The story of the Eden Hostels began on the 14th February 1906 when Abram Gardner Compton was born in Ahoghill, Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
He and his family settled in Edendale, Southland and he farmed there with his father until 1928 when he planned to join his Uncle in New York and to work his way to the top of the business world.
But plans changed following his spiritual rebirth and his aims changed from seeking his own fulfilment to being available for the benefit of others and this developed initially as a missionary to the Maoris for 4 years travelling by horseback through the dense virgin forests to the remote home of the Maori prophet Rua and from Gisborne to Matakana Island.
Then it was back to the printing ministry in 1929 and to supplying thousands of the Good News publication and 5000 monthly magazines free of charge and all this during the great depression.
He married Dorothy Squires in 1934 and they both committed their lives to the service of others, settling first in Edenvale Road. Mount Eden, Auckland where their home became a place of homeliness and hospitality as they entertained missionaries on furlough all the time depending on their God for their needs.
After coming to Auckland Abe Compton founded Wentforth Press and being a man of Faith and of vision he took this name from his namesake Abram of Genesis 12:5 where it says Abram went forth to go to the promised land and so the name of the press ‘Wentforth Press’ was born.
He edited and published youth publications (The Young Believers Paper), a Missionary magazine ( Workers Together) and missionary books (Pioneering on the Rivers. Smith of the Amazon, Sturt of Mongolia, Children of the Wilderness, The Open Door, etc etc
As demand increased they then moved to a larger house in Brighton Road, Parnell and their ministry continued there till 1958.
While there Abe Compton received a legacy from his New York uncle Robert Gardner’s estate and they were able to purchase a larger property at 96 Esplanade Road, now the Eden Hostel at 9 Lovelock Ave, Mt Eden to extend the ministry of caring for missionaries. The single storied house was enlarged with the addition of another story which accommodate 12 bedrooms and here in a Home commonly called the “Missionary Home” the Compton’s continued their ministry, with Abe away during the war working with the Everyman’s Hut providing counselling and Spiritual help to the Soldiers before their departure to war and during leave breaks.
The Compton’s then decided to gift the Missionary Home properties to the Christian Brethren Assemblies and these assets were placed in the Assembly Missionary Home Trust to protect the ministry for perpetuity. Later two Trusts, the Missionary Home Trust and the Workers Together Trust were combined into the Eden Christian Trust who carries on the ministry and is responsible for the Eden Hostels. The Rosadene Trust continues as a vehicle for the assistance of Eden Christian Hostel and for providing funding for special needs subsidies etc.
In 1941 Three missionary flats were added to the property financed by legacy’s from the estates of W Reddell, J Scott and R. Diprose and these now are used in the Hostel ministry and for short term missionary accommodation.
The Missionary Home became the base for many missionaries on furlough from the mission field in the days when travel was more basic and times were harder and many still have fond memories of the times they spent there. It was a faith mission supported by many who gave generously in time, gifts financial and in produce, beasts and kind. There have been reports of Mrs Compton being up late at night wallpapering, going to the early morning markets for vegetables and provisions and making raspberry jam with chokos and raspberry essence. Often up to 20 would be around the Kauri dining table and people have spoken of the wonderful times of fellowship and restoration they had there.
Over time with improved transportation and communication the need for a central base for missionaries was not as necessary and Abe and Dorothy were able to utilise the provisions they had incorporated in the trust deed to join with others in utilising No 9 for the commencement of the NZ Assembly Bible School in 1958 and it continued there till it moved in 1964 a new site in Kelston. (now Pathways College of Bible and Mission, Tauranga).
This move saw the large home at No 9 again without a purpose — but Abe, the man of vision had written into the initial Trust Deed that one of the aims of the Trust was for the property to be used, in addition to the maintenance, support and assistance of Missionaries that it included the aim for “the support of young tradesmen, handicrafts-men, apprentices and students attending any educational institution.” Now as he and Dorothy looked around at the burgeoning City of Auckland they knew the time had come for this to become the focus of the Home as they saw again the needs of young people coming to Auckland for study and the need for provision of a safe Christian for their initial introduction to the big city.
Through the trust they purchased, over time, other properties at 3, 5 and 7 Lovelock Avenue and at 313 Mount Eden Road which was developed as Rosa Dene Rest Home with Dorothy taking on the role of Matron in addition to her other roles and the Rosa Dene Apartments were developed on 3-5 Lovelock. Unfortunately due to the crash in the 1980’s the Rest home and the apartments needed to be sold and the Hostel properties consolidated to 7, 9 and 9a Lovelock Ave.
In 1965 the properties at 3 and 9 Lovelock Avenue and became the inaugural Boy’s hostel for young men in tertiary education or early employment this say Abe’s vision and Dorothy’s organizational skills and hard work bringing the plan to fruition.
1969 saw the commencement of the Girl’s Hostel at 9 Lovelock and this required the relocation of the Boy’s Hostel into 7 Lovelock and today this arrangement continues with the residents joining for dinner each evening in the main hostel.
Abe wrote in promoting the Hostel that “It is the hostel’s intention to provide good family care in a Christian context and to equip young people to stand on their own feet. In a rapidly changing confused world it is important for young people to have a home away from home before they go flatting” and this is a very important aspect to the current trustees as we continue the vision handed down to us.
Over the past years we have been under pressure in catering for those looking for accommodation, and in providing adequate facilities for their care and wellbeing. The original building has been maintained in its original condition but the facilities had become worn and out dated e.g. the kitchen space was too small for the numbers being catered for and the equipment was very outdated. In addition parts of the building were having significant weather proofing problems.
Abe Compton mentioned in another of his publications promoting the hostel that “Youth is not helped by lack of planning” and the current trustees have sought to follow in his footsteps planning, waiting for God’s leading and for the wherewithal to move ahead. We were blessed by a substantial gift from a New Zealand trust who bought into the vision which gave the trustees confidence to move ahead in faith that the Lord will provide for the balance of our needs in the furtherance of this ministry for His glory.
The decision was taken to refurbish and enlarge the Hostel and with the final costing being in the vicinity of $630,000. It was a daunting commitment but the end result has been very worthwhile for the residents now and into the future. We have been subsequently blessed by contributions from a number of Trusts and from individuals who have joined in the vision and became part of the ministry of providing a home for our young people as they are introduced into big city life.
Our planning was for a commercial kitchen with new equipment including a cool store, larger dining area, a recreation area on the ground floor with extended accommodation lifting our capacity from 26 to 40 residents, additional bathroom areas on the second floor and finally the renovations were commenced late 2008 and No 9 entered a new era of service.
We felt it wise to proceed over the holiday period when the building would be empty for the end of year break and materials and supplies were sourced based on the building consent documentation at that time with completion planned for February 2009 ready for the influx of the students. We were already fully booked with the new accommodation filled and it was essential to get the work done before the first term of 2009.
We were blessed us with excellent weather over the period when the back of No 9 was being demolished and the new extension built but we did strike a snag before the final building consent was signed off as the fire requirements underwent a change which caused a delay in getting the final sign off. This delay put us back by a couple of months and incurred extra expense in upgrading to amended fire regulations but that in itself is a blessing as we now know that every possible precaution has been taken to protect our residents..
This delay meant that there was some inconvenience on the part of our students as we sourced temporary accommodation, but we sensed it was an adventure for them and they enjoyed the experience while seeing the new facilities being completed around them. Bruce and Faye Settle, our House Parents, had a lot more on their plate with extra organisation, cooking and catering responsibilities and they rose to the challenge of caring for the residents during this period.
2009 was a very worthwhile year with the 40 residents, students etc. really appreciative of the improved facilities and accommodation and 2010 begins with the hostel completely full and a waiting list. 2011, 2012 and 2013 saw the same full signs and some are even now some are registering for 2015 to be sure of a room.
Over the years that 9 Lovelock has been operating there have been many people involved in the continuation of the ministry as trustees, Managers, Supporters and these are too numerous to note and we refrain for the fear of omitting any by oversight.
All have given of themselves selflessly and their reward is the satisfaction of seeing the ministry prosper and knowing that their reward is their Lord’s commendation. “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
Abe mentioned in one of his booklets that on the top of Mount Eden where he often used to go there is a small stone tribute to those who surveyed early Auckland.
On one side it says Prudens Futuri and on the other side these heartening words — “For their works continueth great beyond their knowing” and today that is true of his work in forming and developing this property and Trust as the Eden Christian Trust and the current trustees and Managers continue his vision through the Eden Christian Hostel.
