The NeighbourLink Fountain                  Arnprior, On

 “To the thirsty I will give to drink from the fountain of living water, without cost.” Rev. 21:6

Welcome to the NeighbourLink Fountain located in the former Alexander Reid Elementary School at 128 Mary Street in Arnprior.

The NeighbourLink Fountain is a Christian Life Centre committed to providing a welcoming place where people are encouraged and empowered in their everyday lives. In this welcoming environment, life skills are taught, practical support and guidance are offered, and the message of God’s love is shown.

We invite you to come in, look around, and have a cup of coffee and a snack, compliments of one of our participating churches.

In our Café you will find games or a puzzle to enjoy with a friend while you eat and socialize. Barb, our Food and Nutrition Coordinator, serves up a hearty bowl of soup at lunchtime for our volunteers and friends. A couple of times we have been treated to a pancake breakfast as well!!

Your children will be lovingly cared for in our supervised Wee Shine Day Care, while you enjoy time to participate in one of our activities.  Marlene is the qualified coordinator and worker for our centre.

For anyone interested in learning a new skill, you can learn how to manage your money, stretch your grocery dollars, cook nutritious meals, take a painting class, or join the walking club. We offer a variety of classes each week, as the need and availability of instructors mesh. 

 Tina is our Activity Coordinator in charge of organizing events. Let us know if you have a skill to offer, and we are presently looking for someone to teach sewing.

In our Thrift & Clothing Exchange, you will find Lydia serving our visitors and diligently sorting items of clothing and household goods.

Also working together with our many wonderful coordinators, volunteers, and friends is Gwen, our Volunteer Coordinator and Administrator; Sarah, our Assistant Director; and Lois, the Director.

Every morning in our chapel, the volunteers for that day meet for a time of devotions and prayer. A large prayer board is filled with the names of Fountain friends and families that we lift up to God in prayer every day. Special prayer and some spiritual counselling also happen here.

An Alpha Course (an introductory class on basic Christianity) welcomes new participants every Wednesday evening.

If you need furniture, a ride to appointments, physical assistance with a job you are unable to manage, or help with a desperate financial need, you will be interviewed and we will do our best to help you find the resources you require, with the assistance of the NeighbourLink Resource Centre.

Lois Bogar, along with pastors from our community, is readily available for those in need of comfort and counsel for spiritual and emotional needs.

Over twenty-five years ago Lois had a vision for a Community Centre, born out of a conference where the speaker challenged the women to envision what they would do for God if time, education, and money were no object. Lois immediately had the Community Life Centre idea,burst, full-blown, into her mind and heart. The vision “percolated” there while she raised her children and studied. Now, with the time and a Masters Degree in Theological Studies, Lois has moved ahead with the inspiration trusting God for the financial needs to be met.

 God opened the doors for this project in 2002 when Arnprior & District NeighbourLink was established. This is the foundation upon which the Fountain Life Centre has been built.

The Fountain opened its doors to the community in October 2009. Together with the participation of several churches, God orchestrated every detail: the site, furnishings, and volunteers. It offers a place and opportunity for Christians to invest in others through personal interaction and acts of service: to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

The Fountain is a place for everyone: people from all walks of life, the disadvantaged or privileged, those seeking assistance, people desirous of learning a new skill, or making a new friend. It is for people looking for an avenue to teach and serve. Services are available to individuals and families who require emotional, physical, or spiritual support and encouragement. 

All services are offered at no cost; however, people are encouraged to make a donation if they are able.

Throughout the year, special fundraising events such as the Easter Bake Sale, Spring Variety Sale and BBQ, Christmas with Neighbours Music Evening, and a church-sponsored Walk-a-thon are held.

As well, people who would like to financially sponsor the Fountain on a monthly or yearly basis are appreciated and welcomed. Receipts are issued for tax purposes.

Volunteers are making new friends while they serve, and members of the community are eagerly requesting they be permitted to help. Everyone is learning to appreciate and value one another, no matter what the appearance, station in life, or beliefs.

Already, the Fountain has had to expand into more rooms of the school in order to accommodate the growing needs of this eager community initiative. A music room, exercise area, and community kitchen are some of the dreams that are being realized at the Fountain.

The love of Jesus, and individuals who mirror his love, are drawing those hungry and thirsty to a source of refreshment, and they are being satisfied at The Fountain of Life.

The Fountain Life Centre can be found at 128 Mary Street, Arnprior, On

Open 9 am to 3 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

Closed on Wednesdays and holidays.

 At the Fountain people find: Friendship, Opportunity, Understanding, Nurturing, Teaching, Acceptance, Inspiration, and New Hope.

 Any questions can be directed to the Fountain at 613-623-4200.Drop in and visit with us!

Estelle’s Story                                                             

A friend invited me to the Fountain shortly after I moved to Arnprior. I was depressed and keeping to myself. At Christmas time I had even wanted to end it all as I didn’t want to live anymore. Life had not treated me well. I also had a digestive problem that gave me pain in my stomach area all the time. Coming to the Fountain was all I had to keep me going. I started talking with Lois.

One day, I walked into the Fountain and people were talking about the miracles that were happening at a local church and I just had a big question mark on my face. I didn’t know what they were talking about. One lady said, “I’ll come and pick you up, if you like.”

I went with her and just sat in the pew and didn’t do anything. Lois came, took me by the hand, and went up to the front with me for prayer. A pastor came over to me and started speaking in my ear telling me a lot of my problems. I just backed up wondering who he was and how he knew so much about me. (Lois assured me she had not told him my story, but that it was the Holy Spirit who revealed it to him.)

  I was so touched; I started to cry and cry. Some ladies on the prayer team took me aside and talked to me. They had prayer with me and I confessed my sins as I had never done that before.

Finally, I stopped crying, so they took me back into the service and the pastor started praying over me and I just went down. I couldn’t hold on anymore. I began shouting, “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

 Then Pastor Mark came and prayed over me and I just started laughing and laughing.  As soon as he touched me, I felt the pain that had been in my stomach area just go down and out. Pastor Mark was so surprised when I hugged him. I knew it was God that did it, and I was just so happy.

Everything just keeps on getting better and better. It’s just amazing!

Now I am not depressed. My food is going down better. My stomach is not hurting anymore. Before Christmas the doctor did some tests and found something. Since going to that church I have had lots of tests and they have all come back negative. They can’t find anything at all!

I even found someone to fix my car. I was having trouble with it and a friend from the Fountain offered to fix it with no labour costs. I had slid into a guardrail in the wintertime and he even fixed that. Because of this, I was able to go visit my family to tell them what had happened to me.

I’m happy with the way my life is going right now. It’s a big difference from what I’ve been through the last ten years.

 Now, Estelle is smiling a huge smile every time we see her. It is an absolute delight to rejoice with her in all the ways that God has saved, healed, and delivered her.

Estelle would like to tell everybody to be careful to do what the Bible says.

She came, she drank, and now she is satisfied with water from the eternal God. Abundant life is hers and it is all the result of drinking deeply of the Fountain that supplies anyone who comes, with refreshing drinks of eternal, living water.