This is an update from Pastor Peter on the fire at the Pine Lodge that caused so many of our street family to lose their home, and on the last blog post about a pastor’s job description:

I love the life I live with the Lord , thank you for your understanding of Gods purpose in my life . I am sooo tired I have been with our family from the lodge for days  , only some will find housing most have just lost there rent . I will be picking most up tomorrow morning early to do what ever , we have been trying to take care of needs physical and emotional . They got me on camera CHBC news probably tonight , it was necessary I spoke this time . I talked to the cleanup company and they will give me anything that might be left from the fire damage , very good of them .

Today at Simply Church, Felicity Dale wrote the following “want ad” for pastors.  When I read it, I immediately thought of Pastor Peter!  Check it out!  This is what Pastor Peter does every day in his street ministry.

Wanted: pastors

 Job description: Caring for others in the body of Christ, often at considerable personal inconvenience. Making sure people are spiritually well-fed and protected and maturing in their walk with Christ. Rather than take on all the needs of those he/she cares for, the applicant is expected to train others to look out for the weak and those with needs.

Potential challenges: Previous expectations of this role are likely to be inaccurate, colored by non-Biblical ways of doing church. This is not a position, but a function, modeled on Jesus, the good shepherd. This person will not be put on a pedestal, leading a “church,” receiving the accolades of others. His/her primary role will not be to prepare a weekly message. Rather, this person can expect to lay down his/her life for others. 

Qualifications: The successful applicant will be very relational, with a willingness to listen to the stories and challenges others are facing. Looks out for the weak. May need to dispense tough love at times.

Compensations: no financial compensation. The joy of serving and being an example is sufficient current reward. Future compensation includes a “crown of glory.”

Received this message from Pastor Peter.  I will post updates as I receive them.  If you wish to contact Pastor Peter please leave a message on his message line (see the contact page).  He will get back to you when he can.

   The Pine lodge was gutted by fire today every one is ok ,but everything was destroyed . Most jumped out of bed and got out Monty had no shoes same as others . All was lost , but the fire dept. emergency relief helped everyone about 20  mostly our street family or those on the edge have lodging till Monday morning at the Sandman Inn. Tineka and I found all the coats and clothing we could and also went to wall-mart for means and women’s underwear , razors ,socks shoes , brushes etc. I will be back there after Church in the morning to see what else , they are all very upset and have no idea what is next . Please pray there is a lot of needs to be met and I have no idea exactly what they will be or how they will be met.

 Pastor Peter

This is an amazing video of a man in India who is reaching out to his own people.  He is not a missionary or care worker from another country; he is not paid for what he is doing.  He is from the upper classes, and he is caring for the “untouchables.”  He does not have to do this.  In fact, his family and friends tell him not to do this. 

The homelessness and poverty in this video does not just happen in India or 3rd world countries.  These problems happen in Canada too.  These problems happen in our own pleasant little resort city. 

This is the story of a “Good Samaritan.”   We are, every one of us, called to love our neighbors, to be a “good Samaritan.”  Not just in far-away places.  Right here, now.  Could we do this?  Can we not do this?  We are called!

Watch this video now.  And then ask yourself, “What is my response?”

In today’s blog post, “Avoiding is easy,”  on his “the voice of one crying out in suburbia,”  writer Arthur Sido writes:

Merely waiting for those in need of food, of clothing, of love, especially of the Gospel to come to us is not what we are called to do. Nor are we called to look askance at anyone in need to see if they are really needy. We serve Christ by serving others. If there aren’t any obvious needs around, we need to go to where the needs are. Hiding in our homes, our churches, our jobs and our circle of friends to avoid the messiness of ministry is unbecoming and shameful for any believer in Christ.

Hiding in our safe little circle, and avoiding the troubles out there in the world, is of course easier, but it is not what Jesus calls us to do.  Jesus goes out into the streets and byways, wherever the people are, and as his followers – as those through whom He reaches out to others – we are called to go with Him.

Read the rest of this challenging and encouraging post here.

Have you ever heard someone say, of people who go to soup kitchens, or receive welfare benefits, or whatever, that “they are just taking advantage of” hard-working taxpayers, or of the church, or whatever?

I read a post today that stated:

Delighted to report that Father has provided the funds needed to pay off our “new” van!  Some ladies from a local church have been gathering coins together for a long time.  And felt led to give them to Pastor Peter – who joyfully used them to pay off the remaining cost of the van!  Praise the Lord, and many thanks to these wonderful ladies who listened to God’s direction.

Our “blog” page is where you find regular updates on the Another Chance Okanagan ministry (although we also update the other pages of the website from time to time).

Did you know that you can be notified of updates to blogs through RSS feeds?  Click on the RSS feed button in the right-hand column of this blog (the little orange square with “subscribe” beside it), and you will be taken to a page where you can subscribe to receive regular updates in the RSS reader of your choice.  You can subscribe to all your favorite blogs (including the Another Chance Okanagan blog, of course), and check daily for updates in one central location, instead of always having to go directly to every blog.

Of course, we also update our other pages from time to time, so do be sure to drop into the website from time to time and see what’s new on every page!

If you aren’t sure what RSS is all about, you can check out a good explanation here. 

Why not subscribe to this blog today?  It’s easy!  Just click on that orange button and follow the directions!

As always, we had an awesome time of fellowship at our weekly Sunday breakfast in Penticton.  We had about 35 or 40 people turn out for pancakes, cereal, toast, boiled eggs, and a variety of Valentines treats.  The weather was awesome, about 5 C, and the sun shone upon us (once it finally rose).  So we were able to spend a lot of time outdoors, and we had an excellent gathering of the church after breakfast was over. 

I had my camera along and took 84 pictures!  I’ve posted a few here, and more over at our new facebook location.  Why not check out the 2 dozen pictures there – and join us while you are at it.

new Another Chance ministry vehicle

Last week Pastor Peter’s old ministry truck finally gave up.  That’s the second ministry vehicle to give up in the past year.  With no cash to replace it, we’ve been praying for a solution.  And Father answered our prayers.  A local resident sold this van to Pastor Peter for 1/4 of the asking price, because he knew it was going to be used in the Another Chance street ministry.  And as Pastor Peter didn’t have any money, the seller told him to just pay in increments whenever he could.  Please pray that the cash will come in.  And God’s blessings on the man who provided the van!