When I consider the ministry of Healing Hearts, the ancient words of Psalm 34:18 come immediately to mind: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit." You see, I have witnessed with my own eyes and have heard with my own ears how these brothers and sisters in Christ convey the Lord's healing and love to the peoples of North Central Regina. Out of their mouths and from their hands comes the salvation of the Lord.

This family of faith takes seriously the words of our Lord to give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, welcome to the stranger, clothing to the naked, healing to the sick, and friendship to the imprisoned. To the anguished appeal that permeates the community and culture of North Central:"Does God care about me?" the believers at Healing Hearts respond with the love, hope, and healing of Jesus, in word and in deed.

Here at Parliament Community Church, ours has been the privilege to share in the journey. The fact that we partnered with our Healing Hearts brothers and sisters is, as both Walter and I have come to realize, "A total God-thing." We have considered our friendship with Healing Hearts to be a blessing, in large part, because we have gained a renewed appreciation for what it means to live out the compassion of Jesus with those who are spiritually and emotionally wounded.

The stories and testimonies you will read about in the pages to follow testify to the faith, courage, perseverance and surrender of the Healing Hearts leadership team. These same pages also share the journey of the wounded; from brokenness to healing. Finally, they will remind you that the answer to the woundedness of the human body, mind and heart is Jesus, and with Him, no healing is impossible.

To my beloved brothers and sisters at Healing Hearts: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

Philip A. Gunther

Senior Pastor

Parliament Community Church

Preface

Vision comes from the heart of God and is focused at Man. Healing Hearts Ministry began as a result of seeds that were planted at a Rising Above seminar. I had the privilege to attend the first Rising Above seminar and to watch many people sit enraptured as the presenters talked about the things of the heart. It was during this seminar that a vision began to form. A vision for a place where people could come with all their wounds, pains and failures and bring them to the foot of the cross in a safe, loving and nonjudgmental environment, literally, a spiritual hospital. The thoughts and ideas started to come together and as I shared the vision I could see it start to minister to the hearts of those who heard it.

The vision of a spiritual hospital was real but we still didn't have any idea of what it should look like. Would it be a counseling centre, a support group, a twelve-step program or would it look like a church? It was during a time of sharing this vision with Nick and Vivian Helliwell, after a barbeque over a cup of coffee sitting at a picnic table, that the vision became a reality. Why couldn't we have church around tables over a cup of coffee and spend a special time each week where we could bring all of who we are before the throne of God?

September 4, 1994 was the first Sunday that we started our new concept ministry. Within a few weeks the well-wishers were gone and our journey of faith began. We had no idea what we were walking into or where it would go but we knew that following this vision would be an exercise in obedience.

After 10 years of obedience, we have seen the vision get a name, a building and grow and change. We have been blessed to have had others come along and catch the vision. We have seen many different ministries begin and literally thousands of different people brought to the healing touch of Jesus.

Walter Selke

INTRODUCTION:

A crazy notion entered my head and wouldn't go away. So I bounced it off my wise and level-headed husband. When he didn't dismiss it immediately, I thought the idea may have potential. At the next leadership meeting, I brought up the suggestion and again was met with support, if not outright enthusiasm.

My excitement waned as I realized the task would be much bigger than me and my abilities. I had a deadline: the tenth anniversary of Healing Hearts Ministry in September, 2004. The challenge of arranging interviews and confirming dates and names and other facts became even more daunting and I felt like most people do part way through a project: I wanna quit!

As God has done so faithfully for me in past seasons of fear and doubt, He gave me some Scriptures to encourage me along. I was reading through the Christmas accounts in early December of 2003 when the words of Luke so aptly expressed my heart's desire for this writing project.

"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, ...so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Luke 1:1-4 (New International Version).

Here before you an account of God's work - perhaps not as orderly as I hoped! So please overlook the weeds of inaccuracy .as you wander the paths of memory. I invite you to enjoy the beauty of the whole garden and the individual flowers who bloom in spite of the adversity they face.

1. PICNIC TABLE SUMMIT

Great ideas most often originate in obscure locations. The seed for Healing Hearts Ministry was planted in the souls of two couples, coffee cups in hand and seated at a worn picnic table. This was the spring of 1994. By fall, the seed would burst forth into an entity that neither the Helliwell's nor the Selke's could have fully envisioned. Great ideas are just great ideas but God's inspiration produces something that cannot be stopped.

The sun filtered through the tall elm trees of Walter and Cindy Selke's back yard while Nick and Vivian, brand new First Nations believers in Christ, began sharing their desire to be involved in a church where they would feel comfortable. Somehow the traditional church model left them feeling empty, still longing to address the real issues in their lives. Fingering the handles of their coffee mugs, Walter and Cindy grew excited as their desire to see healing and genuine change happen in people was being articulated by the very ones they yearned to reach. God was planting the seed of a vision. Was it the right time? Were the conditions right? Was the community of North Central Regina ready for a different approach to applying the Gospel of Christ?

"I envisioned a spiritual hospital," Walter remembers,"where wounded people could come in and feel welcome and safe."

Nick and Vivian wanted to serve those hurting people like Jesus modeled in washing the disciples' feet. How about serving coffee and having everyone sit at tables while the worship service is happening?

"It was exciting and scary at the same time, to dream of a ministry that was new and different from anything else going on at the time," Cindy recalls."Being the wife of a visionary who was finding a kindred spirit in Nick blew me out of my comfort zone! I was hesitant to jump into this idea. Talking around the picnic table was one thing. Putting times and specifics on it was something else!"

The four friends bowed in prayer and committed the"spiritual hospital" idea to their Father. Four coffee cups, now empty, sat waiting on the backyard table.

***** *****

Spring turned into summer and Walter began pursuing some of the ideas. First of all, a place to meet needed to be secured. The Albert Scott Community Centre, adjoining the Scott Collegiate on 7th Avenue and Athol Street, was available on Sunday mornings. Walter booked the Centre for six months. In the meantime, Nick and Vivian planned to look after the coffee and seating arrangements. Cindy prepared to lead singing with her guitar and consider Sunday School for the children, as well.

"Even though Walter and Nick and Vivian seemed so certain and enthusiastic about God moving in this direction, I still wasn't so sure," Cindy admits."I knew this would take a lot of work and would be very difficult at times. So I sought the Lord for a confirmation in His Word. I needed to be sure that God was calling me, as well as Walter, into this new venture. And God answered with verses that I could hold on to during those rough days in Psalms 102:18&21-22, "Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord; So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion [Regina] and his praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord."

2. THE FIRST SERVICE

The last Sunday of August, the leadership of Morning Star Ministries sent us out with a commissioning prayer of blessing to begin a new ministry. The Selke's prepared for the first ever worship service of the yet unnamed fellowship for Sunday, September 4, 1994. As founding pastor, Walter fought the doubts and fears - would anyone show up? - by determining that"even if Cindy took our three kids to the back room for Sunday School, I would still preach to the empty chairs. God called us to start this work and I'm going to be faithful."

To the surprise of both the Helliwell's and the Selke's, about fifty people showed up, some whom the Selke's had been reaching out to and others as well-wishers and supporters for the new ministry. Cindy's recollections:

That first Sunday was mostly a blur! On that morning, getting our three kids ready for church (Mark was 4, Daniel 2 1/2 and Caylea not quite 1) was hectic as usual, with the added challenge of all 3 at various stages of the chicken pox. Trying to remember all the coffee supplies, guitar and overheads and Sunday School colouring sheets and then pack that and the kids over the one block to the Community Centre put me in a near panic. Fortunately, Walter remained calm and somehow we managed to set up and be as ready as we could be for this unknown venture.

One vivid picture that stands out in my memory is of me leading singing in the huge community centre hall, feeling very small and inadequate. The last song I had chosen was"Amazing Grace" and up to that point, everyone was sitting at the tables in a very relaxed manner. But as I began singing that hymn, a couple people rose to their feet. Soon everyone was standing and worshiping with reverence. What a powerful moment as God showed me He was moving and it wasn't about me, my abilities or -lack of them -at all. Grace!

Nick remembers: It was all so new and I was nervous. It was so important to me that people were comfortable and that it did not feel like"church". Vivian and I prepared the coffee and set up tables and chairs. And people started coming; some I knew, a lot I didn't. It was rather confusing because it was both exciting and uncomfortable. I was not used to new people and avoided crowds, but I also wanted to create a comfortable atmosphere.

Just before we were to begin, Walter, Cindy, Vivian and I took time to retreat to a back room and spend some time in prayer. I think we were all feeling kind of overwhelmed with the enormity of what we had started and astonished that we were not alone.

We prayed in turn and as Walter finished off, we spent a brief moment in private thoughts. I was profoundly moved by the exchange that immediately followed. Walter was weeping. He shared that as he prayed, God had challenged him by asking if He (God) had Walter's permission to tear it all down. Walter said in his heart he felt like a little boy, wanting to hold on to this work that had begun, crying out 'no - don't take it away'. He felt that God had allowed him to have the church as a sort of reward for being good, that it was his, and he didn't want it taken away, just when it was beginning to look good - for Walter that is. Despite feeling that way, however, Walter shared how he had loosed his hold, acknowledging that God was in charge and that whatever God had in mind, Walter would accept. Walter confessed that unless God had complete permission to do His will, including tear it down if He wanted, then this church was not really His and we might as well go home because God would not be involved in something that was not His.

It revealed something of Walter's character and of God's character that I will never forget. I realized that I myself had been feeling exactly the same way. I was looking for something to validate me. That God would be proud of me for helping to start a church. That first Sunday, I learned a lot, even before we had started. That God is good, whatever he proposes to do and in spite of our perspective. And my sole validation is not in this life, but in the shed blood of Christ, and the testimony I have in being healed into newness of life in Him.

"They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." - Rev. 12:11

3. FINDING A NAME

By the third Sunday in September, our group had boiled down to a smaller number. The well-wishers and the curious had checked it out and the core who were identifying themselves with this new body of believers remained.

The decision was made that the fourth Sunday would be a potluck meal with a brief meeting to choose a name for our fellowship. Everyone was encouraged to come up with a name; all suggestions would be considered and then put to a vote by the body present that Sunday.

"It was like naming a new baby," Cindy comments about that day."Walter and I wanted the name to come from the people, not from us." So various suggestions were brought forward and then everyone old enough to care wrote down their choice on a piece of paper. Walter and Nick counted the votes and"Healing Hearts Ministry" became the mission and mandate of this newly formed church.

Vivian:"I remember seeing the name Healing Hearts Ministry in my head. At the same time I saw in my vision, a pair of hands holding up a heart, as if in offering, and a dove descending from above. We were so young in the Lord and knew so little about Christianity that I had no idea that a Dove represented the Holy Spirit. At the time, I told Nick, and Walter and Cindy that the name of the fellowship was Healing Hearts Ministry. It was the first time I was really excited about the new fellowship. I told Nick about my vision and asked him to draw it out. With my description, he made a rough sketch and placed it with the dozen or so other suggestions. All the while I was sure about the outcome, being confident that the vision was from the Lord."

Nick:"The adopted name and logo clearly represented the vision of healing that we had experienced and longed to see happen in other peoples' lives. It depicted a broken valentine- style heart held in contrite, open hands with a dove descending from above. The God that Vivian and I had come to know was a God who was willing to come to a person's heart and offer healing. That vision and idea was paramount to everything we associated not only with our own fledgling faith, but with the fledgling ministry as well. We knew that God wanted to reach deeply into the North Central community, into the hearts of the people, to bring a true healing in the midst of all the woundedness.

"I know that I was healed in the moment Vivian and I prayed together in that room. It has taken me all the years in between to understand that and will take me my entire natural life to grow into that level of maturity, but Vivian and I were fully restored in the moment we were spiritually born. So even when we started out as new Christians, we believed that Christ is the answer. The idea that GOD was willing to step into our shattered and broken lives and heal us at that very intimate heart level is what has always guided and driven everything that we brought into Healing Hearts.

Not long after Vivian's vision, I too had a dream that defined our role within the ministry. In the dream, Vivian and I were as one person, so I describe it in terms of me but it is both of us. I was standing at the base of a tree. Looking up I saw that things were happening up above; however, my attention was drawn downward. Looking into the ground, I saw the roots of the tree. I saw that the roots needed tending. I began to tend to the roots, all the while being aware that things were still happening above even though I did not know what. I was busy, seeing the need for water, for fertilizer, digging, weeding and so forth. My entire time was spent in tending to the roots. About that time, I began talking in my sleep. Vivian was awake and had the presence of mind to write down what I was saying in my sleep."

Vivian continues:"When Nick started speaking, I knew what he was saying was important, so I grabbed the first thing I could to write it down. I knew I would never remember it if I didn't. I grabbed a marker and a container from the dresser beside me and wrote as fast as I could the words Nick spoke: 'We are keepers of the root... of something bigger and more beautiful than we will ever know.' I knew exactly what he meant, and I remember that it made perfect sense to me, that that would be our role in Healing Hearts. I remember that when he finished speaking, Nick opened his eyes and smiled at me before falling fast asleep again."

4. THE KARAOKE MACHINE

Healing Hearts Ministry began rich in vision but humble in resources. No offerings were formally taken; a container, a coffee can on a back table, was available for those who wished to give tithes and offerings to the Lord. With a congregation of maybe one third employed and two thirds students or social assistance recipients, we needed faith just to keep the facility rented month by month. But God was good . . .

Our first"sound system", if you could call it that, included a $99.00 Karaoke machine that Nick and Vivian donated to the ministry. Cindy played her Celebrity Ovation guitar without a pick and sang into the lone microphone. We had an overhead projector and shone the songs onto the white brick wall of the community centre hall.

Nick:"Karaoke was a big fad in the early nineties, and Vivian and Nick bought the Karaoke Machine mostly on a whim. At the same time, the fellowship had grown to the point where there was between 40 and 50 people on a regular basis. This included roughly 15 - 20 children and in the large utility room of the community centre this meant that most people had difficulty speaking loud enough to be heard by everyone else. The Karaoke machine, being small and portable, was the perfect solution at the time because, prior to having any storage space at the centre, everything the small fellowship needed for services was being hauled back and forth from the centre to Walter and Cindy's front porch. Even after a small rolling cabinet was donated to Healing Hearts, the Karaoke machine nicely filled its function while being small enough to be neatly stored."

Some of the favourite songs of the small group were old gospel songs, hymns and choruses such as"I'll Fly Away","Power in the Blood","He Paid a Debt" and"Gone At Last". Branching into contemporary songs such as"Refiner's Fire" was a stretch for someone who stuck closely to the key of"D"! The actual songs did not really make worship - the joy of music and celebration of God working in lives drew us close to God and happened to be expressed in song. Everyone was encouraged to sit if they wanted or stand if they so desired but, above all, to worship from the heart.

Precious times of worship were when the adults sat around the tables in a semi-circle while the kids gathered in the centre and sang"The B-I-B-L-E" or"Jesus Loves Me" complete with actions. Their exuberance led many adults who were wounded and afraid to feel young and innocent again as they watched the little ones praise the Lord!

As time went on, a projector screen was donated. Paula Sanders-Leflar joined Cindy in guitar and vocals to double the worship team. Not until well into the first year of meeting every Sunday did we get a soundboard, speakers and a couple mikes. Carl Bueckert played drums for a while.

And Cindy didn't venture into playing with a pick until urged on by Walter Mink and Bob Lydiate . . . but that - and the saga of the karaoke machine - is for a later chapter.

5. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS DINNER

The church family was beginning to settle in and grow. As the Christmas season approached, the folks wanted to do something special to celebrate. We made plans to have a Sunday School program and turkey dinner during our rental hours at the community centre.

Again, Cindy recalls"that morning was particularly chaotic as we cooked a turkey complete with stuffing and gravy, plus took extra pains to dress us all up nice for the occasion." The few regular attenders at Healing Hearts were to bring the potatoes, vegetables and other fixings. Extra coffee was made and piles of paper plates stood on the counter of the centre's kitchen. At least 2 or 3 trips back to the Selke's house occurred to pick up forgotten serving spoons or other supplies for the big meal. The program was simple but adorable as the Sunday School children silently acted out the Christmas story to a narrators' voice. The crowd was larger than usual as the regulars had invited family and friends to share in the event. We sang a few familiar Christmas carols. About the time the program was finished, in walked a group of folks.

The food was being kept warm in the centre's oven and we were ready to set up for the dinner. Unbeknownst to us, another group was booked in following our service times, and we had failed to extend our rental time with the community centre coordinator. Uh-oh! Being accustomed to flexibility as our ministry motto, we closed our Christmas program with prayer and gave instructions to begin loading the food and people down the block to the Selke's home on 1372 Montague Street.

What a sight it was! The streets were actually a bit slushy as many of the Healing Hearts folks and their guests set out on foot carrying pots, containers and roasting pans."I knew our house, especially the kitchen, was a disaster, but what else could we do?" Cindy wishes to forget. No one likely remembers the mess, only the quick rearrangement of the dining table to serve as a buffet and the coffee urn set up on the kitchen counter. People, coats, boots and laughter filled the old house. Everyone had plenty of food as they found any available spot to sit or stand and eat. Somehow the cabbage rolls weren't done until dessert was being served but that became part of the adventure!

By late afternoon, the pots and pans were scrubbed, the garbage was taken out and the extra supplies were put in the front porch."My kitchen was definitely cleaner when it was all said and done than when we left home that morning," quotes Cindy. And we learned to book our special events more carefully in the future!

6. FAMILY FUN COORDINATOR

"Why don't we ...?" was and still is another ministry slogan employed at Healing Hearts Ministry. So when J.P. came up with an idea for the church to have a family fun night, there was no reason why not.

The first event was a talent show and box social. The community centre looked enormous as just our few families arranged chairs facing the corner where the kitchen pass-through counter was situated. The creative box lunches were displayed on a table for would-be bidders to check out. Some ladies fixed other snacks in the kitchen because the many kids would be hungry, as well!

J.P.'s boys performed the song "Oh, You've Done So Much For Me", a Jim Felix number, as an airband. They had made cardboard guitars and an ice-cream pail"drum kit" and lip-synced their hearts out! Nick's brother, Richard played a country-style song on guitar while his then four year old son, Kelly-Ray banged on the ice cream pail like a native drum. A few other special numbers were contributed and then the bidding began.

Among some of the box lunches, the most memorable was the one the Helliwell's made: an Earl Sinclair lunchbox (from the dinosaur show so popular then). Walter and Greg bid against each other on that with great enthusiasm, the two biggest men there that night! Greg's $13.00 bid won; he opened the lid to find the largest hamburger he'd ever seen made with a 1/2 pound of hamburger on a round sourdough loaf of bread. Vivian recalls:"I used a layer cake ring as a mold to make the patty 10" across and an inch thick. Then I slow cooked it over an hour in the oven, letting it drain as it cooked. The bun was a round sourdough loaf, it required four slices of cheese to cover it and a whole large tomato sliced. Included in the lunchbox was a pair of glasses with a couple bottles of pop." Everyone laughed as Greg attempted to take a bite of this monstrous burger! Another unique box was the miniature pool table box, which came complete with set gumball - balls and two chopstick size cues. The kids had a great time playing with the set until someone ate the balls after supper!

For a Hallowe'en activity that year, the church folks went roller skating out at White City and threw in a surprise birthday cake for Cindy. A bowling night and other parties were wonderful times for the Healing Hearts family to bond not just on the spiritual level, but as brothers and sisters in Christ who had fun together.

7. ACQUIRING THE CHURCH HOUSE

Most every activity that happened with the young church mid-week would take place at the Selke's home. Wednesday night singing and Bible study took place in the living room/dining room with the kids usually playing downstairs. An occasional Sunday night sing-along would occur in the same space. Walter made a counseling office in the basement. All paperwork was done on the kitchen or dining room table. The contact number was the Selke's home number, as well as the mailing address for church business. And of course, most large items for church use were stored in - you guessed it - the Selke's front porch!

After about six months, it became apparent that the growing church needed a separate space for midweek events and counseling sessions. People liked the home atmosphere and were comfortable to share their hurts in that type of setting; but family life was becoming invaded and numbers were also out-growing the available space.

So the leadership enlisted a real estate agent (and supporter of Healing Hearts) to find a suitable building for the unique needs of our ministry.

A group of about six paraded through several empty houses in north-central Regina, within a certain distance from the community centre. (The centre would remain the worship location for Sunday mornings.) Our realtor probably wondered if we would ever have a consensus on a house/building in that area within our faith-budget!

Amazingly, after a couple days' of touring the various places, Lionel had a new property not yet listed to show the Healing Hearts search committee. An up/down duplex on the corner of Garnet Street and the alley behind Dewdney was up for sale. Tenants lived upstairs, but the main floor was open and the committee traipsed through with a critical eye. Two bedrooms on the main floor with a full bath would be useful for counseling. The living room was long and narrow but would be suitable for meetings and Bible studies. The kitchen was adequate for snacks and storage of supplies. Upstairs, the layout was similar with potential for guests to stay, ministry teams to be housed and childcare during church events. We trooped through the second floor, while the renters praised the landlord and tried to"sell" us on the place. The committee grew more excited with each step and decided to put in a bid - by faith - and see how God would lead.

As Walter remembers it ..."the duplex seemed exactly what we needed. It would fulfill all the needs of our growing fellowship and keep the traffic out of our home. We put a bid in that was lower than the realtor had recommended but we knew that we could only service a minimal mortgage. The owner had wanted to be rid of this, his last revenue property to sell, as he prepared to move to Calgary. Much to the realtor's surprise, he accepted our bid. The real miracle was to see what bank would take a chance on a new church that specialized in reaching out to those who didn't have money. We went to a local Credit Union and talked to the manager. She was sympathetic to our cause but would not do anything unless we had a co-signer. We provided all the necessary paper work for a co-signer and felt secure that we would soon have our duplex. We got the call a few days later declaring that we still did not qualify.

This was a discouraging time for our small group. We spent some time in prayer and waited on God to see what He wanted to do. The next day we received a call from that same bank manager. She told us about being at a barbeque the night before and had started talking to someone there about this little church that wanted a mortgage . She had explained about the co-signer and all the details to her friend, who then told her she had heard of our ministry and our cosigners. If we had applied, we would be good to fulfill on it. With this still ringing in her ears, she decided we would be worth the risk and promptly called us to approve our mortgage. It turns out she had been talking with her friend at the same time as we had been praying for God's help."

"What I (Nick) remember is that this happened at the beginning of summer when attendance diminished along with the offerings and Walter and Cindy where getting ready for their vacation. I was the church treasurer at the time and I knew the fellowship did not really have any money to spare and certainly did not have anything resembling stable income! After all, we were a faith fellowship and I can remember thinking how crazy it was to be considering something this big. Anyway, one day Walter called me to announce that we had been accepted for the mortgage on the place on Garnet Street, and shared some of the details of what was required. I don't remember the exact details, but the gist of it was that we had so many days to come up with so much money, which we did not have and had no idea where it would come from, and by the way, Walter calmly explained he was taking his family on Vacation that day and wouldn't be back until two days before the money was due! I remember thinking that, 'Oh well, if Walter is not worried about this, then neither will I, but the church is headed down the tubes for sure.'"

A short while later, the folks who were present at the Sunday worship service walked or caught rides to the building on Garnet Street. That beautiful, warm day added to the pleasure felt as we opened the front door and entered"our church house". Everyone, children included, made a tour of the two story's. Some brave members even ventured into the basement, which was accessed by a door around the back of the building.

After a prayer of dedication by Pastor Walter and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on the front step, we went inside to enjoy some Kentucky Fried Chicken. Seated around a long table on chairs purchased from a former north-central church, the small band celebrated another instance where God provided miraculously.

With great joy, the Healing Hearts family held a"mortgage-burning" in 2000, having paid the entire amount through the tithes and offerings of the church.

8. BUILDING THE TEAM

THE SELKE'S STORY

Walter & I met at Nipawin Bible Institute during our years as students from 1985-1988. I had graduated in 1987 with a diploma in the "Pastoral and Missions" program. Armed with this diploma, I moved to Regina to look for work and become involved in a Native ministry. Called Maranatha Native Christian Centre, the ministry I found was led by Pastor Glen and Julie Povey and Rev. Norm and Nellie Taylor. I began attending Sunday services, teaching Sunday School and joining in a weekly early morning prayer meeting.

By the time Walter graduated in '88, he had also become involved at MNCC, which soon became Morning Star Ministries. He began to teach Sunday School and preach on occasion, while at the same time worked for a Christian man who owned a roofing company. After several months on various roofs, Walter saved enough money to afford a ring, and proposed to me on November 11, 1988. We set the wedding date for about six months later, on May 21, 1989, which seemed like light years away to me then!

In February of 1989, we traveled to Prince Albert for an interview with Northern Canada Evangelical Mission. Nervously, I answered the questions put before me; the panel gave me the good news that I was accepted as a candidate missionary. Walter's interview, separate from mine, was next. I waited in the mission office for what felt like eons and finally Walter and the interviewing board emerged from the stuffy room: Walter was accepted, as well! We went immediately to the print shop and had prayer cards ordered to give out to our prospective supporters. One of the staff in the print shop thought Walter's faith was amazing, to have "Walter & Cindy Selke" printed on the picture before the knot was actually tied!

After a lovely May wedding and two weeks in South Dakota for our honeymoon, we plunged into deputation (support-raising) and spent the next few months traveling to Ontario, British Columbia and various points in between. Our ministry at Morning Star Ministries continued, with our focus shifting to youth work. By the time we slowed down enough to catch our breath, a wonderful surprise happened.

We were expecting our first child, when we needed to complete our missionary training. So we bought a house, stayed there a couple weeks, found a house-sitter and moved to Alberta for the next four months. Those were challenging days for a mother-to-be with some serious nesting instincts happening! We survived, returned to Regina, and Mark Christopher was born on September 1, 1990.

Our youth ministry began to grow and our house was often flooded with teens. Before we knew it, a second son, Daniel James arrived on April 21, 1992. Then just as quickly, a daughter was added to our family in September 24, 1993, Caylea Marie. We discovered we had outgrown our two-bedroom home in the 'hood, and were able to move to a three-bedroom only a block away. Things just happened fast for the Selke's!

During that next year, Walter felt a growing restlessness. He had a serious illness and close call in 1992, spending a few weeks in the hospital. The youth work went on without him, and he felt God was moving us in a new direction. One influencing factor in this time of change was Walter's opportunity to attend a Rising Above Conference, organized by First Nations Christians. The conference was developed to help Native people in particular deal with topics of sexual and physical abuse, addictions and other related issues. Walter was in absolute awe as he observed Native people from all walks of life and all areas of Canada; they were held captive by the presenters who spoke about the very issues of their hearts.

He came home from Calgary with this vision beginning to form in his mind. I was less enthusiastic, feeling quite comfortable with the present church, and present routine. Weren't three kids and two houses in four years of marriage enough change? But through circumstances and God's unmistakable leading, I too, grew excited about the vision of a"spiritual hospital".

At the time of writing, Walter and I just celebrated fifteen years of marriage and full-time ministry. In 1998, we transferred to North America Indian Ministry (NAIM), and have continued to minister in the city of Regina. Our children have been an integral part of our lives, ministry and decision-making. They are great friends with folks at Healing Hearts, growing up through the Sunday School and experiencing many of the joys and sorrows their parents have experienced. We now live in east Regina, having sold our houses in north-central and choosing to minister from a little different perspective. We have no doubt that God has led us so faithfully and will not fail us in the future, wherever that may take us.

THE HELLIWELL'S STORY

Nick:"Our life changed so radically when we accepted Christ. My whole demeanor changed. My attitude changed. Before we gave our lives to Christ, I was well on my way to becoming everything I despised. I come from a very violent family and even though I was not raised in that environment, after I met my family, it was just naturally assumed that I would be a part of it all."

Nick was part of a generation of First Nations peoples in Saskatchewan who were apprehended by the Department of Social Services and raised in white homes. By the time he was twenty-one, Nick had been raised in an estimated twenty-five different homes.

He continues:"I think I was so desperate for acceptance that I didn't pay a lot of attention to the person I became. Vivian and I had been together for about four years already by the time we were saved, and while I was struggling to change things around, the alcoholism, drug addiction, and violence were all still there when we turned our life over to Jesus Christ. There are lots of people out there who know what we used to be like and what we are like now. We didn't all of a sudden become invisible; instead, we stuck out. It wasn't that we were trying to. We quit hanging out with the people we used to hang out with. When people asked, we were open about it. I admit, that to me it felt kind of embarrassing at times to say we had found Christ and had been born again, but neither was I going to deny or hide the truth I had come to know."

Vivian says,"Without Him, we wouldn't be here; we wouldn't exist, we couldn't come this far without Him. The song says, 'He has done so much for me, I cannot tell it all'. That is exactly how I feel. The life He has brought me out of, and the things He has saved me from, I really do owe Him my life. I remember guns in my life and violence and people being drunk and yet Jesus brought me through all of it, I believe, so I could tell others about it. He brought me out of the miry clay and set my feet on solid ground and answered my prayers. My life is everything I prayed for and I want people to know what God has done for me; not because I am special or worthy or anything like that; but because of who He is: He is love, He is good, He cares, and He is holy. In Him we move and live and have our being. Only in Him are we complete and because He lives, I can face tomorrow; without fear, without pain in my heart, without all the garbage people are so used to carrying around. Without the garbage I used to carry. We can lay it all down at the foot of the cross and find wholeness and healing in our lives and in our heart."

In Nick's own words, he describes how he and Vivian view their continuing ministry within Healing Hearts:"I understood that everyone has some basic questions about God. They want to know about Him and find answers to their questions. When I came to Christ, I acknowledged that I had a lot of questions, which needed solid answers without which my newfound faith would be continually eroded and undermined. So, I see my role as a person who can provide some guidance in finding answers. While the questions vary from person to person, as does a person's understanding, the questions regarding God are ultimately rooted in a person's experience. I think that the basic questions could be boiled down to "does God care about me?"

Having gone through a transformation as radical as we did, and being engaged in a process of life-long learning and healing, I can testify that yes, God really does care, despite a person's life experience. I am committed to the vision of spiritual healing in and through Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I have come to a point in my healing where I am truly thankful for my past. Furthermore, I know that without Jesus, to reach the place where I am at in such a short time would have been impossible.

Nick: Since the very beginning, Healing Hearts has been about servant hood. When we started, both Vivian and I wanted to use what we had been given in service to others. The idea with the coffee was to make people comfortable, yes, but it was also because we saw it as a way we could be of service to others. I had realized that a lot of people, when they need to talk about serious issues in their lives, get together with their best friends to talk over a cup of coffee. I wanted to assist in creating that feeling of intimate sharing; sort of invite people to sit down with Jesus, open up and talk about real issues. Over the years, Vivian and I have continued to fill many different positions in the church, but each one fit into our role as keepers of the root; that is, as people who are concerned that the original vision is not lost or diluted. That is our role. An integral part of healing is a new or restored sense of identity. Part of a sense of identity lies within a role we see ourselves in. Thus, within our identity in Christ, lies, for Vivian and I, the role of servants assigned as keepers of the root of Healing Hearts Ministry.

This concept of having a role within Healing Hearts is something that all of the leaders have an expectation in seeing in people within our fellowship as Christ touches their lives and brings His healing. As we often emphasize to our members, everyone has a ministry. It is wonderful to see people grow into their various roles within the church as they become aware of the needs of others in the fellowship.

THE LYDIATE'S STORY

"It's interesting to look back over numbers of years and see how God tied Bible School contacts to current day ministry without any planning on our part. God sees the bigger picture that is so much bigger than what we could ever imagine or plan.

Bob and Walter attended the same Bible School in Calgary but when the school closed each went their own way without any ongoing contact. Even though Bob graduated from a Southern Baptist Seminary, it had always been clear that God was calling us to opportunities that were outside the conventional church setting.

Work opportunities were opened to us and even before Bob's graduation, our family of three moved from Calgary to Regina. Commuting between the two cities became standard fare for our family for the next three semesters and being a student, Bob needed to locate summer employment.

God provided an opportunity at the local food bank and during that first summer in Regina and for about a year after graduation, Bob worked with and amongst the disadvantaged of Regina. Our ministry within the church was through a small struggling church plant and we continued to learn about openness, flexibility and letting God do the leading in sometimes painful decisions. The people that Bob met as a result of the food bank and the circumstances and situations that he saw represented during this period began the crystallization process of what we now know as our area of ministry. During this time, Bob saw a volunteer one day wearing a shirt with a familiar last name on it. This turned out to be Cindy and a re-establishment of an old connection was born. Since that time forward Bob and Walter spent time praying for each other and the various ministries that each were involved with. As couples we visited and have watched the children grow up. Walter and Cindy even attended the celebration of the arrival of our son from Jamaica.

Over the years we have ministered in churches and in areas that reach out to those that are outside the mainstream of our community. We have been involved in Christian community through long term sponsorship of the March for Jesus, offering a meeting and caring place through owning a Christian bookstore. Bob has worked with the unemployed through the Salvation Army Casual labor service.

Through our continued contact with Walter and Cindy we had the privilege to attend the very first meeting of Healing Hearts and we would pray for this ministry on a regular basis. It was interesting that the ministry focus of Healing Hearts was very similar to our own and yet it was not yet our time to fellowship together.

As the years rolled by, God's call was clearer and clearer. His message was being missed by some because they felt uncomfortable in a mainstream"normal" setting. This was never so evident as when we became involved in prison ministry through a band. In addition to being a band member, Bob would be able to preach a message that struck home to guys that, more than likely, had not been in a church for a long time.

During this period of time, we were led to form a church that was very unique in spirit and application. God's presence was so powerful every time we met and His power so evident in the work that He did that anyone involved was powerfully affected and changed. Anyone who has been involved in ministry is fully aware that where God present and working, the area gets the full attention of Satan. Sadly, through errors made on our part this church did not survive and left our family emotionally and spiritually in tatters.

God is gracious and forgiving. He provided a place through Healing Hearts where our wounds could heal and our effectiveness as His servants could be validated and sharpened to a more effective level. The pruning can be painful but God is good and will provide the strength to endure and grow in a more fruitful and healthy direction."

***** *****

Bob and Gwen and their children, Aimee and Troy, attended Healing Hearts in the spring of 1998. A few of their friends came along, as well, to bring an influx of fresh faith and vitality to the struggling fellowship. Within a few months, it became apparent that God was calling the Lydiate's to become involved as co-pastors of the leadership team. They have been sharing the responsibilities of preaching, teaching, Sunday School, worship leading and myriad other avenues of service above and beyond any job description (what's that?). Their gifts and vision for ministry have been instrumental in bring Healing Hearts further along in worship, team-building, and Mission Mexico outreach. "Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively" (Ecclesiastes 4:9) has been a principle proven true as the church has grown in depth and in numbers with two pastors on the team.

Both Aimee and Troy were baptized since becoming part of the Healing Hearts family. Aimee has been involved extensively in teaching Sunday School and participating on the worship team. Her leadership in the youth ministry has been key in drawing friends to Christ and providing stability among the young people. Troy brings life to Sunday School and rhythm to the worship team (bongos, in particular).

THE ROOT'S STORY

I warned Gina Marie shortly before we got married, that life with me would probably never be"normal". Fortunately, she agreed to marry me anyway.

Gina Marie graduated from Bible College in 1996 with a degree in music, and I graduated a year later with a bachelor of arts in religion. We really didn't know where God was leading us and so I headed back into the bush to foreman a tree planting crew after graduation. This aggravated a long-standing knee injury I had and by Christmas I was unemployed and on crutches.

A friend of mine called me up during the Christmas period and told me of a youth custody facility that he had worked at which was looking for an employee. He suggested that I should give them a call. In January 1998, I began working with House of Concord as a Case Worker, dealing with 16-18 year old men. Concord was an open custody facility (a"juvenile detention center" or"youth jail" in common language.) I spent nearly three years at this facility and it was a time of great joy and incredible struggle.

While working here God grew in me a burden for these young men who were on the fringes of society and largely unreached by the church. I began to dream of an overtly Christian ministry to reach and disciple this group. Part way into this dreaming and scheming, I met Walter Selke. He preached at Parliament Community Church where we were members (I don't remember what he talked about) and Gina Marie looked over at me at the end of the service and said,"You need to go and talk to him."

The next week Walter and I went for coffee and we talked for a long time about vision. I don't remember a lot of the specifics that were said but I do remember a chunk of conversation that went very much like this:

"I started out studying to be a youth pastor, but I switched to a general degree part way through because I thought, 'What church is going to take me as a youth pastor?'"

Walter got a quirky smile on his face and said,"Oh, I think I know of a church."

Thus began what could best be described as a"dating relationship" between Healing Hearts and the Roots. Gina Marie and I went to some services and had coffee with Walter and various other people. As usual, I was gung-ho and ready to dive head first into what seemed like a very exciting ministry that would allow me to do what I wanted to in reaching out to community youth. Gina Marie was, on the other hand, much more cautious and asked a lot of sensible questions like,"How are we going to support ourselves since Healing Hearts won't be paying us?"

A big part of our beginning involvement with Healing Hearts was the decision to move into North Central Regina. I had read"Restoring At-Risk Communities" by John Perkins and was keen on the concept of incarnational ministry and living in the neighborhood in which we wanted to work. Gina Marie again was the moderating force in our lives and prevented me from diving headlong into something without thinking through all the ramifications. Another aspect of moving was that we hadn't saved up a down payment, so we were thinking of renting.

Walter advised us that it would be cheaper to buy than to rent, plus he knew someone who could sell us a house. Him. In a surprisingly short period of time we had bought the Selke's home and had moved into North Central.

Living in North Central required a little getting used to, but it wasn't nearly as bad as some people had thought. It was certainly livelier than the south end where we used to live. There is an active prostitution stroll two blocks from our house and the police are a frequent sight in our neighborhood, often showing up in fairly large numbers to deal with some situation. The SWAT team also visits our area from time to time. On the other hand, we know far more of our neighbors, and people are often more friendly.

After we had decided to take the plunge and begin working with Healing Hearts, it was still a long process until we were in full time ministry. We moved into North Central and I continued to work at Concord for a while, but my schedule at Concord interfered with what I wanted to do with Healing Hearts. I worked evenings and weekends on a rotating schedule, which meant I could never book a regular event (other than at 10:00a.m. which isn't very practical when working with inner-city youth).

I talked with God quite a bit about this and said,"Lord, if this is what you want me to do, I need another job. One that ran during school hours and had the summer off would be perfect." Admittedly, I had a job in mind that fit this description. One of my part-time co-workers at Concord was a classroom assistant for the public school board and figured I would be able to get on doing that fairly easy.

In September of 2000 God blessed me with a job as a classroom assistant in a Behavior Adaptation Program at Douglas Park Elementary School. In many ways it was exactly what I needed. Not only did it fit what I had hoped for scheduling wise, but also the staff at the school were all amazing and went a long way to healing some of the wounds I had from working at Concord for nearly three years. The class I worked in had 9 students, one teacher and two assistants. My two immediate co-workers were very gifted educators and it was a great privilege to work with them for two school years.

During the two years I worked days at Douglas Park, I spent my evenings and weekends developing the A Cowway Hotonamay (ACH) program. A Cowway Hotonamay is a Cree phrase that means"to buy back" or "to buy again". We decided to use a Native name because so many of the people in our neighborhood and in the prisons are Native. Gina Marie and I also began working with the Healing Hearts youth group, after the couple that had been doing youth moved on to other things.

For the first three years ACH was a cycling based program. A number of young men briefly associated with us, and two were very involved for those three years. They learned bicycle mechanics skills and spent a lot of time riding, training for a summer trip that we did to BC for 10 days of cycling in the mountains.

On July 12, 2001, Tirzah Rose came into our lives. We had put off having children for quite awhile (all right, I had put off having children) and had decided that we didn't want to put this off forever. Tirzah has been a great addition to our family ministry team and was very outgoing as a baby, often disappearing into the Healing Hearts congregation on Sunday morning and not reappearing until she had made the rounds of most of the women.

After two years of working two jobs and slowly trying to raise support, we decided to take the plunge and just do full time ministry. This was pretty scary, but also an amazing time of being completely aware of God totally taking care of us. We lost track of the number of times when we were in some kind of crunch and God miraculously provided for us. Several times unexpected checks would come in the mail, usually for an amount similar to what we needed at that time. That is not to say that there are no problems or times of frustration. Every vehicle we have owned since moving to North Central has been broken into or vandalized. One morning I discovered that someone had stolen the battery out of our car (although about 8 months later it was returned and left sitting on the sidewalk in front of our house)! We had two of the best ACH bikes stolen (from different places) in a short time, and when we were just starting the ACH program someone broke into our basement workshop and stole all our tools and various other odds and ends. Each time there is a trial or a trouble though we can see God at work. It isn't always how we might like but there is no doubt that God is at work in North Central and Healing Hearts.

Recently I have been spending more time at the adult jail on the edge of Regina. I ran a six-week Bible study for the general population (the first general population Bible study in about 5 years). I found this to be a great experience, and a chance to meet a lot of new and interesting people. The guys who came out to the study brought a fresh and interesting perspective to the Bible and asked a lot of very good, very thoughtful questions. I also do a lot of one-on-one visitation and release planning with the men at the jail. Many of the men at the prison are native (about 80%), although the general population in Saskatchewan is only a little over 10%. Our ministry tries to address systemic problems as well as individual ones, although it is much easier to deal with individuals.

One of the greatest blessings that God has brought into our lives since we started with Healing Hearts is a retired gentleman named Gerry Epp. Gerry is very gifted in the ways of organization, detail, and financial dealings (all the areas I am horrible in)! Gerry came on board to drive our support and gear vehicle on a bicycle trip and after talking with a friend of mine decided to stick around and help out more regularly. One of the first tasks he took on was to do the financial books for ACH, a task I had put off for two years because I hate doing that sort of thing and have almost no idea of how to do it. Gerry took my system (throw all the receipts into a box and deal with it later) and worked out everything over the previous two years, setting up our current system in the process. This was an incredible blessing and saved me hours and hours of frustration. Gerry's self designated job is to handle many of the details that need to be taken care of, but keep me away from the relational ministry that is the reason we are in North Central. Gerry has given me hundreds of hours to minister to people that would have otherwise been taken up with administrative tasks. Gerry has also been a tremendous advocate for ACH, procuring hundreds of dollars in tools, construction materials, and donations.

At this time we have been in full-time ministry with Healing Hearts for two years and God has blessed us with another daughter, Keziah Mae. Gina Marie has become more and more involved and now does as much or more with the youth group than I do, allowing me to spend more time in the prisons and working with higher risk youth and adults. We have grown to love the ministry we are in and especially love the people who God has called us to work with. We can't really imagine being anywhere else.

Gina Marie's Side of the Story

Spurgeon has pretty well summed up how we came to Healing Hearts, but every person comes from a different place and sees things from their own unique viewpoint, and some things stand out differently in my memory.

God began calling me to missions when I was in Jr. High, and I even felt His leading toward working with inner-city youth when I was a teen myself. However, time and my own fear of being stretched and love of security led me to believe that God wanted me to just be a wife and mom and use my music as a layperson. Not that there's anything wrong with that as a calling, but that was not all God had called me to and because of that I would never have felt truly satisfied if I had not let God lead me where He wants me to be.

After graduating from college, I worked quite happily as a nanny for three years and became heavily involved in the music department of Parliament Community Church. I then moved on to working as the secretary there. It was during this time that Spurgeon began talking about moving to either the Core area or North Central so that he could better minister to those he felt God was calling him to. Spurgeon has graciously said that I was"cautious" and"asking sensible questions," but the reality was that I liked my safe little life on the south end of town in a nice neighborhood and I was digging my heels in and refusing to listen to God. I didn't want to move to a place where there were prostitutes, drug addicts and a high rate of property crime. I wanted to start a family and raise my children in what I thought was the ideal place. I was determined that if I was going to North Central, God would have to drag me kicking and screaming! Thankfully we have a patient and forgiving God. He worked in my heart slowly growing a desire to reach people on the fringe of our society, slowly being the key word here.

When Walter came and spoke at our church, I realized that this was where God was leading us, not just my husband, but me too. By the time we moved to North Central, I was at peace with it. I knew God would protect both us and our children once we had them. Still, I was working at PCC and so I initially stayed most connected to them, while Spurgeon tried to create a bridge between the two churches. When Tirzah was born and I quit my work at Parliament, we decided the time was right to more fully connect with Healing Hearts.

I don't know that anything has ever scared me so much. Spurgeon had been helping out with the youth for a year and now was leading this ministry and I felt I should be involved because there was no female youth leader and it was a way to spend more time with my extremely busy husband. I never felt like I fit in with other teens when I was a teen myself and so I was sure that the youth group was going to tolerate me at best. I'm not sure how many times I asked Spurgeon,"Are you sure I look alright? I'm not to old and fuddy-duddy looking?" before our first few youth events. But God has given us a group of young people that are so loving and accepting and they quickly assured me that I was cool (woo-hoo, finally, I'm cool!) and I've have been able to build some really wonderful friendships with these kids. God has used them to heal some of the old wounds from my teen years that I was unaware were still there and influencing how I view myself and relate to others. And here I thought God brought me to Healing Hearts to teach them something!

I was also afraid that I had nothing in common with the women at Healing Hearts and that because of this I had nothing to share with them. I had completely underestimated the common ground that having children provides. Tirzah and Keziah have been conversation starters at times when I thought there was nothing to say. And once the ice was broken, I found that people everywhere are more the same than different. They have similar needs and hurts and dreams and desires for their children. I have gradually become more and more involved in the ladies' group at Healing Hearts and I am now proud and humbled to be able to call these women some of the closest friends I've ever had.

God has also really blessed me in this journey with the friendship of Gwen and Cindy who have both been my big sisters who have already traveled much of this road. I can't count how many times they have come along side me and helped me figure out how to fit together ministry, marriage and parenthood, how to see the needs of and reach out to those around me.

Somewhere in the midst of this journey, God has given me such a sense of belonging both to North Central and to Healing Hearts and has grown in me a passion to lead His people deeper in their walks with Him. A few days ago I realized that, if God asked me to leave Healing Hearts and North Central (which He's not), I would feel the same desire to passionately dig my heels in and not move that I felt when He first asked me to come here. In so many ways, God has truly brought me home.

***** *****

As the Roots have joined the leadership team fulltime since the fall of 2001, they have fit in well with the family. Spurgeon's unique vision to reaching marginalized youth in particular and people in general has added a dimension to the ministry previously unexplored. With the appearance of a biker but the heart of a preacher, Spurgeon brings energy and ideas as well as a faith to minister as the first Healing Hearts"missionaries" supported by family and friends via the church.

Gina Marie brings joy, laughter, and beautiful music to the ministry. Her rapport with the youth girls and her growing connections with the women (young moms especially) continues to bless the church family as her time and energy allows. Her gift in teaching and her burden for prayer strengthens the leadership team.

As the Roots raise their daughters, Tirzah and Keziah, they live the testimony of a Christian family within the north-central community. Their girls bring delight to the church and babysitting opportunities to the youth.

Team-Building

Once the Lydiate's joined the leadership team, the Selke's found they had to get more organized and improve in the communication skills department. They began meeting regularly to pray and discuss happenings in and around the ministry. Wednesday night 9 p.m. at Moxie's became a highlight of the week. Nick and Vivian joined when they could to add insight and prayer to the team. When the Roots came, with babies in tow, Moxie's no longer held the same appeal and the weekly meetings moved to the Roots' home. Twice a year, in September and January, the team gets away for an overnight retreat. Worship, prayer, sharing and goal-setting dominate the agenda. Oh, and they make time for eating, laughter and did I mention a hot tub? These times have built not only a ministry team but have deepened friendship. That's what it's all about!

At one such retreat, the leadership developed a mission statement for Healing Hearts:"Bringing the Healing Touch of Jesus to Wounded Hearts". Then each of the areas of ministry, from Sunday School to Bible studies to the ACH program, was held up to that mission statement. Were these programs bringing the healing touch of Jesus to wounded hearts? The process of evaluating the specific ministries and the leadership motivation and direction continues as we keep each other accountable. And God is moving ... if He shows that something is not working or not motivated by His love and power to heal, the program is changed or deleted.

10. THINGS WE'VE TRIED ...

The beauty of being a non-denominational church started form scratch is that no one can tell you "...but we've always done it this way". Oh, the things we've tried!

We have rented out the upstairs suite of the church house to university students. Then we decided renting as a church group was a conflict of interest. So we made the entire duplex a non-taxable building and only offered the suite for temporary living accommodations for those willing to fix up, clean up or make a donation to the ministry.

Having a resident in the building made it less attractive to would-be burglars. But we still have had unwelcome guests break-in and help themselves! Nick and Vivian happened by the house on such an occasion. Nick proceeded to check out the premises and caught a rather large thief trying to escape out the upstairs bedroom window. Nick was so indignant at the intrusion on God's property that he began yanking on the man's legs to pull him back in. The guy finally wriggled free, jumped down to the ground and ran off, empty-handed. We're still not sure what Nick would have done if the hefty man did come back in and faced off with wiry but quick-witted Nick Helliwell!

Nick recalls,"Vivian and I were driving by the house and notice that the lights were on upstairs. As neither Vivian nor I was aware of anything that should be going on, we decided to check it out. I never even considered burglars as I went upstairs to turn the lights out. As I reached the top of the stairs, a large man who I did not recognize stepped around the corner, took one look at me and bolted the other way - not past me, down the stairs, but towards the front window. I am sure I have never seen such a large man fit through such a small window so fast in all my life! I was a step behind and grabbed his feet as his body shot out the window. As he struggled free, I realized that he was a burglar and was outraged at the idea that someone would consider raiding our church house. As he jumped off the porch roof and disappeared between the houses, I leaned out and yelled indignantly after him, 'THIS IS A CHURCH!' To this day, I laugh at how ridiculous it must have looked."

Being in the 'hood did put our property at risk. And sadly, the Karaoke machine, being used for musical purposes at the church house, did get lifted. We reported the loss of that and other items - including a vacuum cleaner that didn't work - but it was never recovered. We know these are small costs for the value of the souls we desire to reach.

Church House Activities

One of the first summers of Healing Hearts' existence, we hosted a ministry team from Racine, Wisconsin. They brought colored plywood boats, complete with white sails, to do children's Bible clubs around the north-central area of the city. Under very organized and strict leadership, this group did up to nine clubs a day, in various locations like parks and school grounds, wherever kids congregated. They branched out from Garnet Street and gathered their entourage of bored and curious children. Then the teams would put on puppet shows, skits, and teach Bible songs and stories. They learned to serve a drink and snack after the club to keep the kids there for that hour and coming back the next day.

Pastor Don Wratney, his wife Suzanne, and bus driver, Brad Bliss, have been the steadfast leaders of the"Evidence" ministry teams. When asked for some comments for the book, Brad responded:"For over a decade, God has used the ministry of Healing Hearts in the lives of the young people of Calvary Memorial Church. The difference in the prayers of the kids is what I have noticed the most. Back home, their prayers often reflect how comfortable their lives are. To hear them earnestly praying through a day before they go out into the community is wonderful. They see their need of each other and pray for unity. They see what they've taken for granted all their lives and begin to be thankful. They see what God's love can do through them in the lives of the neighborhood kids and pray for more. They meet God.

"A word, too, about the example of Walter, Bob, Spurgeon and their wives...

Selflessly they serve their King,
Entangled not by things that fade,
Exchanging nothing for God's pride,
Their treasures safely laid.
How beautiful they are,
Those who really see,
Wanting God alone,
Eternally. [Brad Bliss]

The church house has been a gathering place for support groups dealing with sexual abuse, weight loss and other counseling issues. Mark and Nancy Smit spent a few years in Regina and helped provide support and resources in the counseling area.

A women's Bible study has been going under Cindy's care since 1996 or so. From crafts, to singing, to baby showers, to sharing times, the women's ministry continues to evolve and minister to the variety of women and their need for relationships with other Christian women. They now call themselves"Soul Sisters in Christ". Recently, the women have organized and hosted one-day rallies to promote unity and growth among fellow sisters in the Lord. How exciting to see the women use their gifts to minister in and outside of the church!

The men's group, called"Brothers in the 'Hood" gets together for fun and fellowship on a regular basis. Their nights usually include"Pizza and Pool" or"Burgers and Bowling" and have grown into Bible studies. Kevin Outhwaite has been instrumental in organizing and motivating a men's ministry in a non-threatening style.

In about the winter/early spring of 1999, some individuals thought a drop-in centre at the Church House would be a great ministry. Called"Garnet House", the centre would be open weekdays and begin with a Bible study and prayer among the volunteers. The coffee would be on and volunteers would be available to listen to, pray with and visit those who dropped by. Plans to add specific activities never quite got off the ground: crafts, discussion groups, Bible studies and workshops. By the time spring rolled around, people were out and about in the neighbourhood and not interested in sitting indoors. The base of volunteers dwindled, but as Cindy observed,"Garnet House helped the volunteers from Healing Hearts to build relationships with each other and gave opportunity for serving the Lord."

Outreach

One way we tried to reach out was through giving an Easter meal in which Nick & Vivian made invitations and did a door-to-door campaign in the neighbourhood. They had written"potluck" meal but somehow that didn't register. Over sixty showed up that Sunday, for the service and the numbers swelled to more than one hundred when the meal began. Our little core group of maybe 30 (including kids) hadn't prepared enough to feed that many people. One woman from the neighbourhood discreetly handed us a $20.00 bill and told us to get a bucket of KFC to help out. We definitely ran short of food. And we learned a valuable lesson: when the Helliwell's say"reach out", they mean it in a big way!

Cora - We were still living way out in the west end in Dieppe when we met Cora. This was even before Healing Hearts was started, when we were still going to Morning Star Ministries. We were on the bus one day when Vivian was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go talk to this person on the bus. Vivian went over and started sharing her testimony and asked her if she would like to start going to church. Cora started sharing with Vivian about her life and said that the night before, she was praying that God would help her change her life. Vivian continued to share with her, telling her about Jesus. Cora started attending Morning Star and she and all her children were saved. Eventually, she started ministering to others and continued to walk in the Lord.

Beryl - One day, Nick and Vivian went to the downtown thrift store as they often did. While there, Vivian noticed a man in his late fifties come in and stand by the door. Vivian went over and asked him why he was there. He told Vivian he didn't want to live anymore but that the previous day, he had had a dream. In the dream, God told him to go to the Salvation Army and stand in there and wait, and that a lady would come and talk to him. He started to cry as Vivian told him about the love of Jesus. Nick and Vivian opened up their home to Beryl, inviting him to stay with them. During his stay over the next few months, Beryl accepted the Lord, and was baptized. He died the month after leaving their home.

Donovan - Donovan was about seventeen when Nick and Vivian met him. He was walking across the street, when Vivian prompted Nick to go talk to him. Nick went and talked to him, asking about his life. It turned out that Donovan was living in the park, sleeping under the bridge, eating whatever he could find, even scrounging in garbage bins. Again, led by the Holy Spirit, Nick and Vivian invited this stranger into their home. Donovan became great friends with Vivian's son, Murray, who was twelve at the time. Donovan's family lived nearby and had rejected him due to some trouble that he had gotten into with some other kids. Ultimately, as Nick and Vivian found out, what Donovan was really struggling with was acceptance and identity. Gently and patiently, Nick and Vivian began to bring God's love and acceptance into Donovan's life. Being a young teen, Donovan would try various things to get a reaction from his self-appointed foster parents. The naturally brown hair was dyed blond and spiked. Then it was dyed purple and became a spiked Mohawk, and finally, a single long green spike was left above the forehead. The styles of clothing also changed, however, through it all, the message remained patiently firm: there is nothing you can do that makes you unlovable to God. Over the time that he stayed, Donovan eventually accepted the Lord into his heart and was baptized.

Randine - Nick and Vivian have fond memories of Randine. During the summer and fall of 1996, Nick and Vivian began reaching out to a young couple from Vivian's reserve of White Bear. This couple had a daughter named Randine, and as things worked out, Randine came to stay with Nick and Vivian for a short time."Randine was very direct and honest," remembers Nick,"She was a wonderful little girl who was very mature for being only seven years old. I remember that she and I could be really crazy having a lot of fun and then turn around and be really serious." Vivian adds,"I remember how Randine was a little girl one minute and would be talking like a grown up the next." Nick and Vivian provided a temporary emergency foster home for Randine.

Sheldon - Sheldon was one of the family members that Nick met when he was reintroduced to his natural family. He too was new to the family, having been raised in foster care. Nick remembers a special kinship to Sheldon because, as a young man in his early twenties, Sheldon was struggling with issues surrounding identity, significance and direction. These issues were at the root of his addictions, and instability. Sheldon moved into Nick and Vivian's home following a particularly rough period in his life.

Nick comments,"Sheldon was one of those people who saw the changes that happened in our life when we were saved. I am certain that is why he turned to us for help when he needed it most. I think that for many people, part of the journey toward knowing God as Saviour involves coming to a point where you are desperate. Shortly after moving into Nick and Vivian's home, Sheldon made a confession of faith and was baptized."

Kyla - Nick and Vivian have also opened their home to foster several children from high risk/high need situations. One little 11-month old girl, Kyla, became part of their home when Vivian heard of a baby from her home reserve, who was in the hospital in Regina. The little girl had been found underneath her mother's frozen body, when the young woman had tried to get away from a bad party scene in frigid January temperatures. So Vivian began visiting Kyla, daily, while the hospital staff watched and waited, expecting Kyla's arms and legs would develop gangrene.

One Sunday, the Helliwell's brought Kyla to church, her limbs wrapped tightly in bandages. Vivian shared during the service that the doctors would unwrap the bandages the next day to determine whether or not to amputate any of the blackened limbs. So the congregation gathered around Kyla, laid hands on her little body and asked God for mercy and healing.

The following Sunday, Vivian could hardly contain herself as they brought Kyla to service again. The doctors had unwrapped the bandages, expecting the putrid odor and sickening sight of rotting flesh. Instead, they were amazed to find the skin beginning to turn a healthy pink. Rejoicing, the church family witnessed Kyla's first steps, as if to demonstrate the might of God's power. Nick and Vivian have raised Kyla for the past four years.

Education

Dealing with the heart issues continues to be the catalyst for beginning various ministries within Healing Hearts. Seminars on relationships, co-dependency, FAS/FAE and even some sessions on anger management have been incorporated into"things we've tried" and have made a difference in lives.

One unique program was the"Computer" program that was initiated through donations of used computers. Walter, Bob, Grant Armstrong and others began reprogramming the units and getting them into the homes of those in North-Central. They had hoped to begin more formal training in computer skills for the kids and adults in the community but a lack of time and helpers limited that dream. Many were still impacted by the generosity of those corporations involved as the computers were funneled through Healing Hearts.

Special Occasions

Some special times for our church family have been on days set aside for fasting and prayer. Often Good Friday is an occasion to meet together for prayer, communion and then break our fast with a meal together. On lighter notes, the men have had chili cook-offs and pie-making contests, complete with prizes. Sunday School wind-up each June brings us to the Kinsmen Park on Pasqua Street for a barbecue, ball game with a spray pad for the kids!

On New Year's Eve 1999, the pastoral team hosted party to bring in the year 2000. We played board games, consumed delicious finger foods and then brought in the midnight hour with a time of prayer. Bob and Gwen had brought a bottle of"champagne" and proceeded to break it at the strike of twelve. Vivian will perhaps never forgive Bob for sending shards of chocolate from the fake champagne bottle and making her jump. She was shaking her head and laughing along with the rest at Bob's practical joke. The New Year's Eve pastors' open house has become an annual tradition.

Two of the most difficult occasions of the year can be Mother's Day and Father's Day. Many of the individuals and families in the community and within the church have come from broken homes and abusive situations so these days do not conjure happy memories for them."I remember one young man sharing some painful incidents from his childhood, grieving for his mother who gave him up and had since passed away. Walter just hugged this man, letting him cry and extending the grace of Christ's comfort," Cindy recalls. Often the men will gather around the women and pray blessing upon them. They will give each mother a flower. The women will give the fathers a pen, keychain or other token to show appreciation for their roles in the family and in the church. The men have taken to hosting a barbecue for the moms and the women have prepared a Father's Day Brunch to honour the dads - all part of the healing journey.

Baseball Ministry

Unity of the body of Christ is an important precept of Healing Hearts. As we had grown out of another ministry, (Morning Star Ministries) we saw the importance of encouraging unity and fellowship between the two churches. So, the annual baseball challenge began. It was amazing how seriously the young people of both ministries took the challenge and how wonderfully God used these events to provide an opportunity for both fellowships to reach out into the community. The first year, just the adults and youth of both congregations played, however, in subsequent games, both churches invited"ringers" to help gain the advantage. As people in both fellowships invited friends out to the games, eventually two games were required; one for the children, just for fun and the 'real' game which went on between the older youth and adults. It was through this 'baseball ministry' that several people, primarily young men, became involved in Healing Hearts, and eventually, came to confess Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

Garage Sale Ministry

Primarily under Vivian's leadership, Healing Hearts has often held garage sales to raise funds for various projects and events.

Praying over the 'Hood

It was during one of the men's bible study/prayer groups that the idea came up of a prayer walk through the neighbourhood. There were about twelve men present and all the men decided to pair off and go in different directions, praying over and through the north central neighbourhood. Several pairs took along testaments, bibles and tracts to hand out.

10. Mission Mexico

Mission Mexico 2002

I [Bob] am writing this as a reminder of how God works. Generally, we try to take at least one group from our church to Mexico to minister in an orphanage at least once a year. This, for me, is the 5th trip, and the third for our church. We also saw the largest group go this trip. This is how the trip went.

After a time of prayer for our journey and for divine appointments along the way and in Mexico, we started out as planned at 6:00 am Friday, and our travel that day was without incident. We arrived at the church where we were to be billeted that night right on time, having no trouble finding it.

Saturday came next, as it always does, and so did the problems,...and the answers to prayer, that we were to experience from that point on in our journey. The first thing to happen was that we could not start the van that morning. It had been rather cold during the night and our diesel van, like all diesel vehicles, did not do well in the cold. After calling CAA (AAA for the Americans), we got a tow truck to come and help us out, but after trying to boost our vehicle, he told us (Canadians that we were and knowledgeable about cold weather and vehicles) that what we needed to do was plug the vehicle in for an hour or two. We did this, and after about an hour it started.

Now please realize that we had been praying and calling out to God for three hours at this point to get our van going and allow us to continue on our trip. I personally was discouraged by His lack of immediate answer and the three hour delay that we had experienced.

We all piled in the van and got going. When we got out on the highway and an hour into our day of driving, we drove into a snowstorm, with our most inexperienced driver driving, which caused us to slow down, losing more time. Of course, during this, the two men, who were now seated in the back, one being a professional driver, had no problem letting the frail women who were with them drive through this snowstorm.....NOT!

When we got to Salt Lake city, we were delayed by heavy traffic being moved around a serious car accident in which a vehicle had obviously flipped over a time or two. Strangely enough, it was a van pulling a trailer. More delay! Well, with the by now four hour delay, we continued on. As we travelled, due to the lateness of our day, we did have a high point,...we got to Las Vegas after dark, and were able to just cruise down the strip and see the lights, something that I try to have every group experience to compare against the extreme poverty they will see in the following week.

We continued on, striving to make our destination for the night, and approximately 30 miles east of Barstow, CA, we came upon still another traffic accident. After this delay, we finally got going again and made it to our billet about 3 hours late. (We made up a little time somewhere along the way!)

I told the group that due to the length of our travels that day, and our fatigue, that they could sleep in an hour the following morning. So, on Sunday morning, we got up an hour later, and then went to have a sit down breakfast, another surprise for the group, before we started out for our final day of travel. I did this partly because of the day before, and also because we had a shorter day ahead, and the extra time would refresh the group.

As is usual, we had no problems crossing the border, and the group got it's first collective look at Mexico. The group was already able to see some of the poverty and conditions that they had only heard about until that time. Being from Canada, it can be slightly overwhelming, and the group, while excited to be so near to the end of the journey, were also somewhat taken aback and reflective as they realized that they were indeed in a foreign country and were going to be ministering to people who might not even have anything more than cardboard for a house.

We travelled down the #1 highway from Tijuana to Ensenada, passing along the coast and viewing the magnificent ocean views granted by this highway. We even stopped at a beach on the way so that they could experience their first walk on that beautiful sand and smell the ocean, which is quite a way from their normal day to day life in Regina, Saskatchewan.

We had just passed the third and final tollbooth before Ensenada when it happened. We had travelled about a kilometre when suddenly an incredible grinding noise began to explode from the rear of the van. Luckily, there were not a lot of other vehicles around us, and we were able to pull the van over to the side of the road before it refused to go forward (or backward) anymore.

Now here is the picture. We were in Mexico, and we were from Canada, where we learned French and not Spanish in school. We didn't speak Spanish, or know anyone around Ensenada, nor did we know the phone number of the mission that we were going to, since it is an unlisted number. We had no way of getting in touch with the mission, and since my cell phone doesn't work in Mexico, could not call for help from the site.

Across the road, a little to the south of us, was a Mexican army checkpoint. Two of us decided to walk over to the checkpoint and see if we could get any help from the people there. This was a forlorn hope. The soldiers working the checkpoint did not speak English, and didn't seem interested in helping, only in searching the vehicles traveling north for guns and drugs. There was a phone booth to which they pointed us, but the instructions were all scratched away, and since our Canadian phone-cards would not work, and we had yet to get any Mexican pesos, we couldn't use it. So we crossed back over to the van and decided to walk back to the tollbooth that we had just passed (of course, this was after getting back in the van and hoping that whatever had broken had un-broken in the 10 minutes of our absence). It hadn't. Doesn't God answer prayers anymore?

We walked back, after taking some time to pray for the situation, leaving the rest of the group standing on the side of the road. We learned later that they started to sing praise songs and pray for us. A vehicle stopped as we were about 300 yards away, but although the people asked if we needed any help, they did not offer it (God's plan). Since we did not see anything happening, and then saw the car pull away, the two of us continued on to the tollbooth. There we found a security guard. One, of course, who did not speak English. Through the help of the cantina operator, we were able to tell him of our plight. He referred us to a tow truck driver who just pulled up while we were talking, but the tow truck driver was not able to help us for some reason that seemed to include the fact that we were situated on the south side of the tollbooth.

Finally, two gentlemen from the"Green Angels", a service provided by the Mexican tourist board for that stretch of highway between Tijuana and Ensenada, pulled up and offered their help. Through them, one of them spoke a little English, we were able to find a phone number for the mission that we were going to, but it was only a fax number and was not usable in our present situation. Also, they showed us how to use the phone there to try and call CAA (AAA in the States) who refused to help us.

When this didn't work, they drove us to our van and checked it out themselves, and yes, it was still broken. They offered to push our van to a hotel close by and off we went. We all piled in the van, put the trailer, after rigging a hitch on their truck, on the back of their truck, and they pushed us to a hotel called Las Rosas, about 4 miles down the road.

Once there, we tried to contact the mission that we were going with no success, and were just about to make arrangements to stay the night when up drove Edward Everett, a local missionary. He had passed us when we were broken down on the highway, kept going, and then felt led (Ah, a God thing) to return to offer us help. He recognized that we were a mission group coming to work with one of the local organizations since he used such groups in his ministry as well, and knew that we would probably need help. When he got to us, he introduced himself, and then told us that he felt that he was to help us. Yes, finally God was listening!

We told him about the van, got in, and yes, we started it and hoped again that it had just been healed. It wasn't, but he did suspect strongly what was wrong, and informed us that it was indeed a serious problem that would need to have a mechanic's attention. After some discussion about what we could do, he suggested that we leave the van there overnight (he knew the owner of the hotel), and that he would go home and get his big van and drive us and our trailer to the mission in Vicente Guerrero, and that he would bring someone back to take care of the van the next day.

Facing hotel bills of over $200.00(US) per night, plus food and transportation, this option was indeed a welcome one, and we accepted his suggestions. While he returned to his home to get his van, we tidied up ours (somewhat) and decided to have a small quick meal in the hotel's restaurant. The meal in itself was an adventure. Second to Ed showing up, it was the best part of our day. The hotel staff were extremely helpful and considerate and we were able to forget for a time (short time) the worry about the van and how to get it fixed, or whether we were going to be able to make it back to Canada in it.

Ed showed up just as we were finishing our meal, and we loaded his van with us and all our stuff. Poor Ed, he thought that there was only ten of us. We squeezed in, put the trailer on the back of his van, and headed out, leaving our van, and our only transportation back to Canada, sitting out side a hotel beside a major highway in Mexico. Ed drove us to the mission Christo Por Su Mundo, regaling us with stories about himself and his life in Mexico as he drove. Once there, he patiently waited while I prayed with the group, said a tearful goodbye to my family and other team members, grabbed my stuff and headed back out with him to his home in Guadalupe, north and east of Ensenada.

We got back to his mission, Rancho Sordo Mudo (a school for deaf children) very late and turned in almost immediately. The next morning, after showing me around his mission and introducing me to a few people, he and I drove back to the Las Rosas in different vehicles (one of their mission vehicles needed repair). We got to the hotel, and while we were thanking the hotel owner for allowing us to leave it there overnight, a tow truck, the driver of which was a friend of Ed's whom he had called without me knowing while we were on the way (remember, I don't speak Spanish), showed up and loaded the van to take to a mechanic in Ensenada. I watched as the driver was loading the van, thinking,"Oh boy, is this going to cost!" When the driver got the van to the mechanic's shop, he unloaded it and then, because he knew Ed, refused payment.

The garage owner, a friend of Ed's named Raul, after an initial introduction and explanation of what had happened, told us to come back in an hour and he would let us know exactly what was wrong with the van. We delivered the vehicle that I had driven in to a local windshield shop, had lunch and then went back and were told that it was indeed what Ed had said the night before, the crown and pinion was"toast" and needed replacement. Again, dollar signs started to fly by my eyes, as did weeks of time, after all, we were in Mexico, and weren't they just there to rip off"gringo's"?

After discussing the options available, we decided,...actually it was mostly Ed and Raul, that the best course of action was to go to San Diego to a particular parts store, get the parts, bring them back, and then Raul would use them to fix the van. Once more, I saw days and dollars flying by, after all, it takes two to three hours just to cross the border from Mexico into the States, and just going to San Diego would take a day due to this. Ed assured me that we would be able to be back by Raul's closing, and that Raul would be able to fix the van by the next day. I, of course, was somewhat skeptical, with my vast experience of four previous trips as opposed to Ed's 39 years in Mexico.

We left, and he took me by a road to a secondary border crossing, which, while it was an hour out of the way, we were able to cross with time to spare. We drove from there to San Diego, first to a bank where, with some incredibly considerate help from the bank staff , I was able to withdraw enough cash (thank you for cash advances on credit cards) to pay for the parts, and then to the parts store that Ed had called, and got the parts for the van. We crossed back into Mexico at the main Tijuana crossing, and got back to Ensenada with a half hour to spare. After dropping off the parts, we did some more running around for Ed, and then returned to his home in Guadalupe. There, I had the honor of meeting his family.

The next morning, I wandered around the mission (Rancho Sordo Mudo), and eventually wound up in the kitchen cutting small tortilla's to make sandwiches with. Ed came and got me, and we went into Ensenada to see if Raul had finished the van yet. When we got there, although the van was not done, we were pleased to hear that it would be done in about an hour. We went did some business for Ed, and were able to have a last lunch together, and when we returned, the van was done. I paid Raul and headed out for Vincente Guerrero to rejoin my group, listening for, and expecting, the back end of the van to blow up at any moment.

I made it down to Christo por su Mundo in record time (for me), but got there too late to join the groups going out for evening evangelism, so I had to wait until they got back and used that time to do some visiting with friends who worked at the mission. What a joyful time we had re-uniting. You would have thought that I had gone off and left them by themselves in a foreign country or something. Later, I was to find out that the whole Mission had been praying for me and the van, and that we had even made it into the prayer book in the Prayer chapel. I was glad to be back with the group, and doing the stuff that I had come down to Mexico to do, but I did miss my new friend, Ed.

Now for the important part. God does answer prayer. He does not always do it in our time, nor in the way that we want Him to, but He does answer prayer. Little did we know, when the van didn't start in Pocatello, that we would miss being in two different accidents, both of them very serious, and that we would be able to see the lights in Las Vegas (a small thing to many, but a large thing to our group, some of whom had never even been out of Saskatchewan).

We also would not have suspected that God had timed everything out to the last second, making sure that we had plenty of reason to start out late the next day, and get to that exact point just north of Ensenada, just at the time when a missionary named Edward Everett would be passing by. I personally know that I would never have been able to find anyone more knowledgeable about Mexico, mechanics, tow trucks, and parts stores, than this man. You see, Eddie is a champion race car driver (a little hobby of his) in Baja California, Mexico. He has even won the Baja cross country endurance race which is run annually and draws racers from across the world. Not only that, but Liz, Ed's wife, is the current Ultimate Champion in the Baja. I, my group, and our van, could not have been in better hands, and God had planned it that way. Praise God!

To this point in history, five teams have gone on Mission Mexico, with the youth group and another adult group scheduled to go in the year 2004. May God continue to lead us to grow outward in vision to reach the world for Christ!

11. BABY DEDICATIONS

Record-keeping had not been a strong-point in the fledgling ministry but people are. Parents from within the church and those who have considered Healing Hearts their church of choice, would request to have their babies and even older children dedicated to the Lord. If memory serves correctly, Roberta Dubois with her infant son, Aaron were the first baby blessing performed in 1994. Over the years, many other single mothers have sought to raise their children in the church. Couples who have come to Christ will bring their entire family up to dedicate to the Lord. As a church family, we dedicate ourselves to support and encourage the raising of children to serve the Lord and we take that commitment seriously.

12. BAPTISMS

Because we rent a community centre for services, we needed to use other facilities for baptisms. We have used Morning Star Ministries, Shekinah, and more recently, Parliament Community Church.

Certain individuals have added colour to the history of Healing Hearts. Beryl George was an older man whom Nick & Vivian reached out to and brought to church. He struggled with substance abuse and, as a result, was in very poor health. He made a commitment to Christ and wanted to be baptized. Walter and Carl Bueckert were in the baptismal tank with Beryl. What a time of rejoicing!

Shortly after, Beryl developed a distended abdomen, a consequence of the years of drinking, and would need medical intervention immediately. The church prayed for him, and within a day his abdomen shrunk almost flat. Amazing! Pastor Walter had warned him that if he didn't quit completely, his alcoholism would kill him. About a week after Walter's words, Beryl was found deceased in his apartment. At times like those, we trust in God's wide mercy and everlasting love.

Another memorable baptism was Curt Gelsinger. He was invited to Healing Hearts by a friend, and immediately felt he belonged. Curt lived at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre, having contracted a virus several years before that affected his spine and left him basically wheel-chair confined. But Curt's positive outlook and sincere faith in Christ became contagious around the church!

Curt decided to be baptized. He shared his testimony and then proceeded to walk up the steps to the baptism tank, with bent back and crooked ankles, to the glory of God. When Walter plunged him under and brought him back up, Curt's fist raised mightily in the air and he shouted"Walter, let's do it again!" Changing overheads (running the power point) for worship and sharing encouragement are his powerful ministries.

Krista is a girl Aimee Lydiate was friends with in school. She came to the church and youth group at Aimee's invitation and gave her heart to Jesus. After her mission trip to Mexico, where her dad had also gone along, Krista decided to make her faith public. She shared her testimony, was baptized by Spurgeon and tearfully stood shivering in the baptismal tank while her parents and friends gathered around in Healing Hearts fashion. Her dad quickly interjected his pray for his daughter."I looked at up at Bob, who had to look away because he couldn't contain his tears, and I, too, starting crying," Cindy shared. Krista's faith moved her dad to pray to the"God I don't know very well".

13. WEDDINGS

*Nick and Vivian Helliwell - the first wedding in Healing Hearts. Held at Morning Star Ministries, Ron Quewezance officiating, the Selke's as witnesses.

*Cory & Shellena Akachuk (October 17, 1999) Walter performed the ceremony during the worship service at Healing Hearts. Nick gave bride away with Vivian & Chris as witnesses.

*Kevin & Ronda Outhwaite May 1, 2000 (private ceremony) June 24, 2000 Bob officiated at Shekinah Tabernacle, with the supper/dance at Sacred Heart auditorium.

Fergus & Jackie Little Chief (September 29, 2001) Walter officiated in Lydiate's back yard.

*Ken & Charlotte Unwin (June 15, 2002) Murray Logan officiating at the music studio.

14. FUNERALS

Over the years, the leadership of Healing Hearts has officiated many funerals and has sought to minister to the bereaved. In recalling these occasions, only three have been of those directly part of the church family. Beryl George's passing in 1995 was the first in our new ministry and Nick, Vivian and Walter attended the funeral at Beryl's home reserve in the Broadview area.

Stan Henderson had been a part of Healing Hearts for two years or more and had endeared himself to us in his quiet way. Nicole, whose interview is included in this book, was good friends with Stan and brought him to the church. When he passed away on February 14, 2002, our church family was hit hard. We had made mention of throwing Stan an 88th birthday party coming up that April and he commented to Walter that he likely wouldn't make it until then. None of us knew how true his statement would be.

Because Stan had requested no funeral, we as a church felt we needed to remember him and provide opportunity for Nicole and others to be comforted in some way. The Sunday following his passing, Healing Hearts held a memorial service during the morning worship time. A song written in honour of Stan was sung by Anita Armstrong. This was a special time as God made His comfort known to our hurting congregation.

The most recent passing was most difficult because the little girl was born into the church family.

"Daylene Kitana Michelle George" was taken so suddenly that the shock impacted everyone in the church. The actual cause of death is as yet undetermined, making the grieving for Tom, Mary and other family and friends so painful. Many from Healing Hearts were involved in the wake and funeral held at the Ochapowace First Nation, near Whitewood, Saskatchewan. Walter acted as announcer (role similar to an M.C.), Bob gave the sermon, Spurgeon, Bob and Cindy led in music. Nick and Vivian stayed all night at the wake. Included here is the eulogy Cindy gave that day.

EULOGY FOR"DAYLENE"

"I am very honoured to give the eulogy for Daylene George. I've been friends with Mary over the last few years and I knew about Daylene before she was born! This special child was a surprise answer to prayer. Mary & I went up to P.A. for a Christian Ladies' Rally. We enjoyed the trip and the rally very much. A few weeks later, Mary shared with me that she was pregnant but she thought God had answered the prayer for the wrong "Mary". She had been in a prayer group where another woman named Mary was asking the Lord for a baby as her and her husband did not have any children. But on January 16, 2002 this surprise arrived weighing 9 lbs 1 oz and full of life. The women from Healing Hearts and some of Mary's friends and family threw a baby shower and birthday party to celebrate so from Day 1, Daylene has been surrounded by loving friends and family and a church family, as well.

Daylene was an active and happy baby. She's always loved her food! She also loved all animals, especially Pepper, the kitty. She even loved Twila and Jay's dog - who scared the wits out of me! Mary told me that one of the kids found a caterpillar and showed it to Daylene, who was giving it kisses! Daylene's first words were"Pepper" and"uh-oh".

She just began walking at 15 months - 2 months ago. The last Sunday when they came to church, I can see Daylene waddling into the community centre, grinning from ear to ear. In the nursery in Sunday School, she was a contented and easy baby to look after. My son, Daniel especially loved to play with her. He said it would sure be different without her.

Day had a special relationship with Auntie Steph, who has been like a second mom to her. Big sister, Skyla, loved her sister and fought with her just like sisters do! But she was a"Daddy's girl", no doubt about it. Both Tom and Mary will miss their little ray of sunshine - no one will ever be able to take the place of Day in their lives.

Daylene passed away peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2003, just before she turned 17 months old. We don't know why God chose to take Daylene to heaven when she was so young and alive. But the one thing I am holding on to is that God does not make mistakes. Daylene is safe, happy and likely running around barefoot on the streets of gold right now. Or maybe she is sitting in the lap of Jesus, surrounded by love even greater than she ever knew on earth. That is how I choose to remember Daylene."

Gina Marie watched Mary singing at church this June 2004 on the anniversary of Daylene's death and commented"Tears were streaming down her [Mary's} face, while she continued to sing 'God is good, all the time." (song by Don Moen and Paul Overstreet). Just watching her, the strength that she was showing, relying on God's strength, ...still able to praise God and have faith that God is good and in control." We have all been inspired by Mary as we see her tears of grief, but also see her faithfulness to God and His people.

15. HOW WE GOT INVOLVED IN HEALING HEARTS MINISTRY

Kevin & Paula Leflar

"We came along with the Selke's because we liked the idea of an informal church, sitting around tables in a non-intimidating atmosphere, drinking coffee. And of course, we're related! [Paula and Cindy are sisters]. We were both young in our walk with the Lord and being with family was a bit of a comfort. We loved Walter's sermons, his illustrations. He could get his point across in a way that we could relate to and understand.

"Because of his servant's heart, Kevin was always involved with setting up and cleaning up. That's where he felt he fit in with the ministry. Later on, he felt the need to teach Sunday School to the older kids which were mostly boys. Even though he didn't feel qualified to teach, he said he learned along with them. That was about 1995 to 1996.

"I wanted to be involved in worship because I really felt God had put me here to sing and play guitar. Our voices blended (mine and Cindy's) and it was kinda fun. It didn't feel like work. With our"hi-tech equipment", we often had glitches, like smearing overheads, which we had copied out by hand! I was nominated to be the first secretary of the board. I helped with clean-up, washing coffee cups. We both came to Bible study on Wednesdays at Walter and Cindy's house. Later on I went to Cockerill's home for a Bible study on the"Boundaries" series."

"During the Christmas program in December 1996, our daughter Charaki was about a year old. We had dressed her up as a lamb, not expecting her to participate. When she was intrigued by the children singing "Away in a Manger", she crawled over and ripped baby Jesus out of the manger! We all had a good chuckle and Kevin had to disrupt the program to retrieve our child.

"One Sunday, our van had frozen up and wouldn't start. We kept trying because we didn't want to miss service. We ended up getting there half-way through to still hear the special music group and eat at yet another potluck!

"Me being in the last stages of pregnancy, I had wanted to go to see Billy Graham in Saskatoon, but was afraid of going into labour. So I opted for the next best thing: babysitting my niece and nephews while Walter & Cindy went with the crew."

"The ladies retreat at Echo Lake Bible Camp - it was our first ever - I was just pregnant with my first. Cindy ended up in the hospital and we covered for her responsibilities." We were involved at Healing Hearts from 1994-1997.

Nicole:

"It was '98 that I had a year [of sobriety]. . . I went to recovery and after a year, I wanted to get to know a"Higher Power" from my steps in A.A. ... I was in an anger management course with Janet Neergaard. Near the completion of that program, I mentioned to her that I wanted to find more spirituality, deeper meaning to God. I planned to go to different churches and she had told me that she goes to church ... that [we] sing and we have Sunday School and that a lot of Native people go there. She would take me if I wanted to so the next Sunday I had gone. God spoke to me that day with opening prayer from Nick [Helliwell] . He had talked about having a bit of truth and searching out more. There's that curiosity, that drive, that desire to find the truth and I believe God was there, guiding me along, putting Janet in my life, putting Healing Hearts in my life. (I never did go to another church!)

The singing just brought the tears; the worship - I had never seen that before. I totally felt comfortable with the relaxed atmosphere. I believe we had bagels and coffee and tables....it's a very humble church. When I grew up in the Catholic church, all I got was that God was going to punish me, that I had committed so many sins when I was away from church. My understanding was 'what's the use?' God's done with me. I've wrecked that relationship, not understanding about Jesus, His Son, who died for me so that I could have a relationship with Him even though I'm fallible and make mistakes. Healing Hearts teaches me that . . . learning about the Bible there. Just feeling welcome when I go to Healing Hearts, like it really feels like family.

And when I try to backslide and walk away, I just long for that part of my life to be back ... it was hard because of my own stubbornness... It wasn't because of the people; they've always been consistent at Healing Hearts. It was through my own sickness, my addictions that distanced me from God and His people. And I realized that I needed to surrender and be teachable by God and His people in order to have that thing I crave so much now on Sundays, fellowship and Bible study this last eleven months almost. I know that God expects me to do some work; it's not going to be all done for me.

I helped with Sunday School for a while. I've also helped with the meals, organized them and got some decorating going ... now , I think it's been a year, I got my license and I've been driving bus or vans picking up people [for church services] and driving them home and listen to them chit-chat. I've gone with Cindy to other people's homes to minister and fellowship. I've helped people move and given items for the home and helped in Mission Mexico fundraisers and baby-sat [for our youth workers]. Now I come early on Thursday ladies' Bible study to set up coffee. And I've tried to help people come to Healing Hearts to experience what I did.

I remember how God worked with me when I went to my first ladies' rally in Saskatoon. I was asked to share a testimony [story of God's work in my life] and I remember God just gave me the opportunity to share the darkest secret I had. I guess that was the real awakening that no matter how far down I'd gone, God was going to pick me up and walk with me. I didn't feel ashamed or scared to share it with a room full of strangers. With the ladies' second rally that we had, which I think was even more successful than our first one ... at this one I got to M.C. and help cook under Mary's direction, and help set up and take down.

At Healing Hearts I was able to get baptized and make a public declaration that I'm serving the Lord. I had my child, Shayla, dedicated at Healing Hearts.

I'm looking forward to family camp with the church ... we're going to have our first family camp and I'm looking forward to being a part of that ... Spurgeon's convinced me to bike out there [Rowan's Ravine] 70 km.

This year I got to help name the theme of the year, the theme to focus on ... this year is"Grow More in 2004".

[My daughter] loves it. I used to bring my friend, Stan, and when I was having troubles with maturity and that, trying to walk away from the church. My friend, Stan, continued to go because my daughter wanted to go. She loves Healing Hearts and the friends she made there. I remember when we first started going there, she had a hard time settling down, sitting down and her always going to Cindy ... and has a way with kids and they sit quietly with her. Shayla loves Sunday School and all the crafts they get to do and if we're rushing out on Sunday morning, she always says"My Bible!" She won attendance. We're going to work on the Scriptures, both her and I, memorizing.

When we get to church there and the children march off to Sunday School, we have the opportunity to share how God's working in our lives. I really look forward to that time because God puts these people at our church there to help support one another...we have a chance to rejoice and sometimes grieve. I remember when my friend Stan passed away that the church was there for me. I remember telling Cindy in the car that I was so scared 'cause he wasn't saved. But Stan was saved ...he was a friend of mine in the A.A. program. He was like a father and a grandfather to Shayla and I....

When I first started taking Stan to Healing Hearts, he'd be in the seats there and trying to fall asleep and I'd be"Stan, Stan! Come on!" I remember Stan had so many questions about supposed contradictions in the Bible...he had a hard time understanding God's plan for him and his children [lost young wife to cancer and lost a son as well]. But I know God was working on Stan. He'd always come up to Walter and tell him what a good job he did [preaching] and God was touching him, I know. I'd turn around and he wasn't trying to sleep anymore in church. When I was struggling with addictions and not going to church, he'd still take my daughter. I remember Stan with his car, helping the pastor and his wife move to their new home, not wanting to take any gas money. He tried to tithe what he could.

He had a heart attack and was in the hospital in the observatory room. Bob and Walter had gone up to see him at different times. Walter was able to bring Stan to the Lord. Bob had shared that Stan had got up off the bed - he was tied with his tubes and monitors. He got down on his knees by his bed and accepted the Lord. I was so grateful to hear that. He was a man of integrity. I know God had to meet him at a special time there - he was 87 when he passed away ... on Valentine's Day. He was maybe 83 when he started coming to church.... Stan didn't want a funeral ... we had kind of like a memorial at church on Sunday morning. One of the members wrote up a song about him. I remember the opportunity for anybody to share about Stan and ... Shayla talking about Stan and she had it in her mind that he had helped her learn how to ride bike. In reality he had helped take off the training wheels."

Mervin & Ramona Cockerill

Mervin:"We were in Native ministry when we first met [the Selke's] through Morning Star and we were working with Big Sky Ministries back then. That kind of came to a close. The Selke's were starting a new church and Walter phoned me up one time and invited me to come along and help. We had a heart for the Native people and that's how we got started working with Healing Hearts.

"From my experience with Native work, I knew it was going to be a challenge. Good times and heartaches. ... A lot of times you are working with people who have all kinds of addictions, being raised in abusive situations or dysfunctional situations. So you're working with people that really have a lot of needs. ...There's no simple answers for the people. You spend a lot of time with people and there's some very wonderful things happen and some disappointments, too. ...

Ramona:"I was involved [in the ministry of Healing Hearts] with Merv in home Bible study that we had at our house. We were also involved with prayer. Merv and I have always had the belief that prayer ... is very important in the ministry. We prayed for the ministry and tried to encourage others to pray for the ministry, too - to catch that vision to pray.

I guess I was involved in Sunday School. I've always felt a sort of a call to work in Sunday School ... I've always felt that was a need. I think looking back now ...I would encourage people to get involved, no matter what they're going through, if they have their own struggles because I think you learn as you give yourselves to others.

Merv: Those two boys [Ryan and Matthew] - it's interesting how you build some relationships with the kids and once in a while you'd see them and there was always that rapport. When we were teaching Sunday School, it was lots of fun but a challenge, too. Some kids in the class could read; some couldn't. You realized the tremendous need in society these kids face ... They were fun-loving kids, as a rule -

Ramona:"Lots of life! But there were times when they were quiet ...they were sitting there. You could just imagine what they were thinking ... about what you were teaching... You just never know what seeds were planted there.

Merv:"My involvements ... included some preaching and quite a bit of teaching. We did several video series,"Boundaries","That the World May Know", a marriage series, as well. And I was on the board ... it was interesting how the Lord led on that house [on Garnet Street] we bought. It's neat how it's been used for ministry not only for the church but that group that used to come up [from Racine, WI]. Those kids were out ministering but how it really encouraged their faith by reaching out to the [neighbourhood] kids...

Ramona:"I remember all those kids coming out for the week of vacation Bible school. I was very impressed by how organized they were.... I still have some pictures of them with our boys.

Merv:"It's always nice to see certain people ... who you still have with you [at Healing Hearts]. Nick and Vivian ... these are people who are spotlights. You see them go through struggles but are still going strong. They're always an encouragement to see. ... Like Ramona said, I think the ministry has a lot to do with planting seeds; you may not always see the fruit but I think it's out there. Time will tell; maybe eternity will tell.

[Mervin and Ramona along with their three boys were instrumental in the teaching/preaching ministries as well as providing wisdom and experience in developing leadership structure, forming a board and setting policies for this young church. Their involvement was from the years of 1995-1998.]

Gloria Dieter

"In 1995, I was working over at I.M.C.F. [Indian Metis Christian Fellowship]... about three months and these three men walked in one day. It was Walter, Bob Lydiate and another fellow [Mark Smit]. And Walter stuck his head back into the office where I was and he introduced himself. I had heard of Walter before but had never met him formally. He said,"I've heard a lot about you and I was always wondering how we could have an 'in' here [at I.M.C.F.] and work with this place... and now I have a contact here." And I remember really needing to share almost on the spot [about some work-related issues], and Walter says"Well, we're just over there - you see the top of that building. It's Healing Hearts. So if you want to drop in some day, just come and see what we're all about, you're welcome to." So, that was my very first contact with Walter. I went across one day on my noon hour, sort of looked around and met some other people there and was really quite impressed when they told me what you did and this was the church house and the different programs that you had.

I just felt a warmth, a freedom to talk, and kind of a supportive atmosphere ...So I remember Walter inviting me and also I was in 'limbo'. I was coming away from [another fellowship] and ... I didn't know where to go at that particular time. So Walter suggested I come over and give Healing Hearts a try."

Everybody made me feel welcomed. I guess it was one of the first church groups where people were walking around with coffee and it was very, very casual. And yet it was very free. ... Then you had your service and that was quite inspiring. Then the visiting after... I got to really enjoy going for at least two or three years or maybe even longer.

"I knew Doris Cook from before -everybody knows Doris! She was always so happy to see me ... and welcomed me as well. Nicole was starting to come and ... I used to pick [Nadine] up because she just lived four blocks north of me. I found her to be quite inspiring ... here was this girl with lupus and very fragile legs and she seemed to be - I didn't know what her personal experience was - but she exuded this welcoming warmth.

I think that's what I felt with most of the people at Healing Hearts. When we started talking about their different experiences and through their testimonies, I could see that it was a very different ministry ... it was literally"healing hearts". People in a lot of pain and people that have worked through pain or were working through [it], and yet would get up and really sing ... I could see the work that had been done and the Word being instilled in them and giving them hope.

Then there were the little skits ... I always remember you [Cindy] and Doris planting a little garden, ... and there was a lesson in it! It was sort of a free fellowship. In a more formal church you couldn't laugh out loud and slap your knee but at something like that [the skit] you could do that!

The first rally I went to was in Saskatoon and I didn't know what to expect. What I really enjoyed right off the bat was the fun we had in the van going, getting to know these women by traveling and relaxing. Then getting to the rally and meeting other people from all over the province - we didn't mind going to other tables ... to mix and mingle to get to know each other not just stick with our own little group. I shared my testimony on a couple of occasions at different rallies.

We were planning to set up counseling sessions - I had been a family counselor at Welfare Rights in years past ... and I had also taken counseling at Bible College - so I wanted to use this. I remember forming a little counseling group. We had certain ladies make appointments. We weren't hard and strict with them but we'd be there that day in case they showed up. ... We had three rooms with Janet Neergaard, myself and Mark Smit. That's actually where I met Jackie C. For some reason she really took to me and just wanted to talk to me. ... It was also there that Nicole started sharing with me. She wasn't coming to me as a counselor but she just started sharing her life. She'd call me at home and that was fine because I wasn't working anymore.

I think Healing Hearts is unique because it reaches out to a broad scope of people. People have common hurts and hurt isn't confined to one people group.

[Gloria left Healing Hearts in 1999 and attends another church with her family in Regina.]

Mary George

I heard about Healing Hearts from my mom and a friend, Dan Baumet. In August, 2000, Gwen came to the door and picked us up. We didn't know [that morning] we were going to church. It was my first time and my friend, Cheryl, came, too ... that was cool because we were friends before in our childhood. I think there was soup and bannock. And I never stopped coming - even though I moved, they kept picking us up.

I started going to ladies group. I helped in Sunday School because Skylla [her daughter] was so clingy. Then Nicole and I took turns. After Matt left (Bible School student volunteer), I took the class over.

In spring 2001, Cindy and I went to a ladies' rally in Prince Albert. We stayed at Diane Cooper's overnight and went to a fun night a church gym. The rally was pretty good - interesting because I was shy especially in the prayer group! Another "Mary" prayed for a baby. We got home and a couple months later, I found out I was pregnant. I said, "God answered the wrong Mary's prayer." The next year we went to another rally in Saskatoon. Six or eight women came from Healing Hearts. They did an icebreaker with string thrown across to each other.

I thought Tabitha [Burr] was cool. She ended up being my secret sister. Riley was cute [her son]! We had a ladies' pizza night and that was the most ladies that ever came.

Daylene's baby shower was special on my birthday (February 2002). So many people came. It was the first baby shower given for me. And even Skylla got presents.

Mission Mexico sounded fun and I wanted to get out of the country. We did fundraiser like garage sales and selling DQ coupon books. My passport was almost late because of my birth certificate from Ontario. It came about a week before our trip.

I got picked up at 5 a.m. and we all met at Bob's house. They gave us journals and bright yellow t-shirts for Mission Mexico. We left and our first stop over the border I remember the bathrooms were locked! We got to Idaho and camped over. The next day our van wouldn't start. The fire trucks came [after we got the diesel started and smoke rolled out the exhaust!]. It went smoothly until we got to Mexico and we broke down. We were singing on the side of the road. Then the Green Angels towed us to the hotel - we would have stayed there but Eddie came and rescued us. He was talking and talking. We got the mission really late.

Six of us girls shared a room. On the first morning, Sala (chapel) was put on by the Cuna (nursery) kids. Jim fell in love with that little girl, Shalom, which was cool! I didn't hold too many babies because I was missing my own.

I was in the kitchen most of the time and helped organize the panty. I even cleaned the bathrooms one day. The best time of the day was snack time- the breakfasts weren't good so I was hungry by then. I tried some of the snacks (noodles) but mostly ate the normal junk food. I liked the tour of the place: the medical centre and all the donations.

I really liked going to children's ministry, serving peanut butter in the milk. I didn't like adult ministry as much because the camps were rough and it was dark and cold. But the second camp was better when all those people accepted the Lord. We handed blankets out and we felt like we were helping them. Seeing all the poverty was kind of hard.

We traveled back and stopped at La Bufadora. That was fun [at the tourist market] but not enough time. I bought bracelets and matching dresses for my girls. Also I got a set of moroccos. I bought sandals for myself. I liked the Disney store on our way back. (Mary was baptized a few months later after the impact of this trip.)

We planned ladies' rallies twice now. I helped in the kitchen; this second one I planned the menu and had my helpers. We were all more into it and it was a lot nicer.

The funeral [for infant daughter, Daylene] was hard. The church people helped out a lot. Bob did the sermon; Cindy did the eulogy. Bob and Spurgeon came out [to the Ochapowace First Nation] on their motorcycles. Nick and Vivian stayed all night [at the wake] like part of the family. I think I was mad at God after Day's death but I kept coming to church. And church keeps getting better. I'm getting closer to people, especially Nicole and Sylvie. [Mary and Tom had a beautiful baby girl"Arianna Kaitlyn Monica" 2004, a sister for Skylla]

Darren Tanner

I first met Walter and Cindy when we were attending Morning Star Ministries. I was in the military, posted at 15 Wing Moose Jaw at the time and came into Regina to worship.

We had some things in common: alcoholism in the family, poverty, abusive situations as children. We both also had young families: Walter and Cindy: 2 boys. My wife and I: 2 girls.

As our friendship grew so did our trust. So much so that when my son was stillborn in February 1992, Walter was the person I called for support. I don't have much memory of the time period from February to mid-May. I know I didn't sleep for five days, I didn't eat for three days, I didn't cry for four days. I know the first night I called Walter after midnight and he answered and talked with me for quite a while. My wife and I agreed on Walter doing the funeral service. I know I talked to Walter again before the funeral, but I have no idea if it was day or night or what we talked about. After the funeral my mind draws a blank until May. It's just like I woke up one day and it was mid-May.

The Lord blessed my wife and I with another child the next year, and the year after that. Another thing we have in common is having a daughter around the same time with the same name, different spelling. My daughter is Kayleigh, theirs is Caylea.

When Walter and Cindy mentioned that they were starting a new ministry there was no hesitation on my family's part. It seemed natural that we should be a part of the new ministry. It was a joke, but true, that my family made up half the congregation. My mother, Doris, and four grandchildren, my sister Denise and her children, my wife and I and our four children. This has changed a lot over the years which is a good thing as I don't know if we could've kept up the trend.

I preached my very first sermon at Healing Hearts before pastoring the Waywayseecappo Full Gospel Fellowship. My sermon was on Jude 3 & 4 and lasted only five minutes. I don't think anybody has preached anything that short since then. I know that I'm more long-winded than that now and I'm still just as nervous and excited as that first time. God willing I will be pastoring again someday.

God bless.

Kelly and Nancy Morton:

"The thing we like most about Healing Hearts is that we belong."

In Christ, Kelly, Nancy, Jeremy,

Jordan, Alisha and Eric

[The Morton's have been involved since the summer of 2001. Kelly plays guitar in worship, both he and Nancy prepare the bulletin each Sunday and Nancy gives the announcements]

16. Healing Hearts of the Future

Currently, Parliament Community Church, a Mennonite Brethren congregation in Regina, and Healing Hearts Ministry, have formed a unique partnering relationship. Initially, the connection began with the Roots as part of Parliament's congregation and hearing of Healing Hearts through a message/report Walter gave there one Sunday. Individuals such as Gerald Epp, are involved with the Roots' ministry. Elaine Wiens, who looks after the financial books and reports for Healing Hearts, and her husband, Don, are also very supportive of the ministry. Relationships are developing with each connection made.

On literally two"opposite sides of the track", the fellowships have sought to worship together and support each other in various fundraising events. We have participated in an Easter Musical with Parliament's amazing talents and resources. They have joined us in a Christmas meal and concert at the community centre. Parliament has a weekly email with activities and other information, and has offered Healing Hearts a section for upcoming events and praise and prayer information. As we seek to develop a relationship that enhances both of our churches, who knows where that will lead in the future?

Without trying to read into the unknown any specific predictions or prophecies, the future of Healing Hearts will definitely be exciting! The vision will remain rooted in bringing the healing touch of Jesus to wounded hearts.

*acquiring our own building for worship

*training others to share similar ministry within Regina

*sending others to bring a similar vision of healing beyond Regina

Transplanting a church model like ours may not be feasible or reasonable, but we desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ where there is need. With the Holy Spirit in control, we KNOW to expect anything!

CONCLUSION

I have no idea how to end this wonderful journey of memories because, like a garden, it is still in process. I have laughed, wept, and dreamed through my own recollections and through those of so many who have contributed to this history book. The process was challenging at times as some memories were very painful and carry ongoing need for healing. At other times I was overwhelmed by the faithfulness and patience of our Saviour as He allowed us to stumble, making mistakes and learning along the way.

This ministry and the precious people we have been privileged to know in the past ten years, have impacted my life and that of my family. How can I measure the impact? We are who we are today because God has chosen to heal us and to raise our children in this healing community. The Master Gardener has pruned and tended to us so that our growth has happened along with those we lead.

And God? He continues to sit on His throne, laughing, weeping and dreaming with us because He is that kind of God. He has been present and active in our midst when the offering can rattled with just a few pennies and also when we have had a surplus in the bank. He has loved us when we have been messy and when we have triumphed. God Himself has held the family together and built a church that is now ten years old. Perhaps the words to this song written during a worship practice led by Bob Lydiate will express my feelings and those of my brothers and sisters who have been receiving the "healing touch of Jesus" in our wounded hearts:

HALLELUJAH! You're my Saviour!
HALLELUJAH! You're my Lord!
Hallelujah! You're my Saviour!
Hallelujah! You're my Lord!

In Your presence we are free;
We stand in awe of You.
We will worship joyfully
And sing our praise to You!

In Your presence we are healed
You've taken all our shame.
On that cross You bore our sin;
We'll never be the same

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8. BUILDING THE TEAM

THE SELKE'S STORY

THE HELLIWELL'S STORY

THE LYDIATE'S STORY

THE ROOT'S STORY

Gina Marie's Side of the Story

Team-Building

Church House Activities

Outreach

Education

Special Occasions

Baseball Ministry

Garage Sale Ministry

Praying over the 'Hood

Mission Mexico 2002

EULOGY FOR"DAYLENE"

Mervin & Ramona Cockerill

Gloria Dieter

Mary George

Darren Tanner

16. Healing Hearts of the Future