Live local, Love global

At Alive, we believe that we have a responsibility to both demonstrate and communicate the message of Jesus’ love and transforming power to the world around us. As the early church endeavored to do the same to Jerusalem first, then to the region of Judea, then to Samaria and to the ends of the earth, our church family shares the same compelling faith. Because of this, we have established relationships with others who enable us to reach into locations and shine a light in places we cannot go ourselves. We’re excited to partner with the following people in fulfilling the Great Commission:

Eyerusalem Terfera

Church Planter, Jemo, Ethiopia

Our church planter is involved in a very special church plant just west of the city of Addis Ababa, in a very strong Muslim place called Jemo in the Oromo tribe and very rural, though close to the city. It is at the top of a mountain and a very tough witchcraft area with very unreached peoples. It is an exciting wok.

This is where our part comes in. The church planting leaders have assigned a young zealous lady Evangelist to plant a church there. Her name is Eyerusalem Terfera [pronounced eee--yerusalem, Amharic for Jerusalem]. She began by teaching the alphabet and simple reading to the children of the community [there was no school in the area.] She is teaching over 70 children regularly. This has been very effective. The community is opening and many are responding.

Please pray with her and also for the larger vision to plant churches in community after community circling the city. It is very strategic.

Maurice, Maureen and Jordan Potter

Kenyan and Sudanese Leadership development, Kenya

We moved back to Kenya in January 2008. Maurice is involved in teaching and program development (promotion) for certificate and diploma studies in the Transformational Church Leaders Development program. In addition to this, he will be coordinating and overseeing the anticipated PAC extension program to be set up in Juba, Sudan. Also, Maurice will be a part of the adjunct faculty in the BA Bible and Theology program at PAC. This will also involve teaching intensives at PACs partnering institutions (Tanzania, Kenya North & Zimbabwe). Maureen gives part-time assistance to PACs accounting office. She has also assumed the role of Kenya’s Child CARE Plus director.

Victoria Hunter

China

Victoria left in summer 2005 to engage in a period of intensive language study. She is now working as a nurse in an area of China which is desperate for qualified medical practitioners. Victoria’s experience as a neo-natal intensive care nurse at Halifax’s IWK-Grace Health Centre for Women and Children provides her with an expertise difficult to find in China.

Victoria is on furlough in Australia at this time due to her health. We continue to pray with Victoria for healing and direction for future opportunity to serve the people of China.

Halifax West Ecumenical Foodbank

Fairview, Nova Scotia

The Halifax West Ecumenical Food Bank is a registered society operated as a collaborative effort of 19 area churches. This is one of the largest food banks in Nova Scotia and serves approximately 4500 families or 11,600 individuals per year. It is estimated that over 49,000 kilograms of food with an estimated value of $960,000 is distributed each year out of this Food Bank. The Food Bank operates on a budget of approximately $45,000 per year received from the sponsoring churches and individuals of which over 90% is spent on purchasing food for distribution with the remainder spent on operating and maintenance expenses, none of which is paid to anyone for labour. Over 38 volunteers are regularly involved in this venture clocking a total of about 5200 volunteer hours each year.

The Food Bank is open for food distribution each Thursday (except holidays) operating out of Small Hall with storage space in an adjacent room.

The food is received, compiled, and sorted early Thursday morning and is distributed beginning precisely at 11:30am until mid-afternoon. Adult clients are served on a once a month rotation, however, baby food can be picked up on a weekly basis. After all clients have been served the remaining food and furnishings are returned to storage and Small Hall cleaned for other use.

Volunteers of the Parish of St. John’s Anglican Church operate a small Clothing Bank at the same day and time and in the same location as the Food Bank from September to May.

Donations of non-perishable food items, clothing items, and monetary gifts are always welcome and greatly appreciated. On behalf of the volunteers and clients, we most graciously thank you for your kind and generous support.

Elaine Young

The Alpha Course, Atlantic Canada Region Director/The Marriage Course, Canadian Director

Elaine Young serves as the Regional Director for Alpha Ministries Canada in Atlantic and Northern Canada, as well as the Canadian Director for The Marriage Course. Elaine serves as a resource and support to train new Alpha and Marriage course leaders, as well as existing leaders. The Alpha Course is an interactive, relationally based introduction to the foundations of the Christian faith used worldwide in many languages as a way to assist Christians and churches with providing a thoughtful and relevant witness of Jesus to their family, friends, neighbours, coworkers and others within their personal circle of influence.

Art & Bonnie Sawler

Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Art and Bonnie are giving leadership to the First Nations outreach initiative for the Maritime District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada

Bill Wyatt

Reach One Touch One Ministries (ROTOM), Canadian Director and CEO

Reach One Touch One Ministries (ROTOM) is a non-denominational Christian ministry dedicated to meeting the spiritual, social, physical and psychological needs of the elderly and their dependants so that they may live dignified, independent and hopeful lives. Bill is the Canadian Director and CEO for ROTOM and travels extensively within Canada to share the opportunity to reach out to the elderly of Uganda, many of whom have been left without traditional family supports because of the ongoing civil and rebel violence and unrest in Uganda and the dramatic impact of HIV/AIDS on young and middle aged adults. Through sponsorship programs, ROTOM provides Ugandan seniors, many of whom care for children and great-grandchildren orphaned by war or HIV/AIDS, with basic housing, water and sanitation they would otherwise be unable to provide for themselves as a witness of God’s love and compassion for them.

We invite you to consider donating to support ROTOM and the seniors of Uganda.

Tamara Elwood

International Student Ministry, Halifax, NS, Canada