Our official charity title is Centre of Hope - G.L.I.A., and the G.L.I.A. stands for God's Love In Action and is what we called ourselves before we registered as a charity when we had to change our name. Our aim to not only demonstrate through practical help the love of God but to also tell those that come to the Centre that God's Love is the Centre of Hope!
Our calling to the town of Dorohoi was to "Feed my sheep" and as well as providing meals, food bags and all the other practical ways in which we serve the poor and down trodden here, we also have activities going on at the Centre to bring the "Good News".
When people come to the Centre or when we visit them, as well as helping practically we are able to tell how much God loves them and we have a variety of literature available for them to take with them - including bibles, and we often pray with them.
Senior Men's Fellowship - this is made up of the older men from the evengelical churches in Dorohoi who meet every other Tuesday for prayer and bible study but also to go to some of the small churches in the villages around Dorohoi and hold missions.
Wednesday Evening Praise meeting - This started in 2004 and is held every other Wednesday and is born out the need that we felt was not being met elsewhere for those that come to the Centre seeking help. The meeting starts at 5 in the evening and lasts for just over an hour, and when Peter and Lesley are not at the Centre is led by Iosif who is a pastor from a village just outside of Dorohoi. Mihaela, Beni and Magnolia help with this meeting which is preceeded by a hot or cold drink and a biscuit. We have been really blessed and we have seen three people come to the Lord and be baptised at the Centre and they are now attending and are members of one of the churches in Dorohoi as well as still coming to the Wednesday meeting.
Saturday Children's Club (Clubul GLIA) - In 2003 we wondered what the children did during the winter when they could not come to play in the playground at the Centre because of the weather, and also concerned about loosing contact with them, and so Clubul GLIA came into being. The club starts with a time of singing choruses and aerobics(!) and then splits so that the teens (11-16) have their own time of bible study and discussion, and the 4-10 year olds have their time of bible stories and drama, and then the club closes with them all coming back together for a joint activity. The club averages around 35 - 40 children none of whome have any form of church back ground. (see item on the "Community Page" in the left hand column)
Youth Group - The youth group from the Baptist church have met at the Centre since the day we opened in 2002 and have a time of worship and bible study as well as a time of recreation playing table tennis etc.
Mother and Toddler Group- We are anticipating starting this by the end of 2011. This is something which seems to be new to this area of Romania. We are hoping that some of the mums that come to the Centre and some of the mums from the local churches will come - share experiences - have a social time and closwe with a short "epilogue". We will update this as the meeting progresses.
Eugenia - is a lovely lady who is in her late sixties and goes everyday to the hospital or visiting sick and elderly people in their homes. She sings to them, reads the bible to them and prays with them. She also takes food, clothes etc for them. We are happy that we able to sponsor her work, and she feels that she is part of our overall mission.