This weekly editorial gives opportunity for people to speak about issues they believe are vital for the church to respond to. One of the goals of this weekly article is to spark dialogue – and action. We invite you to…
Among the more creative online gatherings planned for this season is the Holy Week of Prayer: The Vancouver DTES [Downtown Eastside] churches, in partnership with Jacob’s Well and 24-7 Prayer Vancouver, are hosting a Holy Week of prayer at Jacob’s…
First United has long been a steady and welcoming presence in the Downtown Eastside for the homeless and poor, first as a church and more recently as a community centre and social service provider. Now First United Community Ministry has…
“We are in a housing crisis, but without the heart component people don’t stay long in housing.” Jenny Konkin used to focus more on finding housing for homeless people in the Downtown Eastside, but she has refined her views: When…
Michael Hart hopes his new album “will appeal to people who have no church background, who are searching for a benevolent God who cares.” ONE is his ninth album, but he took a 10-year break since his last one. During…
Aaron White has spent much of his adult life living and working in the Downtown Eastside. And now he has drawn on his experiences for his brand new book, Recovering: From Brokenness and Addiction to Blessedness and Community (Brazos Press). He…
Four years ago, I was laying on the street in the Downtown Eastside, about to try heroin for the first time. But then, I turned over and saw the UGM sign. If it weren’t for that, I believe I’d be…
Last week we wrote about how Vancouver churches are responding through community food programs to the physical and spiritual hunger that COVID-19 is exacerbating. Prior to the pandemic, approximately one in 10 households in British Columbia were experiencing inadequate or…
WayBase released a report about The Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Christian Charities June 5. WayBase is a platform that helps people and Christian ministries in Canada find each other, partner together and show collective impact. Director Tim Day and…
Pastor Peter (Jonghuen) Yang has been spending much of his time at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside for more than a year, offering Sunday services and providing food, along with masks and sanitizer to protect against coronavirus. Now orders…