NWC holding 32nd annual event. Photo Credit: iStock.
As Christmas celebrations commence this evening, a Niagara Falls church is preparing to once again host a beloved community tradition.
The Niagara Worship Centre (NWC) will hold its 32nd annual Christmas Eve dinner and gift giveaway in outreach to those in need, as well as people who may not have someone with whom to spend the special night.
“The vision, from the beginning, was that no one would have to spend Christmas Eve alone in Niagara,” NWC Lead Pastor Tim Klassen told The Niagara Independent. “Last year, we served 570 individuals who were all provided with a full turkey dinner, gifts, Christmas carols and a Christmas service.”
The celebration will be held at the Niagara Falls Club Italia, as it has been since 2019, because the number of guests the church serves at the event has grown to exceed what the NWC church building can accommodate.
Klassen says that the Christmas Eve event is the church’s largest annual community outreach initiative. He also shared that the church considers it “such a privilege to be a part of meeting a practical and social need.”
The magnitude of the event requires a significant number of volunteers, both for setting up (about 130), as well as for hosting on Christmas Eve (roughly 100).
In addition to adult volunteers, youth aged 13-17 can also serve in various capacities, including on the set-up team, as gift loaders, gift givers, and coffee servers. Youth volunteers must be directly surprised by a parent or guardian.
The overarching purpose of the event, Klassen explained, is to “bring people hope, rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.”
“Sharing a meal and blessing others,” he said, is foundational to the church’s “faith and convictions,” and it is, therefore, “a natural thing for our church to serve in this area.”
Bus transportation to and from the event will be available throughout Niagara Falls and Chippewa. A summary of bus stop times and locations, as well as more details regarding the event, can be accessed at the following link: NWC Christmas.
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls
