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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 28, 2002 - C3 `Miracle' church marks 10th year with mortgage burning By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR The Oakville Christian Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary by burning its mortgage. It was paid off in only five years, a feat Pastor Jameel Ali describes as "a miracle, one of many miracles" that have gone into building this church. With a membership of only about 40 to 45 members five years ago, Pastor Ali and his wife Pamela Ali, worship leader, looked into purchasing the Bell Canada building in downtown Oakville and learned it was valued at more than $1 million. He had heard that Bell was selling its old oper ations centre at the comer of Trafalgar Road and Randall Street. By the time he contacted a real estate agent, the price had already dropped to $285,000, far more than the then five-year-old church could afford. So he offered $175,000 and Bell accepted. At the time, the church has $25,000 in its building fund for a down payment. Now, five years later, membership has doubled to between 80 and 90, and the church is mortgage free. "It's a miracle," he said, adding with legal and real estate fees, the cost came to just under $ 200,000. "All of our funds went into the mortgage," Pastor Ali said. "We are a small church, with not a lot of funds, and the price they were asking was a bit steep, but we trusted the Lord to help us and the price came down." That left no money for furnishings, "so every thing you see here has been donated." The pews came from another church and fit into the building as if they were made to order. The pulpit came from a school, members installed the baptism tank purchased for $50, chairs and other items for the sanctuary came from yet another church, and the sound system was donated from Florida, tables and chairs at the main entrance area came from a local insurance company, and a keyboard and a set of drums were also donated. A mural titled River o f Life was donated by artist Jim Patterson. All of the tables and chairs, plus a kitchen, were donated for Joshua Hall located downstairs, where the Sunday School is held. "It's a real miracle," he continued. "When we moved into our church building, the Lord helped us get furnishings - without us needing to have money." The Oakville Christian Centre had small begin nings, with prayer meetings, in the Ali home. Its first service was held on Aug. 16, 1992 - 10 years to the date of the mortgage burning. For five years, the church met at Turner Chapel, the former AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church on Lakeshore Road. "We were married in that church," said Pamela. The couple met in their native Trinidad. They were married in 1972, about a year or two after arriving here. He grew up in the Muslim faith, she was a Hindu. After learning his wife was attending a Christian church, Pastor Ali converted to Christianity in 1981. When asked why he became a Christian, he said "it's the work of the Lord." He accompanied his wife to church and felt immedi ately converted. Ten years of Bible study and cor respondence courses followed. Many times he thought of calling the Oakville Christian Centre the "`Miracle Church' because the miracle continues." Sunday services are held at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bible study is held Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and a prayer meeting is held Friday at 7:30 p.m. The first Sunday of each month is devoted to com munion and healing. For more information, call 905-842-8211. Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver Pastor Jameel and Pamela Ali launched the Oakville Christian Centre 10 years ago. 0TMH Auxiliary elects first male president The OTMH Auxiliary is sporting a new look. The volunteer support organization for Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital has elected its first male president since its inception in 1949. Long regarded as a women's group, the Auxiliary's make up has changed in recent years to reflect changes in society, said John de Belle in accepting the position for a two-year term. He noted there is an increasing number of male and youth volunteers joining the Auxiliary today who are working in various capacities. "The face of the Auxiliary is changing. It offers many rewarding and fulfilling volunteer experiences for all adults and teenagers, male and female. "It's particularly nice to see the interest our youth volun teers take in their community hospital. These enthusiastic young people have a lot to offer and it is important to support and recognize them," said de Belle. "After all, they're our future." de Belle joined the Auxiliary at OTMH in 1998 to set up the Wheelchair Repair and Tracking Program. In 2000, he joined the Auxiliary board as vice-president and has since worked collaboratively with physicians, hospital staff, admin istration and the hospital's board of directors to help enhance patient care at OTMH. "I accepted the role of president because I thought it was time to give back to the community - and what better way to do that than by helping out at OTMH," he said. "Today the auxiliary boasts a membership of over 800 volunteers. These dedicated men, women and youth work in direct patient care and behind the scenes to help provide the high quality of com passionate care our patients have come to expect from OTMH," explained de Belle. He says the role of the Auxiliary is changing as the com munity grows and the hospital expands. "I would like to help bring the Auxiliary into the future by adopting a more busi ness-like approach. This includes making better use of tech nology to both recruit volunteers and promote services and events," explained de Belle. "We also need to update and revisit our policies, procedures and goals in these changing Historical walking tours resume The Oakville Historical Society's popular guided Historical Walking Tours will resume on Sunday, Sept. 1, with a tour of The Houses of Old Oakville. The Houses of Old Oakville, which takes walkers through the heritage area south of Robinson Street between Sixteen Mile Creek and Reynolds Street, will also be held on Sept. 22. Of the 30 houses and sites on this tour, 13 buildings date from the 1830s and nine from the 1850s and 1860s. Participants can meet at the Oakville Historical Society Archives and Office at 110 King St., for the two-hour walk starting at 2 p.m. The society's other walking tour, The Main Street of Old Oakville is a twohour walk along Lakeshore Road focus ing on 66 buildings of which 30 were constructed between the 1830s and 1939. This walk will also be held on Sept. 8 and Oct. 6. All of the society's walks begin at 2 p.m., at the society's office, and cost $10 and include a walking tour booklet. There are special rates for children. For information and reservations, call the Oakville Historical Society at 905-844-2695. Tournament of Hope for Breast Cancer Support Services needs golfers John de Belle accepts the gavel from past-president Joan Jeffery and becomes the first male president of the OTMH Auxiliary since its inception in 1949. times to ensure that they truly reflect the direction of the rap idly expanding hospital we are serving." de Belle brings years of business and community experi ence to his new position. Prior to retiring, de Belle held the position of vice-presi dent and general manager of Vircham, Canada. In addition to his commitment to the hospital, he has also become very involved in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Oakville West. "John's energetic, business-like approach to leadership will serve him well in his position as president of the Auxiliary to OTMH as the organization moves forward into the future," said Carole Daniels, Volunteer Services Manager at Halton Healthcare Services. "We are fortunate to have someone with John's dedication and experience on the auxiliary board." de Belle succeeds Joan Jeffery who will continue to sit on the Auxiliary board as past-president. Every swing can be a hole-in-one for breast cancer and you can be part of it. The Tournament of Hope takes to the fairways of the Oakville Executive Golf Course on Thursday Sept. 12. This is a fundraiser for HaltonHamilton-W entworth Breast Cancer Support Services (BCSS), a survivor created self-help organization dedicated to the support of men and women with breast cancer. Organizers hope to advance last year's target of almost $50,000. The money raised from this event ensures that BCSS continues to provide pro grams, current information and educa tion on the detection of breast cancer. Through support meetings, educa tional resources and sometimes just a voice of experience, BCSS is making a difference in people's lives. Now in its eighth year, the Tournament of Hope continues with the enthusiastic drive of many dedicated volunteers and corporate sponsorships. "I can't believe the amount of hours invested in this project by so many," says tournament co-chair Shirley Sveda of Atlas Van Lines (Canada) Ltd. "I'm always amazed at the dedication of our volunteer team as well as the invaluable support of our corporate sponsors." The tournament will see over 300 golfers take to the green at the cost of $100 each which includes a day of golf plus dinner, entertainment by the Pack Rats and both silent and live auctions at the Burlington Convention Centre. Registration is limited and pre-regis tration is required. 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