Craig Ginn

Two weeks ago our site had the opportunity to learn about Church History from Craig Ginn, a World Religions professor from the University of Lethbridge. Craig covered a range of topics including historical and religious methods of studying church history, scientific proof that backs up the Bible and different revolutionaries that contributed greatly to the development of the Church.
I learned a few important lessons for myself during the week. For instance, reading the Bible in context through the author’s eyes as opposed to from my own point of view. I learned that doing a bit of research by exploring the time period and culture of the people in the context can completely change the way I understand the Bible.
"Israel does not have a story to sanitize but a record to report" was one of Craig’s key phrases. What this means is that the authors of the Bible did not try to cover up any of Israel’s shameful history. Many nations would have altered their history when recording it if, say, their King had an affair and then murdered his adulteress’s husband, as in the case with King David and Bathsheba. Or say, when Mary Magdalene was the first person to see our resurrected Lord. If reading the story through the historical view of the author’s eyes, one would know that back in those days a woman’s word meant nothing. So for the author to have written that Mary Magdalene was the first woman to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection gives more credibility to the story. Accounts like this and many others offer proof that the contents of the Bible are in fact true.
And finally, as Tim Bartsch had mentioned the week before, God often has a way of speaking through "rabbit trails," meaning that sometimes the seemingly off-topic conversations are the ways in which God teaches us the most important lessons. This was often the case with Craig, whether through his sharing stories about personal lessons, after-class conversations or random questions. On his last day with us, Craig shared a personal story from which I was able to learn much. Craig told of a time in his life when he’d learnt about the importance of obeying God when He called him to do something. Initially he’d procrastinated, but eventually Craig followed God’s leading and was greatly blessed through it. From his sharing, I was able to see the need to obey the voice of God in my own life. Learning from Craig’s story, I obeyed God and shared my own personal vulnerability, and was also greatly blessed for it. It was a great lesson that I’d learned through the rabbit-trails in which God works!

By Linda Fehr

Craig Ginn sharing a stories with the class.

Tim Bartsch

In the past week our site was blessed with the opportunity to learn from and worship with Tim Bartsch, a worship leader from Calgary, Alberta.
Throughout the four days Tim spent with us we had a lot of fun practicing some new Spanish worship songs to help us prepare for Guatemala. But we also learned that worship runs deeper than singing praises to God. Tim taught us to evaluate within ourselves how we can live out worship to God by giving worth to Him in specific ways during our every day lives.
Some of the other topics that Tim spoke about included the power of speaking God’s truths out loud, the idea of worship as a community endeavor, hearing from God and spiritual gifts.
Having often felt unsure about knowing if I’m hearing from God, I was especially interested when we discussed this issue. What I learned was that I need to question the truth of the matter by checking if it lines up with Scripture, inviting the Holy Spirit to give discernment and asking for insight from someone who I know is walking with Christ.
To give a simple demonstration of this, Tim asked for four volunteers to step up. We then prayed as a group, asking God to open our hearts and speak to our inner spirit specific encouragements - Scriptures, images, words, etc.- for those who had volunteered. Then we waited on God. Soon individuals began sharing what had been revealed to them, blessing one another with God-given encouragements. Again we prayed, asking God’s blessings on the truths that had been revealed and rebuking anything that was not God’s truths. By the time we ended our session, we had heard many encouragements from God and were able to strengthen and up-lift each other in community!

By Linda Fehr

First Nations Cross-Cultural Experience

The art of living in community has been a vital lesson that our group has had to learn for the past two months. We have come to realize how important it is to work together as a team and walk through the difficult questions we as Christians face everyday. Experiencing the First Nations culture gave us a new perspective on what it means to live in community, more importantly it stretched us to think deeper on what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
During the First Nations week we got to spend some time with Brander McDonald who in our sessions taught us about Native culture and the history of his people. We got to hear what it means to live in community from a Native standpoint and the hard work that goes into that to keep it a positive atmosphere. We were given the opportunity to take part in a smudging ceremony, as well as a healing circle where we got to share where we come from and where we believe God is leading us through this Outtatown experience. We as a group went to a Native culture center where we learned the history of the people of the area and how labor was a huge part in keeping the community together. We learned how to make hatchets, canoes, how to weave and make bracelets out of cedar bark. We got to physically see a smoke house and hear what it took to build one. We also got the chance to go on a boat tour of Harrison Lake where we got to hear the many different legends about the Sasquatch and the waters that they’ve been sited by. We got to see bald eagles, seals and enjoy a relaxing boat ride as a community in spite of the rainy weather. We met a man named Darren who explained to us what a Long House is and how it plays an essential part in the community. We learned how you could be part of a long house, what goes on in one, and the many different things you can be involved in.
We were given the opportunity to learn that First Nations people lived a simple productive life. We came out of that week with the understanding that it takes more than one person to live in harmony. To survive, it takes cooperation and hard work, two very important lessons I’m sure our group could put to the test. Through the First Nations Culture week we got a whole new perspective on the art of living in community and more importantly what it means to be a disciple.

By Darin Hovius

We spent the day with Brander "Standing Bear" McDonald, he shared about his culture and Christianity.

Part of class was we were put into groups and we had to make a song, dance and use the drum. Also when explaining the song, a women will explain to the man and then the man will explain to everyone. Linda is explaining to Trevor what she wants the group to know.

And know for their dance!

This is another group's dance. Looks like they have back pain?!

The next day we went to Hatzic Rock Museum. This lady was a great guide and shared about the Stolo people of Mission. She is holding up a piece of dried salmon, which is a staple food for the Stolo people.

Joel and Nic pounding some cedar.

Shanin also pounding cedar.

Steve carving out a canoe like they would have done hundreds of years ago.

Anyone feel creative?

Careful Linda, don't get the colors mixed up!

Christina working on her weaving skills.

Ethan you're doing a great job! Keep on looming!

Jason and Holly twisting cedar to make bracelets.

Our group then walked to a "modern" House Pit.

Janine and Elizabeth at the door of the pit house.

Inside the pit house.

Students listening closely as to how the house was made.

Getting warm by the fake fire!

Nic with a wooden frog.

Kristine and Jill in front of cedar woven mat.

Here we are facing off to play a game that the Chehalis community plays.

We went on a boat tour down the Harrison Lake and some of its tributaries.

Darren Charlie took us on the boat tour and shared some of his communities stories and songs. This is his drum, which has the Sasquatch, an Eagle and Salmon which are all very important to the Chehalis community.

Rebecca, Rachael and Kendra sitting at the back of the boat, enjoying the ride.

Elizabeth, Nic, Janine and Jason tuffing it out with the wind and the rain. But it was worth it because we saw many Eagles, Salmon and even a Seal!

Lindsay our new Captain!

An Eagle!

Many more where that came from!

Kristin, Shanin, Carolyn and Nikkita: wet, cold and happy!

Darren also took us to some ancient pit houses.

Darren said that this was once a pit house that his Ancestors lived in!

Vancouver Urban Plunge

The Ivanhoe Hotel was our resting place for the week. At first it is a little intimidating and scary but after a couple of days it becomes alive with character and love.



Jenna by some graffiti in downtown Vancouver.


Kristine, Christina, and Ashley.

The steam clock.



Ethan and Darin tuckered out after a long day.


Steve at Union Gospel Mission helping organize the pantry.

Christina and Emma organizing shampoo and conditioner for the drop-in.


Joel enjoying the office job of stapling paper!


Ashley and Jeremy also working well with the staplers.



Jeremy sorting through girl's socks.


Christina, Linda, and Ashley befriend a lady at the women's drop-in.


Every night we went out for a different type of food. Trevor enjoying a meal at the Vietnamese restaurant.


Emma likes it too!


We also went to see and understand some religious institutions. This was a Mosque.


The beautiful ceiling of the Mosque.


Mel in her scarf covering her head.


Next we went to a Sikh temple.


And lastly a Buddhist temple.


The grounds of the Buddhist temple was amazingly beautiful.


Darin, Kendra, Mel and Trevor under a Bonsai tree.


Peek-a-boo Darin and Trevor.


A pond.


Ethan, Rebecca and Kelly set up a Birthday station on the streets of Vancouver and sang Happy Birthday to people.


Ethan singing away!


Rebecca talking to some guys on the streets.


Kelly posing with her Birthday hat and poncho.

Service Day at Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver, BC.

On the second day of our Urban Plunge in Vancouver, we did a service day at Union Gospel Mission. For the first half of the day we helped sort through supplies to get the building ready for their Christmas outreach program. I managed to have fun, even if it was a mundane task, because I knew I was heling the community in my own small way. At the same time, I wasn't hugely impacted until the afternoon, when the girls had the opportunity to help serve a meal at a women's shelter. I got to bring food out to the women that came, which was fun as well. In the back room of the shelter, there were a few boxes of clothes that the women were free to take. I remember glancing back there during a quieter moment and seeing two women digging through the clothes trying to get the best selection before anyone else. That moment really struck me hard, partly because they were so thin, but the worst part was the frenzied urgency with which they dug. It somehow reminded me of animals digging for food or something as if they had been completely dehumanized, and seeing that made me feel so sick. I wanted to tell those women how beautiful God thinks they are, and I wanted them to know that they are loved. I was reminded again how much God hurts for hte lost and the hurting. It seemed so broken and backwards watching those women because their pain and stuggle for survival are not the way God intented for His people to live. I did however find hope in the smiles of the women working at the shelter, and how the smilies spreawd to the women who came into the shelter. It was cool to see how something as small as a smile could make such a big difference.

By Emma Purser

Roses Prayer Walk

Once upon a time on the Vancouver urban plunge we did a roses prayer walk. I'll explain kind of what that was so no one gets confused. This was a night where we got to take a rose and a note written by us and give it away to a person on the street who was probably involved in the sex-trade industry. It was a prayer walk; an opportunity to bless the community of downtown Vancouver, but we got to give away a rose as well.
The darkness and pain is real down there on the corners and sidewalks of downtown Vancouver. It hits you right in the face, it gets under your skin, and makes you feel achingly uncomfortable. I could talk about the reality of the pain that we found in this place for a long time, but I think I would rather share something else that I found there. Something that came as a bit of surprise. I found beauty. I saw people who had stories and heartache. I saw people who were willing to give away everything they had to a complete stranger. I discovered that these people who we often dehumanize, have something that our middle-class upper society doesn't. They know how to love. They know how to give. I saw Jesus in those people. When I looked into the eyes of those people I didn't just see another face, I saw the face of Jesus. It was like Jesus was whispering to me, "You want to know me Kristin? Here I am. I'm on these streets. With my people."

By Kristin Peterson