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An evangelistic ministry seeks to mobilize Christians in Winnipeg multiple times a week.
Winnipeg for Jesus was founded over a year and a half ago, and one of the leaders, Jeffrey Bergen, said the team goes out and does what many others want to do. "I think so many Christians have a desire to do it, but there's something holding them back. Often, it's just you don't know how to go about it. So that's one of the top things we do."
Bergen said that while it's still a new ministry, it has really grown and it's cool to see how God has used it. "It started off as a small group, three or four people and it's grown to now we have 60 people on our team. It's so beautiful to see what God is doing."
As the ministry has grown, he has seen different team members' faith grow exponentially. "When they first came to our team, they would have never been someone who would go talk to strangers on the street and then seeing those same people be lit on fire and literally be emotional by just the testimony that they were seeing."
He's seen firsthand how God is touching lives around the city. "We've seen physical healings happen. We've seen so many people come to Jesus, but just putting hope out there, people are searching. We're in a generation where people want something real. People are really open to spirituality and I think when we go out and we create Invitational conversations, people are so impacted by that."
One of the ways Winnipeg for Jesus does outreach is through Blitz events. "We set a date and a location. We invite Christians from across Manitoba to come together, it doesn't matter what denomination or church you're part of. We come together and mobilize each other, we pray together and then we actually go out and we preach the Gospel and help you overcome fears or mental barriers that you may have."
Encouraging others in their faith has only strengthened Bergen's faith. "It's one thing to tell people Jesus loves you, but it's another thing to go out and share your testimony with people and literally see people's lives changed in a single moment because you took five minutes out of your day."
He said that it doesn't matter where, but just doing it in the first place. "Jesus is always ready to change someone's life, and it's just for us to partner with Him to bring it into action."
Winnipeg for Jesus is also teaming up with Disciple a City for a special initiative. "Disciple a City created a goal, they want to see 100,000 people hear the Gospel face to face in Canada this year."
While Bergen wants the number to far exceed 100,000, it's been special to see the total grow. "We have an app that we launched where we can track the number, but it's not about the number. The 100k Harvest is meant to be a tool that inspires Christians across Canada to share the Gospel."
Currently, they are sitting over 7,000 Gospel shares across Canada.
Looking to the future, Bergen is excited to see God continue to work through the ministry. "We want to leave a long-lasting impact. In the past, there have been groups that have popped up, but I think it's so beautiful when there's people in it for the long run. My heart is to continue to inspire Christians across Manitoba to partake, to make an effort to go out and reach those who don't come into our Sunday pews."
Stop by Central Park in Winnipeg on June 5 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for outreach and worship at 7 p.m.
