The harvest is ready but the labourers are few.

That's why a local organization is calling all local missionaries to the North End.

Inner City Youth Alive ministers to kids in the North End through weekly programs in the city, and a summer camp at Gem Lake.

John Janzen is the Director of Development at ICYA and he said that everyone has something to give and that we all have something to get. "We're all some sort of strong parts and weak parts." 

Janzen says that the beautiful thing about volunteering is that it brings you into a close relational connection with people who sometimes you'd otherwise not be connected to.

The mindset of volunteer mission work is that you're going to give. "And that's true," Janzen said, "because when we have people come to our drop-in, we give pretty important stuff relationally, to kids who often don't have as many people as they would like in their lives."

"But the people who go also get a lot. I hear that invariably a lot from volunteers," he said.

Janzen references to Matthew 10:42 about even giving a cup of water to the least of these,  or when you connect with someone who has been pushed to the edge of society, you have done it for Jesus.

"When we're doing ministry, we're getting ministered to,  just as much," Janzen said, "that's why we always have volunteers who come and commit for a really long time. Often we'll have volunteers who are here for at least a year... They come really consistently to build that relationship long term that kind of flows in both directions."

The summer months are often focused on camp at Gem Lake, just north of the City. Janzen says that they're always needing people to fill positions to connect with kids there.

Janzen explained that the idea is to get the kids out of the middle of the City for a little bit so they can take a break from their "normal" and rejuvenate.

"You can see things differently when you're away from your everyday setting."

Whether in the City or out in the peacefulness of Gem Lake, Janzen said, "God's really on the move... breaking down dividing walls that need to be crossed."

He added that people are often connected to the love of God through the love of people and that volunteering is a good way to start that journey.

If you feel called to be a missionary volunteer at ICYA, call 204-582-8779 or go to their website for more information.