Partners in Hope grew out of the vision God gave to the founder to give witness to “Immanuel — God is with us” among individuals society classes as worthless, expendable, or useless. As we have come together God has taught all of us more about His unconditional love for us, our value and purpose in God’s plan, and God’s commitment to be with us always and to help us overcome any problems with His power and wisdom.
Stories abound — some we’re happy to tell and some we’re glad are being forgotten as we move forward as individuals and as a people together. Here are some brief highlights of our development:

1994 – 1996

• Elsie Quick begins informal outreach work among street prostitutes, addicts, and prison population in Vancouver
•  A small group Bible study of 4 begins
• Elsie relocates to Vancouver Eastside and expand meetings to three a week
• Short term residential help for individuals on the couch in the living room
• Twice a week fellowship meals provided

1997 – 1998

• Women of Hope, a residence for women
• Participants at recovery meetings become so numerous that the meetings are moved to a larger centre at First and Commercial.
• We begin to offer rides to friends who are interested in accompanying us to church and offering a meal together after church.
• Partners in Hope Recovery Society is incorporated and registered with the governments of British Columbia and Canada as a not-for-profit society.
•  Expand residence by 4 more rooms;
• Co-operate in hosting a Sunday Afternoon Fellowship at the Salvation Army

1999-2001

• Rather than give a hand out, we begin a food co-op with 6 participants
• Move women’s residence to new facility;
• We increase the number of 12-step meetings to locations in the  downtown core, Mount Pleasant, and Grandview areas of Vancouver
• Set up a men’s house in a 3 bedroom apartment

2002 – 2003

• Purchase a facility to house women, food co-op, office, and meeting place for fellowship activities
• Expand men’s house residence with another 2-bedroom apartment
• Expanded network of co-operation and services through drop-in center resources and Partners in Hope website.
• Food co-op more than doubles in weekly participants (average 50 – 60+) and volunteer involvement
• Five support groups each week (average combined attendance approximately 90) as well as well as participation in two church communities each Sunday (average combined attendance 40 – 50)
• Christmas Outreach in the Downtown Eastside on Christmas Eve with carolling and sharing of gifts

2004 – 2005

• Men’s House in Vancouver closes for now
• Explorations for a house in Newfoundland to provide a safe environment for men leaving corrections as they re-integrate into the community
• Prison ministry expands to three facilities in the Lower Mainland
• We celebrate 10 years of active ministry in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver
• Website use rapidly increases as individuals make contact for employment and housing assistance
• Volunteer corps grows to more than 70
• We welcome our first full-time intern to minister in the Downtown Eastside
• Immanuel Church is planted in our neighbourhood with many former addicts and alcoholics participating fully in the life of the church
• Support group meeting in the Downtown Eastside triples in size until the room is full with more than 40 people each week

2006 – 2007

• Christmas outreaches extended to include prisons and drop-in centres as well as folks in the Downtown Eastside. Gifts were prepared and distributed for more than 700.
• Monthly prayer vigil at the corner of Main and Hastings where former addicts pray to take back the neighbourhood for God
• New 12-Step meeting begins in Nanaimo, BC
• We welcome our first group of interns from Gateway Training Centre to learn about ministry with recovering addicts and alcoholics
• Food Co-op operates at a new capacity with several hundred individuals registered in the data base
• Men’s Group planted in Vancouver near the Nanaimo Skytrain station
• We welcome two new full time workers – one for outreadh and one for house leadership
• Catherine Morris from Church Army comes to give leadership to Women of Hope
• Womens’ Bible Study launched at the home of Lorna McLachlan and quickly grows so they have to move to a larger facility

2008 – 2010

• Partners in Hope opens an “overflow apartment” at 8th and Fraser where house graduates and outreach workers reside
• New website launched with a searchable housing database that attracts thousands each month
• Courses and seminars presented to various agencies
• The house receives much appreciated new applicances.
• Youth group from Everett Washington came to visit ready to work around the house
• Elsie takes an extended trip to China, connecting with ministry friends and speaking in a variety of locations.
• The house received a much needed renovation and paint.

2011 – 2012

• The last Food Co-Op package was delivered March, 2011.  After 12 years, we look at new ways to meet needs and let this service end.
• The last Sunday lunch meal from the women’s house was shared.
• The women’s house on 21st Avenue is closed after so many years and great memories.
• Partners in Hope move to a new office on Clark Drive
• In co-operation with Mountain Valley Mission in Squamish, begin efforts to reach out to locals who are looking for recovery and new life in Christ.
• In co-operation with Union Gospel Mission, Vancouver, began to facilitate a gathering of women from the DTES seeking support and encouragement
• Writing and organizing of curriculum materials to ready them for distribution to groups and churches who are looking for ways to reach out to those in their communities who suffer from the effects of brokenness and destructive lifestyles.
• Began a monthly celebration prayer and praise gathering to bless and encourage more “going out to make disciples” as Jesus commanded us in the Great Commission.
• Upgrade and relaunching of various digital platforms for sharing information.

2013 – 2015

• Weekly bilingual singing and sharing at UGM Women’s Center before lunch and support group meeting following
• Provided seminar for missionaries in training at Gateway and welcomed them to help in meetings anc food co-op
• Outreach meeting with breakfast at Salvation Army Family services each week with expansion into bilingual English/Mandarin singing and sharing
• Wednesday night Bible study expands with Italian, French, Chinese, and English speaking participants
• Leadership team expands for recovery meetings at Mission Possible
• New PiH Website launched
• Chapel Services now regularly provided in the Secure facility of the prison as well as Medium
• Chaplaincy services provided at the Salvation Army’s Homestead (Recovery Center for Women)
• The variety of meetings continue: Outreach at Drop-in Centers, 12-Step Recovery, Bible Study, Training and Discipleship
• Meditation blog now averages more than 3000 visits each month
• Weekly bilingual singing and sharing at UGM Women’s Center before lunch and support group meeting following
• Provided seminar for missionaries in training at Gateway and welcomed them to help in meetings anc food co-op

2016 – 2017

• Began a 12-Step meeting at New Westminster Salvation Army
• We’re on the move again with selling the facility on 30th Avenue and moving to New Westminster
• Visits to the daily meditation blog crosses 150,000 threshhold
• Begin printing daily meditations in a monthly booklet format averaging 300 in 2016, and 600 in 2017 which are distributed in recovery enters and outreach facilities
• Bible distribution in the prison grows as well as print copies of daily meditations
• Social media platforms develop into useful avenues for prayer support and discipleship

2018 – 2019

• Material is written and edited for a 365-day mediation book – working through printing process
• Circulation of the monthly meditation booklets grows to more than 1900 at various facilities, now including more than 25 correctional facilities across Canada
• New photocopying/printing equipment makes the monthly circulation expansion possible
• Meetings shift from outreach centers in the community to chapel services in institutions

2020-2023

•  365-day mediation book published (Available here)
• Circulation of the monthly meditation booklets grows to more than 4500 at various facilities, now including more than 50 correctional facilities across Canada
• Chapel services in local correctional facility resumed after the pandemic pause of a couple of years
• Online videos and daily meditations through various social media platforms
• 12 Step resources made available to groups and individuals