DESI DIARY

30 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

 Reverend Tony Zekveld of Hope Centre and his wife Arley-Ann with friends Mary and Gerry Bonnie.

Community members and friends of Pastor Tony Zekveld and his wife Arley-Ann got together to celebrate 30 years of their Hope Centre ministry in Toronto recently. It was a joyous, multigenerational gathering – people who have known and benefited from the wisdom and kindness of the Zekvelds over decades, looking on fondly as their children and grandchildren played basketball, a game of catch, board games, or just sat in their parents’ laps, digging into treats. Several got up to speak about their connection to the ministry and shared memories.

One said his family called Reverend Tony Zekveld “the Happy Minister”. Another thanked the entire Zekveld family for their generosity and hospitality.

Someone asked Arley-Ann Zekveld how they dealt with listening to stories of trauma and pain, of the hardships many in their ministry faced, and she had a simple response: “God guides us, we just do our best.”

The gathering on a cold December evening was a testament to the value of their selfless work. Hope Centre can be reached at 416-740-0543 or hopebrampton@gmail.com.