Long time Threshold Evangelist, Christine Herman along with some women from the Young At Heart group have knit 42 pairs of slippers which will be sent to the Chaplaincy program at the Edmonton Young Offender Centre for Christmas. What a dedication of time and talent from these women!
The Young At Heart group at the Campbell River Baptist Church in British Columbia gather together twice-a-month for knitting and fellowship. Some of these ladies (80+ years old) have committed to knitting throughout 2013 to prepare for next Christmas the young offenders next year.
They are also filling baskets for the local Police department and fire hall.
More about Christine:
Turning to Christ weeks after her younger sisters death, Christine joined the Alliance Church and soon learned about prison ministry. A lady she had once worked with in a law firm was imprisoned for embezzling so she started visiting women in prison. Continuing to volunteer (often on a full-time basis) for about 4 years along side the Prison Chaplain, she entered into training and was commissioned as Threshold Ministries (then Church Army) evangelist in 1995.
She worked as Director of a Crisis Pregnancy Centre for a short while in Victoria, BC and was soon hired to work as Protestant Chaplain at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, the oldest correctional centre in Alberta. Briefly serving as a Community Chaplain in Toronto, Christian later became the Coordinating Chaplain at the Edmonton Young Offender Centre in 2000.
After a successful and fulfilling 10 years of work at the EYOC, health issues caused Christine to leave on December 2010. From December until the contract ran out in June, she assisted her husband Paul from home as he filled in. Rick Sandberg was then hired to replace Christine. She still stays active with the Young Offenders Centre and helps Rick as often as he asks for help. Knowing his need for slippers was one way Christine could help.
The giving of these hand made goodies has generated some excitement amongst the handful who helped knit and whom are knitting for next year already. It has given Christine a chance to talk about the prison ministry as well.
What a great group and a great outreach these women have taken on! And a great opportunity of fellowship and ministry for all involved.
For more info on the ministry of Rick Sandberg at the Edmonton Young Offender Centre, please see our article on him from the last edition of The Candle!
3 cheers for this great team of caring folks, and a special cheer for Christine.