Canadian Baptist Ministries joins Grow Hope Saskatchewan as another ecumenical partner

Dennis Shierman, the Western Canada Representative and Major Donor Strategist of Canadian Baptist Ministries has taken on a leadership role with Grow Hope Saskatchewan. (Submitted photo)

By Grow Hope Saskatchewan team members

On April 14, Grow Hope Saskatchewan officially launched into its fourth growing season – a season marked by the addition of a new partner in the project: Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Grow Hope Saskatchewan is an intentionally ecumenical project that brings together Mennonites, Catholics and now Baptists, each coming together through their Canadian Foodgrains Bank accounts to end global hunger.

Last year with the federal government matching up to 4:1, farmers and donors came together to create a possible $636,000 impact towards not only ending global hunger but supporting people to grow their own food.

Grow Hope Saskatchewan launches another crop year – Article

The Roman Catholic Diocese was one of the founding partners of this initiative. For Myron Rogal, the diocesan Justice and Peace Coordinator, ecumenical cooperation is one of the project’s integral parts.

“For farmers and donors alike, the need to feed people, work with them in education and build relationships with local people living off the farm is not something constrained to denominational lines.   We have a common mission and purpose that brings us together,” says Rogal.

Dennis Shierman, the Western Canada Representative and Major Donor Strategist of Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) has taken on a leadership role with Grow Hope Saskatchewan.

“One of the many goals we have at Canadian Baptist Ministries, CBM, is helping the poor through Word and Deed, helping and bringing justice to those that find themselves in situations that are no fault of their own.  Our commitment in every project and partnership is to help restore dignity to the people of villages and cities we minister in,” says Shierman.

“One of those ways is to be a part of the Canadian Food Grains Bank.  CBM is one of the 15 churches and church-based church agencies that work together for the common goal of ending hunger around the world,” he adds.

“There is something unique about different church denominations working together and coming together to end hunger for everyone. We believe we are much stronger together. We all have the same goal and calling in the countries we all are involved in, and even in the same villages and communities, we have the same commitment to food security and feeding those that need it. Why should we not minister together?”

Shierman notes: “We work this way in Canada, and at CBM, we often have partnerships in the countries that we operate in that are the same—ministering in countries alongside other church denominations for the same goal. We have joined Grow Hope Saskatchewan because we are stronger together. We have a common purpose of feeding the poor. It is not about our differences. It is about what our Lord has called us all to do.”

To learn more about this unique project go to:  www.growhopesk.ca

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