Hope in Christ Begins with Tutoring
Gaston Hope in Christ was founded in 1999 by pastors from Gastonia and Cherryville to "Meet Real Needs for Real People" in our community. We have provided support to at-risk students and adults in a variety of situations. Hope in Christ Tutoring began with students and friends from Eastside Church in 1999. We added 14 students from Gardner Park Elementary in January of 2000 and have been serving Gardner Park and Holbrook Middle as our foundational schools since then. Volunteers helped students with their homework; we had snacks, a game, and chances to build helpful relationships with the students.
As part of a Carolinas compassionate ministry outreach of the Church of the Nazarene, Gaston Hope in Christ was one of over 20 compassionate ministry efforts begun 1995-2005 in the Carolinas. When the Hope in Christ parent organization broke up, Gaston Hope in Christ continued on its own, providing tutoring and related services to area students.
We use volunteer tutors to aid the staff in providing services, building relationships, and helping students and families. Tutoring is offered three days per week from school dismissal to 6 p.m. Students are either transported by bus from school or brought by family members.
We have also held parenting classes, holiday giveaways, financial and other seminars, and related programs to help students and families during this time.
English Hope
Throughout the history of our tutoring program, we have been blessed with students whose parents did not always have English skills. We have tried to start English classes three times, finally becoming a regular program in 2020-2021. Students are in six-week sessions, with seven sessions in a 12-month period.
Summer Programs
Throughout the history of our tutoring program, we have been blessed with students whose parents did not always have English skills. We have tried to start English classes 3 times, finally becoming a regular program in 2020-2021. Students are in 6-week sessions, with 7 sessions in a 12-month period.
Summer programs have also been part of our work for a number of years.
For 6 of the last 12 years, we have hosted student interns from high schools and colleges.
Andrew Hosier, 2013
Daniel Biggerstaff, 2014
Raquel Rivas, 2016
Stephen Bell, 2017
Jesus Martell, 2020
Travis Tatum, Sarah Bell, Xochitl Rivera 2023
We have ministered to students during the summer in different ways over our 24 summers. 2 years we went to local apartment complexes, and we have had summer programs for elementary students a number of years.
For the last 3 years, we have offered "World Changers," a teen service and leadership program to select teens. Each week provides a service opportunity, a chance to learn about a government or nonprofit group, an interview with a community leader, and a fun trip.
Our Leaders- Pastor Joe Bell
Throughout the history of our tutoring program, we have been blessed with students whose parents did not always have English skills. We have tried to start English classes three times, finally becoming a regular program in 2020-2021. Students are in six-week sessions, with seven sessions in a 12-month period.
Pastor Joe Bell was the Executive Director of Hope in Christ when it began and has held that role for 22 of the 24 years we have existed. Joe and his wife Teresa came to Gastonia in 1994 and became pastors of our host congregation, Eastside Church of the Nazarene, in 1997.