A community celebration for The Hope Center in downtown Abilene begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The center, which isn’t open for use yet, is located at the site of the former First Christian Church at the corner of North Third and Orange streets. Tuesday’s celebration will include opening remarks, a ribbon cutting, and a tour of the facilities. 

“The entire city block has been transformed to provide hope to all our neighbors in Abilene,” a First Baptist Church news release stated.

First Baptist bought the property from First Christian in 2019 and is in the process of moving some of its ministries to the renovated and expanded buildings. First Christian relocated to 5125 Antilley Road. 

Moving into the Hope Center will be City Light Community Ministries, the Culinary Academy, GLO (God’s Little Ones) child care, and the Ministry of Counseling and Enrichment. The counseling offices have already expanded into one of the buildings.

Mike Greenfield, Pastor for Administration & Spiritual Development at First Baptist Church, opens the door to the freezer at The Hope Center. Photo by Loretta Fulton

Architect’s rendering of the new day care center at The Hope Center.

The following is from a news release from First Baptist Church:

“This facility represents the continued partnership with the Abilene community, especially downtown Abilene. 

For Our Children: 
GLO ministry meets not only a working family’s needs to provide child care but the spiritual needs of these families. The Hope Center will:

• Shorten GLO’s waiting list addressing the crisis in childcare
• Double the current enrollment to meet the needs of more families
• Provide state-of-the art learning and play environments
• Offer a worship space for weekly chapel to support teaching the children about the love of Jesus

For Our Families:
Our Ministry of Counseling and Enrichments has offered a wide range of counseling services since 1977.  This ministry focused on sharing the healing and restoration of our Creator. However, the ministry is simply out of space.  The Hope Center will help:

• Add four therapists to meet the increasing needs for mental health care
• Serve more clients without additional costs
• Provide separate space for batterer intervention and prevention program
• Offer space for future expansion of counseling ministry

For Our Community:
City Light Ministries has been welcoming all neighbors in the heart of downtown Abilene since 1997. The Hope Center will: 

• Add 3,000 square-foot dining room to provide hot meals in an atmosphere of love and respect that builds on the joy found in the people of our community who often get overlooked.   
• Provide a new commercial kitchen for our team of chefs, culinary students, and volunteers who offer a new way to dine with dignity in the heart of our city. 
• Assist neighbors needing a hand-up in a new welcome center in an atmosphere of love and respect.