Open Gate, Victoria

Global Mission Projects: Open Gate, Victoria, BC

—  The Rev. Andrew Hewitt

International and First Nations mission projects at Open Gate. 

  • Blue Bus is a youth ministry outreach bus to a number of first nations groups here on the island. It is sponsored by Youth for Christ

  • OM Canada Shilo farms in Nepal

  • Victoria pregnancy centre

  • YWAM in India and in Vancouver

  • Precious Jewels Ministry: The founders of this organization are two amazing women - Joke’ Bergink and Lori Anderson. Many years ago they dedicated their lives to helping the poor in the Philippines and Uganda. Check out the website: Precious Jewels Ministry (preciousjewels.org) They have strong connections with the people of Open Gate Church but they are supported by a number of different churches and denominations. They both lived with the poor near a garbage dump in Manila but now they are handing over the work to the local people. They also pioneered a lot of work with orphans in Uganda.

  • Cuba Partnership with the REC Church in Cuba: We support Rev Franklin Hamilton at Resurrection church in Florida, Cuba.

  • Mexico Mission in Vicente Guerro (On the Baja peninsula ) As I may have mentioned our active participation with the large Baptist Church (Saanich Baptist Church - their mission pastor is the son of one of our parishioners) here in Victoria has made it easy (and cost effective) for us to join partner with them. They own a centre on the Baja peninsula where we can stay as well. We have sent a number of small teams that have helped building houses and schools in poor communities. I will attach some pictures. Work is on hold during the pandemic.

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Open Gate Church / Living Edge Food Market:

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Open Gate runs a fresh food market for the disadvantaged in our town of Langford. We do this in partnership with The Living Edge ( a ministry to the disadvantaged initiated by ANiC pastor The Rev. Neil Van Heerden in Victoria.) We have a team of about 20 Open Gate Volunteers that run the market every Friday from about 11:30 to 1:30 pm. Each day we give /provide food for about 80 disadvantaged families. Fresh produce and other food items comes from local retail distributers (as they make room for new produce at the end of the day). The joy of the Lord is always there as we serve and we are building strong connections with the clients and the local community. Every Friday people comment “We would not be able to make it through the week without this free fresh produce.”

Scott Hunt