November 6th A Conversation on Faith & Hope with Callum and Peer
Callum Wideman and Peer Wahlquist are youth from MCEC who participated in the Youth Engagement in MCEC Churches research project, offering their voices and wisdom. As active members of the youth group at Avon Church in Stratford, ON, they recently traveled to Montreal, QC, for a learning experience. During their trip, they packed meals at a kosher Jewish soup kitchen, volunteered at a food bank, toured an urban garden program, visited a local market providing produce for those in need and learned about homelessness and gentrification. Now that summer is over, the Avon youth group gathers weekly for games, fellowship and Bible study.
Callum
This summer, Callum spent time at camp where he experienced significant growth in his faith through the teachings and experiences there. Each morning, chapel provided inspiration as he deepened his understanding of Jesus in fresh and meaningful ways. In Montreal, Callum came face to face with homelessness and heard surprising and thought-provoking stories from the people he met. Reflecting on his experiences, he acknowledged how difficult it is to maintain the same spiritual “fervor” from these powerful summer moments once he returns to the routine of “real life.” Yet, Callum finds hope—hope in a God who loves us “no matter what.” In his own words:
“Faith in Jesus brings a unique kind of joy. It fills a hole that nothing else can fill. Nothing on earth can really compare to God’s love for us.
After returning from summer camp, I decided to read the entire Bible. I’m working through it each day. My faith has made me more considerate of my actions. Whenever something happens, I try to think about what Jesus would do in that situation and recall something from the Bible to apply to it.
At camp I was reminded that no one is too far from God’s love. We hear it often—God loves us no matter what—but this time, I understood it in a new way. I realized that nothing anyone does can ever change how God loves us. That gives me hope, knowing that God isn’t done with us yet. It excites me to share this with others and hopefully help them understand what it truly means to be loved by God.
At school, there’s a lot of pressure to not be a Christian. For me, youth group is a safe space where we all come together to hang out and have fun, but also to praise God. It’s a place where everyone is on the same page, and we can talk about God and ask questions. I want to keep going to church and youth group to stay strong in my spiritual life.
I just want to build my faith and grow in my relationship with God because, as I said, no one is too far from God’s love.”
Peer
Peer traveled to Montreal this summer for an incredible experience with the youth group. This was his second learning experience in Montreal and he was not disappointed with the connections and encounters. At school, he is president of the Student Council and cares deeply about his friends, both at school and at Avon. Passionate about filmmaking, he worked on numerous video projects last year and looks forward to creating even more this year. He is driven by a desire to make a difference in the lives of those around him. In his words:
“One thing I really liked at youth group was when Stephen Kennedy, our youth pastor, had us sit in a circle and say something encouraging to the person on our right and on our left. It was a bit uncomfortable at first, but it turned out to be a great experience. What really inspires me is seeing how my friends from Avon make a difference at school. I notice places, groups, and clubs positively influenced by people from our youth group. Kindness makes a difference and people definitely notice.
I believe the kingdom of God is found in the love between people. One of the key messages we hear at youth group is: “You belong here.” People need each other, especially as social media increases our isolation. If we were meant to live alone, why would there be so many people on the planet? Connection between people is essential and by fostering these connections, we also strengthen our connection with God.
Church is significant in my life for several reasons. One is the sense of community—these people are incredibly important to me and are my closest friends. Attending church each week serves as a reminder of God’s presence and renews my thinking. It allows me to take the qualities I’ve learned at church and apply them to my life, helping me to become a better person.
I care deeply about my school community and want to make a positive impact. By applying the values I’ve learned at church—stripping away the religious aspects that can sometimes be frowned upon—and focusing on messages like “you belong here,” I believe I can help make a difference.
If people can take the values that they learn from church and apply them to the real world, it would help to bring heaven on earth. The church could change the world.