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Andy Needs your Heartfelt Prayers
Let us tell you a little about Andy William’s.
He is a man who perpetually delights in serving Jesus. For a number of years now he has served in our reception office (referred to as the ‘Bubble’) on 320 Princess Street during the daytime shift.
Andy is the first face many see when they come to our doors. Whether a visitor or a guest from the street, we know Andy will show Christ’s love; in his greeting, in his smile, in his acknowledgment of who he is serving and in his gracious manner in meeting needs. Andy has such beautiful empathy for the addicted, the hurting, the homeless and lost. He was once there himself.
Andy is a father and grandfather. He delights in his grandchildren and devotes many weekends to their care and activities. He delights himself in Jesus.
To know Andy, is to love him. To know Andy is to see Jesus at work.
But today, we received the shocking news that Andy is being attacked by cancer and is in need of quick surgery. Would you please join us in praying the cancer will retreat and disappear as fast as it occurred? Would you please pray for full healing and restoration of health to Andy?
We know our collective prayers will make a difference! Thank you in anticipation of some exciting news of healing some point soon.
Bless you.
Praise the Lord!
Praise God that we have increasing numbers at our Women’s Day at Family Life Center. In the last two weeks, we witnessed the salvation of Vanessa and then Samantha. Hallelujah!
Pray for their discipling and pray for conviction of more women to give their lives to Jesus. 52 ladies came this past Wednesday and heard and saw more of the love of Jesus!
Ministering for 31 years – Retiring today!
Diana Fields started working at UGM in December of 1990.
“I was recommended by a friend who had been asked by the executive director whether she wanted a job,” Diana says. “My friend said, ‘No I’ve got one, but I know someone who needs one.'”
Just like that, Diana found her calling to help marginalized people in the downtown area of Winnipeg.
“This is the Lord’s work and it’s where I felt He needed me.”
Diana also met her husband working at UGM.
“At the time I started, Wayne was picking up the mail every day. He came upstairs every morning. We had a coffee maker up here that made better coffee than downstairs, so he came up for coffee in the morning so we connected.”
Diana and Wayne met in December 1990 and got married by September the following year. They had 27 years of marriage together before he passed away four years ago.
As for what Diana is going to do during retirement, she says simply, “I haven’t decided yet. I have some hobbies and I do a lot of needlework, so we’ll see.”
Please pray for Diana as she makes this transition to retirement and that the Lord would continue to direct her steps. We’re so blessed to have had the privilege to work with her!
Important Announcement
In the January 2021’s special edition of Prayer Warriors, we included a story “Loyal-Faithful-Sacrificial”. It was the story of an amazing lady, a servant of the Lord here at the Mission, Diana Fields.
Diana is retiring after nearly 32 years of service. In that time, she has overseen the hugely responsible task of ensuring the funding for 7 ministries is handled judiciously and accurately. To know Diana is to know that she insists on accountability from all staff, both full time and part time.
To know Diana is to know the consummate professional, a credit to the Lord’s work, and a wonderful resource to the several Executive Directors she has worked with during her tenure here. To know Diana is to know her love story and her marriage to Wayne (now with the Lord). To know Diana is to know her love for beauty; the beauty of colour, of tapestry, of embroidery, of nature and of order ( Diana is a wonderful advertisement for coordination! ). To know Diana is to know that Jesus is her driving force and to serve Him the most critical aspect of service.
Over the years, Diana has probably heard and witnessed some 10,000 plus salvations and transformed lives. She has probably recorded and monitored over 1200 guests in addictions recovery. She would have been aware of the costs to serve over 3 million meals. She would have received countless phone calls and donations from many of you on copy of this email. We love Diana. We will miss Diana.
If you have an opportunity to remember to lift this special lady to the Lord in prayer for the next chapter in her life, would you please do so? Thank you!
Lets celebrate all that is good, all that is of the Lord! All glory needs to be given to our Father in heaven. ( see Isaiah 48 vs 11 )
P.S. As Diana departs, so opportunities for advancement emerge, and a position for a new staff person needs filling. If that person is you, please have a look at the Job Description.
We also see the need for volunteers who have the gift of administration and the passion to work in an office environment where Jesus is served. If you would like to serve as a volunteer, click on the Volunteer Application.
Praise God
Praise God that 7 days a week we hear the gospel preached more than once a day to those who believe no one cares for them.
To witness our missionaries, Joanne and Todd, serve and share in the drop in; to see residents, Jonathan, Surinder and others, serving at various times, is to see our God who deeply cares for those who would count themselves as lost. To hear the response to praise as I witnessed on a Saturday when a friend of Joanne’s came and shared in song and with guitar, was humbling and moving. There was real, genuine applause!!
Praise God for all who share their hearts and show the love of God as they minister to our guests in the community.
Prayer Requests from our Street Guests
As we interact with our community and guests that come in for meals, we receive specific requests that are on their heart. We’d like to share just a few of those with you, so that you too can bring these prayer requests before the Lord. The needs are great, even more than we can imagine.
- I’m asking that my family in Nelson House are okay and that they will be safe in the arms of Jesus, especially that my sister Linda who passed last week. She will be missed. Thank you, Kathy.
- My prayer is to keep everyone safe, and thank God for each day and forever, amen, Harold.
- I cannot do this alone, I need help overcoming this addiction to alcohol, Ivan.
- Pray for relief of pain and suffering, Marcelle.
- To find myself again, get over being sad all the time, Chieata.
- Please pray for my street mom who is in the hospital with a brain tumor in ICU, her name is Cindy. Thank you, Jeremy.
- God please help me keep my son safe and prosperous, help me get off the streets, stop using these drugs and go back to my son, Culistus.
UGM at Missionfest this Weekend
Please join us at Church of the Rock on 1397 Buffalo Place this weekend and stop by the UGM Booth! We look forward to share how Jesus is impacting so many lives through our 7 Ministries.
Click the Missionfest Schedule for more details
Volunteer Opportunities
We have opportunities to help in the kitchen during the morning, in the drop-in during the afternoon, and help with soup line during the evenings. That’s just at 320 Princess!
We have an opportunity to help sort clothes on Wednesday morning at our Family Life Centre.
These are just to name a few. Please see our Volunteer Page for more options as well as our volunteer application form.
They have a Name
Eight men, independent of one another came looking for food and, in one case, clothing, in the span of 30 minutes. Their names were given as:
- Kyle
- Errol
- Trazary ( phonetic)
- Alfred
- Jake
- Sam
- William
- Ed
Eight men created by Jesus, loved by Jesus, valued by Jesus, and whom Jesus died and resurrected for. Please pray that each of these men come to know the Grace of our Lord Jesus and appreciate just how special they are in His and in our eyes.