My name is Lisa Toh, and I am currently one of the Youth Leaders in Ablaze Ministries International. Over the years, I have been sensing God’s call upon my life in the area of community ministry. Praise God He has opened many doors for me, and paved every step of the way for me! I started out with organizing Christmas 4 Kids in 2004, and since March 2007, I was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Hands of Hope. It has been a privilege to serve under Dr. Wilson Lim, the Chairman of Hands of Hope (and the Senior Pastor of Hope Brisbane Christian Church).
Community Event of the year Award (Video)
Hands of Hope
Hands of Hope (Brisbane) is a not-for-profit community organisation that is the community impact ministries of Hope Brisbane Christian Church. It was founded by Dr. Wilson Lim and Pastor Lai Ling Lim in 1998 to bring hope to marginalised people in Brisbane.
We have a VISION to help fulfill the Great Commission by bringing hope to and meeting needs of people in need through compassionate services and aid, and to help them to experience complete restoration in Christ - in Brisbane, Australia and all over the world.
Hands of Hope (Brisbane) is a member of the Australian Care and Trauma Services (ACTS) Incorporated through the sponsorship of Hope Brisbane Christian Church as a branch of ACTS Inc. It is also the overarching name of the community impact ministries of Hope of God International. It is one of the recognised ‘7 spokes’ of church planting strategies within Hope of God movement.
Christmas 4 Kids (www.c4k.net.au/2007)
Christmas 4 Kids is the biggest community Christmas event for children in the South West suburbs of Brisbane. Every year, we reach hundreds of families in need with the joy of Christmas.
Christmas 4 Kids is like a giant Christmas party for children from underprivileged families, where everything from games, stage entertainment, food and presents are provided for free!
On 1 December 2007, we are expecting to reach 1500 children with the joy of Christmas!
The local church serving the community
In 2006, we raised over $6000 to purchase 1300 presents for children under 12 years old!
Over 250 members and friends from the church also gave their time and energy to be one of the friendly volunteers on the day of the event. This event is well known for its wonderful volunteers, that is why families keep coming back year after year!
Special acknowledgements go to the team of hardworking committee members who dedicated time and effort to make this event possible! It is so wonderful to see people who just want to be a blessing because of the blessings of God in their own lives!
Community Event of the Year Award
In 2005 Hands of Hope received the ‘Community Event of the Year’ Lord Mayor’s award in recognition of its contribution to the community. This award was presented by Brisbane City’s Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.
Generosity of the local businesses
Each year, we have over 40 sponsors for Christmas 4 Kids this year. These sponsors continue to partner with us as they see the wonderful impact that this event has on the community.
Our sponsors helped us out in a number of ways: some of them made generous cash or in-kind donations, some gave us major discounts on services, and some even donated their services for free!
We had some divine appointments with key sponsors this year who are very keen to sow into our ministry! Praise God for that! For instance, one business manager (whom we met only 5 weeks before the event) donated cash and products worth up to $5000. He even attended the event on the day with a colleague and spoke very highly of the event! They are already planning to meet me early 2007 to talk about sponsorship for next year’s event!
Support from the media and government
Christmas 4 Kids has been gaining increasing support by the local media and the politicians. Praise God! Every year, the local newspapers and radios offer to provide widespread media coverage for us at no charge!
This is their way of supporting us. This has also been a great way to let the community know about Hope Brisbane Christian Church. I believe this is part of the work that God is using to ‘soften the ground’ for when we build our Unidus Community Centre in that part of Brisbane.
All the local politicians are highly supportive of Hands of Hope. This year, all the local politicians attended and made speeches at Christmas 4 Kids. They all speak very highly of Hands of Hope, and we pray that this favour will continue with them as our church moves into the area.
One of the politicians also made a personal cash donation to the event, and another one donated a bike for one of the children on the day!
Salt and light in the community
I give all the glory to God for the success of this event! I thank God for using ordinary people to do extra ordinary things, and I’m excited to be a part of His plans! I have learnt so much, and most of the time, I stand back and marvel at the way God orchestrates things for good! I’m excited for what God will do through Hands of Hope in the days to come!
