Today, in the midst of an ordinary week, I witnessed something that quietly reminded me why the work of outreach matters—not only to those we serve, but to the soul of our church.

One of our outreach leaders at St. Alban’s shared a simple story, almost in passing. Someone had donated a pair of large-sized shoes to our outreach ministry—nothing dramatic, nothing planned, just an act of generosity from someone who thought, “Maybe this could help someone.”

The outreach leader took those shoes along on the day’s rounds and, on this mild Vancouver winter day—mild, at least, compared to the East Coast—encountered a person with no socks, one foot squeezed into a broken sandal, the other wrapped in a makeshift “shoe” fashioned from a piece of cardboard with the bottom worn through.

It is one thing to hear about poverty; it is another to see it, and something else entirely to witness the moment when dignity is restored, even in a small way. The shoes fit. The person walked away warmer, safer, and seen, and our outreach leader walked away with a renewed sense of why this ministry matters.

When the story was shared with us, it wasn’t to boast but to affirm—to remind us that the clothing we sort, the food we prepare, the conversations we hold, and the prayers we offer are never wasted. Every act of kindness becomes part of a larger story of compassion that God is quietly weaving through our community.

This community needs this kind of outreach. And although St. Alban’s is not a large church, it carries a large heart for the neighbourhood we are called to serve. Every act of generosity, every shared resource, every moment of presence becomes part of a wider story of hope that we are writing together.

We invite you to share this story with others. We welcome your support—whether through donations, conversations, or simply stopping by to learn more about our work. You are also welcome to join us as a volunteer, standing alongside us in this ministry of offering dignity, warmth, and care.

We do this because God so loves the world. And you are invited, too, to explore this love, to seek the One who leads us on this journey of reaching out to the community, and to discover how faith can take shape in acts of compassion.

May we continue to walk this path together, with open hands and open hearts.