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Serving up church

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The people at Life Point Church in Courtice, Ont., believe in life transformation through Jesus Christ – and it starts with breakfast. Inspired by the monthly breakfast outreach services of Église Chrétienne Évangélique de Sainte-Thérèse, an MB church in Montreal, Life Point Church began the Breakfast Club in their community.

Every six weeks, the congregation transforms their Sunday morning school rental space into a venue for food and inspiration: setting up tables, cooking pancakes, and serving food cafeteria-style. The morning’s drawing card is a recognizable personality who speaks about God’s intervention in his or her personal journey. Response cards indicate invitation by a friend was the most common reason for attendance. Distributed flyers, notification to social service agencies, and a Facebook open event profile also drew attendees.

Some 250 people attended the Oct. 31 event featuring Monique Lépine, mother of the young man who committed the 1989 Montreal Massacre at École Polytechnique. Many left prayer requests on response cards and some responded to an invitation to receive prayer.

Future events will target different areas of interest to community groups, says pastor David Fowler, who is excited to continue this strategy of bringing the community to church. Topics may include business, sports, and emotional health.

Breakfast is only a beginning for the interdenominational church, however. Each attendee who filled out a response card will receive information about future free events, like Reel to Real movie nights and a corporate training session with Canadian MB conference Eagle’s Flight trainers. Those who request counselling or ask to pursue faith questions will be directed to appropriate resources in the church.

A newly acquired permanent location, Harmony Creek Community Centre, currently being renovated, will serve the congregation’s growing programs and services, from a daycare for children to fitness programs for adults.

—Karla Braun

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