STORY
BEGINNINGS
Thirty years ago, Southside Community Church was planted in the Edmonds Neighbourhood of Burnaby. Upon our arrival, Edmonds was a poor and broken neighbourhood where prostitutes offered themselves for $5, and the homeless slept on the steps or in the stairwells of the church building. Many in this working-class neighbourhood were asking life's questions, both physically and spiritually. We did all we knew to help them find answers, and a sense of community spirit began to emerge in the midst of tough times. The church has had a positive impact on many as it has enjoyed the favour of the people who live there. In the early days, The mayor invited us to be on a council to dream of the future of Burnaby City Centres. Decisions made at that time continue to have an impact on the neighbourhood today.
PRESENCE
Thirty years ago, Southside Community Church was planted in the Edmonds Neighbourhood of Burnaby. Upon our arrival, Edmonds was a poor and For over 30 years, our church has partnered with organizations to bring hope and support to the neighbourhood, hosting the Food Bank for 28 years, collaborating with the Society to End Homelessness to operate an Outreach Centre that serves up to 150 unhoused people weekly, and offering meals, shelter, health clinics, tax support, Sports and Arts Camps, and even a Music School. By working alongside existing groups, we’ve added value to the community we believe God has called us to serve. As we grew and expanded into four additional neighbourhoods, churches across the city and country sought to learn from our approach, leading us to launch Forge Canada to share our story and help others do the same. Today, as we continue this long-standing commitment to being in, for, and with the neighbourhood through seasons of growth and change, we are adopting a new name—The Neighbourhood Church—to reflect the heart of who we have always been.
MIRACLE
We believe God had an even bigger miracle in store.
Shortly after we planted the church, an adjacent property went on the market. It was listed at $950,000, and we offered $900,000. However, the seller countered with $2.5 million, leading us to deduce that they were not interested in selling to the church. Despite facing many setbacks over the next 22 years, we firmly believed that God had a plan for our church that involved that property. We knew that in order to bring about positive change in the neighbourhood, we would need the space.
The setbacks changed four years ago. After praying for a year, a real estate agent for the property's owner showed up on our doorstep - the owner wanted to sell to us. Today we embark on a new adventure that God has invited us into as we redevelop our properties.
IMPACT
CHURCH MEMBER
"We saw the line-ups of people coming into the building from up in our tower. We decided to come because we saw it was a church that served the community."
COMMUNITY CITIZEN
Share the amazing things customers are saying about your business. Double click, or click Edit Text to make it yours.
"Upon coming to Canada, I received so much help and support from The Neighbourhood Church. Now I volunteer at the Neighbourhood Pantry because I want to give back.”
COMMUNITY CITIZEN
“Since volunteering at the Neighbourhood Church, my life has changed dramatically for the better. My family's life has changed incredibly. I feel like God is watching me. The more I am doing here, the more I am getting help from somewhere."