|
By Peter Biggs
ABOUT a year ago, some Christian leaders in Abbotsford
began to ask themselves some awkward questions:
With 82 churches in Abbotsford why are there 235 people
living in our alleys and gullies, along with many more ‘hidden
homeless?’
Why is there a wait list of 200 men and women at our
Valley prisons who have said “Yes, we would like, we need, an outside
mentor?”
Why are 4,000 of our neighbours dependent on the
Abbotsford Food Bank every month? (Virtually none of them are homeless;
2,000 of them are children.)
Why are there 25 boys and girls waiting for up to two
years for a Big Brother/Big Sister?
Why is Abbotsford really no better in these areas than
other cities?
And the list goes on; single moms, seniors, human
trafficking, those with addictions and mental challenges.
‘City of Refuge’ seeks to address these
awkward questions. Birthed by the Abbotsford Christian Leadership Network
(ACLN), it is a new vision gaining momentum in the churches of Abbotsford.
Led by an impressive team of influential leaders (pictured), it has
launched with two bold and practical commitments:
“First, we have made a commitment to the
Abbotsford Food Bank that they will never run out of food. We also want to build on the trust and relationships
the food bank has with people in need; did you know that when food bank
clients were surveyed and asked if they would be willing to be paired with
a mentoring family from a local church – virtually everyone
said “Yes!”
Continue article >>
|
“Secondly, we have made a commitment to provide
a 30-bed low-barrier, long-term homeless shelter within the next 12 months.
Nothing just like this fills this need in
Abbotsford at present and it is a much needed first step in helping people
get back on their feet.”
According to the City of Refuge newsletter, “The
ACLN and the City of Refuge leadership team is making these commitments in
faith that the Church of Abbotsford (that is all the Christians in
Abbotsford, regardless of denomination) shares this vision and will join
us. We are committed to partnering with anyone who is already serving in
these areas; we do not want to compete or ‘reinvent the wheel.’
For the last year we have been working with leaders from local
churches, MCC, the Salvation Army, Cyrus Centre, Abbotsford Food Bank and
the City of Abbotsford social planning staff to begin to map out our
plans.”
City of Refuge has also been involved in
providing extreme weather shelters for the homeless, in different
churches each month. According to coordinator Jim Burkinshaw, the
vision enjoys wide support from the city council.
www.cityofrefuge.ca
February 2009
|
