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By Lailani Mendoza
“THE GLORY of God is man fully alive,” goes
a famous quote from Saint Irenaeus. This is the driving force that inspired
a couple to open their Westbank home for ministries to youth, artists and
worship leaders.
“A lot of Christians go to church – but
deep inside, they’re stuck. Our hearts’ desire is to see them
unstuck . . . to help people come to life again,” said Peter Helms.
Peter and his wife Anne-Marie started Faith Builders in
2001. It is a multi-faceted Christian ministry which aims to “mentor
people in the area of worship and leadership and to help them find their
destiny.”
The ministry is comprised of four programs. Faith
Builders School is a 10-week mentoring program from September to November,
focused on developing leadership skills and Christian character. Faith, Fun
and Fellowship (August) and Snow Bliss School (March) are short retreats
held in the summer and winter. Fire Nites is a weekly gathering where
participants can enjoy good fellowship, inspiring teaching and worship with
local Christian artists.
The couple also partnered with the Kelowna Vineyard
Church to host a worship school. Eighteen students from six countries
attended Canada West School of Music, which aims to equip individuals in
using their giftings in the church and beyond.
Guest instructors include Brian Doerksen, Andy Park and
David Ruis. “They have a legacy of experience in the arena of worship
and in the music industry. We asked them to share their life experiences .
. . as part of the mentoring process,” explained Peter, who also
taught the group.
“We encourage students to look further than just
the walls of the church . . . and to bring out the Christian message to
more secular places,” he added.
The Faith Builders activities all happen in the
Helms’ home, dubbed ‘the Appleseed Lodge.’ The crimson,
olive and yellow walls of the Lodge are as colourful and vibrant as the
people who inhabit it.
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The Helms immigrated from the Netherlands in 2000. They
both worked for Youth With A Mission and taught Discipleship Training
Seminars.
Travelling 50 percent of the time, they regularly speak
at churches and conferences in Europe, Africa and Asia. Peter also travels
with his band Recabite, leading worship conferences worldwide.
The seeds sown in the Lodge are bearing fruit in other
parts of the world. Nobuko Soma, a Japanese girl who stayed with the
couple, is now part of a unique ministry in Japan.
“They would hold meetings on Sundays in a
coffee bar, much like Starbucks. They would go to the people who are being
served there and ask ‘Would you like to know what God thinks about
you?’ And many people are very interested. People have just come to
know Jesus,” he said.
“I would hope that what we are doing will spur
other people [to] take what they have seen and implement it in their own
way, in their own countries.”
The next Faith Builders training sessions will be held
in spring of 2009.
Contact: faithbuilders.eu.
July 2008
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