Sunday Morning at the Mens Home

When a scheduling error came to the forefront on Thursday, I offered to fill in for the Sunday shift at the Men's Home. I promise you, I didn't know I had in-laws coming at the time! A Sunday morning at the Men's Home is "easy."

7:45 Make coffee.

7:50 Look for the resident who is covering the two hours between 6 and 8. Find him downstairs, where you can't hear the doorbell, watching the news. "I'm not on. I don't know who is supposed to be on."

7:50 Bring food up from pantry to prepare for Good News Chapel potluck. We are expecting extra guests due to a baptism service, so I need to cook several different dishes, each to feed about 80 people.

7:55 Get food ready and in the oven. On the menu today: salad, mixed vegetables, sausages, and a roaster of "mystery" meat. =) That's assorted meats Len found in the freezer for me last night. You know, not enough to feed a crowd, so mix it together and see what comes out. Who knows, maybe a quiche!

8:00 Ring buzzer to wake resident men up.

8:10 Finish food preparation.

8:15 Hand out men's medication and vitamins. Issue a demerit to the resident who wasn't doing his chore when I arrived this morning.

8:16 Prank Mike's office. Oh wait, that comes later. =)

Later I'll be asking men to carry over all the food, slapping a sign on the door: "back in one hour" and enjoying the baptismal service at Good News. In the meantime, I'm just here, chillin' with the guys, tidying up the office, and keeping up my supervisory skills.

Drop by the church on the corner of Dewdney and Elphinstone at 11:00 today, and join staff and congregants as we celebrate several of our residents and others make the committment of baptism. (It's an act of obedience taken upon profession of our faith, to witness to the world our stand for Christ.)

Stay for the potluck afterwards! You can see if my quiche turned out.

Vision

Visions are born in the soul of a man or woman who is consumed with the tension between what is and what should be.

-Visioneering,
Andy Stanley

Business to Business Expo

Today you'll find Derrick and I at the Centre of the Arts Business Expo, put on by the Regina Chamber of Commerce, of which we are a member.

Charities conduct business every day. Although we predominantly consider ourselves a ministry, even referring to staff as missionaries, there is a strong business side to this inner city charity, which allows us to manage donor dollars wisely, and gives the board of directors a roadmap to knowing what important items ought to be in place, such as insurance and other risk factors. Staff who receive payroll deductions and a simple group benefit package also see the "business" side of the Mission.

We have workers who are passionate about meeting emergency needs working at the Soup KItchen and Emergency Shelters. We have workers passionate about changed lives and the human psyche working at the LifeChange Campus. We have workers who are passionate about our donors and partners who process the donations, keep in contact with them, pray for them, and greeting them on the phonea and at the door. And then there's Derrick and I, who are passionate about business and making contacts and networking in our city.

I hope you'll come by and meet us sometime between 1:00 and 5:00 today at the Conexus Arts Centre. You don't have to book ahead. Just show up and see what the businesses in our fair city are up to, meet new friends, and chat with some old ones, too. Don't forget to drop by our booth! You might even win a trip for two!!

Media Release: Thanksgiving Dinner for 600 Served Today!

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR CONTACT: Michelle Porter
Saturday, October 11, 2008
11:30 am

THE NEWLY MERGED SOULS HARBOUR RESCUE MISSION
partners with MELROSE PLACE NORTH to host THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR 600!

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600 Meals To Be Served by a Certified Chef, including:
Traditional Turkey Dinner
Homemade Cream of Potato Soup
Tossed Salad and Bun
Rice Pudding
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WHAT: Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission serves a hearty Thanksgiving dinner as part of the GREAT THANKSGIVING BANQUET, a feast for the poor, the hungry and the vulnerable. Souls Harbour Rescue Mission will be joining close to 300 Rescue Missions across Canada and the United States in providing about 500,000 meals to homeless and poor people this Thanksgiving.

WHO: To the needy men, women, and children in our community.

WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2008 11:30 am
(Media arrive at Noon, when serving begins)

WHERE: Good News Chapel at 1380 Elphinstone Street

WHY: “This dinner is a chance to give to the needy and bless them abundantly,” says Aaron Cross, Emergency Services Manager and full time cook at the Soup Kitchen. “We are blessed to have Melrose Place North provide a delicious thanksgiving dinner.”

PHOTO/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
 Chris Lygouriatis, of Melrose Place North, provide a fully catered meal for the less fortunate.
 Rev Ken & Michelle Porter, Founding Directors of Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission.
 Multi-Cultural Society, Volunteers, Staff, Members of the Board and Women’s Auxiliary continue to donate time and effort to help the Mission feed the city’s hungry and homeless.
 Several LifeChange Program graduates will be there to help serve.

BACKGROUND:
 Souls Harbour founded by Geri Carroll in 1990.
 Regina Rescue Mission founded by Rev Ken & Michelle Porter in 2000.
 Merger of two charities now called, Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission in January 2007!


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Are you knocking?

This morning as I was doing my dreaded domestic duty (those who know me well know I abhor housework) I heard a "knock-knock-knock" at the front door. I assumed it would be a politician, but it was actually a pastor!

He handed me a tract called, "Heaven - How do I get there?" and said he was canvassing the neighbourhood inviting people to church. I told him my husband was also a pastor, and he said, "Are you both born again?!"

It's uncommon for churches to go door-to-door these days. To be bold, put yourself out there, invite someone to your church, and pray for an open door to have a spiritual discussion.

Last year a team from the Good News Chapel did just that, in the North Central Neighbourhood where they are located. Yes, Canada's worst neighbourhood. They saw some terrible things, had to call child and family services, spoke with gang members, encouraged some Christian workers, visited drug parties, shield their eyes from a man who answered the door buck naked! Well, you get the picture!

When is the last time you told someone about Jesus? When is the last time you invited someone to come to church with you?

Day after day, from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:42

I guess I should get back to my laundry! Have a great weekend!!