Growing Together in Faith, Hope, and Love. Vibrant, honest, and community-loving, Park Drive Church (a.k.a. Park Drive Pentecostal Assembly) aims to love people as God loves people, and to value and encourage one another at every opportunity. The heartbeat of Park Drive Church has always been to be a life-giving part of the Oliver community and to honor God in doing so. On a typical Sunday morning you’ll find a music team leading in a blend of contemporary and classic worship, fervent prayer and passionate preaching. There is no dress code and freedom is encouraged in our times together. More important than how we look or what we act like, is who we are and how we love one another. For over twenty-five years the church has met together in Oliver in its versatile facility on 79th street near Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary school.

The facility is available for Weddings, anniversaries, funerals and special occasions. With plenty of seating, a full kitchen available for meal preparations and a sound and video system that’s media capable, Park Drive Church is a place that people remember with families and friends. Park Drive Youth Group is one of the churches’ foremost initiatives to serve and connect community teens and their families. For years, youth events have run year round, staffed and funded by church donations and by local fundraising in the community. Highly visible community events include the local triathlons (Oliver Half-Iron, Wine Capital of Canada Sprint & Osoyoos Desert Half-Iron). Interested youth (ages 12-18) are welcome to discover a friendly social group that meets for weekly activities, awesome road trips and great learning experiences. With a focus on mentoring, teens can develop in a variety of areas (eg. music, community service, outdoor recreation, social awareness, spirituality and leadership).Volunteers and leaders are carefully screened and good communication is maintained with parents.

Events are posted weekly on Facebook and newcomers and their parents are welcome to join to the group (www.facebook.com/groups/parkdriveyouthgroup).

Kids at Park Drive Church are currently going through the “What’s in the Bible” series, the newest video cirriculim from best-selling “VeggieTales” creator Phil Vischer (http://whatsinthebible.com). The Park Drive Kid’s ministry is dedicated to engaging kids with fun bible stories that explore the Bible’s purpose, orgin and its relevance to their daily lives. The safety and well being of every child is a priority that ensures all children’s workers are trained and our classrooms are consistently monitored during the program. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays and our children’s program runs from 10:40 to 11:45 a.m. Seniors are another key component of Park Drive’s community connection. In tandem with the South Okanagan Ministerial Association, regular ministerial services are provided at local rest homes and care facilities; including hospital chaplaincy upon request. Senior’s events also frequent the churches’ calendar highlighting visitation, reliable friendships, memorable anniversaries and familiar spiritual teaching.

In the world Park Drive Church is more than just a local church.  Many members of the congregation have participated in global missions locally or even internationally. Whether serving locally with the “Okanagan Gleaners” to ship nutritious soup overseas to the hungry; or traveling to Mexico to assist in community construction projects for underprivileged children with the “Erma Fennell Foundation”; or even venturing internationally to distant countries like the Philippines or Moldova to support orphanages and relief efforts with “For The Least of These” ministries and “Youth With A Mission”, Park Drive Church is honored to provide tangible and relevant opportunities that mobilize the community around a global legacy. In the community Over the past five years, the church has sought to extend its service in Oliver by encouraging community partnerships with the sharing of office space (eg. South Okanagan Immigration Society) and by hosting community events like the “Save Oliver Schools” forum presented by the Tuc-el-Nuit Parent Advisory Committee in the Spring of 2011.

These proactive approaches have led to a new partnership with the Penticton & Area Women’s Center to make available community outreach programs that offer rural outreach services and legal advocacy absolutely free! The Rural Outreach Program connects marginalized people with vital resources and information that can help them. It also engages service providers, community volunteers and other organizations by focusing on accessibility, eliminating service gaps, and creating innovative strategies to foster healthy well connected communities where no one “falls through the cracks.” The Legal Advocacy Program assists anyone seeking more information about their rights. Skilled Advocates can help plan an appeal, accompany or provide representation at a hearing, make referrals to other agencies, and assist with: Tenancy issues, Welfare, Employment Insurance, Employment Standards, Small Claims, Debt, and Human Rights Complaints. The Women’s Centre’s Legal Advocate is available for Drop-in on the first Tuesday of every month at Park Drive Church, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Upcoming Event; “Courageous” On Sunday, January 29th at 7pm, the widely acclaimed family movie “Courageous” will be playing in the church auditorium free of charge for the community. The film features four law enforcement officers who consistently give their best on the job, but quickly discover their standard at home is missing the mark with their families. Filled with action-packed police drama, COURAGEOUS inspires fathers to be everyday heroes who long to make a lifelong impact on their children (www.courageousthemovie.com). The church currently employs four pastors to serve the community in areas of spiritual guidance and pastoral care for families, couples, young adults and seniors.

Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 4pm; with a Sunday service at 10am. Call or email the office to inquire about events, book an appointment or speak with a pastor. All services are confidential and free. Whatever your connection may be, the church is all about people…Growing Together in faith, hope and love. Submitted by Rev. Bartley Thomas 250.498.2322 – www.parkdrivechurch.ca