Missions, The Church Of Our Lord, Reformed Episcopal Church in Victoria BC Canada

Missions

We are involved in supporting a number of missions, both at home and internationally. One of the most important is to help the many who come to our door in downtown Victoria, by providing assistance, counsel and where necessary, referral to other service organizations. These are also some of the missions to whom we relate and support.

Sanctuary Youth Centre
SYC provides a safe, drop-in centre for youth at risk and street kids. The hope is that it will also serve as a bridge between these young people, who are virtually untouched by the Church, and the local churches. This ministry includes a variety of activities including a weekly worship event, small focus groups, fun activities, and individual pastoral care. The Arts (music, drama, dance and visual arts) will be used extensively as a form of communication, exploration, recreation and worship.

The person behind the vision is Rob Trepanier. He has worked with young people on and off the streets for over 26 years and was Chaplain at the Youth Custody Centre for nine years. He has the respect of community leaders, pastors and churches, and the young people themselves. Rob is the first to recognize that this is a team ministry, and he already has a group of trained volunteers, a board, and spiritual advisors in place.

The Centre is located in the basement of Church of Our Lord’s new Community Ministry Centre, and includes washrooms and shower, a washer and drier, and kitchen facilities, all designed to meet practical needs. Recreation facilities such as a pool table are also available. This has already been blessed by the generosity of so many, but finance is still needed to keep the centre running. Sanctuary is a ministry of the wider Church of Victoria and has the support of many churches and community organizations in the city.

Click here for more information about Sanctuary

Victoria Prayer Counselling
VPC is a safe place where hurting people can come and open their hearts to Almighty God and receive his healing. It is a Christian, non-denominational ministry of prayer counselling, primarily for those who have suffered from spiritual, physical and emotional trauma. The ministry is based on the power and working of the Holy Spirit and grounded firmly on scriptural principles.

Rt. Rev. Charles Dorrington and his wife, Claudia, along with their staff of counsellors, draw from their personal healing experiences with God, to pray into the hurts of people’s lives. Phone/Fax: (250) 727-3722

The Cridge Centre for the Family
In 1873, Rev. Edward Cridge and his wife Mary, having cared for orphans in their own home for several years, opened the BC Protestant Orphan’s Home in a cottage in Victoria. From these modest beginnings, with a name change to The Cridge Centre for the Family, this has grown into a multi-service organization, caring for needy families, providing counselling, training, support and residential services for a wide variety of family needs, as well as daycare, kindergarten, and programs for childcare. Tel. (250) 384-8058, Fax. (250) 384-5267.

Christian Friends of Israel
CFI is a diverse Christian international ministry with it’s international headquarters in Jerusalem. The two main focuses are to bless the people of Israel and to teach the church its Biblical foundations, in the love of Jesus. Paul & Margaret Collins, having worked in Jerusalem in the early 90’s, are now the Canadian director’s, with an office in Victoria. For further details; Tel/Fax: (250) 380-5036, E-mail: cfi@islandnet.com

HATS
Standing for Hands Across The Sea -- Haiti, (a ministry of Christian Village Ministries) provides help to disadvantaged people, especially children, in the Artibonite Valley. A sponsorship program for education has been in operation for several years with 175 children able to go to school in 2002-2003 who would otherwise not have been able to do so. Kevan & Karen Hull are involved in setting up a "Children's Village" which is currently under construction and will provide homes for orphaned children. Seventeen children already under HATS care eagerly await leaving rented housing for their new location. Kevan is also involved in church leadership seminars and preaching in local churches. E-mail: hats.haiti@starband.net, or khull@starband.net.

Scripture Union
An international ministry in over 140 countries who aims to share the gospel with young people, and provide daily devotional reading notes for all ages. Lynne Ellis was the former Vancouver Island Director and is now our volunteer Bible reading representative. Scripture Union website: www.scriptureunion.ca

The Warehouse
Ministering to high-risk youth, AIDS victims, orphans and the unemployed in Cape Town, South Africa. The Warehouse website: www.warehouse.org.za

Wycliffe Bible Translators
Stan & Sandy Anonby and their two daughters Gillian & Raquel, are in Brazil where they are teaching at a Seminary. Stan studied Theology in Saskatoon, Sandy is a qualified nurse, both have studied extensively in linguistics and have a call to cross-cultural mission. Until recently they were pastoring in a Kwak'wala speaking congregation in BC.

African Enterprise
AE is a Christian interdenominational, interracial ministry of evangelism, reconciliation, leadership training, and relief and development. Started with the vision of South African evangelist, Michael Cassidy on 1961, its teams now minister throughout the African continent. Their mission is to evangelize the cities of Africa, through word and deed, in partnership with the Church with support bases around the world, David Richardson heads up the Canadian office in Vancouver, B.C. Tel. (604) 228-0930, Fax. 228-0936, E-mail: aecanada65@cs.com Website: www.africanenterprise.org

Missions in Cuba
Iglesia San Marcos, Moa & Iglesia San Juan, and Ciego de Avila are Refomed Episcopalian Diocesan mission outreaches. The church in Moa was established in the fall of 2004 and the further outreach to Ciego de Avila in the fall of 2006. At present, the two churches have a combined membership of over 210 people. Bishop Charles and Claudia have paid a number of visits to this area, which is one of the poorest and most polluted in Cuba. As well as giving them general oversight and teaching, they have taken them Bibles, Prayer Books, clothing, toys, vitamins and medicines. The funds raised are used to provide the people with daily necessities; Bibles and church supplies; and also to cover the travelling costs of Pastor Roman, which included the repair in 2006 of a much-needed Jeep.

Reformed Episcopal Church Foreign Missions
The REC supports mission work and churchplanting in countries around the world under the oversight of Bishop Robert Booth.
These include:

Samuel & Mary Oommen in Latipur, India	Chester Matadi in Liberia. West Africa
Greg & Helena Wright of Arab World Ministries	Gerhard & Grace Meyer, Mark & Lynn Rudolph and Sue Brodish in Germany
Bill & Dianne Jerdan in France	Judy King in Brazil