Ending Poverty Together

with guest David Collins, founding president of Food for the Hungry Canada. |

Did you know Food for the Hungry Canada started with just two people, a lot of risk, and a big vision? Journey to the past with us as we celebrate 30 years of FH Canada with founding President David Collins. 

From humble beginnings to navigating the challenging landscape of relief and development work, David shares candidly about the early days. And yet, it is those same challenges and extreme circumstances that shine a light on human resilience, the strength of community, and God’s provision. 

Join us in celebrating 30 years of history, faith, and an unwavering commitment to end poverty together—one community at a time. 

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guests Wayne and Jane Dahl of Davis Meats. |

How can a local meat shop serve up global change? Wayne and Jane Dahl, the charismatic duo behind Abbotsford, B.C.’s Davis Meats are about to butcher your misconceptions about giving for community impact. To them, it was a no-brainer.

Not only have they carved a special place in their local community with Grade A cuts and quality customer service, they’re also impacting communities worldwide. By inviting customers to chip in a dollar or two, they’re beefing up community transformation by inspiring the purchase of pigs, chickens, and cows from the FH Canada Gift Guide to create their own “Davis Herd” that is helping vulnerable families thrive!

Listen in as these spunky entrepreneurs share their recipe for blending groceries with goodwill to fuel lasting impact! And stay tuned to the end for a special, meatier version of the Veggie Tales theme! 

Recommended Resources:

Davis Meats, Abbotsford - website

FH Canada Gifts for Change Gift Guide - website

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Safaa Shahin for Food for the Hungry International.

Turn on the news; conflict makes the headlines—civil wars in Syria, strife in Ethiopia, disharmony closer to home, and more. Dispute is layered and complicated and hurts millions of people, and too often our external aid further exhausts those who’ve suffered enough. So, when conflict arises, how do we help without making things worse?

Safaa Shahin, originally from Syria and currently acting as Food for the Hungry’s Global Risk Resilience Lead, shares how conflict zones are especially fragile and even the best of intentions can do more harm than good. In order to promote peace and reduce conflict in any situation—in communities around the world or in our own neighbourhoods—we first need the right “lens” to understand each unique context. Safaa’s experiences will help you learn to be conflict-sensitive, and become a peacebuilder who helps foster hope.

Recommended Resources:

Fragility to Resilience - article

Our work of building Resilience at FH - webpage

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Su Min Park of Korea Food for the Hungry International.

How can your church combat global poverty while sparking transformation closer to home? Su Min Park, Senior Associate at Korea Food for the Hungry International, has an answer for you. 

Travel with Su Min as he recounts his recent trip to Toronto to connect with Korean churches. Alongside celebrated Korean artists Kim Jung Hwa and Yoo Eun Sung, they shared a captivating decade-long story. It begins with sponsoring a child in Uganda and unfolds into a transformative journey spanning childhood, adulthood, marriage, and happiness on all sides.

Raised in the Philippines as the son of Korean Christian missionaries, and with over a decade of experience within international development, Su Min’s passion for change is profound. Discover how your church’s support can change not just one life, but many lives in entire communities as they journey out of poverty.

Recommended Resources:

About Korea Food for the Hungry International - website

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Brian Doerksen, Canadian song-writer, instructor, and singer.

When hard things happen, a personal response—however that looks—is inevitable. When Brian heard the First Nation Band Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc announce that the remains of 215 children were found at the former residential school in Kamloops, BC, he was deeply impacted. Like many Canadians, he wrestled with what was being uncovered, the role of religious institutions in the injustices done, and what he should do next.

Brian Doerksen is a Christian songwriter, recording artist, and songwriting instructor who is well-known for songs such as Refiner’s Fire and Hope of the Nations. Brian shares his heart for writing the song 215 and where it has led him in this ongoing, communal journey toward hope for reconciliation.

Recommended Resources:

215 - official music video, Brian Doerksen

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Musu Taylor-Lewis of Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada.

Ponder with Musu as she considers our global “family”, and shares from her own life story. Growing up and living in communities in Sierra Leone, parts of Europe, and Canada has influenced her view of culture, economics, beauty, and what a faith-led response to poverty might be.

Musu Taylor-Lewis is Food for the Hungry Canada’s newly appointed President & CEO (as of June 2023). As a self-proclaimed ‘unapologetic dreamer with her feet firmly planted on the ground’, Musu shares about her leadership style, her dreams for FH Canada, and what gives her hope in this work of poverty alleviation.

Recommended Resources:

A Presidential Chat: FH Canada Welcomes A New Leader - online article

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Carmyn Prefontaine.

When you donate, you're accustomed to hearing about the impact of your dollars, time, and commitment—but what about the way your gifts impact your own life? Behind every healthy organization is a family of donors who have been invited into "mutual transformation"—they spur on change, but their own worldviews and relationships are changed by the hope they are a part of, too.

Food for the Hungry (FH) can only walk alongside communities around the world thanks to our donors—partners like Carmyn Prefontaine, who has been invested in FH's work for over 20 years! Child Sponsorship, Gift Guide, business partnerships, vision trips, workshops—you name it—Carmyn has been involved. Yet, she wants to tell you that she's received as much from this relationship as she’s given.

Recommended Resources

Get Involved at FH Canada

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Joeline Magill of Hope Restored.

We all know what it's like to want to belong—it's an intrinsic part of what makes us human. For those who grew up in a healthy family environment, these needs are met through bedtime stories, family dinners, outings, and more. But what about people who didn’t share that privilege? What are the connections between these unmet needs and exploitation and human trafficking? And don't kid yourself, this dark world lurks even within our own neighbourhoods and cities.

Hear from Joeline Magill, Executive and Founding Director at Hope Restored Canada, as she shares how this deep desire for love and belonging can easily be exploited, but also how healthy relationships can bring healing and restoration to people who have experienced sexual exploitation and trafficking. Listen in as Joeline urges us to pay attention and teaches us to recognize warning signs so we can confront exploitation before it starts.

Recommended Resources

Hope Restored - website

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

With guest Laura Solberg, Executive Director of Kentro Christian Network.

In a world that champions individuality and independence, the idea of being connected often takes a back seat. We may say “we’re all in this together”, but how often do we see that truly play out? Yet, with connection comes a whole world of unexpected benefits.

Join us as Laura Solberg, executive director of Kentro Christian Network, sheds light on the true value of connection and relationship between individuals and organizations alike. Discover how being part of a network can go beyond access to resources or financial benefits and create a sense of belonging that fosters growth and impact. Because, when you really dig deep, our world doesn’t just have an independence issue—we have a disconnection issue.

Recommended Resources:

Kentro - website

Episode hosted by Shelaine.

with guest Aaron White, director for 24-7 Prayer Canada, teacher at Westminster Theological Center, podcast host of Two Wise Fools, author, and neighbourhood enthusiast.

Have you ever taken time to walk through your neighbourhood and point out the beauty you see? It’s so easy to see the lacking, the grisly, the ugly, that all-too-often we miss the simple joy and charm all around us.

Aaron White, resident of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, shares about the incredible beauty found in his neighbourhood—the beauty of “family”. Not necessarily always in a nuclear family, but in a biblical family that goes beyond bloodlines and into community. 

Sometimes focusing on the rough edges can leave us feeling helpless to bring about change in our own neighbourhoods, churches, and cities. But what if we started even smaller—with our tables? What if we invited someone new and began to change the way we eat together? Such a simple and beautiful invitation has the potential to ripple beyond our wildest imagination.

Recommended Resources:

Vancouver Downtown Eastside - Vancouver City website

24-7 Prayer Canada - website

Westminster Theological Center - website

Two Wise Fools - podcast

Episode hosted by Shelaine.