The first month of 2020 kicked off with Winnipeg's Filipino community collecting donations for volcano victims, the saving power of Bible camp, TobyMac sharing a moving song in memory of his son, and many other powerful stories.

 

Manitoba parent's ER experience goes viral

A Manitoba resident is promoting empathy for health care workers after an eye-opening experience in the ER.

Nikki McIvor recently took to social media to share her story, a post that has since been widely shared. In it, she explains how she took her young son into the ER only to find it would be a five-hour wait.

Read the full story here

 

Manitoban firefighter using faith on the front lines of Australian fires

A 22-year-old Manitoban currently in New South Wales, Australia fighting the bushfires says his faith and prayers from home give him strength.

Matthew Wollman applied and travelled to fight the fires in Australia in late November. He says that the fires, although he was trained to work with them have been so much more powerful than he could have anticipated or prepared for. 

"When you're in a big blaze you kind of feel helpless," Wollman says. Despite the difficult work, he says the team morale is steadily positive.

Read the full story here

 

WATCH: Lorette family going viral following hilarious gameshow moment

Canada's newest game show has quickly made an internet sensation out of one family from Lorette, Man. 

 

"Real simple," host Gerry Dee said as Eve and a member of the other family game to centre stage. "There’s one question – only one answer. Whoever gets it, they’re playing for $10,000, that’s it. Whoever gets it wins the game."

The question: "Name Popeye's favourite food."

Eve quickly, and confidently, hit the buzzer, beating out her opposition. Eve leaned into her microphone and proclaimed, "chicken!"

Read the full story here

 

WATCH: TobyMac releases song in memory of late son

A popular Christian artist is being vulnerable with a new song in memory of his son who passed away unexpectedly.

"A song I never wanted to write. I hope it’s for someone out there..."

Read the full story here

 

'Don't underestimate the power of prayer': son's week at camp leads family to Jesus

One week at a Christian camp turned an atheist into a youth director and aspiring pastor; the change in him impacted his whole family.

Kyle Smith is a youth director at Albright Church in East St. Paul who experienced a week of camp at Circle Square Ranch at 14 years old and it changed his life forever. In fact, that week changed his parent's lives too. 

Read the full story here

 

Thousands attend funeral for 'the Billy Graham of Africa,' Reinhard Bonnke

A month after his death, thousands of people attended a funeral for evangelist Reinhard Bonnke in Florida.

Bonnke was known as the "Billy Graham of Africa" for leading mass revivals and crusades over a ministry that spanned four decades. During that time Bonnke's ministry says nearly 80 million people gave their lives to Jesus.

Read the full story here

 

'God has me right where he wants me' Justin Bieber releases new album

Pop-star Justin Bieber is focusing on the impacts God has made in his life with his new album.

Bieber, who is known for his antics, has been making headlines with his journey to God. The Canadian singer grew up in a Christian household and appears to be returning to his Christian roots using music.

Read the full story here

 

Australian churches praying for rain

disaster chaplainA pastor volunteers to minister during the fires in Australia. (Canberra Region Presbytery/Facebook)

Australian churches are praying for rain due to the extreme bush fires ravaging New South Wales.

The fires started this fall when the country experienced drier-than-usual climates. A massive drought in Australia is leading thousands of citizens to evacuate the burning coast. The state of New South Wales is being hit the hardest, with over 1,300 homes reportedly being burned. 

Read the full story here

 

'You are not forgotten': Winnipeggers supporting Filipino volcano victims

The Winnipeg Filipino community is coming together to raise awareness and resources for those impacted by an unexpected volcano eruption.

Leila Castro, co-founder of 204 Neighbourhood Watch, a group of Winnipeggers that provide community-based security and mental health first-aid is from the province where the Taal volcano erupted.

Read the full story here

 

Century-old wedding ring found with clothing donation

Union Gospel Mission was looking to return the heirloom to its rightful owners after what they believe was an accidental donation.

The ring was discovered to be 80-100 years old and was found in a box. The organization thinks the donation was a mistake and hopes to return it to its owners.

"It would be nice to find the story behind it," Martin Chidwick, UGM's development manager, says. "At one point a man put it on a lady's finger and they were in love."

Read the full story here