Elmwood church offers New Hope for community
WINNIPEG, MB—Situated at the intersection of Henderson Highway and Noble Street in Elmwood is a serene-looking neighbourhood church called New Hope Community Church of the Nazarene. It is a member of the Church of the Nazarene, which takes pride in staying true to the teachings of John Wesley, the celebrated 18th-Century English preacher who founded the Methodist Church.
The Church of the Nazarene, founded in 1908 through the merging of numerous "holiness denominations" in North America, has five distinguishing characteristics: 1) The doctrine of "Entire Sanctification"—a life lived in complete surrender to God, 2) a ministry to the disenfranchised and poor, 3) a world-wide "holistic mission"—ministering to the body, mind, and spirit like Jesus did, 4) equal opportunity for both men and women to serve, and 5) a commitment to higher education (with 58 universities, colleges and seminaries world-wide).
Founded in 1960, this local congregation was known as Beulah Church of the Nazarene until 1981, when it became Elmwood Church of the Nazarene. In 1999, the congregation took on a new name, New Hope Community Church of the Nazarene, and a newer identity to reflect its missional heart in serving the community.
Tim Enns, 39, and his wife, Lindsay, 31, parents of an infant son, are the co-pastors of New Hope's 45-member congregation. With a degree in Religious Education from Peace River Bible Institute in Alberta and an associate-pastoral experience at North Country Community Church in Grande Prairie, Tim leads the church's collective effort to affect the Elmwood community. Lindsay is on maternity leave from Siloam Mission (where she helps to provide "Transitional Services" like assisting the needy with housing, counseling, and job opportunities), and is also a trained (MA from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City) and seasoned community worker with an expertise in counseling. The pair complements each other in providing nurture and support to the physical and spiritual needs of the community.
Under the leadership of Menno and Barb Friesen and John and Maxine Ingalls, New Hope offers a satellite congregation in Riverton, Manitoba at a seniors centre for ten months of the year and a Hecla Island summer church for the locals, campers, and visitors. Summer camp is provided for children from the neighbourhood and congregation at the Nazarene Camp at St. Malo for weeklong outdoor Vacation Bible School experiences.
Under the mentorship of Cam Mohan, youth leader, each week offers two youth drop-in programs: Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. is for 10-12- year-olds and Friday at 7:00 p.m. is for older children who are interested in community service projects such as serving at Winnipeg Harvest and Lighthouse Mission. Seniors meet as "Primetimers" to enjoy potluck dinners, games of carpet bowling and ping-pong, and devotionals twice a month.
"We are looking at new ways to minister in our community. Our Name is New Hope Community Church and that is what we want to become, a church to our community. … Our hope is that we truly become Christ's love in our community," says Enns.
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