We want...

To see a world transformed by God's word where signs of His Kingdom are experienced through justice, peace and love.

Contact Information

For more information on the Serve Ministry at The River, Contact: Tracy Apoll or Ian Gray, by calling them at 461-6261 or emailing them at serve@rivercommunity.ca

Serve Opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering with the agencies of the Christian Reformed Church and their partners, you need only to make one call: to ServiceLink. Are you willing to serve but aren’t sure where or how? Our staff can direct you to ministries that have a need for the kind of gifts and talents you have to offer. For more information see the ServiceLink webpage.

http://www.crcna.org/pages/servicelink_front.cfm

Advocacy

Micah Challenge
http://www.micahchallenge.ca/

Make Poverty History
http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/

Riverites Serving

»Ed Versluys

Hi, my name is Ed Versluys and in 2005 I had the opportunity to serve in Mae Sot, Thailand. The organization that I went with is called Global Neighbors Canada (http://www.gnci.ca) which was started by Dave and Heather Heppner from Birch Hills, SK to help children in northwest Thailand who have been displaced from their homes and villages in nearby Burma. While there, we assisted in the construction of an orphanage for school-aged children as well as building them bunk beds. I also had the opportunity to visit other migrant schools in Mae Sot and surrounding areas. After I returned home from this incredible experience, I realized that it is important to continue to raise awareness and funds to support ongoing projects in this troubled region. Currently, construction is underway to build another orphanage very close to the existing one for babies and toddlers who are not yet in school. There is much work yet to be done!

 

»Malissa Fredine

Riverite since January 2006.
For the past year I have volunteered with HIV Edmonton http://www.hivedmonton.com/ . I found HIV Edmonton through the passion I have for Africa. As a continent ravaged with HIV and AIDS, I have committed to a 7-week trip to Africa in the fall of 2007. While serving internationally has me very excited, I also think it is important to serve at home on a continuous basis. HIV Edmonton is a charitable organization that assists those living with HIV, and provides HIV Education. Their creativity with fundraising, as well as their zest to be actively involved in the larger community makes HIV Edmonton a fantastic (and oddly addicting) organization to be involved with. Through HIVE, I have met many people who are HIV positive. In North America, the stigma that is attached to HIV is overwhelming. As one client said to me “it’s the only disease that people ask ‘how did you get it?’ No one would ever ask a cancer victim that.” I am so excited to be able to go to Africa! For two weeks of the trip I am volunteering at a baby home called Forever Angels http://www.foreverangels.org/ . The objective of Forever Angels is to promote and raise awareness of orphaned and abandoned children in Tanzania and to support initiatives to alleviate these problems. The remaining weeks are still unplanned, also I have been informed they will include CRWRC, Zambia and Malawi. Why do I feel compelled to serve? I see a lot of focus in our world on misguided priorities. We are blessed enough to have very few needs in our lives, and as such I feel called to help those who cannot say the same. Why else would God bless us if not so that we can share those blessings? I believe we can make the world a better place, if we are willing to sacrifice for it.

»Norm Mantel

Hi, my name is Ed Versluys and in 2005 I had the opportunity toMy name is Norm Mantel and I have been attending The River since April last year with my wife Geri.  Recently I had the privilege of taking part in a CRWRC Disaster Response Service (DRS) project in Port Arthur, Texas.   I worked with a team of 26 volunteers from all over Canada and the US, each of us committed to serving for 3 weeks.  Port Arthur Texas was hit by Hurricane Rita in the fall of 2005.   The high winds and 25 inches of rain in 24 hours caused major damage to many of the homes in the predominately poor black neighborhoods of Port Arthur.   Prior to our arrival many of the roofs had been repaired and the foundations leveled.
Our job was mainly replacing drywall,  repairing plumbing and painting.  Often,  once we started on these houses we would also find termite damage, rotten floors and studs as well substandard wiring.  Needless to say we had to be quite versatile and fortunately our team had people with a wide variety of expertise.  Many of us though, were just happy to take orders and learn on the job.  As every home's damage was different, a team could be there for anywhere from one to eight weeks.
We found that the clients  were a little nervous at first about us coming in and tearing their houses apart, not knowing if these total strangers would put it together again.   But by the time the project was done, a real bond of friendship had developed.   Not only did we repair their home, but often we helped to restore their faith in their fellow man and in God's faithfulness.  After a major project was done,  we would have a Last  Nail Ceremony. These would be attended by family, friends, neighbors, their pastor, sometimes local media and the whole DRS team.  There would be speeches, worship time and a wreath presentation.  We were all impacted by the thankfulness of the people to us, and especially  to God.   Each of us were incredibly blessed to be able to help these families in need.  I would love to be able to do this again sometime.
Thank you,
Norm

For more information about CRWRC Disaster Response Service see their website at http://www.crwrc.org/involved/volunteer.html