Through this series, we’ve been celebrating what God is doing in various Compassionate Ministry programs. Previously we saw how food, clothes and meeting basic needs can serve as doorways for opportunities to deeper life change. This week, we explore the first steps of Compassionate Ministries Life Budget program.

Two small intakes rooms near reception are doorways to new beginnings. Three first steps in the Life Budget begin the journey of life change. In Step One an initial assessment allows Compassionate Ministry volunteers to provide short term relief for people’s practical need.

“First Steps is an opportunity to hear a story, determine the need and to say, ‘Welcome to CSC,’” explains Cathy South, First Steps intake volunteer with Compassionate Ministry. “In Compassionate Ministry, we believe that those
who come seeking help have not come by chance – God is instrumental in bringing individuals. First Steps is an opportunity to share the love of God and plant seeds of faith.”

BUILDING room for Him to move

Having volunteered for Compassionate Ministry for the past four years, Cathy is more convinced than ever that it is through God and God alone that people’s lives are changed. “It is only when I am surrendered to Him that He is able to use me for His purposes,” observes Cathy, adding that her decision to build room in her schedule for this ministry has allowed God to bless her as He enables her to be a blessing to others. “I get to see the fruit of this ministry when someone arrives to an appointment feeling discouraged, defeated and worthless, and leaves the appointment with a sense that there is hope.

We pray together and sometimes cry together. God has given me ears to listen and a heart that cares, and most people just need someone to take an interest in their story and listen.” Coming into Step Two, volunteers use a Life Budget approach to gain greater understanding of each person’s needs (financial,
intellectual, physical, social and spiritual) so they can create an action plan to support each ‘friend’ or ‘neighbour’ (i.e. clients) more deeply and connect them to a supportive Christian community.

Take Carey for example. His wife and children had been struggling with disability and poverty and desperately wanted their lives to mean something more. Today they are walking in a Life Budget journey in which CSC is helping them meet some practical needs in their lives while also helping them see what more in their life, through Jesus, could look like. Says Life Budget volunteer Brian Ireland, “We’re engaging them in worship and community at CSC, potential employment as we provide them with needed skills and resources, and a sense they are not alone – that they are cared for.

WHY BUILD MORE ROOM FOR COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY?

Our vision at Centre Street Church is for people to walk through a doorway where they will not only be fed for an evening, but for life. As demand for the Career Connections Network continues to grow we will need to expand the resources and skills we offer through space built specifically to accommodate technology and mentorship opportunities between business professionals and people in need.

As our city’s population of new Canadians and refugees continues to grow, we seek to increase capacity for training and classes, including ESL, citizenship classes, cooking, sewing and much more.

Visit buildmoreroom.com to read more stories about how God is working through Compassionate Ministries.