Linwood House Ministries

An Ontario Journey

[Note: Elaine was one of the pioneers of The Journey when she was with The Salvation Army in the Downtown Eastside, and is now looking to establish a similar ministry in Ontario. We're posting this so others may see what she is up to. Maybe you need to be involved, or know someone who may be interested! If you would like further information or would like to contact Elaine directly, please comment here or email us and we will connect you.]

I am presently working with The Salvation Army Correctional and Justice Services in London, Ontario.  Like many communities we have a number of women who have been abused from an early age. They live with little family support and no sense of community. Some are being sexually exploited and the cycle of abuse continues in their lives.

Prior to living in London I was in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and worked with women at risk in this volatile setting. One powerful oasis of hope that I discovered with these women was the ministry of The Journey.  I attended many Journey's with my friends from the street and was always awed and overjoyed to see the transformative power of the 3 day retreat.

My friends would come downtrodden, hopeless, weak and tired and by day three their countenance was lifted, their eyes were filled with hope and years had melted from their beleagured bodies. The possibilities of new things in life were blossoming.

I have been in Ontario for 3 years and long to see a Linwood House in my neighborhood so that we could take these women on a Journey of discovery. I have already connected with a number of women who will make up the Journey team, I know many hurting abused women who are ready to receive the extravagant love and grace of God all that I lack to put the vision in place are finances and a beautiful setting like Linwood House.

I wonder... is there someone out there that the Lord is calling to create a beautiful space where broken, hurting, neglected women can go to be loved?  I long to see a beautiful retreat home established between London and Toronto so that women from the surrounding communities could experience their own Journey to wholeness.

I continue to search for the venue.  May the Lord provide!

Shalom
Elaine Ruth Gillingham

Oh Deer!

They're about a week late for the Art Experience, but we've been watching a family of deer in the yard here at Linwood House this morning.

First, Mom came through. A little later Dad (or older brother) glared at us through the window of the Great Room while his son (or younger brother) nibbled on Grandma's flowers. (Don't tell her we didn't chase them right away!) Click on the thumbnails for larger images

Let There be Art!

Sunday July 13th was our second annual Linwood Art Experience and it was a wonderful day.

There were many pictures to be taken, many experiences to capture, many "small stories within the larger story" to be told.

Here is a first look inside the story of that day...

Enjoy, and stay tuned for more!

A Special Invitation

Dear Linwood House Friends:

As many of you know, especially those who have been on mission trips with us or have been involved in the Journey, abuse and domestic violence is a global problem and one that we are often called to address as we journey with women.  I want to draw your attention to a conference that is being held in Washington, DC from October 9-12th, called Partnering for Change: The Church Responds to Domestic Violence.  This is a conference to educate and equip the church to deal with abuse and domestic violence sponsored by a Christian network called Peace and Safety in the Christian Home (PASCH). This network addresses various aspects of domestic abuse and offers prayer support, biblical and practical resources, literature, training, research and referrals for victims and those who work with victims.  I am presently serving on the Board and responsible for prayer initiatives.  Linwood House Ministries has been asked to lead a session on the Thursday evening at the conference on prayer and abuse. 

Please contact us if you would be interested in attending this conference.  Our plan is to leave on Wednesday, October 8th and return on October 15th.  The purpose of the time is to participate in advance prayer, attend the conference, and connect with victims of domestic violence, especially single mothers to offer support and encouragement.  We will partner with a ministry in the Washington area following the conference.

I encourage you to go onto the PASCH website, www.peaceandsafety.com  for more information about the organization and the conference costs.  For those of you who are local we presently have a flight cost to Washington from Vancouver for $600 CDN if you would like us to book for you or you may want to use airline points.  We will stay in the hotel recommended for the conference for the week as it is a good rate for the area.

I also want to invite you to join us as we pray through the journal, Discover God’s Heart for Suffering Women, 40 days prior to the conference, beginning on August 31, 2008 and culminating on October 9th.  Please contact us for a copy of the revised journal.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to connect, pray together, receive education on abuse and domestic violence and reach out to our friends in the USA at a crucial time in their history.  Please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in participating in the prayer initiative or in going to the conference.

Sincerely,
Gwen McVicker

Just Imagine

Peace and Safety in Every Home

Just Imagine

Christians leading the world in crying out to God and taking action to end abuse and violence in the home

A Call to Pray

We, the members of the PASCH family, invite you to join in prayer with Christians throughout the world who believe in the power of God to heal, change, comfort and empower families who live with abuse and violence.

“By His mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we ever dare to ask or hope.”…..OR IMAGINE!" Ephesians 3:20

The Challenge: 
Pray for 40 days prior to the PASCH conference in Washington, DC, beginning on August 31, 2008 and culminating on October 9th.  For those attending the conference, a celebration of prayer will be held on Thursday, October 9th at 7pm at Sligo Church.

The Focus:

• To collectively join with the cries of the God of Justice to end domestic violence and abuse in our homes.
• To support in prayer all victims of domestic violence and abuse.
• To support in prayer those who seek to bring awareness and education to the church in domestic violence and abuse.
• To pray for the PASCH conference, October 10-12, 2008

The Journey: 
To pray intentionally and collectively please register by email, mail or phone to receive a prayer guide in the mail or an email each day for the 40 day prayer pilgrimage beginning on August 31st.

Email: [email protected]

Mail:  Linwood House Ministries, Box 156, Roberts Creek, BC, Canada, VON 2WO
Phone:  604 885 0214

“If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.”  Matthew 18: 19,20

…..just imagine peace and safety in every home in the world!

2nd Annual Linwood Art Experience

WE WELCOME YOU AGAIN!

It's time again for more joy!

More Art and Music and Refreshments At Linwood House

Join us for the Second Annual Linwood Art and Music Fest

In its fabulous garden setting…

Linwood House is a sacred place offering safe retreat to
Nourish and refresh hurting women
Especially those from the Downtown Eastside…

Come help us in this very important quest
Artists works on display and for sale include:

Barney McLeod (stone carvings)
Jane Ford (floral watercolours)
Brian Romer (acrylic landscapes)
Donna Stewart (mixed media abstracts)
Yzabelle Deslisle-Milton (expressive figures)
Louise Lenko (water colour super realist)
Douglas Rae (oil landscapes)

and a panoply of photographs by Downtown Eastside Women

(30-40%of all sales donated to Linwood House Ministries)

3144 LINWOOD ROAD, ROBERTS CREEK, BC.

SUNDAY,  JULY 13th, 2008  12-5 PM