Last Loonie Lunch with ECBC?

Loonie Lunch at Athabasca Hall

Members of ECBCs Grace Fellowship helped to serve a Chinese lunch at Baptist Student Ministrie's weekly Loonie Lunch at the University of Alberta Campus on Wednesday, February 11th. After several hours of preparation, cooking, and coordination, the senior fellowship at ECBC brought a delightful menu to a few outreach and value conscious students. The menu consisted of Asian chicken chow mein, a side of pan-fried pork dumplings, and a blueberry muffin dessert with jasmine tea beverage.

BSM's Loonie Lunch started as an outreach ministry when Rev. Greg Idell took the helm as the chaplain for the Edmonton chapter. It was very successful in its early years as dozens of students ate at the weekly event. ECBC set a record at Loonie Lunch five years ago when over 200 dishes were served during the event when it was held on a Monday. On other weeks, various hosts and donations from the affiliate churches serve a variety of meals from sandwiches to Russian borscht. Although numbers have dwindled in recent semesters, Loonie Lunch is still a major outreach event to the university students on campus as they are both thirsty for the cup of life, and hungry for cheap meals as tuition and cost of living continue to rise.

Wednesdays serving of Chinese food.

The future of Loonie Lunch and events Baptist Student Ministries hosts, such as The Bridge campus church, is uncertain as the Idell family return to Oklahoma after this semester due to an issue with visa renewal. Baptist Student Ministries at the University of Alberta is currently looking for a replacement for the important evangelistic ministry for students on campus and as a faith support for students from supporting churches like ECBC. Please pray for the ministry that The Bridge and BSM will be able to find an appropriate successor to the Idell family. Help is also needed from student volunteers to help facilitate Bible studies, ESL program, and the survival of BSM. If no replacement is found, Baptist Ministries may cease to exist as a student organization at the University of Alberta.

Reverend Ng and Pastor Nie both dropped by to support the non-profit lunch. If the Loonie Lunch ministry continues after the Idells leave Canada, the meal may have also been ECBCs last time as host as the Grace Fellowship may not be able to have enough volunteers to help out with the event. Wednesday's meal served close to forty students, along with second servings. Loonie Lunch this semester at the North Campus is located in the lounge of Athabasca Hall every Wednesday between 11:30AM and 1PM. First time visitors receive the meal for free, and is an opportunity for guests to make new connections and ask questions about the Christian faith. Attendance from ECBC congregation members on campus is very welcome by BSM.