SPPC and the Blue Bus

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Exciting Things are Happening with Y.F.C. Blue Bus.

                       by Pam Day

For most of us Summertime is a time of “winding down,” but not so for South Island YFC (Youth for Christ).

The Nanaimo team’s Summer Adventure Camps are the culmination of the year’s contacts with Youth, 84 Juniors and 46 Teens participated in sports, climbing wall, skywalk, tubing down the Cowichan River, beach activities, worship with music provided by the youth, a lot of fun in a safe Christian environment resulted in several Juniors and Teens making the choice to welcome Jesus into their hearts. We pray that they will go forward and allow the Lord to walk with them as they return to their families and local schools and churches.

 Programs such as Blue Bus do take a break from their regular activities, but this gives time for evaluation of the past year and planning for the next.

God has answered many prayers this past year, one of which was to provide more staff and volunteers. Our leader Rick Wismer is approaching retirement, and this has been a great concern.

The Lord has provided! Samuel de Oliveira (and his wife) have been volunteering for a few years now, and he has become the Program Director for the Cowichan Tribes.

Samuel is a younger spirit- filled man who has the energy for climbing gyms, kayaking on the lake and other active sports. Rick still has oversite for the Cowichan and will be there to mentor Samuel, but this takes a big load off his shoulders.

 And more recently, Jon Rothon has come to the Peninsula from Kelowna, where he worked with YFC in youth pastoring, and has hit the ground running!

We are thankful for these younger, energetic men answering God’s call to reach out with the love of Christ to our First Nation’s Youth. Please pray for wisdom and guidance as they take on their roles as true Ambassador’s and Reconciler’s for Christ Jesus.

And not a moment too soon! as the Pauquachin Tribe has given permission for us to expand our present Tuesday after school Teens Program, to include some Thursday afternoons, and Saturday serving days. This sometimes needs volunteer drivers to enable the kids who live further away to participate. If you feel God calling you to do this, please respond to Rick Wismer 250-216-8287.

In addition, the Elders at Tsawout Nation have invited us back to do twice a month Thursday evening Teen Programs again from 6:30 – 8:00pm. Of course, this means that we will need to have some more Volunteers to be able to safely and legally be able to comply! And more snack providers too.

Our Church has been supportive of Blue Bus Ministry for many years, by financing the provision of snacks and providing volunteers to purchase and deliver them, and the occasional volunteers for program help.

 It is a great opportunity to offer sincere recognition of our shameful participation in the aberration of the Residential Schools, and to seek sincere Reconciliation by both word and deed.

For more information or to volunteer, please speak to Pam or call the office, 250 656-2241