The Best Part of My Work with Shine FM Calgary: Meeting People Who Are Quietly Changing Lives

People sometimes ask what I actually do with Shine FM Calgary, Calgary’s Christian radio station.

The short answer is advertising sales.

The honest answer is that it gives me one of the best excuses in the world to meet some of the most incredible people in this city.

Shine FM exists to serve Calgarians, and a big part of that means showing up in the community, not only being heard on the radio. Over the years, this work has put me in the room with pastors, nonprofit leaders, small business owners and volunteers doing work most of the city never sees.

Every one of those meetings reminds me why I still love working in Christian radio after all these years.

My recent visit to Journey Church and its Day Space was one of those meetings I will not forget.

Inside Journey Church Calgary

I met Chris and Evan at the front doors of Journey Church in northwest Calgary on a day that started grey and quickly turned into a downpour.

Chris is the executive pastor, and within about 30 seconds of meeting him, I knew exactly who he reminded me of: Greg Kinnear, the actor who played the father in Heaven Is for Real. He has that same warmth and quiet, steady kindness.

You could immediately tell how much he cared about what he was about to show me, and about the people this building serves every day.

Before we even made it through the doors, I noticed people in the parking lot. Some were coming and going. Others were resting beneath a tree or leaning against a lamp post. As the sky opened up, they began making their way inside.

Inside, volunteers were serving coffee and sandwiches in the hallway. Along the north wall, mats stretched the length of the room. Each one was occupied by someone sleeping.

Chris explained that many people come to Journey Church specifically because they know they can sleep there safely.

That is something most of us probably take for granted: having somewhere we can close our eyes without worrying about what might happen to us, or to the few belongings we have.

The Day Space is a weekday ministry of Journey Church for people experiencing homelessness. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

People can come in for a meal, take a shower, wash their clothes or simply sit somewhere warm and safe. They can also be connected with housing, health care, detox and treatment programs, employment services and financial support.

The Day Space operates in partnership with Distress Centre Calgary and welcomes people from across the city. Its location near the Tuscany CTrain station makes it accessible to people who may be travelling a long way to get there.

A Very Practical Way to Help

Chris showed me the clothing donation area, where donated items are carefully organized by size. A volunteer told me that the greatest need right now is men’s extra-large clothing.

If you are cleaning out a closet this fall, that is one simple and practical way to help.

From there, we went upstairs to see the church’s commercial kitchen. It is large enough to support weddings and other events when the church rents its space, but that wasn’t what Chris was most excited to talk about.

He sees what that kitchen could become: a place providing real, cooked meals for the people coming through the Day Space. Not only when volunteers are available, but consistently.

Journey Church is working to raise $60,000 by spring so it can hire a cook and begin serving regular hot meals.

That is the immediate goal, but it is part of a much bigger vision. The church also hopes to expand its lobby so it can welcome and support more people experiencing homelessness. More importantly, it wants to help people connect with the resources they need to move forward and, ultimately, get off the street.

I have walked through a lot of organizations over the years. Many talk about making an impact.

Journey Church quietly does it every day, rain or shine. Volunteers pour coffee and make sandwiches. People sleep safely on mats. A pastor lights up when he talks about using a kitchen to feed people.

Why This Work Matters to Me

This is exactly the kind of story I get to be part of because of my work with Shine FM.

Serving Calgarians isn’t simply a tagline for us. It’s the reason the station exists.

Sometimes that means helping a local business reach the right audience. Sometimes it means helping listeners discover a Calgary charity, church or ministry doing important work in their own backyard. The goal is the same: connecting people with something that may genuinely help them.

Stories like this are also one of the reasons I created FaithFinder. I wanted to make it easier for people to discover churches, Christian businesses, schools, ministries and opportunities to serve in their communities.

How You Can Help Journey Church

Give toward the cook fund.

Journey Church is raising $60,000 to hire a cook and provide consistent hot meals through the Day Space. You can donate through Journey Church’s giving page, by e-transfer to accounting@myjourney.church, or through the Church Center app.

Donate clothing.

The Day Space particularly needs men’s extra-large clothing. Contact Journey Church directly to arrange a drop-off.

Volunteer at the Day Space.

The Day Space is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Email dayspace@myjourney.church to learn how you can get involved.

Find a church in Calgary.

If this story has you thinking about your own church home, or you are new to the city and looking for one, use FaithFinder to find a Calgary church near you.

Journey Church is located at 10307 Eamon Road NW, about 300 metres from the Tuscany LRT lot. The church offers in-person tours, and after spending an afternoon there, I would encourage you to visit, see the Day Space for yourself and consider how you might help.

Want to meet more of the people quietly making Calgary better? Visit my Local Spotlight page, where I share stories about churches, businesses and community organizations I encounter through my work with Shine FM.

This is not a sponsored story. It is part of my Local Spotlight series featuring Calgary people and organizations doing work worth knowing about.