Back Summer Recap: Students share what The Point is with local community in Vancouver

September 10th, 2012

This summer, from June 9-16, 14 high school students and 6 adults traveled across international lines to to partner with The Point Church in Vancouver, Canada. While there, they gardened, prayer walked, and hosted a community festival.

The Point Church, pastored by Victor Thomas, son of John Thomas, who's the founder of Living Hope, a Hope for the World Missions Offering partner, is located on Simon Fraser University—also where the students stayed.

During the community festival, senior Katie Moore met an unconnected father-daughter duo who were performing magic tricks. The young girl, Leralan, has Down's Syndrome—just like Katie's older brother, Matthew. So the connection was instantaneous.

"When we left for Vancouver, I was really excited to get away and have a break from my family and home," Katie said. "But as soon as we got there, they were all I could think about. I began praying for them and asking God to let me minister to someone with Down's Syndrome on the trip."

At first, Katie didn't approach the family, but Leralan soon came to her. She said, "I looked up and there she was. I wanted to laugh and cry. I was so full of joy. We talked and I played some games with her. I met her dad…and told him about The Point. It was just an answer to prayer."

During the trip, the students also passed out socks to the homeless in downtown Vancouver and journeyed down God Road, touring Hindu, Buddhist, Sheikh, and Vedic temples. The temple leaders explained their religious beliefs, then later the students discussed what they'd learned compared to the gospel of Christ.

"We noticed that all of the religions were trying to earn their places in the afterlife—and the Sheikhs didn't even believe in an afterlife," Katie said. "Their religions weren't about serving other people; they were about how they could save themselves. It made us grateful for Jesus and what He did for us."

The crew also linked up with Brentwood Baptist summer missionary David Morris, who was serving as an intern with The Point.

Linc Taylor, Student Minister, said, "David came up in our ministry and now he's a college student. Our high school students got to see how his life is being moved and transformed, which really meant something to them."

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