Shopping for a mission
“I have to figure out how to make this store bloom.”
Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa
It may look like other consignment stores, with racks of clothing, aisles of furniture, and shelves with dishes, books, and toys. At Mission Thrift Stores, though, if you stop and listen you will hear the difference. Praise music plays softly in the background, interrupted occasionally by the laughter of volunteers sorting donations in the back room.
The difference goes beyond ambiance. These are thrift stores with a dual purpose: helping the needy and raising money to advance the gospel. Last year, the 50 Canadian Mission Thrift Stores stores donated $11 million to the Bible League Canada.
“[The Bible League] finds ministries that are doing the right thing, the right way, and they support those ministries,” explains Dorothy-Ann Norng, current manager of the Orleans Mission thrift store. “It is indigenous [working with local Christians in whatever region they serve] which is the best way to do missions all over the world.”
A display at the Mission Thrift Store location in Orleans. Photo by Janet MabieNorng calls herself a “fixer”. Mission Thrift Store Canada sends her on temporary assignments to stores that need help generating sales, creating a better atmosphere, and directing the staff and volunteers.
“I am here [in Orleans] to get the store going,” she says. “I have to figure out how to make this store bloom.”
Meanwhile, Norng is also trying to identify a permanent manager to run the store when she leaves.
“It needs to be someone who would embrace it. It has to be a passion for the gospel and the bigger picture of the gospel.” She adds that this type of work takes “a special sort of person to be able to balance the importance of retail with the volunteer supply.”
“The passion for me is about working for God, to be able to be part of something that I can really contribute to.”
Norng stresses the manager needs to be someone with a passion for God and outreach, not just a good head for management. The stores raise money for missions, but they can also be used to reach people locally.
Every morning, before the store opens, the staff and volunteers gather in the kitchen for scripture reading, prayer, and a time of sharing. It serves as a reminder to the group that it is God’s store and they are there for His purposes.
“The passion for me is about working for God, to be able to be part of something that I can really contribute to. It’s not always easy, but I just keep on reminding myself of the purpose.”
Six years ago, Norng’s had an experience that helped build her passion for the work. She and other volunteers were invited by Bible League to visit Ethiopia to see how they were using the money donated. She was amazed to see the schools and churches they have built, which use the Bible to teach reading and writing skills.
“They have a huge building where they provide skills training in metal work, wood work, sewing, leather craft, and farming. They provide micro-loans to widows to start their own businesses. They have a prison ministry that schools the children of prisoners and provides any clothing and supplies they can to the kids. And they have the best coffee in the world.”
Similar Articles
Ottawa’s prison ministries prepare for post-COVID programs
While most of Canada has come out of pandemic restrictions, prisons remain thoroughly locked down. In prison, internet access is strictly prohibited, which has made prison ministry especially difficult for the past two years. To help local prison ministries prepare […]
Bridging the evangelism gap
Despite its brief history, Connecting Streams Ottawa (CSO) has developed a positive reputation for reaching out to the marginalized. The ministry fills a gap in most church’s discipleship programs: training believers in […]
Awesome collaboration
Ottawa churches have a strong track record of collaboration. Gradually, the city is gaining a name for itself as a place where Christians work together, laying aside denominational differences. A group of Stittsville churches demonstrate this […]
Hoop Nights models Christ to city youth
Faith matched up with basketball last month, as local teenagers learned about Jesus while shooting hoops. Ottawa’s Metropolitan Bible Church (MET) held its Hoop Nights outreach basketball camp July 10 to 14 at the Michele Heights Community Centre, providing a free drop-in skills clinic to youth […]
Sharing meals with the less fortunate
Every evening, on weekdays, individuals from all walks of life start milling about the garden at St. Joe’s Supper Table. Some come from work. Others come with their children in tow. These individuals all come for one […]
Bridges into Chinatown
Three local ministries have partnered to build bridges in Chinatown. This past Monday, the MET and Connecting Streams joined forces with Ottawa Chinese Alliance Church to relaunch Bridges—an inner-city outreach program the […]