After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’
Revelation 4:1
By Rev. Marty Levesque
An open door, for the apostle Paul, was an opportunity to spread the good news about Jesus.
He mentioned to the Corinthians that God had opened ministry doors for him in Ephesus and Troas and requested the Colossians to pray for an open door in Rome.
But the most common misunderstanding about open doors is the assumption that an open door is an invitation in. When in fact, an open door is also an opportunity for the gospel to go out.
This is the hope and dreams for All Saints', Waterloo new church and community centre.
Working closely with other not-for-profits to deliver social services and wellness programs is central to the success of the community centre and part of the strategic direction of All Saints’.
Over 10,000 community members will access the community centre space every year for a diverse set of activities such as youth gym nights and dances, newcomer cooking classes, seniors' groups, youth programs and many other programs designed to address the social determinants of health.
To start, five different community organizations will make use of the space to provide their programming to neighbours seeking mental health services, youth programming, emergency food, and addiction services. The open doors of the community centre will enable a not-for-profit Service hub.
Through serving the mission field directly individuals who enter the open doors of the community also pass through again back out into the world and share their experiences with others. And by doing so, they join us in telling the good news of Jesus Christ to a world that is desperate for healing and wholeness.
Rev. Marty Levesque is the rector of All Saints' Church, Waterloo.