Jeremias had been practising Jackbox games on four different devices at once.
He would run from the television to the computer, then to his phone and Nintendo Switch, playing every turn himself.
Not because he wanted to play alone.
Because he couldn’t wait until there were people to play with.
His mom smiled as she shared the story with us. For a long time, she’d been hoping Jeremias would find friends who shared his love of gaming. She knew what many families know all too well: finding genuine connection isn’t always easy. When you long to belong, waiting can feel like a very long time.
At Hope Centre Ministries, we believe belonging often begins with something wonderfully ordinary.
A shared interest.
A conversation.
A game around a table.
A familiar face that becomes a friend.
That’s why this summer looked a little different.
Instead of gathering everyone into one large event, we created smaller groups where adults with disabilities could spend time with people who enjoy the same things they do. Gaming. Art. Music. Photography. Simple opportunities to laugh together, discover common interests, and build friendships one week at a time.
Because sometimes belonging grows quietly.
It happens when someone saves you a seat.
When another person remembers your name.
When you realize you don’t have to explain why you love something because everyone around the table already understands.
For Jeremias, that first game night wasn’t just another activity on the calendar.
It was something worth counting down to.
And his story reminds us of something important. Behind every gathering, every shared meal, every conversation, and every game is a person hoping to find what so many of us are looking for: people who are glad we’re there.
As a Christian ministry serving adults with disabilities in Winnipeg, we believe every person is created in God’s image and deserves a place where they are noticed, known, and missed. We see God at work in these ordinary moments of connection, quietly weaving friendships that remind each of us we belong.
Jeremias’ story is still being written.
So are many others.
Every week, adults walk through our doors wondering if this might be the place where they find community. Every week, volunteers, staff, churches, and generous supporters help answer that question with a warm welcome and an open chair.
Those moments matter.
They are worth counting down to.
Be Part of the Story
If you’d like to help create more opportunities for connection and belonging for adults with disabilities, we’d love to invite you to support this work.
Give today and help create opportunities for connection
Or, if you’d like to learn more about Hope Centre Ministries and the ways we’re building belonging in Winnipeg, we invite you to explore more Stories of Hope and discover how God is at work through our community.
