Let me tell you about some of the conversations that have happened these past four weeks as Sunnyside Downtown discerns how to actively be the presence of Jesus in U of Ottawa, Sandy Hill and the greater downtown area.
As we engage in conversations with some of our neighbours and with one another, we ask God the questions, “What are you up to here? How would you like us to partner with you?”
Conversation #1 happened with Minister Madeleine Meilleur, M.P.P. Ottawa-Vanier, in her Montreal Rd. office. Minister Meilleur affirmed Sandy Hill as a neighbourhood with an active community association, Action Sandy Hill.
This conversation, along with our attendance at Sandy Hill’s AGM, raised the following question: “God, what are you up to in and through the Sandy Hill community association? Is there some way you want us to come alongside you in your work there?” We continue to watch and pray. A member of our congregation, Andrea Hook, lives in Sandy Hill. She is already loving her neighbours in the biblical sense and is keeping her eyes peeled for ways that God might have our congregation do the same.
Conversation #2 happened a few days later with Ward 12 City Councillor Georges Bédard. Mr. Bédard listened to a description of Sunnyside’s work over the past four years in Ukraine alongside street youth and at-risk kids. This caused him to mention some similar work in the City of Ottawa through Operation Come Home. “Hmmm,” I thought as I talked to Mr. Bédard, “God, would you like us to come alongside street youth in our own city and our own language too?”
That led to Conversation #3 with Pastor Brent. He suggested that if we were going to check out the work of Operation Come Home we should also check out how Christian organization, Ottawa Innercity Ministries (OIM), is serving street youth. Based on that conversation I went back to my desk and emailed Jason Pino, youth outreach worker with OIM to set up an appointment.
Conversation #4 happened with some Outreach Catalysts on a Tuesday night at the Highlander on Rideau St. Sunnyside Downtown Outreach Catalysts are people who are interested in discerning over time how God is leading us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. They will play a role in leading our congregation, the Outreach Team, forward in mission.
Conversation #4 included:
- a clear plan to rent a table during U of Ottawa’s initiation week (Sept. 7-17). Joel Windle will set this up. A great way to meet and bless U of O students as they arrive back to school in the fall.
- thoughts about some of the immigrants who live in Sandy Hill. Lord, is there some way down the road that you would have us befriend these people new to our country?
- discussion about Andrea Mrozek leading a social justice small group in the fall. This group will be a forum through which we may further discern how God is leading us. Andrea also raised the question of relationship with U of Ottawa’s women’s centre.
Conversation #5 happened with Jason Pino in the OIM drop-in centre on Bank St. He described OIM’s street outreach work with homeless youth. Their art programme for youth caught my attention. Rather than just engage youth around their living conditions and addictions, the art programme gives opportunity for these young people to express their God-given creativity. Jason spoke of a recent silent auction where the young people were treated with dignity as people viewed and purchased their work. Two of the youth have even come to know Jesus as they engage Christians through the art programme. Jason said that OIM is always interested in finding local churches who will welcome these young people.
As we continue to discern God’s leading, interested Sunnyside Downtown people will be meeting on the steps of Dominion-Chalmers at 7 p.m. Monday, June 14 to attend OIM’s Spring Youth Art Show. We will view art and have conversation with the youth who created it. See www.ottawainnercityministries.ca for more details.
There have been other conversations. For example, I didn’t tell you about what I saw and learned last week at Operation Come Home. But I’ll stop there. I realize that these conversations appear to generate more questions than answers. All of these conversations are bathed in prayer. I believe that God is on the move and He is ordering our steps, even through these conversations.
Posts
