Union Street Baptist is a Church that Responds to Poverty

Union Street Baptist Church in St. Stephen wanted to introduce missional outreach in the area.  They started asking questions.  Their first question was, “Where is God at work in St. Stephen?”  They quickly discovered the need for healthy meals among St. Stephen youth.  

Midland Baptist is a Church that Responds to Poverty

Midland Baptist Church demonstrates that it is possible for a small, local community to tackle poverty on a global scale.  Midland connects community members, farmers, and rural & and urban churches with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.  Canadian Foodgrains Bank is an ecumenical ministry that works to end global hunger.  

Trinity Anglican is a Church that Responds to Poverty

Trinity Anglican Church on Charlotte Street wanted to increase their outreach.  It sees outreach as what makes the church part of a community.  They developed an open door policy to allow anyone to come in to see the rector or other church leaders.  As the church got to know their neighbours, they saw a need for youth and family services in their parish.  

St. Vincent de Paul Society is a Church that Responds to Poverty

On the office wall is a lengthy quote from Vincent de Paul, the namesake of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  A couple of phrases stand out.  You are the servant of the poor...  They are your masters...  The St. Vincent de Paul Society began serving their masters in the late 1800’s and continues to do so.

Main Street Baptist is a Church that Responds to Poverty

Hope Mission is where people go to “get their Jesus on,” according to John and Kalina.  John and Kalina get their Jesus on at Hope Mission along with their daughter Madyson.  The young family loves Hope Mission.  It is their church in their neighbourhood.  It gives them a chance to meet with friends, share a meal, and worship God.

The Salvation Army is a Church that Responds to Poverty

Loving Jesus compels The Salvation Army to serve people in Saint John.  Their ministry exemplifies everyone’s need for God’s goodness and God’s compassion.  It is a balance of accountability and grace, of good stewardship and a nonjudgmental approach, and of restraint and acceptance.  This is what love looks like.

Edith Avenue Baptist is a Church that Responds to Poverty

It is amazing what can happen when people start to wonder about what a church is on days that aren’t Sunday.  Edith Avenue Baptist Church started to wonder this.  By wondering, Edith Avenue Baptist shows people what can happen when a community takes a risk.

Grace Presbyterian is a Church that Responds to Poverty

Saint John has a homelessness problem.  Saint John also has a cold, wet, snowy winter.  Knowing this, Grace Presbyterian Church opened their doors so homeless men in Saint John could get out of cold and in to a safe, warm, dry place to sleep. Out of the Cold was born.  It was open every night in January, February, and March to give forty-four homeless men a place to sleep during the winter of 2012.  A dedicated group of volunteers made a nightly shelter possible.  Each had his or her own reasons to help at Out of the Cold.