By Irene Milton, Chair, Blackie-Gladys pastoral charge board

On May 14^, a meeting took place at Blackie (AB) United where representatives from the Blackie-Gladys congregation and children, youth and young adult work in Chinook Winds Region were present. 

       We dispersed funds on behalf of the Blackie and Gladys congregations to benefit work with those in the first third of their life (called First Third Ministry). From the Gladys church building sale, a cheque was presented to Jess Andrews, part-time chaplain to the Calgary and Mount Royal universities for the Campus United work with the students. Also presented to Pamela Evans, First Third team leader were two other cheques. One was from the Gladys sale toward the Camp Caravan program run by the Fish Creek Shared Ministries and is the summer program equivalent to what Vacation Bible School used to be. Camps are conducted through Calgary over the summer and rather than each church planning a program the group goes out to various churches and does the program for them. The second cheque was from the Blackie Helping Hands fund for the Canyon Church camp at Waterton Lakes National Park which is rebuilding after the devastating 2017 wildfire. The Blackie Helping Hands Fund was established from the funds from the sale of the Manse.
       These gifts are our way of ministering to children and youth we no longer have amongst us but we feel is an important part of our ministry.
       The Gladys United Church at Gladys Ridge was sold and decommissioned in February 2023. Thank you to the Region’s Property Working Group and staff, especially Joel Den Haan, for all their assistance.