Hope of Nations Christian Center

134 N 5th St

History: This building dates back to 1904, when William Luden, founder of Luden’s Candy, funded the construction of Reading's first indoor commercial swimming pool, or natatorium. The building's spacious facility was used as a Jewish Community Center for many years following. Hope of the Nations moved into the building in 2008 from a building on Buttonwood Street.

Congregation/space: The building’s facade has an art-deco style and overall the building may not be a space one would traditionally see as a church. Remnants from the building’s recreational-based past remain throughout, including a basketball court on the upper level, a sauna downstairs, and the pool lies underneath the floor of what is now the sanctuary space. The building also features a cafe, kitchen, social hall, nursery, and many other rooms throughout the large building. There is a lot of potential for this space, and congregation’s leaders hope to utilize it to its fullest. Right now they share their space with two Hispanic other congregations, Restauración Divina and Iglesia Avivamiento.

Programs:

Hope of the Nations has a number of programs including youth groups, leadership training, Destiny Finder small groups that help people find their paths, and a plan to start a faith-driven entrepreneur program. The leaders of this congregation said, “If you want to change the world, give them hope.” They want to embrace their purpose in the community and make a difference. They also quoted Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk with them.”