Momentum for our First Annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) walk is building! Thank you goes to Andy and TJ from 101.5 EZRock who had me on their morning show to spread the word.

Walk with us on Saturday February 25 and help the homeless, hungry and hurting in our community.

To hear the Andy and TJ interview you can click HERE

~ Jessica

When did you first come to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?

2 weeks ago

What were the event that lead to you seeking help?

poverty related to divorce and unemployment

What services have you taken part in?

Referral to housing, meals

What has been the most helpful aspect of coming here?

Having a warm place that is open in the AM to go to

How has your life changed?

It has relieved me of immediate stress and has allowed the peace of mind to be able to seek employment

Where do you think you would be today had you not come to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?

Without their assistance I might have had a deterioration in health and nutrition. I have been in the hospital at $1000+ per day.

What would you like to say to people in the community about what Kelowna’s Gospel Mission and 30K Club have done for you?

That it is worth supporting with donations and other supports like volunteers

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Many people are 1 pay cheque away from something like this, so they should support homeless. I never thought it would happen to me and I have two college degrees and more education-wise and it did.

Thanks to Interior Savings Credit Union and the hard work of Susan Knight we have reached our goal of the Surfing 4 Smiles Campaign.

Check out the details HERE

During the year each Dental Resident spends 5 weeks working at our clinic so we’d like you to…

Get To Know Our Dentist:

Name: Samuel Tam
Home Town: Vancouver

Why did you decide to become a Dentist? I enjoy working with my hands (models: airplanes, cars, etc) I enjoy the opportunity for intimate patient interaction involved with my work.

Have you ever worked in a free clinic or a Non-Profit  organization before?
Yes

What do you think you will gain from being at the Dental  Clinic at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?
The opportunity to help those in need in the community and to help improve their quality of life and general oral health

Have you been to the Okanagan before? yes

Other than work, any plans while you are here? I will try to explore the local area of  Kelowna, I have heard there are great wineries and skiing

For more than 3 years the 30K Club has been providing the next step for individuals who are on the journey from homelessness to wholeness. We have housed hundreds and helped thousands. When you walk with 30K Club on February 25 you will be part of the solution for homelessness in our city.

Brave the cold, wind (and who knows, maybe even snow), and walk with us on February 25th for the hungry, homeless and hurting in Kelowna!

Captain your own team or join Team 30K its up to you! Our goal is to raise $30,000 – we can do it with your help.

It all starts HERE

This is his story.

********

I grew up in a broken home and I had a very abusive upbringing. I was emotionally and physically tortured; during my elementary school years I became very violent and had behavior issues.

I started acting out and entered a life style of crime and drugs from an early age. I began drinking and smoking weed at the age of ten. By the time I was fourteen I was a full blown hard drug addict selling drugs and committing robberies to support my habit.

At the age of eighteen I was arrested for aggravated armed robbery and was facing four years in federal prison. At the same time, I had just returned from fighting in the Canadian championships in Judo, and I was losing my battle of living a double life.

In this season of my life I had lost almost everything and everyone and was so emotionally destroyed I entered into a multi-year suicide binge. I had overdosed and caused some damage to my heart (leading to my recent heart surgery) and accumulated some very large debts with very serious people. That ultimately lead me to Kelowna where I moved to Big White.

Through some unexplainable circumstances I ended up in front of Kelowna Gospel Fellowship Church and met two young “Jesus Freaks”, who were bold enough to share the love of Christ with me. After a few months and through the leading of the Holy Spirit I ended up in Teen Challenge. There I found out who I was created to be, not who I thought I was.

I ended up running a street ministry in the downtown area, and worked with the Salvation Army. I became Evening Hostel coordinator at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission through my friendship with staff members Jason and Trevor. Needless to say I think I am a good fit for Kelowna’s Gospel Mission. I believed my calling was to be on the front lines and I knew God would open doors for me, and he has tremendously.

The best part about working at the Gospel Mission is that I get quality time with clients and am able to share and listen on a more personal level. Because, at night, we are typically alone and away from the chaos of the general operation of the Mission. For example, I get to spend time with the guys if they can’t sleep and we can talk one on one, or if they come for assistance after curfew I’m able to open up, find the reason why they are late, and I am able to use my back ground and old life style to relate and speak into their lives.

I often share with the guys my story – from where I was, to where I am now. I don’t hide or shy away from talking about their drug use or behavior and will always encourage them to make good choices throughout the day.

My advice to the clients is don’t get comfortable where you are at; always keep moving forward, and it’s never too late and you are never too far gone! Now I enjoy life and life is more abundant. Since surrendering my old life my to Christ I’ve gained my health and have seen restoration in my relationships. I’ve traveled and ministered in Africa, Central America and Europe and I’ve also developed a successful street ministry that has lead hundreds to the Lord .

So be encouraged. We may not see immediate results but the “prayers of a righteous persons availith much” and will not return void. If I can be set free, healed and delivered then anyone can!

Andy Cake

When did you first come to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?

5 years ago

What were the events that lead you to seeking help?

Ended up homeless and hopeless on the street

What services have you taken part in?

Meals, help with clothing and someone to talk to, someone to listen

What has been the most helpful aspect of coming here?

Hope!

How has your life changed?

I have made a lot of new friends here.

Where do you think you would be today had you not come to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?

Still on the street, maybe. But because of hope I have gotten my self esteem back, I feel I have something to offer other who are in the same situation, if only a friend to lend an ear.

What would you like to say to people in the community about what Kelowna’s Gospel Mission and 30K Club have done for you?

I would like to say a BIG-THANK YOU!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Keep up the good work, it works

There are some people within the community who have been supporters of 30K Club from its inception more than 3 years ago and who have remained so through the years. Ryan Donn is one of them. Ryan is an acclaimed singer and songwriter who calls Kelowna home. He is active in the community, organizing and supporting local music events, and has a passion for using music for social good.

We are so happy to announce that once again Ryan Donn has donated a Christmas Song to 30K Club. Silent Night is a free download with the suggestion of a donation to the 30K Club. Whether its a one time amount or you decide to become a member, its up to you.

Thank you Ryan for the beautiful song.

And thank YOU for supporting 30K. To make a donation you can click here.

Silent night – Ryan Donn by Ryan Donn

Help Portrait is a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate.
Photographers find people in need and take their picture and when the prints are ready, the photographs get delivered.

YES IT IS THAT SIMPLE!

30K Club at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission was one of the participating organizations that helped to find individuals to have their portraits taken during the Help Portrait event in Kelowna on December 8, 2011 at Metro Community.

We sought out hose who would normally would not have something like this done to participate; people typically fade into the background or get overlooked by society.

Help Portrait is there to say ‘Hey You Are Worth it’

Photo by Wendy McAlpine

photo by Wendy McAlpine

The day was a success and could not have been achieved without the support of all the photographers, make-up artists and other volunteers you donated their time and abilities.
Big Kudos to Nico from TribeHouse for organizing Help Portrait – Kelowna. We were so happy to be a part of it.

To see more pics from the day you can check out the photos on Flickr

Help Portrait is the brain child of US celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart. Since its inception in 2009 more than 101,000 portraits have been given by more than 10,000 photographers in 46 Countries.

Well thanks to Jason Neumann for doing this quick video and helping to get the word out. Its amazing what $30/month can do in your community.

Become a member of the 30K Club today.