Mornings on CHVN

Samaritan's Purse, through Operation Christmas Child, is sharing hope and changing lives throughout the year, not just at Christmas. 

"In November, of course, is when we collect the shoeboxes," says Lynette Loewen, the Regional Manager at Operation Christmas Child for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwest Ontario. "It takes us some time to process them all. Then we have to ship them to all of our countries. Sometimes we're dealing with 10 or more countries."

The Manitoba Lung Association is educating people on the dangers of wildfire smoke inhalation, especially during air quality warnings. 

"We provide education and ongoing research to local researchers to provide evidence-based programming and supports," says Juliette Mucha, the President and CEO of the Manitoba Lung Association in Winnipeg. "We also provide support groups for people with lung cancer, long-COVID, and lung transplants."

The Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba (ADAM) is shining a light on supporting people who struggle with mental health, particularly in the month of May. 

"Spring is typically a time when people spend time tidying up around their home, taking out the garbage," says Scott McFadyen, the Executive Director of ADAM. "We're asking people to do the same sort of thing with their mental health."

Christian singer and songwriter from Winnipeg, Steve Bell, has released a music video to accompany his song "Pentecost."

"I wrote it with a fellow named Malcolm Guite who's an English poet," says Steve Bell. "We were doing a Sunday morning in Seattle a couple years ago, and it turned out to be Pentecost. He was preaching, I was singing. He said to me, 'Do you have a Pentecost song?' I don't."

A while later, when Bell was at a cabin in Victoria, B.C. with Guite, the pair decided to put music to Guite's poem that was called 'Pentecost.'

A Christian ministry is anticipating its upcoming day dedicated to prayer in hopes of sharing the gospel with even more campers this summer. 

One Hope Canada is a national ministry that focuses on sharing the gospel with children and youth, helping kids get an opportunity they might not otherwise have. For example, they help children who come from families that cannot afford to cover the cost of sending them to camp. 

The Manitoba chapter of Motorcycle Ride for Dad is celebrating its 17th annual ride to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer. 

"Our first ride was in 2009, and I think we had about 487 riders," says spokesman Ed Johner with Motorcycle Ride for Dad. "The ride has since then grown to as many as 1,500. Last year, we raised $650,000 in the fight against prostate cancer."

The money raised each year during the ride stays in Manitoba to help those fighting prostate cancer. 

The Christian TV show 100 Huntley Street invites Canadian Christians to join them in their 'Strong & Free: United in Prayer Campaign.' 

"Going back to January, we were sitting around in one of our content meetings," says Lara Watson, the Executive Producer and a host on 100 Huntley Street. "What we felt was what all Canadians were feeling. This tension in the air. That we don't know what's going to happen politically, economically, and socially."

On Thursday, Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg will be hosting an event that's open to the public called 'Social Media Disinformation: How to Prevent, Identify, and Combat.'

"This event is from Massey College from the University of Toronto, and it's kind of like Massey College on the road," says the president of CMU, Cheryl Pauls. "There will be a time of panel and some incredible leaders in the field to speak together, learn together, and find ways of being hopeful."

A church in Winnipeg is hosting an event in regards to the Christian perspective when it comes to medical assistance in dying (MAiD). 

"On May 2 at 7 p.m., Dr. Ewan Goligher is going to come and address a Christian response to physician-assisted death," says Mark Grafe, an elder at Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church. "He'll be speaking on two subjects, two 30-minute lectures, followed by a 15-minute Q & A."

A southern Manitoba mom is helping coordinate a walk to bring awareness to mental health struggles and also bring her faith and community together. 

"Sashbear Foundation is a program that has been created for families," says Marisol Pulido, a mom from Steinbach, MB, who is a volunteer with the Sashbear Foundation. "It offers a lifeline for families or friends of loved ones facing emotional challenges. Things like emotional dysregulation, substance use, depression, anxiety, self-injury, and suicidal ideation."