Outreach Ministries

 

Pastor John Thoutenhoofd

 

Connecting with our Community is a natural expression for someone who has good news to share. What we offer to our community is a genuine gift of kindness to show God's love in a practical way. The following events provide opportunities for you to participate in and inquire about the church. Each project is motivated by a heartfelt passion to give beyond ourselves. Volunteers are always welcome, as it is our desire to serve alongside one another. Take a look at the brief description and the photos.  

We invite you to look forward to these events. Book your calendar. If you have a heart to contribute and volunteer, we will find a place for you to connect in service.

September	Community Block Party
October	Friday Night Basketball (in the CHC Gym)
November	Hospitality Outreach Course
December	Christmas Community Event: The Gathering
February	Olympic 2010
May	Spring Clean Up
July	Basketball Camp

 

Community Block Party

Every year we enjoy kicking off the September School year with a Party. This year about 500 people enjoyed a plate of food... and might I add, for only a Toonie. We had Crafts for kids, Inflatables, Ball Hockey, Basketball Hoops, Cotton Candy, a Dunk Tank, a Car Show, and plenty of tables and tents to enjoy a shaded afternoon from 12:00-2:30pm. The entire community was welcome and we enjoyed a sunny afternoon together. It's a good time to connect with people and get information about the church.

Friday Night Basketball

Friday Night Basketball is a community, holistic, faith-based basketball program that promotes development in all areas of life. Every Friday night is filled with encouragement, mental challenges, physical activity and a character strengthening, spiritual lesson from the Bible. Our facility is one of many locations for Friday Night Basketball in Abbotsford, but we are thrilled that we have a gymnasium in which to offer this program to our community  

 

Hospitality Outreach Course

It is our genuine desire to live out our faith and verbally share the good news of Jesus with the people God brings into our lives. We live in a culture where various emotions are stirred in listeners as one shares that he is a follower of Christ. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that our responsibility is simply to care for people, and when God provides the opportunity, to talk about our faith. That is what this course is all about. It's a reminder and an encouragement to love the people in our lives as Jesus would.

 

Christmas Community Event: The Gathering

Christmas is a unique time of the year. For many people, it is a meaningful "time out" to spend with family. For some it may be a very lonely time, because family and friends are distant, and celebrating is a difficult thing. In the church, we celebrate Christmas, because we want to remind ourselves of the significance of the birth of Jesus Christ. Two thousand years ago, God presented himself in human form, in the person of Jesus Christ, with a message of faith, hope and love. It was the words and life of Christ that brought increased clarity to God's rescue plan. On Christmas we want as many people as we can touch to experience the love that Jesus has to offer. So, during the Christmas season, we offer a number of events to help bring the spirit of Christ into people's lives. 

This Year our theme of our celebration will be "The Gathering".  Promotional material is provided in the weekly Sunday morning bulletins and in flyers sent out to our community. Look forward to a photo-op, food, games, fun, singing, and a number of Christmas festivities and compassion projects to participate in.

Olympics 2010

There is no doubt that Canada will pause the last two weeks of February. Think about it.  The world is coming to B.C. Although we will not be in the hub of activity, we will be impacted. Our desire as a church is to be great community of hosts, sharing the love of God to those we come in contact with. It's a time to be enriched in conversation with people of different cultures, life experiences, and spiritual beliefs. More to come.

Spring Clean Up

The spring of 2009 was the first time we conducted a spring clean up in our community.   About 40 volunteers participated, and in addition to general trash pick-up throughout, we served seven families in our neighbourhood in a practical way by meeting their real "spring clean up needs". Our bin was overflowing. We will do it again.  

 

Basketball Camp

Athletes in Action does a wonderful job running camps over the summer. It's a lot of fun for the kids. Basketball skills are developed. Friendships are made. The leaders are excellent. Volunteers have a great time. It's great to see all the kids with a smile on their face.