Missional Engagement
God desires to recover relationship with all human beings. As a Christian congregation we are called to be an agent of God's reconciliation. We point people toward relationship with God, our loving Creator. That relationship is recovered through salvation and healing made available in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As a faith community the Holy Spirit compels us to live out, to demonstrate, and to communicate this good news to all.
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We seek to do this locally in our own community of St. Catharines via:
grapeview Daycare
The Grapeview Daycare Program was established in 1988 as a missional response to needs in our community. Our staff serve 30-40 children daily and seek to connect with the whole child – socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, and spiritually. We strive to promote a positive self-image for each child by encouraging exploration, fostering the development of social skills, cultivating friendships, and promoting a strong sense of community. We support, encourage and facilitate a co-operative working relationship with parents in order to meet the needs of the children entrusted to our care.
students
St Catharines and Niagara Region is home to Brock University and Niagara College with a combined population of 28,000 students. These two institutions are also major employers in the area. Hence, our interest in ministry amongst these students.
Over the years, Grapeview has been a home for dozens of international students and their families. Brock University and Niagara College students have found a warm welcome, as church members help with transportation, medical needs, visa concerns and ESL conversations.
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We are actively partnered with Niagara International Students, a multi-partner umbrella for various ministries and churches involved with international students in the Region.
We support the work of one of those ministries: International Student Ministries Canada (ISMC).
In the last several years we have partnered with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship through the ministry of Tanner Kennedy, Niagara campus minister. Tanner and his family are members of our church and active in ministry in our church, as well as on the campuses.
We are, also, financially engaged beyond our own community via:
Launchpoint Church, Ottawa
Our church supports our former pastors, Rev. Grant and Rev. Mary-Elsie Wolfe, as they initiate a new church congregation in the Orleans area of Ottawa.
International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) www.childcareministries.net
A ministry that partners with our Free Methodist churches around the world advocating for the spiritual, educational, physical and social development of children through sponsorships, scholarships, and creative initiatives.
Tearfund Canada www.tearfund.ca
Tearfund is our international partner responding to relief and development needs in the name of Jesus Christ. Tearfund does this through a global network of Christian organizations and local churches.
Tamale, Ghana church plant
Through our Free Methodist international family, we are able to support and encourage the development of a new congregation in Tamale, Ghana. This city of almost 700,000 people, located in the north of Ghana, is one of the fastest growing cities in West Africa.