Our Story
Randy was born to Christian parents, in a small community in southern Manitoba; Janine was born in Winnipeg to immigrant parents and, as a family, they all came to the Lord when she was ten years old. Growing up, Randy and Janine both had a desire to serve God and were involved in a variety of Christian ministry.
In 2004, Janine felt a call to leave the comforts of suburban life and move to downtown Winnipeg's Central Park area to join in Christian ministry work being led by friends. Two years later, Randy also felt to move downtown from the suburbs into an apartment at 427 Cumberland Avenue through the invitation of these same friends (who happened to own the building). Randy and Janine became friends at that time and then in 2008, they got married. Although they could have bought a house anywhere in the city, they felt strongly to stay in the neighborhood to which the Lord had led them. Janine joined Randy in a different apartment at 427 Cumberland and they continued to rent from their friends. Much to their surprise, one year later in 2009, these friends and building owners made them an amazing offer and the Brauns bought the 427 Cumberland property for themselves.
For a number of years, the previous owners had run a guest suite out of 427 Cumberland as part of their ministry and continued to do so after the Brauns bought the building. However, when they moved out of Winnipeg, the distance made it difficult to connect personally with the guests they were booking online and so in 2011, they informed the Brauns that they planned to shut down the guest suite. Randy and Janine immediately felt to take it over. They prayed about it and the Lord confirmed that was the step they were to take. Their first guest made a first-time commitment to Christ and about a month later (and much to the Braun's surprise), the Lord opened up a second guest suite in the building. Since then, we have hosted over 200people (including a number of repeat guests) from almost every province and territory in Canada as well as almost 20 different countries around the globe - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Ukraine, and USA. The guest suites have also been the first "home" for five newborn babies over these few years.
The Brauns see the hand of God directing their paths first to downtown Winnipeg and then together in marriage and now in providing a welcoming, comfortable, and safe place for the the many people the Lord sends their way. No one comes by chance or by luck of the draw - each vacancy and the guests who come are all prayed for, whether they are students, professionals, patients, tourists, newcomer immigrants, etc. The Brauns enjoy receiving and hosting people from around the globe in their Central Park home. World travelers themselves, they know and appreciate the value of a friendly and warm welcome in a 'foreign land' and hope they can extend that same warmth and God's love and care to many others over the years to come.
In 2004, Janine felt a call to leave the comforts of suburban life and move to downtown Winnipeg's Central Park area to join in Christian ministry work being led by friends. Two years later, Randy also felt to move downtown from the suburbs into an apartment at 427 Cumberland Avenue through the invitation of these same friends (who happened to own the building). Randy and Janine became friends at that time and then in 2008, they got married. Although they could have bought a house anywhere in the city, they felt strongly to stay in the neighborhood to which the Lord had led them. Janine joined Randy in a different apartment at 427 Cumberland and they continued to rent from their friends. Much to their surprise, one year later in 2009, these friends and building owners made them an amazing offer and the Brauns bought the 427 Cumberland property for themselves.
For a number of years, the previous owners had run a guest suite out of 427 Cumberland as part of their ministry and continued to do so after the Brauns bought the building. However, when they moved out of Winnipeg, the distance made it difficult to connect personally with the guests they were booking online and so in 2011, they informed the Brauns that they planned to shut down the guest suite. Randy and Janine immediately felt to take it over. They prayed about it and the Lord confirmed that was the step they were to take. Their first guest made a first-time commitment to Christ and about a month later (and much to the Braun's surprise), the Lord opened up a second guest suite in the building. Since then, we have hosted over 200people (including a number of repeat guests) from almost every province and territory in Canada as well as almost 20 different countries around the globe - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, France, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Ukraine, and USA. The guest suites have also been the first "home" for five newborn babies over these few years.
The Brauns see the hand of God directing their paths first to downtown Winnipeg and then together in marriage and now in providing a welcoming, comfortable, and safe place for the the many people the Lord sends their way. No one comes by chance or by luck of the draw - each vacancy and the guests who come are all prayed for, whether they are students, professionals, patients, tourists, newcomer immigrants, etc. The Brauns enjoy receiving and hosting people from around the globe in their Central Park home. World travelers themselves, they know and appreciate the value of a friendly and warm welcome in a 'foreign land' and hope they can extend that same warmth and God's love and care to many others over the years to come.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it," Hebrews 13:2
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