Spiritual Formation: A Long, Slow Journey

Andrew and Amie Reimer
1 hour ago
3 min read

“Formation into the image of Jesus is a long, slow process, not a one-time event”—resonate deeply with our experience in community discipleship. Spiritual growth often feels slow, and it’s easy to become discouraged or settle for less. But we’ve learned to keep showing up, praying, trusting, and partnering with the Holy Spirit in this lifelong journey.

In our Youth Discipleship group, Jenny and John have witnessed teens opening up in deeper ways. Many of these youth are now serving as staff in ICYA’s summer programs, including three who’ve been hired for the first time. Please pray for them, and if you’d like to support these young leaders financially, donation options are listed at the end of this letter—just include a note with the names of the staff you wish to support.

At the end of May, I joined four men for a spiritual retreat at a farm along the Whitemouth River. It was a rich time of connection with God and each other,

filled with solo prayer, group sharing, fun, and good food. Doug, a project coach with Step Up Construction and a member of our Bible study group, shared his testimony with honesty and vulnerability. His openness encouraged the younger men to share their own struggles, and we prayed together for each one.

Terry and I are preparing to restart Men’s Bible studies this fall. In the meantime, I continue meeting with men individually, offering spiritual guidance and support on their healing journeys. Please keep these men in your prayers.

A New Role in Ministry

I’m excited to share that I’ve taken on a new role as Community Ministries Manager, overseeing both the Community Ministry and Community Discipleship teams. This expanded role allows me to support and guide both teams, drawing on my experience and gifting's.

Community ministers are deeply embedded in our neighborhood, offering presence, outreach, advocacy, spiritual care, and discipleship. We walk alongside people facing poverty, isolation, addiction, and mental health challenges, building relationships that communicate the love of Jesus. As people open their lives to Christ, we journey with them toward deeper faith.

I see Community Ministry and Discipleship as complementary, flowing into each other in powerful ways. While I’ll be scaling back some of my direct ministry with adults, I plan to continue some discipling work and am excited about the impact our teams can have together. Your prayers for me in this new role are deeply appreciated.

On the family front:

Amie continues to homeschool our daughters while running her part-time house cleaning business.
Hannah is studying at Canadian Mennonite University and working at Fort Whyte Alive this summer. She ran the Manitoba Marathon in June.
Olivia is working part-time at Winnipeg Centre Vineyard and Beaver Creek Bible Camp. She plans to join a YWAM DTS in January.
Miriam is homeschooling and also working at Beaver Creek Bible Camp this summer.

We’ve enjoyed some holiday time this summer, including camping trips and a week at Clear Lake.

Support and Prayer

We’re incredibly grateful for the generous support we receive. I’m hoping to raise my full support so that The Unity Fund can assist other staff with fewer support networks, and ICYA can continue hiring local leaders. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter or increasing your current contribution if you’re able. Donation details are below.

Prayer is essential to this work. If you’d like to join a team of intercessors who pray regularly for us and our ministry, please email me at andrew@icya.ca to receive monthly prayer requests and updates.

Ways to Donate:

E-transfer using donate@icya.ca, noting the following: “Andrew Reimer support,” your contact info and address details (for receipt purposes). This method has the lowest fees.
Donate online at ICYA.ca/donate –click on “add comment” and write “Andrew Reimer support”
Call ICYA at 204.582.8779 with your donation. We have staff ready for your call during business hours.