A recent visit to Union Gospel Mission left a lasting impression on Helen Rempel, a Winnipeg woman who celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this month.
Rempel, a resident of Bethel Place, was among a group of seniors who participated in one of UGM’s “I Had No Idea” tours, which introduce visitors to the ministry’s four buildings and seven outreach programs. Union Gospel Mission serves vulnerable individuals across Winnipeg through a range of ministries focused on practical support and sharing the Christian faith.
“It was an eye-opener for me,” Rempel said.
While she was familiar with UGM’s downtown presence on Main Street, Rempel said she had not realized the full scope of the organization’s work.
“I was impressed with your facilities, how clean they were, how looked after they were and how all the people that worked there spoke so positively about the work that they were doing,” she said. “They were witnesses for Christ with their work.”
A firsthand look at the need
One moment from the tour stood out more than any other.
Rempel recalled witnessing emergency responders providing CPR to a man on the street who had reportedly overdosed.
“That really showed us the need for the work that the Union Gospel is doing,” she said.
The experience reinforced what Rempel had seen during her own career. A former teacher at David Livingstone School in Winnipeg’s North End, she said she witnessed many of the social challenges that continue to affect families in the area.
“I taught in the David Livingstone School, which is right in that area, on Selkirk and Flora, and saw the need for the kind of work that you’re doing,” she said.
A century of perspective
Asked about the secret to reaching 100 years of age while remaining active and engaged, Rempel was quick to credit God.
“It was a gift, really,” she said. “But it also means that you also have to do your part.”
Family recently gathered from across Canada to celebrate her milestone birthday, including a great-granddaughter who travelled from Montreal.
As Rempel reflected on the challenges faced by many of the people UGM serves, she expressed compassion for those experiencing poverty, addiction, and homelessness.
“Some of them really can’t help it because they were born into that situation,” she said. “And they don’t know any better. That’s the sad part about it.”
UGM’s Justin Lange says tours like the one Rempel attended help people better understand the realities facing vulnerable Winnipeggers and the ministry’s response through its various programs.
For Rempel, the visit offered a deeper appreciation for the work being done and the people carrying it out.
“God bless your work too at Union Gospel Mission,” she told Lange. “I wish there were more people that were that concerned about the down-and-out people.”