Hope Centre – Home for Christian Fellowship was officially opened and dedicated on December 16, 1972. Many people from the Christian Reformed Churches of Greater Winnipeg were present on this important day of new evangelical outreach.
Hope Centre is a very ordinary looking home in North Winnipeg. It was purchased during the summer of 1972. Here contacts are made and instruction given to many people of this inner city area where the gospel message is not well known. Hope Centre is surrounded by people of different ethnic origins such as Ukrainians, Polish, Italians, Germans, and Indians.
One of the underlying reasons for establishing Hope Centre was that in past years little or nothing was done in following up the Daily Vacation Bible School programs in our city. And then, as if God said, “Now is the time,” a majority of members from the churches seemed to say, “Lord help us to respond in faith.” Under the auspices of our Evangelism Committees, the program was set up and a suitable location was chosen, people donated their gifts, resulting in the centre becoming a reality.
Since September of last year our program has involved working mostly with boys and girls. Four nights of the week, junior and senior boys and girls clubs meet for Bible instruction, games and light refreshments. On Saturday afternoons, the boys and girls are welcomed to the centre for fun and game time. Sunday afternoon is Sunday School time. Having coffee hour in the afternoon with ladies of the area is another feature of our program. And, of course, daily Vacation Bible School during the holidays as well as Bible Camp will be part of the program.
The children are very eager to participate (see photo). Some of them are well below average in mental ability and their knowledge of the Bible is very scant as can be observed from the following words from our Superintendent, reprinted from our latest Hope Centre News Letter:
“Two children discussing. after a short explanation of Paul’s persecuting the Christians before his conversion. one said, ‘Boy, I’m sure glad I’m not a Christian’ (I gathered she did not want to be persecuted).
‘“Why?, Aren’t you?’ asked the boy next to her.
“‘No, I’m Protestant,’ she answered, then asked ‘Why, are you a Christian?’
‘“No, I’m a Lutheran.’ Then turning to me he said, Say, what language do you have to be a Christian: She was twelve, he was fourteen. Many know a lot of Bible Stories but they don’t know what the word sin means. The majority of our children, though not all, come from one-parent homes, or homes with an alcohol problem, or simply homes struggling to make ends meet. Twelve-year olds will tell you they are Catholic, and then turn around and ask how to spell it. Others have said that Hope Centre is the only ‘church’ they go to.”
We are at this time also distributing correspondence courses printed by the Canadian Home Bible League. For our future program, we also want to offer Hope Centre as a centre of hope for many of today’s troubled youth.
To handle our program, we have involved several young people, men, and women from the churches to serve as teachers or teacher’s helpers. As full-time teaching superintendent for the entire program, we have fortunately engaged a well-qualified native Winnipeger, who is a graduate of the Reformed Bible Institute. Naturally, there are countless others who help in other ways; such as, supplying transportation when needed, making repairs or alterations to the building, donating food and games, etc.
Hope Centre is organized in the following manner. A six member Board of Directors is in charge of administration. These persons are appointed by the Consistories of the three churches—two from each congregation. The board is further supported by a seven member Promotion Committee consisting of representatives from the Young Peoples Societies and Evangelism Committees of each church, plus the Superintendent.
Hope Centre has no guaranteed financial support. Nor is it included in the budgets of the three Christian Reformed Churches in the Winnipeg area, but is financed as a separate project by various church clubs, interested individuals and families within our Christian Reformed membership. God has helped us to get this work started and we have faith that He will help us maintain and expand it in the future. So “Unto God Almighty” be the praise, as we sang very fittingly at our dedication service.
Hope Centre is a very ordinary looking home in North Winnipeg. It was purchased during the summer of 1972. Here contacts are made and instruction given to many people of this inner city area where the gospel message is not well known. Hope Centre is surrounded by people of different ethnic origins such as Ukrainians, Polish, Italians, Germans, and Indians.
One of the underlying reasons for establishing Hope Centre was that in past years little or nothing was done in following up the Daily Vacation Bible School programs in our city. And then, as if God said, “Now is the time,” a majority of members from the churches seemed to say, “Lord help us to respond in faith.” Under the auspices of our Evangelism Committees, the program was set up and a suitable location was chosen, people donated their gifts, resulting in the centre becoming a reality.
Since September of last year our program has involved working mostly with boys and girls. Four nights of the week, junior and senior boys and girls clubs meet for Bible instruction, games and light refreshments. On Saturday afternoons, the boys and girls are welcomed to the centre for fun and game time. Sunday afternoon is Sunday School time. Having coffee hour in the afternoon with ladies of the area is another feature of our program. And, of course, daily Vacation Bible School during the holidays as well as Bible Camp will be part of the program.
The children are very eager to participate (see photo). Some of them are well below average in mental ability and their knowledge of the Bible is very scant as can be observed from the following words from our Superintendent, reprinted from our latest Hope Centre News Letter:
“Two children discussing. after a short explanation of Paul’s persecuting the Christians before his conversion. one said, ‘Boy, I’m sure glad I’m not a Christian’ (I gathered she did not want to be persecuted).
‘“Why?, Aren’t you?’ asked the boy next to her.
“‘No, I’m Protestant,’ she answered, then asked ‘Why, are you a Christian?’
‘“No, I’m a Lutheran.’ Then turning to me he said, Say, what language do you have to be a Christian: She was twelve, he was fourteen. Many know a lot of Bible Stories but they don’t know what the word sin means. The majority of our children, though not all, come from one-parent homes, or homes with an alcohol problem, or simply homes struggling to make ends meet. Twelve-year olds will tell you they are Catholic, and then turn around and ask how to spell it. Others have said that Hope Centre is the only ‘church’ they go to.”
We are at this time also distributing correspondence courses printed by the Canadian Home Bible League. For our future program, we also want to offer Hope Centre as a centre of hope for many of today’s troubled youth.
To handle our program, we have involved several young people, men, and women from the churches to serve as teachers or teacher’s helpers. As full-time teaching superintendent for the entire program, we have fortunately engaged a well-qualified native Winnipeger, who is a graduate of the Reformed Bible Institute. Naturally, there are countless others who help in other ways; such as, supplying transportation when needed, making repairs or alterations to the building, donating food and games, etc.
Hope Centre is organized in the following manner. A six member Board of Directors is in charge of administration. These persons are appointed by the Consistories of the three churches—two from each congregation. The board is further supported by a seven member Promotion Committee consisting of representatives from the Young Peoples Societies and Evangelism Committees of each church, plus the Superintendent.
Hope Centre has no guaranteed financial support. Nor is it included in the budgets of the three Christian Reformed Churches in the Winnipeg area, but is financed as a separate project by various church clubs, interested individuals and families within our Christian Reformed membership. God has helped us to get this work started and we have faith that He will help us maintain and expand it in the future. So “Unto God Almighty” be the praise, as we sang very fittingly at our dedication service.