CTV Regina 2008 Citizen of the Year

Beth Ell and Aaron Cross, our Emergency Services Manager and Cook, taking a brief break serving at a special holiday dinner.

Volunteer Myrna Harvey-Opper secretly nominated Beth Ell for CTV's Regina 2008 Citizen of the Year. Each night after work, Beth rushes home to change then runs over the Soup Kitchen and serves meals to the women and children in the family section. Beth and her husband, Bob, are fully involved in the Mission, both at a church level, attending and participating at the Good News Chapel, to the Soup Kitchen, and much much more. I'll let the article tell the rest of the story!

CTV Regina 2008 Citizen of the Year
An active community volunteer is named CTV Regina's Citizen of the Year

An SGI underwriter who has dedicated her life to helping others is the 2008 CTV Regina Citizen of the Year.

Beth Ell was selected by a panel of judges from among almost a dozen nominees.

Ell is a former president of the Pasqua Hospital Auxiliary. She has organized and directed fund raising events. She helped raise over one million dollars for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation. She is also known for her efforts in support of school pizza days and chili days.

Beth Ell has volunteered for ten years at Souls Harbour Rescue Mission...doing everything from organizing parties to leading bible studies. She also sits on the board of directors and is on the executive of the Women's Auxiliary Rescue Mission.

Beth Ell grew up Kelvington, the eldest of 13 brothers and sisters.

In making the announcement, CTV Saskatchewan Vice President Dennis Dunlop pointed to " Ells exceptional dedication to the community of Regina."

Beth Ell will be formally recognized at an award event in early 2009.

Congratulations, Beth! We love you!!

Go Riders! Go Geri!

SUGGESTION:
Pay tribute to Geri the
founder. Picture?
Brief History
She was so Great -
along with God they were Real

PS. I felt this could have
been a Rider dinner --
not so much
emphasis
on them!

We had a note put into the offering basket at our annual Love Your Neighbour Fund Raising Banquet in May. It was a wonderful time, with full sponsorship and great attendance! I'm sad that Miss Mystery did not see how we acknowledged Geri during the event, and in case others feel we are dishonouring her wonderful heritage, I wanted to share a bit of my heart about Geri.

I didn't know Geri very well, but the one thing I knew was that she heard the voice of God, and obeyed. Starting from it's humble beginnings in 1990 with a prayer, a pot of coffee, and a few wooden milk crates for chairs, she established this ministry as the main source of help for the hungry in Regina.

I am honoured to follow in her footsteps, and to take over her leadership since she went to be with the Lord. I often think what a big responsibility it is to fill her shoes. Geri overcame so many personal obstacles in her life and yet gave all she had to Jesus.

I remember each time I would see her in her office, she offered to pray with me. She asked how I was and how the ministry of the Regina RESCUE Mission was doing. Geri truly was a servant and I am thankful our two works have combined to become the Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission. And how wonderful to have her son, Donovan, be a central part of her legacy by serving as our Chief Operating Officer and my partner in leading this Mission.

So, yes, Geri was a very real person. And we continue her legacy by feeding over 100,000 each year at the Geri Carroll Hope Centre. If you are ever interested in helping us give food and hope to the poor, please contact Aaron, our Emergency Services Manager, who served under Geri's leadership.

Two Tickets to Paradise

It was sooooooooooooooo good to be back home today at our Good News Chapel. There was a warmth and comfort about the morning that reminded me why this inner city church plant in the heart of Regina's North Central is essential. It is nourishing to the soul, challenging to live out our faith, and affectionate as family should be.

Did you know that Jesus encouraged us to treat the body... that is, our church family, as a priority over others? For instance, when you are in a situation where you may offend either your Christian brother, or the host of a gathering, you are to choose what is right before your brother's eyes... and let the chips fall where they may!

That familial feeling was an arrow in my heart this morning. Ken and I were greeted with hugs and "alohas" and encouraged to talk all about our trip. We followed up with our usual potluck, and had a great time reconnecting after our month away in paradise.

Ken incorporated much of our experience into his sermon this morning, "Two Tickets to Paradise." He wore a fancy "preachers lei" Paula made for him and showed slides of Hawai'i in the background as he spoke of the TRUE PARADISE to which we have been waiting for since Adam and Eve got themselves kicked out of Eden. Derrick even played a Hawaiian drum as we sang about our future home in Heaven.

A challenge was given at the end for any who don't know Christ to commit themselves to getting to know Him and living for Him. We are also looking forward to an inner city Vacation Bible School in August where even more people can commit to that future trip to paradise!

If you are interested in helping out with that, please contact Melanie at the Mission. We need help advertising and at the clubs. This will not be your normal VBS, I can assure you of that! Come ready for a challenge with great reward!

TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE, by Eddie Money

Got a surprise especially for you,
Something that both of us have always wanted to do.
We've waited so long, waited so long.
We've waited so long, waited so long.

I'm gonna take you on a trip so far from here,
I've got two tickets in my pocket, now baby, we're gonna disappear.
We've waited so long, waited so long.
We've waited so long, waited so long.

I've got two tickets to paradise,
Won't you pack your bags, we'll leave tonight,
I've got two tickets to paradise,
I've got two tickets to paradise.

I'm gonna take you on a trip so far from here,
I've got two tickets in my pocket, now baby, we're gonna disappear.
We've waited so long, waited so long.
We've waited so long, waited so long.

I've got two tickets to paradise,
Won't you pack your bags, we'll leave tonight,
I've got two tickets to paradise,
I've got two tickets to paradise.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

I said a sad good-bye to Larry and Pat Martin today. Larry has been with the Mission nearly since his it's founding in 1999. He phoned wanting to get involved, and was quickly set up to began leading our Overcomers weekly support group.

As a recovered addict himself, he was such a great asset for our men. He then moved to a new position of leading our weekly life and social skills class, focusing on relapse management. When he took early retirement, he began giving even more of his time by sponsoring several men on the LifeChange Program.

Larry was a fixture around here, and blessed many of us with his wit and dry sense of humour, his honesty and openness, and his eagerness to serve Christ at "the Rescue Mission." We hugged, both of us in tears, (mostly him as I have to be tough, of course!) as he pulled out towards his new home. I know there will be a new ministry in Alberta that will appreciate him as much as we have!