SOAR Heartland builds relationships

“What is your GPS?”

This was one of the main questions posed to 150 participants of SOAR Heartland 2006 during their 10-day mission trip to Winnipeg’s North End and core area, Mar. 23 to Apr. 1.

GPS stands for God Provided Situations and the question challenged each person to realize that God daily puts us in circumstances where we can change the world around us for his glory.

SOAR Heartland participant Jordan Friesen of Altona with VBS student at Bethlehem Aborginal Fellowship.

SOAR Heartland is a short-term mission program connected with MBMSI, under the leadership of Lloyd and Carol Letkeman, regional mobilizer and short-term mission coordinator for Central Canada. SOAR Heartland 2006 brought together 12 Manitoba churches to serve in Winnipeg during spring break.

This year the teams were multi-generational and included families, church care groups, a team of seniors, and youth groups for a total of 15 teams. Twelve ministries in the target areas were supported by these teams through children’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs, renovation projects, and relationship building.

Healthy lunches were provided to approximately 200 children each day. These children also participated in the VBS programs and had the opportunity to hear that God loves them and that his love forgives. Teams shared that some children began relationships with Jesus as a result of this program. Community barbeques held at each ministry location at the end of the week provided another opportunity to build relationships between the ministries and the people in their neighbourhoods.

The outreach also touched the lives of participants. Ted Enns-Dyck, co-pastor of SEEDs Church in Altona and member of a care group team, said, “SOAR Heartland has been an awesome gift to our community at SEEDs.”

—Fern Janzen, for MBMSI