By Alexa Gilker

A VIDEOGRAPHY intern at Victoria’s Glad Tidings Church, has invented a way to combine his three passions in life: relationships, film and street ministry.

Jonathan Bryden is going to film a documentary about homeless ministries in Victoria, then show it to anyone who’ll listen.

Bryden, aged 24, happens to be the leader of one such ministry called Socks, which was begun three years ago by a group of his friends.

“What we do at Socks is hand out socks, of course,”"he told BCCN. “But it’s a relationship tool to get to know people, let them know they are loved and share the hope that Christ gives.”  

Socks was Bryden’s first experience with homeless ministry.

“Before I got involved two and a half years ago, I had no clue what could be done and how the church could be a light in the city.”

The idea for the documentary came soon after. “I got inspired to amalgamate my interests,” he said.

Plans for the documentary are forming as Bryden looks for team members who share the same vision.

“As the team gets formed, we will do some in-depth research in the city to source the ministries that aren’t as seen or known,” he said.

One example is the weekly Tailgate Grill BBQ run by local students, which uses free burgers to feed people and make spiritual connections.  

When it is time to film, Bryden has a unique approach to profiling each ministry.

“I know how awkward it can be to be on camera; it’s very exposing,” he said. Rather than using a typical observatory documentary style, each ministry’s leader will be asked to tell a story of how they have seen God move in their ministry.

“Stories and testimonies are powerful,” Bryden said. “They tell what God can do.”

Bryden himself has a story to tell, of the night he saw a prayer literally save a man’s life. When he was downtown with Socks one evening, he met a man who “didn’t look okay. I asked him if I could say a quick prayer for him. I told him that God loved him, and then didn’t think anything more of it.”

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Bryden was surprised when the man returned a few minutes later to tell his story. “He said he was on his way to jump off a building – but my prayer showed him that God cared.”

The documentary, he said, will follow in this “success orientated” pattern, focusing on stories that tell what God is doing through these ministries.

Along with interviewing the ministry leaders, Bryden will ask for a story from someone whose life has changed because a relationship within the ministry pointed them to Jesus.

“Relationships are the key to evangelism,” Bryden said. In fact, the entire project is centred around building and connecting relationships.

Bryden’s initiative doesn’t stop once the film is completed.

“The vision is to do a promotional campaign in the city, where churches would invite us in to show the film.”"

The presentation would include information packages that detail each of the ministries and how a church can get involved.

“Even in the church, we can have a tendency to look solely inside our own walls or even our own hearts – but that’s not the calling God has given us,” Bryden said.

The goal is to encourage churches to respond as a body, whether through prayer, financial support or sending volunteers.

“Maybe it will even encourage people to start new ministries,” said Bryden.

“Though each ministry may have different beliefs on how to reach people with the gospel, every single one of them is doing something.”

Bryden is not blind to how controversial street ministry can be.

“If someone doesn’t present you with the issues right in front of you, it’s hard to see them sometimes,” he said. He stressed that this documentary will highlight these issues with hope.

 “I want this film to say: ‘Here is what God is doing in your city. Do you want to be involved?’”

Contact Jonathan Bryden at jbryden@islandnet.com.

June 2010