New CEO takes helm at Siloam Mission
WINNIPEG, MB—Floyd Perras is back in Winnipeg. In the late 1980s he was a college student in the city and ran a drywall business. He was also involved in a couple of Christian ministry start-ups: a church and a soup kitchen. The little soup kitchen on Main Street—Siloam Mission—is now a major social services complex on Princess Street.
Perras returned to Winnipeg last month to take up responsibilities as CEO of Siloam. For most of the past 15 years he has been working with The Mustard Seed, a non-profit Christian organization addressing the needs of the less fortunate in Calgary. It is, in other words, a mission very similar to Siloam in purpose and in scale.
And now he is positioned to take it to the next level. "Putting bandages on wounds is essential," he says, referring to the meals, used clothing and overnight shelter services Siloam provides. "But we need to see wounds heal and people moving on to greater wholeness," he says.
For Siloam, helping people move to wholeness involves more sophisticated employment training programs, better education opportunities and transitional housing. It means addressing addictions, health and family issues in order to "break cycles of homelessness" and "enable people to function in mainstream environments."
Perras comes to this large task with a wealth of experience. He has run his own business, served as a pastor for four years and also as a community chaplain for Correction Services, helping convicts reintegrate into society after their prison terms. He began on the frontline of housing services with The Mustard Seed, eventually moving into senior management positions. Three years ago he earned an MBA.
"I'm not a maintainer," he says. "I enjoy building, strategizing and planning. That's what drew me here." Perras recalls the counsel of a former board member who reminded him that "you can't do everything for the poor." To which he replied: "I'd like to die trying."
Perras' passion for his calling comes from an understanding that much is expected from people who've been given much. "I've been richly blessed—in ministry, in family," he explains. "We are to turn our gifts, abilities and resources into changed lives. It's important that what we do with our lives has positive effects on society."
For now, Perras is learning the lay of the land in Winnipeg, scouting ways for Siloam to be "a stronger partner" with both church and community. "We do a lot of connecting," he says. "Now we need to deepen those relationships."
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