St. James' Legacy of Ministry to Community and Youth Lives On
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MAY 2011 THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN / 1 A SECTION OF THE ANGLICAN JOURNAL MAY 2011 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF FREDERICTON M I S S I O N A C C O M P L I S H E D Take the Gospel to the world with passion, creativity BY ANA WATTS Lay aside this dreary, soul-sap- ping, energy-burning enterprise of trying to save the church. It wears you out, grinds you down, and there is no end to it … Go into God’s world … Go from talk- ing and teaching about God to helping people experience God. People have hungrier hearts than heads — their hearts desire deeply to be put in touch with God. If the church can help them with that, they will come — they want to feel connected with God at worship. With these words, Canon Harold Percy launched an encouraging speech to members of Diocesan Council on March 23. “Don’t wonder ‘How can we save the church?’ Wonder ‘How can the church save the world?’ Then take the gospel to world with passion and creativity,” During March break seven adults and nine teenagers from the Church of the Resurrection in Grand Bay-Westfield (Parish of the he continued. We need to offer Nerepis and St. John) spent the week as planned — in Belize, painting St. Hilda’s school and running a Vacation Bible School people who come to our churches “a clear picture of the kind of style program. It wasn’t all work though, the team managed to get in a bit of beach time, and what a beach they had to spend time people they can become with on! Enjoying it completely are, left to right: back row Danny Marmen, Dixie Marmen, Joseph Duplisea, Sodaba Seddiq, Rachel Christ – of the things they can do McCoy, Sadaf Seddiq, Jamie Morell, Marie-Hélène Morell, Andrea Lawrence and Benaiah Sok; front row Michael Caines, Anna as followers of Jesus. A healthy Caines, Carly Logan, Luke Arsenault, Tracey Wallace-Martin and Chris Donovan. Read their story on pages 6 & 7. church cares and loves its people, is pastoral, but that is not the major job of educated and or- dained clergy — their major job is to equip people as followers of Jesus.” St. James’ legacy of ministry Canon Percy undoubtedly expressed similar sentiments during the Lenten Mission he led in the Parish of the Nerepis & St. John the three days before to community and youth lives on the council meeting, at the St. Andrews deanery clericus meet- BY ANA WATTS and archdeacon of Saint John, the facts, figures and human sto- strengthen the existing housing ing held later on March 23, and Paul walked and talked, pon- ries of youth homelessness with and support services for home- at myriad other events through- St. James Church building in dered and prayed, and identified Diocesan Council when it met less youth,” says Paul. “We are out the country during his 34 south end Saint John may be an youth homelessness as an ur- in the Parish of the Nerepis and strongly networked through years (and counting) of grow- empty shell (the parish closed gent and essential ministry the St. John on March 23. Council government and non-profits and ing congregations and nurtur- its doors in 2005), but the spirit Anglican community in Saint caught the vision and approved this is going to happen. We’re ing passionate Christians. The of community support and com- John was uniquely suited to the project in principle. not talking about just housing, founding director of the Wycliffe passion, especially for young undertake. It is difficult to get accurate we are talking about life skills, Institute for Evangelism and people, that has always dwelt “The St. James property is statistics, but the people on the addictions counseling, mental newly-retired rector of Trinity there remains. Whether the perfect for a youth house and the ground know there are signifi- health treatment, education Streetsville (one of the largest building is gutted and renovated, bishop (Archbishop Miller) is re- cant numbers of young people and employment training. Right and most active congregations in or demolished and rebuilt, the ally excited about it,” says Paul. between 16 and 24 living on the now TRC provides basic services the Anglican Church of Canada) St. James property is the future “He’s going to form a not-for- streets or in unsafe, unstable and case management. The JHS is anxious to share his years home of Saint John Youth House, profit group, and we will cover it places. They are couch surfing, provides support programs. ONE of experience and insight in an emergency housing facility. all with prayer.” staying in adult shelters, even LIFE provides transitional hous- congregational leadership with “There is a real need for hous- This isn’t, however, a project crack houses. They are often the ing and support services. But clergy and congregations who ing and support services in the to be tackled by just one group. victims of abuse or neglect at there is no emergency housing seek to become more effective in south end to put young people Paul is working with representa- home, some suffer with depres- facility for homeless youth. At their ministry — who are serious on the path to independence and tives of the Human Development sion and other mental health the end of the day, caseworkers about congregational develop- self-sufficiency,” says the Rev. Council (HRDC), John Howard issues, and of course drug and at these agencies have nowhere ment, evangelism, health, and Paul Ranson, the eyes, ears and Society (JHS), the Resource alcohol addictions are often at to send young people who have vitality — and who feel the need heart of Saint John South End Centre for Youth (TRC), One Life play as well. Not all of them no home to go to. Addressing to get more focused in what they Ministry. (Living Independently for Educa- are in school, but those who are this gap was identified as a top are seeking to accomplish. Archbishop Claude Miller tion) and Vibrant Communities usually struggle, and they are all priority by the Business Com- He sees evidence of that at- appointed Paul to that ministry who constitute the youth work- vulnerable to criminal influences munity Anti-Poverty Initiative titude in this diocese under the last year to do a needs assess- ing group of the Greater Saint from drug dealers and pimps. (BCAPI) forum on at-risk youth, Nicodemus Program. ment. With the support of David John Homeless Steering Com- “We are going to build a facil- Edwards, rector of Stone Church mittee (GSJHSC). They shared ity that will complement and Please see South End on page 2 Pleasae see Churches on page 2 2 / THE NEW BRUNSWICK ANGLICAN MAY 2011 P A R I S H N E W S South End project key to services for homeless youth Continued from page 1 was born. It evolved into the pres- the HRDF study on youth home- ent Saint John Inner City Youth lessness and the Greater Saint Ministry that continues to thrive John Homelessness Steering today. In 2006 a four-unit apart- Committee.” ment building with only one The Toss Solutions architect bedroom in each apartment was firm is volunteering services to built on the site of the former the youth working group and is church hall. It offers affordable working on the renovate/build housing for non-elderly low- new problem. The present build- income people — and is a joint ing suffers from some expensive project of Saint John Non-Profit mould and asbestos issues and Housing, the Diocese of Freder- will be difficult to heat. But a icton and the former Parish of brand new building comes with a high price tag too. Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) is funding the development of a business plan that may show the way forward. Proposed facility Whatever the decision, this emergency housing facility will will offer: be part of the continuum of ser- vices for homeless youth in Saint • safety and security for at-risk John. It will have 10 beds (male youth; and female), a maximum stay of • 10 beds (for both males and two months, be within walking females; distance of schools and other services for homeless youth. • maximum stay of two months; One way or another, Saint John Youth House, an emergency housing facility, will be established The facility will seek funding • life skills training; on the site of St. James Church in South End Saint John. Archbishop Claude Miller and the Diocesan from faith community and pri- addictions counselling; Council enthusiastically support the project that will complement and strengthen the existing hous- vate partners, and all levels of ing and support services for homeless youth. Government and non-profits are also involved in the government. •mental health treatment; project that will not only providing a safe place for young people at risk to live, but will support them The Anglican Church in gen- • educataion; with life skills training, addictions counseling, mental health treatment, education and employment eral and St. James in particular • employment training. training. Representatives of that group presented the project to Diocesan Council on March 23. Left has a long history of youth and to right above they are: Mark Leger of the Human Development Corporation; Nina Oliveira of the community ministry in the south John Howard Society; Tara Parlee of the Resource Centre for Youth and One Change; Colin McDon- end. It was in the St. James hall ald of Vibrant Comminities; and the Rev. Paul Ranson of the Saint John South End Ministry.