Ven a Nuestro Convivio!
Every Spring thousands of migrants from Mexico & Guatemala flood the Niagara region seeking to provide for their families. Leaving their loved ones they come to work on fruit farms and in greenhouses for 8 months to two year durations. Struggling through language barriers, cultural differences, and homesickness, these men and women welcome times where they can socialize.
Through out the past ten years the Vineland Free Reformed Church, Heritage Reformed Congregation, and Immaunuel Orthodox Church have joined together in order to minister to the migrants. In 2009 Wilf and Sharon Bout moved into the heart of the fruit belt in order to minister to the hearts of these men and women. Their home has become a hub of activity as these workers come with problems, questions, and ask for advice.
Wilf disciples, mentors, organizes Bible studies, advocates, translates, and gives messages on Sunday evenings. Developing these relationships with the workers has created accountability as many of them struggle with alcoholism, pornography, and experience the tragic breakdowns in their family relationships.
During the Sunday evening services the three supporting churches take turns picking up the workers and providing rides to and from the service. A tremendous amount of work has gone into and continues with organizing drivers and routes. During these services, the workers love to sing! Hearing them sing with their passionate gusto is a wonderful encouragement to us.
Wilf then reads from the Bible and gives a message teaching, exhorting, and challenging the workers. On Tuesday evenings drivers from the churches come by again to take the workers to a English class/Bible study.
The migrants work long hard days often enduring the heat.
On the 1st Saturday of each month a huge picnic is organized. Usually 175-350 men and women come out enjoying sports, and the hot, spicy supper. While they organize their soccer (which they play with fierce competion) and volley ball games, the drivers gather together in prayer, praying that the Holy Spirit will open their hearts to the gospel message that they will hear.
As the sun sets and the tired players feel the rumbling in their stomachs they head towards the delicious smells of supper that has been prepared for them.
It is fun watching them pile the food on their plates. They have mastered getting a whole lot of food on a plate and they manage to carry it to their tables without spilling.
At a picnic in September, Wilf set up a friendly competition among the different countries represented. They were welcomed to come up to the front and to sing their national anthem while a picture of their home country's flag showed in the background. Again these men not only sang with gusto but with sincere loyalty to their homeland.
When Wilf gives the message from God's Word, we praise the Lord for providing a field of souls where the gospel can be planted. As Wilf has reported, "I am always so thankful for this opportunity to lay the hope, promises, and warning of Christ before so many people. We pray for the Holy Spirit's continued regeneration and sanctification as the Word of God is opened."
Every Spring thousands of migrants from Mexico & Guatemala flood the Niagara region seeking to provide for their families. Leaving their loved ones they come to work on fruit farms and in greenhouses for 8 months to two year durations. Struggling through language barriers, cultural differences, and homesickness, these men and women welcome times where they can socialize.
Through out the past ten years the Vineland Free Reformed Church, Heritage Reformed Congregation, and Immaunuel Orthodox Church have joined together in order to minister to the migrants. In 2009 Wilf and Sharon Bout moved into the heart of the fruit belt in order to minister to the hearts of these men and women. Their home has become a hub of activity as these workers come with problems, questions, and ask for advice.
Wilf disciples, mentors, organizes Bible studies, advocates, translates, and gives messages on Sunday evenings. Developing these relationships with the workers has created accountability as many of them struggle with alcoholism, pornography, and experience the tragic breakdowns in their family relationships.
During the Sunday evening services the three supporting churches take turns picking up the workers and providing rides to and from the service. A tremendous amount of work has gone into and continues with organizing drivers and routes. During these services, the workers love to sing! Hearing them sing with their passionate gusto is a wonderful encouragement to us.
Wilf then reads from the Bible and gives a message teaching, exhorting, and challenging the workers. On Tuesday evenings drivers from the churches come by again to take the workers to a English class/Bible study.
The migrants work long hard days often enduring the heat.
On the 1st Saturday of each month a huge picnic is organized. Usually 175-350 men and women come out enjoying sports, and the hot, spicy supper. While they organize their soccer (which they play with fierce competion) and volley ball games, the drivers gather together in prayer, praying that the Holy Spirit will open their hearts to the gospel message that they will hear.
As the sun sets and the tired players feel the rumbling in their stomachs they head towards the delicious smells of supper that has been prepared for them.
It is fun watching them pile the food on their plates. They have mastered getting a whole lot of food on a plate and they manage to carry it to their tables without spilling.
At a picnic in September, Wilf set up a friendly competition among the different countries represented. They were welcomed to come up to the front and to sing their national anthem while a picture of their home country's flag showed in the background. Again these men not only sang with gusto but with sincere loyalty to their homeland.
When Wilf gives the message from God's Word, we praise the Lord for providing a field of souls where the gospel can be planted. As Wilf has reported, "I am always so thankful for this opportunity to lay the hope, promises, and warning of Christ before so many people. We pray for the Holy Spirit's continued regeneration and sanctification as the Word of God is opened."
By God's grace these men and women are hearing the Gospel message. They are thankful to the volunteers who spend many hours teaching, driving, playing piano, baking, and praying for this work. In the past they have shown their appreciation by preparing Spanish meals for the volunteers. One lady asked, "Where do you people get this love, this desire to help other people? I don't possess that type of love for others!"
As Wilf writes, "So be encouraged-and continue to pray that Christ would use all of us-through our words, and through our actions." Praise God for this ministry and may He be glorified!
As Wilf writes, "So be encouraged-and continue to pray that Christ would use all of us-through our words, and through our actions." Praise God for this ministry and may He be glorified!
What an interesting account of the work with the migrant workers! Keep up the hard work depending on God to bless all the efforts! It truly shows that the work is being blessed. I assume you have a few months of rest from this ministry. It's also great to work together as church communities! Looking forward to seeing you at Christmas DV.
ReplyDeleteNow that Christmas season is approaching; the workers probably experience a great deal of homesickness. Especially the women. What a blessing, that the migrant ministry can be with them over the holidays.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - singing their national anthems. It shows them that we respect the countries where they're from and that we also appreciate their allegiances to their homelands.
What a blessed work this has become, in many, many ways!
Mom