The weExplore Centre, located in Clayton, is Gateway Church’s centre of influence. This summer from January 11 to February 28, we offered free plant-based ice cream and this attracted 266 new contacts, students and communities that were living around the Clayton area.
The plant-based ice cream was handmade by the team, then introduced and delivered by the volunteers, including Bible workers, members, and seekers. The volunteers invited the community to help with filling in a community survey, and in return, we gave them the ice cream. While the person was completing the form, we used the opportunity to get to know the person and to introduce the different programs running at the weExplore Centre. The project fits in as a sowing stage in an evangelism cycle and connected us to our community by helping us to better identify their needs.
From the contacts, the weExplore Centre then invited the people to different events and activities according to their preferences, like nature walks, cooking classes, CEO Future project, etc. From this initiative, we thank God that eleven people are joining various care groups; three people joining the volunteer training program, five people having Bible studies, three people attending the church and four people came to Gateway’s Easter camp.
One of many stories is about a Hindu student at Monash University. Through the ice-cream project, he joined the CEO Future project and attended the mental resilience program. After attending several sessions of the mental resilience program, his interest in knowing more about the Bible began to show as he started asking more spiritual questions. He is currently having personal Bible study.
The weExplore Centre of Influence is modeled after the counsel by Ellen White – “establish centers of influence in places where is need of work being done” – Mission To The Cities p.49. Drop by the weExplore Centre any weekday Monday-Friday 12pm-5pm or contact us at our website at www.weExplore.org.au.
Article by Bao Nguyen (Volunteer Bible Worker) and Johnny Wong (Church Elder)