“God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil.” -E.M. Bounds.

As our communities prepare for their municipal elections on Oct. 28 ‘Grey Matters’ has been looking at the topic of ‘Faith and Politics’. We started with a look at the Old Testament. In the Old Testament there are several times God guides people such as Esther, Joseph and Daniel into government to serve God and people. In the New Testament, we looked at Jesus’ strong words for those who desire to be in leadership to first be a servant to all and not abuse their power. This week we will look at what Paul asks us of us when it comes to those in authority – pray for them!

In 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Paul calls us to pray for all people and those in power: “So then, this is what I want to ask you first. Please pray for all people. Ask God to supply what they need. Ask God to help them. Thank God for what he does for everyone. Pray in that way for kings and for all rulers and people who have authority. Pray for God to help them, so that we may live our lives without trouble or danger. Then we can live in a good way that respects God and other people.” Paul makes a major connection between our prayers for all of us including our leaders to receive help from God so that we can have peaceful and godly community life. Our community will do well when we have trustworthy servant-leaders and when we all know how to humbly receive God’s help for the challenges before us.

To Paul’s prayer list I would include political advisers. These people in the background have just as much influence as the leaders that are in the public eye. Daniel and Esther are eye-opening examples of the chaos and corruption bad advisors can create. The advisors of Daniel’s time made the king think himself higher than God and got Daniel thrown in the lion’s den even though the King loved him dearly. Esther’s king was being convinced by his advisors to wipe out the Jewish people, until Esther intervened. Advisors can lead governments astray and establish binding laws that harm others. On the positive side is Joseph, who with wisdom from above was able to advise the pharaoh and prevent many from dying from a famine that they would not have been prepared for.

RCMP have arrested two men who allegedly stole a car from Steinbach and firearms from St Pierre-Jolys.

On Sept. 27, at 3:20 p.m., a 10-year-old boy called Lundar RCMP with a licence plate and picture of a suspicious vehicle on Chartrand Road in St Laurent. He reported the vehicle was continuously driving by kids playing outside

Queries revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen to the Steinbach RCMP the day before.

Officers responded immediately and located the vehicle travelling north on Highway 6, through St Laurent. The vehicle was pulled over and the male driver exited the vehicle stumbling, holding a beer can. He was arrested for impaired driving. The passenger was arrested for possession of property obtained by crime.

One of the things that stands out about living and working in southeast Manitoba is how willing our community is to show up for one another. At Agape House, we see this generosity throughout the year. From individual donations to community fundraisers and business partnerships, the support we receive plays an important role in helping us provide services to individuals and families experiencing gender-based violence. As a non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of our community to help sustain our work. Financial donations, household items, gift cards, and other contributions help us respond to the needs of the people accessing our services. Every contribution, regardless of its size, helps us continue providing support to survivors as they work toward safety, stability, and independence.

Over the years, our community has supported Agape House through events such as our annual Purple Gala, community barbecues, walks, and awareness campaigns. These events bring people together around an important cause, helping raise funds while creating opportunities to talk about family violence and the resources available to those experiencing it. More recently, we have also seen an increase in third-party fundraisers, with local businesses choosing to support Agape House through events and initiatives of their own. Whether a business organizes a special promotion, dedicates proceeds from an event to our organization, or invites its customers to contribute, these efforts demonstrate a meaningful commitment to supporting survivors in our community. There is something particularly encouraging about seeing businesses take the initiative to organize their own fundraisers. It allows them to engage their employees and customers in a cause they care about, while helping extend awareness beyond the audiences we might otherwise reach. It also shows that supporting survivors does not have to look the same for everyone. Each business can find a way to contribute that reflects its own capacity, interests, and community connections. These partnerships are about more than the funds raised. They help bring conversations about gender-based violence into everyday spaces and remind people that supporting survivors is a shared community responsibility.

When a local business chooses to support Agape House, it helps send the message that family violence matters and that survivors deserve access to support without judgment. Of course, financial contributions are only one way to take a stand. Donations of needed items, volunteering, sharing information about our services, attending awareness events, and challenging victim-blaming attitudes are all meaningful ways to contribute. Businesses and community organizations can also help by sharing information about Agape House and ensuring that people know where to turn when they need support. As we continue our work throughout southeast Manitoba, we are reminded that we cannot do it alone. The generosity of our community helps make our work possible, and the growing involvement of local businesses creates new opportunities to reach people and build awareness. To everyone who has donated, organized a fundraiser, sponsored an event, volunteered, or shared our message, thank you. Your support makes a difference, and we are grateful to be part of a community that continues to show up for survivors. If you or your business is interested in supporting Agape House through a donation, partnership, or third-party fundraiser, we would love to hear from you. To learn more about our services or discuss ways to get involved, contact outreach@agapehouse.ca. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, support is available by calling 204-346-0028 or texting 204-800-7799.

Lisa Fast is an outreach coordinator.

The Hanover School Division board of trustees has made the news lately - for all the wrong reasons.

The Globe and Mail wrote a story about the board’s going rogue in the spring by passing a motion, “…that would ignore provincial and federal mature minor regulations and prevent students from getting counselling and medical services, including contraceptive prescriptions, without their parents’ knowledge.” Manitoba Education Minister Tracy Schmidt quickly condemned the board and forced it to repeal it. She also added, “Your presumed knowledge of your legal and constitutional responsibilities would lead a reasonable observer to conclude you passed this motion at best for public attention and at worst to pick a fight.”

More recently, Winnipeg Free Press’ Dan Lett wrote a column specifically about trustee Shayne Barkman.

Lett wrote. “There’s no doubt Barkman, if he had the courage to explain himself, would deny that he hates anyone. But if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, reposts offensive messages from other socially conservative ducks and attends duck-organized anti-LGBTTQ+ rallies, then it’s a pretty hateful duck.”