By Esther McIlveen

IT IS baffling to think that any followers of Jesus Christ should ever have asked whether social involvement was their concern. The life of Jesus blended evangelism and social responsibility like a seamless fabric as he went about teaching, healing, casting out evil and feeding the hungry.

More than 20 years ago, I noticed a great need:every time I picked up a newspaper, there were articles addressing the lack of daycare centres. One evening, after seeing another one, I felt compelled to act. It was as if God’s hand tapped my shoulder, prompting me to phone my friend Donna Bromley. Donna didn’t need any prompting to pray with me.

At the time, my husband and I were ministering at Emmanuel Christian Community in Richmond. I called eight women to have lunch with me one Sunday. I told them about my vision of opening up a drop-in centre, declaring:

“It is time for us to stop pouring tea for ourselves and do something for our sisters in the community. The church is often known for what it rejects. If we are encouraging women to keep their babies, then we will have to provide for them. Let our church be known by what it is for.”

The women owned the vision. One of them, Carrie Eng, who had early childhood education training, offered her services free of charge for the next few years.

Our church leaders and elders responded enthusiastically. They were in charge of a church building which was not being used during the week; we received their approval.

A board was established, with one member chosen to focus on being a prayer intercessor. A grant of $3,000 came from a foundation belonging to the church. It allowed us to purchase children’s furniture crafted by special needs people, and build a playground. Books, toys, paints and paper were donated. A sign was painted and erected.

One evening when Carrie and I were working in the building, a stranger walked in carrying a large paint brush.

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“I hear you need painters,” he remarked. We showed him a small room, gave him some paint and returned to our work.

After a while, he stepped out of the room and said, “It’s finished.” Then, with a smile, he wished us well. Carrie and I looked at each other in amazement. We both realized that God had sent his angel to encourage us in our faith venture. We never saw nor heard from this stranger again.

Within a year, we had a full staff of young volunteer mothers, a nurse who would routinely check in on us, washrooms with a small toilet installed, a story room, an array of marvellous toys and a water table with rocking boats.

We agreed to call the new centre The Good Shepherd, so the name would become implanted into the hearts of children. Mothers could leave their children if they were three years and older. For smaller babies, mothers could use the centre, provided they remained in the building. We also provided some crafts and meditations for the mothers.

On Thursday mornings, a young woman leads a group called The Verge, where mothers come together in a room, enjoy refreshments, listen to a meditation and pray together.

Out of this gathering, some have begun to attend church, and a number of marriages and homes have been changed. Some have joined the church with their families.

Every summer, we have held a giant garage sale to fund the centre. In recent years, the church has provided funds.

Emmanuel Christian Community is now extending its building. The Good Shepherd will have its own space, including kitchen and washrooms, and not have to share space with the church. The Good Shepherd will still be part of the church, but will work out of a larger and better equipped facility.

I am deeply grateful for the faithful women and men, who have carried on a vision, birthed by a simple prayer – and by the Good Shepherd, who carries the lambs in his arms.

May 2010