What is communion?

Over the last four weeks, we have been thinking about the word communion in its different forms and the reality of what it means for us as Jesus followers. In John 17:21, Jesus is praying and says, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” this is Jesus’s heart for communion. That people will see and meet Him by the way we treat each other. 

As some of you know, our city experienced a once in a 100-year flood. Over 10,000 people had to leave their homes, and an estimated 1200 homes were affected by the flood. We got to partner with Fort City Church, Wood Buffalo Food Bank, Samaritans Purse, The Billy Graham Chaplain Ministry, and YWAM Vancouver. Through these partnerships, we were able to see over 100 hundred homes cleaned and brought to a place where a builder can come in and rebuild, 17 people put their trust in Jesus, over 2000 food hampers given out, and over 460 meals served. 

Through these organizations working and walking together, we see people cared for and loved. In this, we get to see John 17:21 lived out and experience the beauty of what communion means. 

We want to give a shout out to our YWAM Vancouver Family. Thank you for coming and serving with us. We are so grateful for your generosity and care for us. You played a special part in working with us that no one outside of YWAM could. 

To wrap-up, remember what Jesus says in John 17:21, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” And pursue the beauty of what it means to communion with Jesus and Others. 

In a pandemic and your city is flooding 😬

It all seems very unheard of, almost unbelievable, but it definitely is not. A flood during a pandemic, how crazy is that? Though things around us are uncertain we do have a place where we can go for the stability we need to handle this all. 

For us it has taken us to: Psalm 33:20-22 We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.

This section of scripture has become a prayer for us personally, as a

and as a plea of help for our city that is hurting. Our hope during this time is to be a source of hope and peace for people, to be pointing them to the One who holds it all together. 

As we serve our city during this time we are continuing to run our regular weekly programs. We are making this happen through deliveries, instead of having people come to us, we are going to them. In that last week we have delivered 108 meals to youth and families in our city.  With the flooding that has happened this week we have been able to deliver water, and are partnering with our local church Fort City to open a location for the food bank as they have been flooded and need a place to operate from, and to host Samaritans Purse as they come to help respond to the flooding. 

This has all been a great point of connection to our city and friends, for us to check in on people and make sure they are doing ok. The interactions happening go deeper then the food or water being delivered. We want our community to know that they are loved and not forgotten that, Gods Unfailing love surrounds us, and He is our help and our Shield. Our prayer during this time is that we stay healthy, safe and quickly respond to ways Jesus is leading us to love our city well and that people come to know who He is and put their Hope in him. 

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