Cornerstone Youth Society presents: The Word on the Street

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Saturday, November 16th, 2013
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

The Word on the Street, a benefit for Victoria�s Sanctuary Youth Centre, will be a vision-filled night of worship, testimony and celebration. �It will bring more attention to the centre � to what people are doing here,� explains Jeff Sears, member of both the elder board for Sanctuary and the event organizing committee, �So that people who are donating their time, prayers and money can see where it is going and get excited about helping in this way.�

Entrance will be free, and though the hope is that the free-will offering at the event will help fund basic upkeep, supplies and salaries, the main focus of the evening will be to paint a picture of the last nine years, and to inspire anticipation for what lies ahead.

With the recent health-related resignation of Executive Director, Rob Trepanier, the closure of the Centre Director position held by Michelle Gomez, and the temporary suspension of drop-in services, one could easily be fooled into thinking that the future is a shaky one. However, the board, volunteers and staff have expressed that this is merely a time of reassessing, and an opportunity to research what is needed. �It�s a blank slate and we want to be open to where God is leading,� clarifies Sears. �The needs are different [from when the centre first opened], there are less kids sleeping outside and they have smart phones and internet [access].� This has led Centre Staff, Ian McHale, to spend more time on the city�s streets, making connections and finding out directly from youth what they do need. They are also gathering with Christians in Victoria to pray and seek the Lord�s guidance.

One of these faithful centre volunteers, Carlos Chan, was the inspiration for the upcoming benefit. His desire for the city to come together to support those who serve at-risk youth, birthed The Word on the Street. A regular worship leader at the Victoria Chinese Alliance Church, Chan and his band will perform two sets of worship favourites at the event. Also performing is award-winning local recording artist, Fraser Campbell � who has raised funds for the centre in the past � to lead a couple of sets at the Alix Goolden Hall that night.

Another highlight at this family-friendly event will be popular performer, John Wason, from Word to Life Theatre Arts, who endeavours to tell God�s story, and the stories of His people, in fresh ways.

The evening will also feature testimonies from one of the youth who has been blessed by the centre, a volunteer who will talk about her experiences throughout the years at Sanctuary and Rob Trepanier, who will share the original vision and how the ministry got started.

In response, Sears and McHale will be exploring what is yet to come. �I want to see people excited about the future,� enthuses Sears. �I just want people to come away from the night knowing that, even in this transitional time, Sanctuary is still doing well and there�s a bright future ahead.�

If you would like to get a glimpse of that bright future, and simultaneously have a great night out, then join the centre at 7 pm on November 16 at the Alix Gooden Hall at Pandora and Quadra. Additional parking will be available at McCall Bros. Funeral Home on 1400 Vancouver Street.

For more information on the event visit sanctuaryyouth.org or call 250 385-6255.