We have recently purchased a property to create a community centre in one of York’s urban neighbourhoods. We will be starting new ministries to meet the needs of the local people while continuing to partner with local churches and other ministries.
On the ground floor there will be a modern international themed cafe with a coffee bar and kitchen. The possibilities for this space are endless but some of the areas we have identified could include a youth cafe, coffee mornings for the elderly and mums and young children. We also hope to provide life skill courses and drop-in mornings offering advice and support for families. We would love to run alpha courses which help people explore what Christianity is about and also bible study groups in the future.
Upstairs there is a large hall which will be available for rent to local groups such as ballet or brownies. It will also provide a great space for hosting training days and seminars but also youth clubs, community events and celebrations.
We are excited about how the Barnabas Centre can be used to bring the community together. The centre is named after St Barnabas the early missionary whose name means son of encouragement, and our desire is that it will become a place of encouragement where people can experience the love of God.