Mornings on CHVN

The Catholic Health Association of Manitoba (CHAM) is focusing on an upcoming project that is looking to bring teens and seniors together, combating loneliness in both groups. 

"CHAM is kind of the conduit between the church and the health care facility, to make sure the health care facility that is a member of CHAM, continues to bring the Catholic health care to the community," says the CEO of CHAM, Gladys Hrabi. 

CHAM is hoping to start a new project called 'Bridging Connections.' 

Twenty-five years ago, a local Manitoban woman asked God for a Christian radio station, and He answered quicker than she ever expected. 

"I was going to work one morning, I start work at 7:15, and I always listen to the radio," says Anne, an avid CHVN listener. "I was getting tired of listening to secular music."

In September 2000, Anne asked God for a change. 

Pastor Terrance Richmond not only leads his congregation in Vancouver on Sundays through sermons, but he also shares the gospel through his hip-hop music. 

Richmond and his wife planted the church, Love Quest International, in Vancouver in January 2016. Even before this time, Richmond has been writing and releasing Christian hip-hop music, including with Scribe (AKA Troy Lydiate), who attends his church. 

A Christian instructor with Millar College of the Bible is taking notes from his students and pursuing his musical passion through a new hip-hop album. 

"I have the title of registrar and instructor [with Millar College of the Bible]," says Nick Betzing. "I handle the ins and outs of student's proceeding to graduate. As an instructor, I teach various theology and Bible courses."

On top of teaching Biblical studies, Betzing is releasing a full-length album called The Dawn on June 21. 

Winnipeg Christian artist and worship leader, Carine Bado, is releasing her first single after a year and a half, with a powerful, underlying story behind it.

"'A Blessing in the Making' is a song I started writing just a few days after the passing of my mom," says Bado. "I went to the Ivory Coast last year for my goodbyes. During the almost 20-hour flight back, the song came into my head with an upbeat tempo."

Bado was unable to get to her mother before she passed away from cancer, but she was able to be with family for the funeral on the West Coast of Africa. 

Originally from Cape Breton, Winnipegger Les Gillis is headed across Canada with his guitar and a message of hope for people experiencing homelessness. 

"My journey is going to start going east from Winnipeg, going all the way to Newfoundland," says Gillis. "Back, and then eventually continue on to the West Coast."

Gillis picked up the guitar when he was 17 years old and then spent years busking around the U.S.A., including in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, and Chicago, to name a few. 

Zach Williams is coming back to Canada for the first time in years to help Providence University College and Theological Seminary celebrate its centennial with a concert. 

"It's been at least five years," says Williams about the last time he was in Canada. "We played a festival and stayed in Canmore. It was awesome. We'd been there twice. We're excited to come back and celebrate the 100th anniversary."

Imagine going 24 hours with nothing but a brown paper bag to sustain you. For thousands of Winnipeggers, that’s not a challenge, it’s daily life.

Agape Table, a Winnipeg non-profit, serves hundreds of bagged lunches every weekday to those who don't know when their next meal will come. CHVN morning show host Sylvia St. Cyr got a taste of that reality when she committed to surviving on just one of those lunches for 24 hours.

A worldwide ministry is dedicating this month to shedding light on the persecuted reality many Christians face for their faith, and they're asking churches to stand with them. 

"We serve the church and still do provide Bibles," says Gary Stagg, the Executive Director of Open Doors Canada. "We provide Christian literature, training, discipleship, trauma counselling, social economic development, and also help in crisis situations."

Steinbach's brand-new multipurpose facility is partially open and is anticipating a full year of bringing the community together for events.

"We're so excited about this building and it's not even completely open yet," says the Director of Communications, Marketing, and Sales at the Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach, Michelle Sawatzky-Koop. "March 14, we got the arena bowl open for that very first Steinbach Piston game. We got the occupancy granted a mere 12-24 hours before we let 2,400 people into the building."