Gilroy’s New Hope Community Church, which has served South
County residents since 1923, recently announced some new
developments to better meet the needs of the community.
Gilroy’s New Hope Community Church, which has served South County residents since 1923, recently announced some new developments to better meet the needs of the community.
This dynamic congregation, affiliated with the 2.5-million-member Assemblies of God denomination, moved into a new worship facility in September 2003. But the building complex at 8886 Muraoka Street has already become too small.
Thus, this month the church will begin offering two identical Sunday morning worship services, at 8:30 and 11. Both will feature the elements which have caused a 30 percent growth in the number of worshipers during the past 18 months:
• Contemporary, enthusiastic worship;
• Strong Bible teaching that is life-relevant and applicable;
• State of the art sound system to enhance the worship music (praise band of acoustic and bass guitars, electric keyboard, percussion, flute and vocalists); and
• Huge screen for Power Point presentations during sermons.
The other exciting development is the addition of 2,250 square feet of space to the present building. Part of it will become a Children’s Church Center housing a program for children from kindergarten through grade three.
Children’s Pastor Michelle Hawkins and her worship team are planning high-energy, interactive games and other activities combined with music and Bible teaching appropriate for this age group.
This new facility will also house a Coffee House Cafe featuring refreshments, space for fellowship and a Welcome Center for visitors.
The church currently has a full program for all age groups:
• A large nursery providing pagers for parents in case they need to be summoned during worship;
• Royal Rangers, a program for boys in kindergarten and older. Loosely modeled after the Boy Scouts, it includes camping, devotions, Bible study, sports, crafts, hiking and many other activities;
• Missionettes, a club for girls offering similar opportunities;
• Women’s Bible studies (described in this column two weeks ago);
• A Sunday School program for all ages which meets at 9:45am (between Worship Services); and
• A Men’s fellowship which has regular ministry breakfasts, golf tournaments and an annual Bass Fishing Tournament.
At Easter time the junior and senior high school youth groups will participate in a Missions Trip to Mexico, followed by a similar trip for adults in August.
Everyone is invited to a free Christian Music Concert at the church tonight, Feb. 18, at 7pm. It will feature the well-known local band Damascus Experience (THX).
A Pancake Outreach Breakfast is being planned for a Gilroy neighborhood in April. Several times a year, the church chooses a neighborhood, sets up gas grills and serves a free breakfast on Saturday morning to residents, providing puppet shows and gifts for the children.
Senior Pastor Malcolm MacPhail explains, “We consider this an opportunity to share God’s love in a practical way, not to win new members for our church.”
For more information about New Hope Community Church call the church office at (408) 842-4857 or check the Internet at www.nhcc-gilroy.org.
