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Prosperity
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| Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver |
THE lower mainland is made up of distinct areas, each
with its own very different geographic features and cultural feel. The
North Shore, isolated by water and two bridges, represents one of the
clearest example of regional diversity.
Breathtaking vistas of mountains and shoreline are
coupled with change as heavy industry diminishes in the Lonsdale area and
new condos arise. Unlike other municipalities, population growth on the
North Shore is low.
Prosperity has characterized most of the area, with
property prices high across the board. (As of 2006, West Vancouver’s
average house sold for over $1,250,000.)
The North Shore is comprised of three municipalities:
the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver and the
District of West Vancouver.
There are some 60 churches in North Vancouver, with
around 12 in West Vancouver. Almost half of North Shore churches are
Anglican, United and Roman Catholic.
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| Afshin Javid is pastor of one of the North Shore's three Iranian churches, Vancouver Christian Fellowship. |
Church attendance in West Vancouver is reputed to be
amongst the lowest in Canada. With an overall population of 170,000, and no
church that exceeds 500 – most are well under 200 in number –
there are unique challenges.
For more than 25 years, pastors from North Shore
churches have gathered weekly to pray together, and mutually encourage and
support each other. There are no illusions about ministry on the North
Shore.
David Booker, pastor of The Bridge Community Church
(previously Delbrook Baptist) says: “Two overriding things are common
to the North Shore. Firstly, an aging population. Younger people unable to
afford housing here. Secondly, there is affluence. We are a self satisfied
people here; that makes it difficult to minister.”
In transition
Churches and ministries ebb and flow, seemingly despite
faithful leadership and effort on the part of Christians.
Owen Scott, the veteran senior pastor of Valley Church,
in the centre of the Lynn Valley area, describes the North Shore as
being in transition. “Two of the larger churches on the North
Shore are undergoing senior leadership changes – North Shore Alliance
and St. Stephen’s & St. Andrew’s Presbyterian.”
Scott acknowledged that over the years North Shore
churches “have a tendency to not do so well.” Indeed a number
of smaller churches have ceased operation.
At the same time, he described new initiatives taking
place , with a number of small ethnic churches
representing Iranians, Koreans and Chinese.
Julie Block, of North Shore Alliance (NSA) described
planting Cove Community Church in the Deep Cove area in 2002; it has grown
to over 200 in number.
NSA has also birthed a cluster of home-based churches
on the North Shore (simplechurches.ca).
Youth leaders have a history of working together.
Marcel Kurtz, youth pastor of Valley Church, comments, “Around 10
– 15 of us meet regularly and frequently cooperate in
programs.”
Another veteran of the North Shore is Ed Hird, rector
of St. Simon’s Anglican Church. Along with Owen Scott, he leads the
weekly pastors’ group.
“Churches do have a voice in the
community,” he said. “The North
Shore News , has hosted a weekly column,
‘Spiritually Speaking,’ for eight years, with various pastors
and leaders contributing over 400 articles.”
Bowen Island, also has a community of faith. Reached
by ferry from Horseshoe Bay, it has a population of about 3,300 on its 50
sq km, with four churches.
Continue article >>
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Harvest Project
MOST think of the North Shore as affluent.
Nevertheless, hard times can hit anyone. The Harvest Project, started in
1994, provides support to residents who are living in poverty or facing
other life challenges that put them at risk of becoming homeless.
Its building, in the south Lonsdale area, houses a
small staff that work with clients and coordinate some 200 volunteers, many
from local churches.
Clients meet with a trained client worker who helps
them prioritize their needs. The Harvest offer services such as individual
counselling, life skills training, information and referral, work clothing,
and a month’s supply of food.
They also assist job seekers with resumes, as well as
phone, fax, and photocopying services. The Dress
for Success program provides good quality
clothing for individuals who are working, at school or job searching.
They see some 2,500 clients per year (8 – 10 per
day), many with young children.
Harvest’s philosophy of ministry is encapsulated
in the phrase “extending a hand up, not a hand out – offering
short term physical, emotional and spiritual support to North Shore
residents seeking self sufficiency.”
Although 15 churches financially support the Harvest
Project, businesses and individuals represent 70 percent of revenue.
Asked about the perception that there aren’t the
same kind of needs on the North Shore as elsewhere, Harvest director David
Polkinghorne responded: “Even with West Vancouver we see people
struggling to pay bills. Some in $1 million homes are starving to death! Of
course they need to sell their homes, but put your mom or dad in there
– it’s hard to uproot, lose your friends and leave.”
The Harvest provides help to a wide range of clients.
“We see many who are dealing with divorce,
unemployment, substance abuse and addiction, along with mental breakdown.
Some are very ordinary people who are just going through a difficult
time” he said.
BCCN asked
Polkinghorne, who took over leadership of Harvest this year, for his first
impressions of the spiritual climate on the North Shore.
“There’s lots of ‘dry wood’ in
the church, that is ready to burn well!” he said, adding, “We
don’t have a large church with big influence on the North Shore.
We’re each doing our thing and it’s good! But at times there
needs to be a strong unity with a voice; we don’t seem to join each
other on critical issues.”
The unique nature of the Harvest Project is
appreciated.
“I can ring any of the three mayors and get an
appointment anytime,” said Polkinghorne.
For the future: “I’d like to see us
explore starting other ‘Harvests.’
– Peter Biggs
June 2007
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