Stories from 2003 Love [your city] events

 

Love Abbotsford

We had an awesome time with about 1500 Christians from about 35 churches blitzing our city with God's love. Here's one church's experience:

Some children went to businesses in our area, giving carnations and Love Abbotsford cards and telling people that God loves them. One of our ladies went to a restaurant and gave a gentleman a carnation and card. He said that he believes and has been saved, and that he owns an outdoor garden centre. He gave us over 200 more carnations to give out! What a blessing it was, since we were running out of carnations fast. One of our volunteers was praying for more carnations and her prayer was answered!

Another couple drove around looking for lost souls, giving away cold pop and Love Abbotsford cards. They saw a girl named Amanda, with a young boy sitting on a bench. She was crying, for her boyfriend and son's father was in a recovery home and he couldn't leave, since for him it was either the home or jail. She took Jesus
into her heart Saturday afternoon - she was saved! Krista, the girl who found her sitting on the bench, brought her to the Love Abbotsford worship celebration outside at Mill Lake that evening and she took her in to her home for the night. They came to church on Sunday and we prayed for her. Krista went with Amanda to see her boyfriend in the recovery home to tell him the news about Jesus!

Tammy Martens

Abbotsford, BC

Love Airdrie was a great success!!!! We had about 350 people from nine churches (that represents more than 75% of our local churches) participating. We had a perfect day sandwiched between two not-so-good weather-wise days (typical for southern Alberta).

I believe we took our community by surprise with over 20 projects. Local citizens were happy to receive free pop, cookies, freezies, carnations, ice cream and car washes. Several teams visited our local nursing home while others went door to door.

One team visited several front yards which needed mowing and simply left their "calling card" when the people weren't home. A very pregnant lady had her entire yard cleaned, weeded, mowed and trimmed. She explained how the neighbors had been complaining about her yard since her husband is away a lot and her lawn mower was broken. She was really blessed!

A city alderman was surprised when she saw the Church in action. She commended our efforts and wanted to know where she could get a t-shirt.

The churches of Airdrie are also looking forward to hosting for our third year a huge community celebration in our local park in September. We'll be there with our Love Airdrie t-shirts once again to show God's love to our community. Our outreach will be more intentional at this event and we are praying for a bountiful harvest of souls at that time. Please remember us in prayer for September 13.

Pat Ingram

Airdrie, AB




Love Logan Lake

The whole community conspired to make every resident feel loved. When I knocked on his door, one man told me: “Someone has already called by to give me some baking!” As I headed off down the street I saw a window washing team, with buckets and squeegees heading for his front door! The fire department was offering a free car wash at the main intersection. “What’s the catch?” enquired one motorist, passing through town... "You are telling me it’s free?.... Love your Neighbour? Where I come from it’s Screw your neighbour!” House to house prayer produced the usual surprises... “If God said to you: ‘I love Logan Lake and I really love you!’ - what would you say?” The lady dissolved into tears, quite unable to speak, overwhelmed by God’s love for her in the middle of her own tragic circumstances.

At 5,000’ Logan Lake is the highest community in BC. It rained on Saturday,
then it turned to snow, then back to rain. The open air concert and barbecue
was soggy and even the hot dogs were shivering. But with stubborn determination the event persisted, loving Logan Lake in the teeth of adversity.

The Saturday evening event, followed up by the combined Sunday morning service drew in a number of locals who never attend Church. The invitation to come to the Lord’s table, to participate in his loving sacrifice, was received with tears by some of these visitors. God is at work and his love for Logan Lake is unstoppable.

Justyn Rees

Abbotsford Pastor

Love Logan Lake participant!




I just wanted to let you know that Love Niagara was a big success! There were several free car washes, visits to the elderly, trash pickups, giveaways of drinks, hotdogs, donuts, carnations, candy, seed packages, nickels for merry-go-round rides, freezies, etc.. We had a great reception from St. Catharines City Council, with the Mayor being interviewed on CTS (Crossroads Television) and a number of councilors coming out to the free barbeque and Christian music concert at Montebello Park on Saturday evening.

Rob Hendriks

Niagara, ON


Love Portage went absolutely great. There were about 10 churches in Portage participating in the event in one way or another. The weather was cool and damp but the excitement about the whole thing was not dampened a bit.

I have heard a few stories of people who experienced these simple acts of kindness, and have actually experienced a bit of God's love. One young single mother was presented with a flower at her door. She did not even want to get out of bed that day, but wound up coming out for a free hot dog and drink and said that "this act of kindness actually gave me a reason to go on."

Love Portage also had a huge effect on the unity of Churches in this city. There was unity before, but some of the relationships have greatly deepened.

We are very grateful to God for His love and for the stirring He provided us with.

We are definitely planning on Love Portage next year.

Bill Galston

Portage la Prairie, MB





Love Quesnel was a great success! Bigger than we had imagined it could be, and very well received. The weather couldn't have been better, and everything went really smoothly. God provided all of our needs right when we needed them.

I think a highlight for a lot of people was a family who had a fence built for them. They had purchased the supplies but didn't seem to know how to build it. We sent a team of about 10 guys over there and they had the fence built in a few hours. The Mom was very, very thankful to have a safe place for her small children to play.

Looking forward to next year already!

Laurel Gordon
Quesnel, BC




Love Sackville

I sent out a questionnaire to everyone who helped plan. Here is one response that was encouraging!

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be at "Love Sackville" on Saturday. I was out of town. However, my 16 year old daughter had wonderful comments about the day. One of her friends always said she didn't believe in God. However, she spent Saturday with my daughter passing out hotdogs. This girl will be moving back to Sackville next month and she told my daughter that she wants to start going to church. So......I have to say that "Love Sackville" was a hugh success. Thank you....."

We had nine different denominations involved and hope to double next year. The weather was forecasted to rain all friday until sunday. We had a prayer walk Friday and about an hour before the skies cleared completely. Then on Saturday it stopped raining in the morning before we started. We planned our events to end at 2pm. At 2:05 the skies opened up (although I don't remember there being any clouds all day?) and the rain came down like crazy.

Someone said it was a prophetic sign that seeds were planted and now they are being watered. We had some new faces in our churches the next morning. It went 100% perfect.

Jennifer Sinyerd

Sackville, NS

(By the way, this rain experience is almost identical to what happened for the first Love Abbotsford event in June, 2000. Very cool!)