The Family Ministries Manager with Union Gospel Mission will be headlining the organization's upcoming fall fund raising banquet series. Gilbert Plante oversees U.G.M.'s Family Life Centre located in Winnipeg's north end, it has a reputation of being a safe place to go since 1972.

"Moms and dads have no problem sending their children there, moms and dads come for spiritual help, sometimes they come just for a cup of coffee, they don't know where to turn or where to go."

Plante goes on to say the Family Life Centre also serves as a resource centre.

"We have some very capable individuals that have a real passion for the individuals of the neighbourhood, so we point them in the right direction for resources, perhaps that they're unaware of, we have laptops available for updating resumes, job searches and those type of things."

Plante adds he also ministers the gospel of Jesus Christ to the least, last and lost of Winnipeg. He describes the need for this service in particular.

Meantime Plante says the focus of his keynote address during the banquet series will be people stories, of which he says there are plenty.

"There's stories of victories, there's stories of defeat."

He adds most people in southern Manitoba are familiar with Union Gospel Mission and he'd like to take the opportunity to share stories "Of what it is that makes us tick to make us do the things that we do here at U.G.M."

Banquet dates are October 2nd in Selkirk, October 9th in Altona, October 16th in Carman, October 23rd in Gladstone, and October 24th in Winnipeg. Follow the link for more information.