Refugees
It’s who we are—passionate about welcoming and supporting newcomers to Canada!
We know that settling in a new country comes with many challenges. Many members of our church family have come as immigrants and refugees, and have faced those challenges first-hand.
In partnership with Mennonite Central Committee, we have been sponsoring refugees from all over the world since 1979, regularly participating in the Canadian government’s sponsorship program.*
Members of FMC were instrumental in the beginning of Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support, an organization that supports refugee claimants who arrive in Canada with no sponsors, and often very little to no support networks.
Read MoreOur building is also home to two new congregations from Eritrea and Myanmar. The people who are part of these congregations have also come to Canada as refugees.
*The FMC office regularly receives calls from members of the Kitchener community, inquiring about support for sponsoring family members and friends overseas. Please be informed that we rely on Mennonite Central Committee to refer refugee cases to us. We regret that we are unable to take on sponsorship cases referred to us from the general public.
Saturday Suppers@Stirling
Serving the neighbourhood.
The “Saturday Suppers@Stirling” program started in November 2013. It is based at Stirling Ave Mennonite Church (one block away from FMC) and provides a hot meal and warm fellowship each Saturday evening (November through April) to anywhere between 160 to 180 guests. Coffee and fellowship begin at 5:00 pm. Supper is served between 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Guests are free to stay until the doors close at 8:00 pm.
YOU are welcome to stop by for supper, any Saturday between November and April!
Read MoreWe do serve some guests who are “living rough” (i.e. homeless). However, the majority are people who do have a (reasonably) safe place to sleep, but their financial and other support systems are limited and shaky. The hope for Suppers@Stirling is that by providing a hot, healthy meal, along with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, individuals without strong support systems may be strengthened financially, socially, mentally and emotionally.
The program is supported by four Mennonite congregations: First Mennonite Church, Rockway Mennonite Church, Pioneer Park Christian Fellowship, and Stirling Ave Mennonite Church. Volunteers come primarily from these churches, but also from other congregations and the broader community. New volunteers are always welcome.
As a member of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, the Saturday Suppers@Stirling program also access the Food Bank for some of the food that we cook and serve. Donations are welcomed, and can be sent via CanadaHelps.org.
Prayer Team
Because we believe that prayer makes a difference.
At FMC, we are committed to praying for one another, and for the needs of our community and world. Our prayer team meetings at the church building on the second Wednesday of each month at 2 PM. New members are always welcome. Prayer team members, along with pastors and Elders, also receive and share e-mail updates about prayer needs multiple times per week. These needs are lifted in individual prayer.
Partners in Outreach
Working together to share God’s love with the world.
When believe that, when we work and serve together, God’s love is expressed and experienced in powerful ways that make profound differences in peoples’ lives.
These are some of the organizations we partner with as we share God’s love with others. We have a long relationship with each one of them, and trust their intentions, their ethics, and their work.
