About Us
Outflow works to improve the lives of the people in Saint John who live in poverty. Our work is motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ and his lordship. Part of the way we express this faith is by looking for opportunities to reduce the unemployment, hunger, homelessness, and medical costs in our city. Our hope is that our work lets people know they have a place not only in their city but also in the Kingdom of God.
Just over 13 years ago, in the summer of 2008, we met up with friends and family to serve a few evening meals in Kings square. A few months later the ministry moved into the old Kent theatre in uptown Saint John on Coburg street. The years have gone by fast and much has been added to the ministry since that first meal, but the one thing that has always been extremely important to us is someone willing to build a relationship. Sitting around those supper tables and breaking bread has been essential for us and for the many people that serve at Outflow. We believe relationship is at the heart of reality because we worship a God who is in an eternal loving relationship with himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s our hope that relationship will always be found at Outflow as we look to Jesus, the one who desires a personal relationship with all people.
We have a desire and a calling to ministry and we seem to be continually finding God’s power and presence amongst the poor and oppressed. From the beginning days of Outflow until today it has been a joy to be with those in need. God is good, the friend of sinners, the friend of us.
Jesus is the greatest example in scripture of what it means to be present with, walk with, eat with, pray with and befriend those in greatest need. He is the definition of love. We believe what the scriptures say in Psalm 9:9, “the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” And over the years we continue to see, “…that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy”. Proverbs 13:23
Jayme Hall & Phil Appleby
Founders of Outflow Ministry Inc.
Jesus was once accused of being a friend of the marginalized. We hope people will say the same thing about us.
We believe that everyone, whether materially poor or rich, is created in God’s image and therefore is worthy of dignity, life and hope. It is our mission at Outflow to restore dignity, renew life and realize hope in the people around us, not just because they are our clients, but because they are our guests, neighbours and friends.
We see the world through the lens of Jesus’ teaching, his life, death and ultimately his resurrection. Looking at Jesus shows us our own brokenness. A life of faith is a life that responds to Jesus with repentance and service. It is with repentance that we, a broken people in need of Jesus’ forgiveness, serve other broken people. We find inspiration in the Prophets of Ancient Israel. Holding tight to the words of Isaiah, we want to “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (1:17, ESV).
As a team at Outflow, we want to imitate Christ. We intentionally welcome everyone who comes to our door because we know Jesus did the same thing. Jesus talked to everyone – lepers, religious people, and adulterers were often hanging out with him. We count it as a blessing to do the same.
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