Reaching Out Centre's "Be a Blessing" initiative is something we have wanted to begin for some time. We were made aware of a need at a local school where students were coming to school hungry and teachers were working to provide food for them. Some of the teachers were making it themselves. We believed that we could help so we set out to create a program where we could help. Our program prepares food packages that the children can access on Mondays and Tuesdays every other week. This past Sunday (Mother's Day), we packaged up food that will be available the following Monday. We are trying to get two days’ worth of food out of our efforts and so far, we have been successful. Our next Be a Blessing prep day will be on May 24, starting at 11AM. This is also an All In Sunday for us, another separate program but one which integrates the Be a Blessing Program for this month. We encourage you to come out and help. It is a great way to give back! If you would like to learn more, visit reachingout.ca/events to see when our next Be a Blessing prep day is. You can also sign up for emails to receive the latest news and updates. If you would like to support this amazing initiative, contact James at [email protected]  Happy New Year! As we enter 2026, let’s pause to look back at what happened in 2025. Throughout the last year, members and friends across Canada made history together. The unique and creative ways in which we all participated in the life of the church inspired many to share their experience. From reflecting on what happened during World Conference to life-changing experiences at camp events, and from simple pastoral visits to making the bold decision to become a single mission centre, the stories we shared speak of who we are, what we do, and what we believe in. This is Community of Christ! Community of Christ members tour the Toronto LDS temple (February 20, 2025) Members of Community of Christ were invited to tour the Toronto Ontario Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was a unique opportunity that offered insight into their worship spaces and practices while strengthening relationships between Restoration traditions. A congregation sharing Light with its community (March 12, 2025) In Stratford, a congregation leans into a simple practice: showing up with warmth, consistency, and welcome. “Light” is not an abstract theme here—it’s what happens when we quietly choose to be present for our neighbours. Edmonton congregation partnering to provide hope (April 16, 2025) In Edmonton, a long-standing partnership with Y.E.S.S. becomes a living rhythm of service. A “Fun Walk” and “Service Sundays” gather members, friends, and staff to support youth in crisis. Encounter World Religions on CBC News and CityTV (April 23, 2025) Director Brian Carwana was interviewed by CBC News Network and CityTV Toronto following the death of Pope Francis. This affirms Encounter’s growing reputation as a Canadian voice on global religious issues. Inspired by Celebrate Mission, a seeker answers the call to serve (April 30, 2025) A seeker from Texas—who has since become a member of Community of Christ in Canada—shared how participating online led to concrete service in his local community. This experience illustrates how mission can emerge wherever people find meaningful ways to serve. New Priesthood and Personal Relationships policy now in effect in Canada (May 17, 2025) After months of shared discernment among members in Canada, the First Presidency approved a policy change removing cohabitation as an automatic barrier to priesthood service. The decision reflects careful listening, respect for differing responses, and the realities of ministry today in the Canadian context. Stassi Cramm ordained prophet–president; Resolution G-3 ruled out of order; Nonviolence Statement adopted (June 3, 2025) World Conference opened with the ordination of Stassi D. Cramm as prophet–president, marking a historic leadership transition. Shannon McAdam ordained apostle for Canada; gun violence resolution passed (June 4, 2025) In a moving ceremony at the Temple, with the chamber filled, Shannon McAdam was ordained by Apostles Art Smith and Robin Linkhart. Experiencing World Conference for the first time: A Canadian perspective (June 4, 2025) A first-time attendee describes the scale of World Conference and the impact of worship, debate, and participating in common consent as part of a global church. Reflections from the Kitchener Remote Site (June 4, 2025) A member of the Lowbanks congregation, shares highlights and personal insights from her experience attending World Conference 2025 at the Canadian remote site in Kitchener. Calgary member shares experience from Kitchener remote site (June 4, 2025) Another perspective from the remote site points to accessibility, cost, and community as reasons this model matters for future conferences. Richard James new president of the Council of Twelve. Art Smith honoured at Canada pizza night. Harmony service offers hope (June 5, 2025) Canadian delegates and friends gathered for a pizza night—an opportunity to reconnect, make new friends, and share stories over delicious food. Apostle Art Smith was honoured with a memory book and a painting of The Old, Old Path. Flashback to a 1917 reunion: Letter from a Canadian young adult at Erie Beach (June 11, 2025) A recently discovered letter offers a window into a Canadian camp reunion a century ago, reminding us that gathering, friendship, and shared purpose have long shaped church life in Canada. Get to know our new World Church leaders (June 18, 2025) Newly ordained apostles introduced themselves through short video profiles, helping names from World Conference become familiar faces and voices. Gratitude and Joy: Kathy McAdam reflects on her first World Conference (June 18, 2025) A first World Conference at age 70 becomes a personal milestone—full of worship, people, and big moments held with gratitude. Connection and calling: Jada Middleton’s first World Conference (June 25, 2025) A young adult reflects on her experience at World Conference—not just as an event, but as a turning point. How we found hope and renewal at the Summer Solstice Women’s Retreat (July 9, 2025) The retreat created space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with others. Hope showed up through conversation, care, and time together. Generosity is at the heart of mission at St. Thomas congregation (July 23, 2025) In St. Thomas, community life spills outward through open doors, shared meals, and practical support for neighbours. Generosity is not a one-time action here—it becomes a culture. Healing and belonging in Community of Christ – A seeker’s journey (August 6, 2025) A seeker describes the long road toward belonging and what makes it possible. His reflection tells us that growth comes through acceptance, relationship, and a community willing to make room. Developing young leaders at Hills of Peace (August 20, 2025) Youth Camp focused on leadership formation through participation, cooperation, and learning together. Junior Camp thrives within Family Camp at Hills of Peace (August 20, 2025) A “camp within a camp” model allowed two reunions to flourish together, showing that when we risk something new, wonderful things may happen. Choosing hope together at McGowan’s Lake Reunion (August 20, 2025) At McGowan’s Lake, the theme “Choose Hope” took shape through worship, service projects, learning, and the simple rhythms of being together. From silence to confidence: what we learned at the Noronto Sr. High Camp (September 4, 2025) Senior High Camp became a place where youth found their voices, grew in confidence, and experienced leadership as shared responsibility. Here and now: reflections from the Hills of Peace young adult retreat (September 9, 2025) Young adults slowed down, built relationships, and created space for honest conversation, discovering how presence itself can be transformative. Love in Action shone through at the 2025 Canada West Mission Conference (September 17, 2025) The Canada West Mission Conference was a celebration of community as members made the significant decision to move toward one mission centre for Canada. Just like coming home: Wendy’s journey back after 50 years (September 17, 2025) After decades away, Wendy’s return shows how welcome and relationship can make reconnection possible, even after a long absence. Welcome our new Canadian Seventies: Lisa Neudorf and Gwyn Beer (September 24, 2025) Two new Seventies were ordained during the Canada West Mission Conference, joining others in this important ministry of the church. Fellowship and camaraderie at the Hills of Peace Men’s Retreat 2025 (September 30, 2025) Fifteen men gathered for conversation, reflection, and practical support of camp life. Retreat and work blended naturally, and relationships were strengthened in the process. Noronto Canoe Camp – Reflecting on 26 years of tradition (September 30, 2025) A long-running canoe camp continues to form friendships and traditions year after year. CEM Conference 2025 – A weekend of community, dialogue, and joy (September 30, 2025) Canada East gathered for worship and decision-making at Ziontario campground. Delegates voted yes to joining Canada West as one mission centre. Carload of donations for children in need collected at CEM Conference (October 1, 2025) A simple invitation at CEM Conference resulted in a carload of donations for a local elementary school, turning our gathering into real mission that impacts lives. Continuing Revelation 1889 style! (October 8, 2025) A piece of Canadian church history is brought forward as a living reminder of how discernment has been recorded and remembered. It offers a small window into the long continuity of church life in Canada. History enthusiasts tour Community of Christ heritage sites in Canada (October 15, 2025) A heritage tour connected participants with early Canadian church history, reminding us that the events that shaped the early story of our church also took place in our country. A new model of shared leadership to move Onward Together (October 15, 2025) Apostle Shannon McAdam introduces the five directors who will share the duties that have traditionally been Mission Centre President responsibilities, as well as adding additional support, ministries, and programs to help us expand our possibilities as we walk onward together. Federal government recognizes Sionito as a model in the fight for housing justice (October 29, 2025) Our affiliate’s long work in affordable housing was recognized at the federal level. This experience exemplifies what it looks like when vision, hard work, partnerships, and justice commitments result in solutions that make our world a better place. Onward to the Future: Highlights from the 15th annual Young at Heart Retreat (October 29, 2025) People gathered at Noronto campground for learning, companionship, and reflection. A pastoral visit brings connection and care to members on Vancouver Island (November 5, 2025) A week of visits became a blessing of meals, conversations, and listening—small moments that keep people connected across distance. Thank you for turning imagination into generous action this Giving Tuesday (December 3, 2025) The year closed with an overwhelming display of generosity. Together, 761 donors from Canada, the USA, the UK, and Europe raised $858,738 USD, including a $375,000 USD matching fund. In Canada alone, 101 donors contributed $54,280 CAD. As 2026 begins, these stories stand together as more than memories: this is our shared history. I look forward to continuing to write history together with you in 2026. Our first opportunity will be when we gather on January 17 to affirm the bold step we took last September to move onward together as one mission centre in Canada. Walking together this new year with hope in our hearts, let’s celebrate our mission and share our story. As our hymn Now in This Moment says: “This is our story, this is our song!” Have a blessed and prosperous 2026, Leandro Palacios Director of Communications Community of Christ in Canada  At this year’s CEM Conference, attendees were invited to bring simple but essential items—socks, underwear, hats, mitts, and scarves—for children in need at Macphail Memorial Elementary School in Flesherton.
The response from participants was nothing short of extraordinary. A carload of donations was collected and delivered to the school, far surpassing what staff had expected. They were overwhelmed with gratitude, acknowledging that the abundance even exceeded their immediate needs, and promising to share any surplus with local agencies to ensure nothing goes unused. This generous outpouring is a beautiful witness of how a community’s compassionate response to a simple invitation can ripple outward, blessing not only one school but the wider community as well.  At the Canada West Mission Conference in Chilliwack, BC, Gwyn Beer and Lisa Neudorf were ordained to the office of Seventy during the Beyond the Walls service. In the testimony below, Gwyn reflects on how an unexpected call became a source of deep joy, how she and Lisa are stepping into this ministry, and their hopes for serving communities across Canada and beyond.
By Gwyn Beer The CWM Conference, September 12–14, 2025, was held in Chilliwack, my home congregation. On Sunday, September 14, during the Beyond the Walls service, Lisa Neudorf and I were ordained to the office of Seventy. For me, the call to Seventy was unexpected and came at a very busy time (but is there ever a “right time”?). Unprepared, and asked to respond within a week, I prayed. I also looked up the role of the Seventy in Community of Christ. In my deliberation, I pondered my call to Elder and now to Seventy. My heart sang out to me that Seventy is where I should be! This felt more “right” than Elder had. I had an immediate sense that I needed this, perhaps even more than those I hope to serve need a Seventy. About 12 days later (past the seven asked for, as I am often late), I called Seventy John Glaiser back. I accepted the call and began to work on my studies. I later heard that Lisa Neudorf had also accepted the call to the office of Seventy during the week leading up to conference. God works in wonderful ways! With Shirley Smith, we now have three Seventies in the western provinces of Canada—BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan each have a Seventy. I feel we three will move forward together. Shirley Smith and Linda Klughart began a project to reach out to non-residents in the four western provinces. I want to keep reaching out to those who live outside a congregation. For me, this was the beginning of what I see as my chosen outreach. We will develop our own plans, and with Karin Peters and Joelle Wight to guide and advise, we will step forward in faith. Lisa and I, along with Shirley, will be opening our hearts and using our heads to serve all in Canada as we move out in faith, hope, and love.  Sometimes, transformation begins with something as simple as a shared meal—or even a box of cinnamon rolls. In one remarkable instance, someone who had never set foot in a church found themselves moved to offer what turned out to be a moment of grace. Was it an action led by the Spirit in someone who didn’t yet know how the Spirit leads? Whatever the cause, it opened a new path of connection, belonging, and ministry. At the St. Thomas, Ontario, congregation, the mission of Community of Christ is not an abstract idea—it’s something you can taste, share, and experience. Over the past several years, St. Thomas has cultivated a powerful ministry of connection through meals, partnerships, and community gatherings. Their $2 Dinners have become legendary, drawing hundreds of neighbours each time for a full roast beef meal at “yesteryear’s prices.” The initiative, inspired by the work of another congregation, has grown into a local tradition that fosters dignity, joy, and generosity. Many guests pay more than the suggested amount once they understand the spirit behind the meal. The impact is tangible—hundreds fed, friendships formed, and even spontaneous $1000 donations in support. This same ethos of trust and accessibility shapes their open-door policy for their Social Hall. Rather than charging standard rental fees, the congregation invites user groups to donate what they can. As a result, clubs and community groups feel welcomed, not exploited—and often respond with generous support for other outreach efforts. Their missional spirit extends into local schools, where the congregation supports snack programs and contributes to events that foster parent–teacher connection. It all began with a fundraiser years ago that provided playground equipment and blossomed into lasting relationships with educators and families. Sociables like Chocolate Bar Bingo, potlucks, and puzzle contests draw neighbours and newcomers alike into fellowship. Signature events like the annual Chili Cookoff and Dessert Auction blend laughter with generosity, raising thousands for local needs while building a resilient, joyful community. One story illustrates the quiet, transformative power of this ministry. A man attended the Celebration of Life for Jennifer, the wife of his friend Todd. Jennifer, a beloved member of the St. Thomas congregation, passed away suddenly in 2023. This man had never been to a service before and did not consider himself a believer, yet something stirred in him that day. The next evening, unprompted, he showed up at the family’s home with a box of cinnamon rolls. He did not know that Jennifer and her young daughter Avery had a tradition of sharing a cinnamon roll every time they visited the mall. He unknowingly offered a deeply meaningful gesture of comfort, becoming an instrument of ministry to the grieving family. That experience opened a door. Todd's friend and his wife began attending church, asking simply, “Are we allowed to come?” They not only came, they stayed—volunteering, serving, repairing parts of the church building, and becoming deeply engaged in the life of the congregation. His story reminds us that ministry happens not only through sermons, but in acts of kindness, hospitality, and presence. St. Thomas has created the kind of environment where people—sometimes without even realizing it—step into the work of the Spirit. The St. Thomas congregation reminds us that mission doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with what brings people together—meals, fun, service—and you may just find the Spirit in the midst of it all.  Kevin Thompson lives in Wichita, Texas. After years of searching for a spiritual home, he discovered Community of Christ through Beyond the Walls. Participating in the global ministry of Community of Christ in Canada, Kevin learned about Celebrate Mission, which inspired him to find ways to serve in his own local community. Although he isn’t connected to a nearby congregation, Kevin discovered a ministry that spoke to his heart.
On Sunday, April 27, members and seekers from around the world gathered online for worship and celebrated the mission Kevin accomplished. Later that day, another seeker who participates regularly shared this comment on YouTube: “I MYSELF RECEIVED MEALS ON WHEELS WEEKLY AND AM SO THANKFUL AND BLESSED FOR ALL THOSE WHO DONATE. THANK YOU.” Please take three minutes to read Kevin’s testimony below. His story reminds us how our ministries connect and empower people to live out Christ’s mission wherever they are. Kevin’s Story Last month during one of the Sunday services, Leandro made a point to emphasize that we should “celebrate mission” and highlighted the importance of spreading the word about ways we are able to serve. It made sense in that we could encourage others to serve and make people aware of opportunities where we, as Christians, can spread the love of Christ in our communities—be they local, national, or global. I felt inspired to reach out and report that I have found the perfect opportunity to serve in my local community in North Texas every week. Meals on Wheels is a program that makes sure that the disabled, elderly, and other homebound residents across Texas receive freshly prepared hot meals at lunch Mondays through Fridays without having to go shopping or prepare the meals themselves. Weekend and holiday meals are also provided. This service is available thanks to its dedicated employees and members of the community who volunteer a portion of their day (or days) weekly to hand-deliver the meals to our fellow residents. It is an opportunity for volunteers to connect with individuals who often have few, if any, opportunities on a daily basis to see or speak to another living human. We help to fight social isolation in a very real way. I have been blessed by the opportunity to serve the meals that Meals on Wheels provides. Pulling up to each residence, knocking on each door, and seeing the smiling face of whomever I am serving fills my heart with joy. I have had meal recipients say things like, “This is my favorite part of the day,” as they receive their meals with humble gratitude. It allows seniors to age in place in many instances thanks to the daily well-checks. We help many to avoid or delay the need for assisted living or a nursing home. At $7 per meal, the cost per home delivery adds up to less than 3% the cost of a nursing home. When we deliver each meal, we observe the state of the person’s overall wellness, guaranteeing that their living space is safe, adequate, and that they are functioning successfully there. A recent survey of programs shows 4,262 Health and Safety Interventions statewide where volunteers helped a client in distress. Meals on Wheels connects homebound residents to critical wraparound services such as medical care, home repair, and transportation services. The program is funded by local and state donations and grants and has a sizable economic impact. When considering employee salaries, vehicles purchased, food purchased, building acquisitions, and maintenance, at the state level it provides almost $200,000,000 in revenue. That’s 16.2 million meals provided with over 33,000 daily clients. Considering all this, the fiscally conservative state legislators have classified Meals on Wheels as not just another expendable social assistance program—it is seen as a vital community resource. This is how I have been inspired to live mission in my community and to celebrate mission with all of you! What are the ways you are living mission in your community? I urge you to share your story with us so that the entire Beyond the Walls community can celebrate with you. |
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