Last Saturday, while Krista was acting as host for a rental we had here at Hope, a well dressed gentleman came through the doors with an unusual request. He wondered if the church could help him buy some infant formula for his baby grand-daughter. He explained that he and his wife were caring for his 11 month old grand-daughter, but were temporarily unable to access any cash from their account. The child’s parents (one of whom was overseas) would not be available for a while, and they had resorted to feeding the child sugar-water to help ease her hunger.
Krista immediately got on the phone to figure out what could be done for this man. After trying to reach a few people, without success, she called Heidi St. Jean, our Service and Outreach Zone Coordinator. Thankfully, Heidi was home, and Krista quickly explained the situation so the two of them could go over the options together. Heidi knew that the Food Bank was only open on Thursdays and that there was no formula in the donation bin at the church. The Pregnancy Help Centre is also closed on Saturdays and we don't keep a cash float at the church. But she remembered that, thanks to the foresight of our deacons and the generosity of several members of our congregation, we do have grocery gift cards on hand. These were donated through the Christmas Angel Tree to the Helping Hands Ministry for situations just like this.
So, after finding out the approximate cost of the formula, Heidi drove the gift cards over to the church. The man was very appreciative as he assured them that this would get his family through the weekend. He seemed relieved as he headed off to make his purchase.
While many may discount this situation as good luck, we see the Hand of God at work. This man needed help and, though he mentioned no religious affiliations, he knew to seek help from a church. He happened to come to our church... where there is usually no one around on a Saturday afternoon, but thanks to the rental this weekend, there was someone here. Krista thought to call Heidi and Heidi happened to run inside to grab a towel before going swimming in a neighbours pool... so she answered the phone call. But most importantly God had worked on the hearts of his people months before hand, in order for those gift cards to have been donated in the first place. Like it says in Matthew 6, verse 8: our Father knows what we need before we ask Him.
- Heidi St. Jean & Chris Ritskes
Krista immediately got on the phone to figure out what could be done for this man. After trying to reach a few people, without success, she called Heidi St. Jean, our Service and Outreach Zone Coordinator. Thankfully, Heidi was home, and Krista quickly explained the situation so the two of them could go over the options together. Heidi knew that the Food Bank was only open on Thursdays and that there was no formula in the donation bin at the church. The Pregnancy Help Centre is also closed on Saturdays and we don't keep a cash float at the church. But she remembered that, thanks to the foresight of our deacons and the generosity of several members of our congregation, we do have grocery gift cards on hand. These were donated through the Christmas Angel Tree to the Helping Hands Ministry for situations just like this.
So, after finding out the approximate cost of the formula, Heidi drove the gift cards over to the church. The man was very appreciative as he assured them that this would get his family through the weekend. He seemed relieved as he headed off to make his purchase.
While many may discount this situation as good luck, we see the Hand of God at work. This man needed help and, though he mentioned no religious affiliations, he knew to seek help from a church. He happened to come to our church... where there is usually no one around on a Saturday afternoon, but thanks to the rental this weekend, there was someone here. Krista thought to call Heidi and Heidi happened to run inside to grab a towel before going swimming in a neighbours pool... so she answered the phone call. But most importantly God had worked on the hearts of his people months before hand, in order for those gift cards to have been donated in the first place. Like it says in Matthew 6, verse 8: our Father knows what we need before we ask Him.
- Heidi St. Jean & Chris Ritskes
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