Church at the Manor is a unique New Venture in Guelph, ON.
Their website invites you to come out for “free lunch along with love, laughter and prayer” every Sunday as 12:30pm, and at 1:00pm, “you will hear stories of lives who have been transformed!” This description amounts to what you might expect of a typical Sunday morning in a church – the only thing is that this church meets in a strip club.
A celebration of life for Donna, one of the Manor attendees who recently went to be with the Lord. She was one of the first to be baptized at Church at the Manor.
Several years ago, Jack and Sharon Ninaber were given a dream of sharing Jesus with people on the margins, and this Easter they celebrated the third anniversary of what is now called “Church at the Manor” with turkey, ham, and “all the fixings” along with a time of worship celebration.
Tina, an attendee, along with Bob from the core team, flipping pancakes donated by Roger, the owner, during a spring celebration.
When asked to name a major highlight from the past three years, Jack describes the formation of a Thursday night ministry led by a woman named Jen along with a team of women who come in to the club to bless the dancers. They usually show up with a tray of cheese and crackers and sit with the dancers to connect. One dancer, Soul, has shown up on a Sunday for a service! In fact, she was so excited that that evening she told the bartender all about it. The bartender, Shelley, shared with Sharon how they have no idea how much impact the church is having on people at the Manor.
Together, Jack and Sharon and their team are trusting God for huge shift this coming year. They ask for prayer that The Manor will become a training center for God’s glory.
Jack and Sharon pictured wth former dancers, Katika and Sharon along with her husband, Tom, who shared recently at a service at Church at the Manor. They lead www.hardcoreministries.ca out of London, ON
Sharon recently read the following passage to Roger the bar owner from Jeremiah 30:18-19 (the Message):
“I'll turn things around for Jacob. I'll compassionately come in and rebuild homes. The town will be rebuilt on its old foundations; the mansions will be splendid again. Thanksgivings will pour out of the windows; laughter will spill through the doors. Things will get better and better. Depression days are over. They'll thrive, they'll flourish. The days of contempt will be over.”
Please continue to pray for this New Venture!
Jack and Sharon are available to share at your church. If you would like to have them, please send an email to manorministry@gmail.com.