Congregation moves downtown

Congregation moves downtown

News

By: Sandra Bolan

When St. John’s Presbyterian Church left Bradford’s downtown area, Bradford Baptist Church Pastor Tim Walker said he felt something needed to be done to fill the gap it left.

So for six months, Pastor Walker bounced the idea around in his head of moving his Sanctuary congregation from its 10th Sideroad location to the heart of town.

“I wasn’t really sure I wanted to do it,” he said.

It was only when someone in his prayer group blurted out the congregation should move downtown that Pastor Walker knew it would work.

“I think now, obviously, the time’s right,” he said.

That was two years ago.

Once his congregation decided to move downtown, Pastor Walker started seeking locations, including the Winchester Arms and The Hub.

Neither panned out, but Pastor Walker never gave up and last December, The Hub invited the Sanctuary into the fold.

“At that time, it wasn’t the right time for us to go there,” Pastor Walker said.

Before Pastor Walker could pack up his congregation and move into The Hub, he wanted to ensure he and his 60 members would be welcomed by Bradford United Church and Trinity Anglican Church — the two remaining downtown churches.

“I wanted to make sure I had a blessing from each of the local pastors,” he said. “Everybody’s been very favourable about us moving.”

Pastor Walker held his first service in the basement of The Hub Sept. 21.
“My whole congregation has made the move,” he said.

The purpose of Sanctuary moving to downtown Bradford was to help people in need of assistance. Pastor Walker said he thinks he and his congregation will focus on three groups: youths, young families and seniors.

“We’re going to see which, or if all three, need our help,” he said.

“We’re trying to think about creating opportunities in the coming year to meet different types of individuals in the community and who God wants us to minister to,” Pastor Walker said.

Although Sanctuary has re-located, it has not left Bradford Baptist Church, which has two other congregations — Mornings Alive, led by Pastor Glen Eagleson every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and Comunidade Agua Viva Congregacao, a Portuguese congregation led by Pastor Walker Mathes every Friday at 8 p.m.

For more information on Bradford Baptist Church, visit www.bbcweb.ca.

All content contained in this or any other yorkregion.com website including but not limited to textual, audio, video and any graphics are copyright 2000-2008 Metroland Media Group Ltd. and can not be used in any part without expressed written permission, with the exception of content in the yorkregion.com Pen & Pixel section, which requires the written consent of the authors.