As of August 31, 2012, I and two other staff members finished our commitments with YWAM Urban Ministries Winnipeg. Even writing that simple sentence brings me a great amount of sadness. Not only do I miss being on staff with such a wonderful team, but I am also sad to know my decision to leave has brought (and will continue to bring) so many hardships and challenges to my leaders and good friends Kim and Jamie.
Yes, I said “good friends” in the
present tense. It's not that we were friends and have had a falling
out. It's not that they have offended me or done me wrong in any
way. I need to make that clear because, as people have
(understandably, but slightly insensitively) mentioned, it looks a
bit suspicious when all three staff leave all at once.
Basically what it came down to was we
all felt it was time to move on. It's as simple as that, although
the decision processes were definitely not easy! It is interesting
timing, and in some ways I wish it was different, but I am hoping it
is part of some divine plan which we'll all look back on and think,
“boy, is it ever great it worked out that way – even though we
had no idea at the time”!
For me, it's the end of 4½ really
great years with YWAM. But for Kim & Jamie, I hope it's the
beginning of so many more! I heard from a wise woman recently that
there is almost always good marbled in with the bad, and I am trying
to focus on the good.
Kim & Jamie felt called to start a
YWAM base in the West End of Winnipeg, and they did just that 10
years ago. Since then they have worked with their staff to run
Discipleship Training Schools and Mission Adventures programs, become
involved in justice issues, get to know people in the neighbourhood
through a used bookstore, and start a church plant, just to name a
few things. I have had the privilege of being discipled under them
and working with them, and have been impressed many times at their
heart for serving people.
In the coming months, Jamie and Kim
have the opportunity to re-envision their ministry. I'm not exactly
sure what it will look like, but I do know they will be running an
internship in March and it sounds like a very neat program. I also
know, despite the challenges, they feel called to stay in Winnipeg,
and I very much hope for a team as incredible as their last one
(shameless, I know) to work alongside them!
If you are at all interested in
community, peace, justice, inner-city ministry, discipleship, etc, I
would highly recommend you check out one of these websites:
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