Meet Clara who was a ministry intern for a year at Elmvale Community Church in Ontario.
“At ECC, I experienced a congregation where it doesn‘t matter where are you from, what you did in your past and how broken you are, but only your love for Jesus Christ . ECC is a special church, because they don’t pretend to be something they aren’t – flawless and perfect – because no church is. But in this honesty, they commit everything they have to the only One who is like this – Jesus Christ. This goal is bigger than any different opinion, “rule” or beliefs which are causing conflicts in many churches.
All of this shaped my spirituallity and my view on different kind of churches. I learned how openess about our own brokeness can bring us closer together and create a big family.
This year also showed me how amazing it is, that I, who am from another part of the world and grew up in a different culture, can go to Canada in a little town and find a home and family there and all of that just because of one common ground: the love of Jesus!
In the pastors Steve and Charlotte I got to know big role models of faith for me who have so much passion to work on the kingdom of God, which is truly inspiring. From them I learned a lot about serving selflessly and reaching out into the community with the word of God.
My experience at ECC and this year abroad let me grow close to God and my trust in him that he‘ll guide my way and be with me – right by my side wherever I go. I learned that I might go to different places on earth and through different stages of life, but that he‘ll be the same forever and he‘s my rock to hold on, even if the world around me is changing. This year also thought me a lot working together as a team, having supervisors and resolving conflicts in a peaceful way.”
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