Contemporary writer A.M. Swodboda, addressing a conservation biology class at Houghton College, stated that “creation care is not about polar bears. It’s about the poor.” If there is anyone in Vancouver who has translated this into tangible expression, it is Randy Barnetson through his street church ministry in the eastside of downtown Vancouver. Barnetson began the … [Read more...] about The hot dog church serving the poor in Vancouver downtown eastside
Jack Taylor
Jack is founder of 1HeartCoaching and former pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Vancouver. His award-winning writings can be found at jackataylor.com and his coaching at 1HeartCoaching.com
The Canadian Christian community is bigger than we realize
So what difference will that make for us as churches in Canada? Tim Day, executive director of City Movement, has now completed his tour of 30 Canadian cities – presenting to some 2,000 church leaders along the way. At the end of it all he summarized his three biggest take-aways as, “we are bigger than we realize; we all have different versions of the same fundamental problems; … [Read more...] about The Canadian Christian community is bigger than we realize
An ark for our times – L’Arche’s Jean Vanier passes
Swiss born, Jean Vanier (son of former Canadian Governor-General Georges Vanier and his wife Pauline), may not have known all the persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 29 communities among the L’Arche Communities in Canada but his life impacted them nonetheless. So did his passing from thyroid cancer on May 7 in Paris. L’Arche – the Ark – was … [Read more...] about An ark for our times – L’Arche’s Jean Vanier passes
Tell me their names – World Refugee Day
Peruvian theologian, Gustavo Gutierrez, said “You say you care about the poor? Then tell me, what are their names?” Ann Ball, executive director for New Hope Community Services says, “it’s easy to say the words, ‘we care about refugees’, but knowing them by name and hearing their stories provides a real opportunity to share life with them and to live out the gospel … [Read more...] about Tell me their names – World Refugee Day
Faith and work: insights from the latest Barna research part 3
Do you work to live or live to work? In a digitally driven, sleep-deprived, stressed-out world, the answer to this may not come easy, even to believers who look to integrate faith and work. Sixteen years ago, at a Stanford commencement address, Steve Jobs shared his visionary banner for the next generations. “You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a … [Read more...] about Faith and work: insights from the latest Barna research part 3