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Surrey, B.C.
Shpresa takes new shape


As of the end of August, the B.C. MB Conference Board of Church Extension has suspended Shpresa Hope, its work in the Surrey area directed at reaching the Kosovar people. Bob and Edith Granholm had worked hard to establish a holistic ministry to reach these refugees and other immigrants from Muslim backgrounds since October 1999. The outreach focused on a Sunday evening event at which food, clothes and sometimes furniture were distributed. Sometimes there would be music, and Bob would read Scripture and then talk with those who came about items of interest. Some people had come to know Christ, but as no church had developed yet, the Granholms often directed these converts to other churches.

The meetings were originally held in Hjorth Hall, a city-owned building. When the city decided to close that building, the work shifted to the Surrey Vineyard Church, but that church later closed down.

When it became clear that a church was not developing, BOCE decided to discontinue its funding, as its mandate does not include committing funds to the kind of long-term project necessary to reach these Muslim people. (BOCE church plants are expected to become self-supporting within three-to-five years.) The Board of Church Extension has thanked Bob and Edith Granholm “for their direction in this project and their love and concern for the Kosovar people” and wished them “God’s blessing as they continue to serve Him”.

The Granholms have created a separate charitable organization called Friends to continue the work. They have acquired a truck and twice a week drive around to people’s homes, dropping off food and clothing and talking with families. The Granholms can be contacted by phoning 604-760-4999 or e-mailing granholm@direct.ca.

The Granholms hope to continue this ministry part-time in any case, but Bob is also seeking other ministry opportunities. He currently teaches part-time at Columbia Bible College. Edith teaches at Regent Christian Academy.

 – Jim Coggins, from reports by Bob Granholm and B.C. MB Conference church extension director Geoff Neufeld

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Last modified January 10, 2003.

© 2003 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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