Hello My Friends!
Six months ago I answered a call looking for volunteers for what I thought to be a soup kitchen, however turned out to be so much more. Instead of serving those in attendance, I was asked to join with them and become the family of whoever I was sitting with for the evening. I loved what I saw; a place that was creating connections in an age of isolation. I began to attend Sanctuary London regularly, a community within our own that caters to the poor, the lonely, and the outcast. Their mission? To love. Such a simple and yet amazing thing! Sanctuary quite literally welcomes everyone, no matter who they are, what their background is, what they wear, how they speak, or what their bank account contains. I have seen the broken welcomed with open arms with no judgement and an understanding that we are all broken, and there is only One who heals. As I became more comfortable within the community, I began developing relationships with a great many people who have impacted my life and faith in incredible ways. Over the last six months my love for this place, and the people it welcomes, has only grown.
Growing up with foster children who came from broken homes, and entered our care while hurting gave me a spirit of compassion as well as a desire to help those in pain in any way I could. Since I was young, I have felt called to work with the vulnerable and the hurting; I have been blessed with several opportunities to do so. From my work with low income day camps here in London, to my trips to Africa networking and helping within children’s homes I have been able to love those who need it the most. In more recent years I have felt unsettled about solely focusing on those across the world when we have such great need right here in Southwestern Ontario.
Many amazing services are provided at Sanctuary on a weekly basis. Sanctuary offers a community lunch and Bible study, a music drop in, a family style dinner that feeds on average 150 people weekly, an art drop in, and a church service on Sunday evenings. Every service is free to the public, and all are welcome. With continued and added support, Sanctuary will be able to not only be able to continue its current programming, but also expand its services and staff. This will enable us to reach more people, and provide even more opportunity for community.
Please keep the Sanctuary team in your prayers. Opening one’s heart and allowing oneself to become vulnerable, taking on and sharing in others’ hurts and troubles, as well as being open and willing to share your own is incredibly taxing. Constant prayers that we will keep our eyes on He who gives us strength, and that we will keep Him at the center of everything we do would be appreciated. I also ask for prayers personally, that God will be able to shine through me to show those I’m going to be working with the love of Christ. There is a line in a song I love that says ‘Break my heart for what breaks Yours’. Pray that He will continue to do so.
Six months ago I answered a call looking for volunteers for what I thought to be a soup kitchen, however turned out to be so much more. Instead of serving those in attendance, I was asked to join with them and become the family of whoever I was sitting with for the evening. I loved what I saw; a place that was creating connections in an age of isolation. I began to attend Sanctuary London regularly, a community within our own that caters to the poor, the lonely, and the outcast. Their mission? To love. Such a simple and yet amazing thing! Sanctuary quite literally welcomes everyone, no matter who they are, what their background is, what they wear, how they speak, or what their bank account contains. I have seen the broken welcomed with open arms with no judgement and an understanding that we are all broken, and there is only One who heals. As I became more comfortable within the community, I began developing relationships with a great many people who have impacted my life and faith in incredible ways. Over the last six months my love for this place, and the people it welcomes, has only grown.
Growing up with foster children who came from broken homes, and entered our care while hurting gave me a spirit of compassion as well as a desire to help those in pain in any way I could. Since I was young, I have felt called to work with the vulnerable and the hurting; I have been blessed with several opportunities to do so. From my work with low income day camps here in London, to my trips to Africa networking and helping within children’s homes I have been able to love those who need it the most. In more recent years I have felt unsettled about solely focusing on those across the world when we have such great need right here in Southwestern Ontario.
I have been offered an opportunity to further my work within Sanctuary and I could not be more excited about it. Spending time within this community has been a highlight of my year so far. Everything has fallen into place to allow me to spend as much time as possible caring for and supporting those I have come to love. God’s timing is perfect, and once again I have seen Him at work in this entire endeavor. I now have the honour to start working as the only permanent female staff within our community, specifically focusing on women and children, creating life skill workshops, cooking some of the community dinners, and helping to fundraise to continue Sanctuary’s work. Words cannot describe how blessed I am to be given the opportunity to help tear down walls, and continue to work towards allowing people to experience being part of an ‘us’ instead of a ‘them’.
Many amazing services are provided at Sanctuary on a weekly basis. Sanctuary offers a community lunch and Bible study, a music drop in, a family style dinner that feeds on average 150 people weekly, an art drop in, and a church service on Sunday evenings. Every service is free to the public, and all are welcome. With continued and added support, Sanctuary will be able to not only be able to continue its current programming, but also expand its services and staff. This will enable us to reach more people, and provide even more opportunity for community.
Please keep the Sanctuary team in your prayers. Opening one’s heart and allowing oneself to become vulnerable, taking on and sharing in others’ hurts and troubles, as well as being open and willing to share your own is incredibly taxing. Constant prayers that we will keep our eyes on He who gives us strength, and that we will keep Him at the center of everything we do would be appreciated. I also ask for prayers personally, that God will be able to shine through me to show those I’m going to be working with the love of Christ. There is a line in a song I love that says ‘Break my heart for what breaks Yours’. Pray that He will continue to do so.
Beyond prayer, we also need financial support. Sanctuary operates solely off donations and fundraising, trusting God to supply for His work. The addition of myself to the staff will only be possible through the support of friends and partners like you. Your monthly investment will play a vital part ensuring that our work together will continue to reach out to the lost and lonely right here in London. Will you make that monthly investment and join with myself and our other partners to share the love of Christ in our community? If so, please click here to donate. Every donation is tax deductible, and you will receive a charitable tax receipt for any donations made. Feel free to call/ email/ text/ facebook me with any questions you may have! I would love to chat with you.
Also, I would ask you to read a letter written by one of the phenomenal men that brought Sanctuary London into being. It can be read here.
Regardless of your ability/desire to commit currently financially, and you live nearby, I would encourage you to visit Sanctuary for yourself. Come and see London through Sanctuary’s eyes; let the rose coloured glasses fall away. You will be shown all the gritty parts that society prefers to cover up and ignore, and suddenly you will begin to see the beauty in ‘the least of these’. I guarantee you that it is not what you are expecting. I have never experienced anything like it. You will be exposed to the most diverse, amazing, broken, healing, accepting, honest, heart wrenching, loving, and loved community I have ever come across. Join me in being the hands and feet of Jesus in this dearly loved community.
Yours because I'm His,
Breezey Allen
breezeyallen@hotmail.com
(226) 224-1653
Also, I would ask you to read a letter written by one of the phenomenal men that brought Sanctuary London into being. It can be read here.
Regardless of your ability/desire to commit currently financially, and you live nearby, I would encourage you to visit Sanctuary for yourself. Come and see London through Sanctuary’s eyes; let the rose coloured glasses fall away. You will be shown all the gritty parts that society prefers to cover up and ignore, and suddenly you will begin to see the beauty in ‘the least of these’. I guarantee you that it is not what you are expecting. I have never experienced anything like it. You will be exposed to the most diverse, amazing, broken, healing, accepting, honest, heart wrenching, loving, and loved community I have ever come across. Join me in being the hands and feet of Jesus in this dearly loved community.
Yours because I'm His,
Breezey Allen
breezeyallen@hotmail.com
(226) 224-1653
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