It's not unusual to find groups of people from Winnipeg in Kenora, ON, on the weekend. But this weekend saw the tourist destination filled with out of towners on a mission.
Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada brought in staff and students from their men & women programs in Winnipeg and Brandon respectively. They came to reach out to the people of Kenora, and to bring them hope. They called it Hopefest, and it's something that they are seeking to grow every year.
"Over the past few years, we've really felt that Kenora could use our presence here," Daniel Emond, one of Teen Challenge's directors, said.
They also prayed with those they met on the streets and shared the gospel message with them.
The lunch at the pavilion was also an opportunity to share more about the programs Teen Challenge offers, and testimony of those who have come through the program.
Tessa, a young woman from Grassy Narrows, talked about why she was willing to share her story.
"It's life-changing," she said about the program. "I went from believing that I couldn't do anything right, that I was worthless, and that I had no purpose in my life. So, I was chasing drugs and alcohol to the grave. There were many times I was close to dying, and I ended up in the hospital, but God saw something in me."
Teen Challenge wants others in Kenora to discover that same hope and freedom in Christ that Tessa found. Usually, they offer year-long residential treatment programs. Emond says they’re talking about a different type of outreach program in Kenora, which would offer weekly supports with more of an outpatient style setting.
“We’re hoping then to find a location here in Kenora and start our community resource office that would offer weekly programs for the parents and also for the addict themselves.”
They handed out "500 bottles of water, served hundreds of lunches, and many people prayed for" by the end of the day Teen Challenge said in a Facebook post.
Sun, May 5, 3:00 PM
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