Since its beginnings in 2009, Bags of Love has been a ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that seeks to serve “where needed most.” Though the core purpose is, and has always been, to meet the immediate needs of displaced children, Bags of Love has grown to encompass this and so much more.
Every year, over 800 bags are delivered into the hands of children who have been removed from their homes due to safety and wellbeing concerns. During this tumultuous time, a Bag of Love can serve as a grounding point, a small bright spot in a very dark time. As each child opens their own drawstring bag, inside they will find a beautiful homemade quilt, a teddy bear, books, toys, and personal items. These are theirs to keep, their very own belongings.
The success of this ministry is largely due to the partnership between Bags of Love and local Child and Family Services (CFS) offices, as well as immense community support, both within and outside Seventh-day Adventist churches. This is where, in the last several years, Bags of Love has opened new doors of connection. This ministry is reaching not only children, but others who have no other means of hearing how God is at work, in their very own community.
Many of the people volunteering with Bags of Love are not Seventh-day Adventist. They are people responding to a calling on their heart to serve others, not even aware it is the Holy Spirit guiding them. Bags of Love provides a non-invasive way to connect community members with our church, through a shared desire to alleviate the suffering in this world.
Recently, Bags of Love has partnered with the newly structured Eastern Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society. With just one conversation with one contact who heard about this ministry, Bags of Love is now serving 24 of these offices, in addition to the 33 CFS offices already on board.
As inspiring as this growth is, God has even bigger plans, as He always does. One of the most exciting developments has been the connections made with several First Nations bands, including Siksika, Sunchild, Little Red River Cree and Montana Cree First Nations. Building these relationships has been hugely rewarding on both sides, and we look forward to creating even stronger bonds as these relationships grow. Bags of Love was honoured to receive two hand painted eagle feathers as a gift, a thank you to this ministry and those who donate and volunteer their time.
As Bags of Love begins its 15th year in operation, there is both joy and anticipation to see how God will continue to bless and sustain the needs of this growing ministry. A ministry that not only is a blessing to the children it seeks to serve, but also every single person involved. This includes those who donate their toys, books, and other items, those who provide the necessary funds to operate, those who volunteer their time, skills, and talents to make the quilts and bags, and finally those who are the first responders to the children themselves.
If you want to know more, become involved or support Bags of Love, please explore www.bagsoflove-eca.ca, or find them on their very active Facebook page Bags of Love East-Central Alberta.
By Leslee Desjardins
