By Jamie Hoffman
Bruce chose to follow Jesus at the age of 55. Mary became a believer through the encouragement of her 11-year-old daughter. After a rough childhood and teen years, Drew came to faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 18. April’s five-year-old son led her to recommit herself to Christ. These are just a few of the lives changed through the impact of the Urban Hope Training Center in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, Pa.
But they are stories that might have never happened.
In 1998, with fewer than 20 members, the Third Brethren Church was struggling. After 75 years of ministry, the congregation was aging while the neighborhood around them changed. It was becoming apparent that the doors of the church might close for good.
One member, Evelyn Tyson, learned that CE National, the Grace Brethren church effectiveness agency, was planning to start an urban ministry training center in Chicago. She contacted Ed Lewis, CE National’s executive director, and suggested that the Philadelphia church’s facilities could be used for that same purpose. Ultimately, the remaining members of the Third Brethren Church handed over their facilities to CE National — the church building, a two-story youth center, and three houses — and the ministry of the Urban Hope Training Center began.
The program began with a vision to reach children, youth, and families in the neighborhood.
“There has always been a goal of re-establishing the local church here in the community through raising up leaders from the community,” says Jason Holt, director of church development. “That is why we began with outreach ministries to children and youth-they are the future of this community.”
In 1998, the staff consisted of one full-time manager and volunteers serving part time. Now leadership includes Holt, who oversees the adult and children’s ministries; Brent Saba, director of training, who directs all visiting short-term teams and internships, as well as the youth and young adult ministry; and Bethany Harvey, administrative assistant, as well as volunteers (or ministry partners) who have moved to the area to serve in the ministry.
Holt says these ministry partners are the heart of Urban Hope. They have become a part of the community.
“It is a privilege for CE National to serve as shepherds for this group of people,” says Lewis.
From the beginning, Urban Hope has offered two main outreach programs. Kingdom Kids, for children ages five to 12, reaches nearly 700 local children every year with an average attendance of 80 to 100 children each week. ROCK, for those ages 13 to 18, reaches about 250 teens every year, with an average of 45 participating each week. Holt says that parents of children and teens in the programs have been impacted as well, as young people are led to Christ through these ministries.
“We make a big point of trying to visit with the children and teens and their families sometime during each week,” Holt says. “These visits have established the ministry here as one that is known in the community and one that cares for youth.”
In addition, the Urban Hope Community Church has been meeting for Sunday morning Celebration services since October of last year. Along with Kingdom Kids and ROCK, the church provides weekly small groups for teens, young adults, and adults; new believer classes called Antioch School; and Cornerstone, a children’s discipleship program.
“It has been amazing to see the ways in which God is working in people’s lives,” says Holt.
Each year Urban Hope works with about 500 people who visit the Kensington campus for training in evangelism and urban ministry. Weekend teams are trained in how to start conversations, build relationships and share their faith boldly in cross-cultural settings. The center also offers internships for high school seniors and college-age students who are interested in learning more about urban ministry.
Saba is encouraged when he sees how God uses short-term ministry experiences to impact people’s commitment to Christ. “The ultimate goal is to utilize this experience as a catalyst that will impact the local church and entire communities back home,” he says.
Urban Hope’s tenth anniversary celebration in November 2008 was an emotional time, recalling what God has been doing over the years. “It was an incredible, uplifting, positive experience,” says Timothy Kurtanek, director of church relations and youth leadership training at CE National.
Urban Hope has trained people who are now ministering around the world. Countless souls have been saved; many others have been touched in unknown ways. It’s the result of a congregation with a property and a vision.
Jamie Hoffman was an editorial intern with the Brethren Missionary Herald Company during the fall semester 2008. A senior at Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind., she is from New Carrollton, Md., and is a member of the Grace Brethren Church at Lanham, Md. (Paul Mutchler, pastor).