We visited the Hope City Church for their Sunday worship service this morning.
They meet at 9.30am at the Grovely Performing Arts Centre 200 Dawson Parade Grovely (in the grounds of the Grovely State School).
The banner outside says:
www.hope-city-church.org.au
connect – inspire – live
We were welcomed at the door and then had a rich discussion with a Project Director with the church.
Hope City Church now has 2 congregations this one and one in Toowoomba. The pastor for this church is Pastor Alex.
It is an Assemblies of God church – pentecostal-style of worship services. A big band high energy music team.
The church has a partnership with the Grovely State School and this involves the Kids Hope Oz (Aus?) Mentoring program which has been running for the last 4 years helping about 15 children. It is about empowering the children.
Hope City Church wants to make a difference in the community and to give support and encouragement to leaders in this community. “It is up to us to honour those in authority.”
This is a large vibrant church and they are getting recognition at a national level for the work they are doing in our local community.
The Grovely Performing Arts Centre is a wonderful venue for a church such as this. It is very large with a wide stage sound systems projection screens. Facilities such as a large kitchen with opening servery toilets rooms for the church to hold their creche sufficient parking.
Their music team is large and high energy and great musicians very committed to worshipping through their music and prayer.
Hands on prayers for healing were offered for anyone in the congregation who was sick.
I took notes of some of what was preached about by Executive Pastor Katie Tenkate and thought about how it applies to our lives here in the upper Kedron Brook valley building a caring resilient community.
On our own we can only do so much. With great leadership our resources impact lives do more than any of us could alone multiply go so much further.
Put our joy into the Unshakeable not into our car or house.
Celebrate our healing
We rebuke poverty defeatism low self-esteem.
Whatever’s going on in your world don’t lose sight of the finish line.
Be grateful.
Sanctify us.
For all. No-one is excluded because they aren’t complete (good enough wouldn’t get it) in some way.
Q. When did gathering together become optional in Australia?
Q. When did praying for someone become optional when they tell me they’re sick or struggling?
Q. How are you really going?
We carry within us the hope of the world.
We are given the privilege to ask the questions to open the conversation.
This church has been in the upper Kedron Brook valley for decades. It used to be in the Ferny Grove Shopping Village in McGinn Rd before the old shopping centre was demolished for the new one. The church moved several times (Grovely RSL Baptist College The Hills PCYC) and are now here. They have bought administrative premises in Enoggera (180 South Pine Rd Enoggera 4051. Tel. 3354 4500)
Groups that operate within the church include:
[ul]Creche – for infants who are walking to prep
Hope Kids – prep – grade 5
Activat8 (Activ8 Guys; Activ8 Girls)- grade 6 – grade 9
Hope City Church Youth yrs 8-12 Fridays 7-m at the Grovely Performing Arts Centre
Collision Youth Brisbane
Bella Regazze Girls (yrs 9-10)
NY910 Guys (yrs 9-10)
Beautiful Girl (yrs 11-12)
Buff Guys (yrs 11-12)
Prime Young Adults (young adults)
Series of small life groups
Women’s ministry meets a few times a year[/ul]
Volunteers visit Ronald McDonald House regularly.
Peter Hayton is a senior psychologist and clinic director of Empower Psychology + Counselling at 180 South Pine Rd Enoggera (3354 4522). This service is linked to the church but offers services to the whole community and is bulk-billed through Medicare. (Referrals from GPs).
Christmas in a Box provides hampers for families in need through the Hope Empowered Foundation. Ferny Grove State School is also helping with this.
People stayed afterwards to talk and share. The kitchen opened to serve top coffees.