Launching Hope Church

Hope Church. It’s happening. We’ve been praying and preparing for months. We’ve seen God move in our congregation and experienced his power and presence on our leadership team. We’ve felt the support of prayer and financial gifts from people all over the country, and especially from the leadership of our denomination. There’s still so much work to do, but ready or not, by the power of God we’re launching Hope Church on Sunday, September 27^th.

I’m excited. I’m really, really excited. Church planting is one of the most thrilling vocations on the planet. We get to start on the ground floor of a brand new body of Christ. In our case, we get to see the fruit borne from the marriage of two congregations. We get to see God move in unique and profound ways in the lives of people who have not known him or have been far from him.

Our family has been through hell and back. We’ve discovered the power of the hope that we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus has conquered death, and through his resurrection, we have a living hope for our own resurrection, and for eternal life. We’ve learned that, no matter what happens in this life, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is displayed in Jesus. He is alive, and the hope that he offers is a hope of life beyond death, a life that is more powerful death and that cannot be stained by sin or disease. This is why we’re called Hope Church.

There are a large number of false hopes in our world. The lure of fame and wealth. The next relationship that will surely work out better than the last one. The miracle drug to keep you young and healthy. But there is only hope that is sure, and that is the hope that is a person: Jesus Christ. Only he has conquered death, the great terrorizer of humanity. Only he has forgiven our sins and opened the way for us to live forever at peace with God. Jesus is our one true hope, and we desperately want everyone to find him.

Hope Church is a part of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. Although I had never considered being a part of a denomination, I’m excited to be joining the CMA, which calls itself a “Christ-centered, Acts 1:8 family.” I love that. I’ve found tremendous comfort in knowing that we aren’t alone out here. We’re part of a larger family of churches. We have accountability beyond our senior pastor. And I’ve found that I can trust and follow the leadership of the CMA, both in our district and at a national level.

More than anything else, I’m excited by how much I’ve sensed that God is in this adventure. There is no doubt in my mind that God has called me to be one of the pastors of Hope Church. I know that I am right where he wants me to be, and I’m looking forward to serving the people of this church with my time, energy, and gifts. If you’d like, you can listen to any of my Hope Church sermons online.

Would you consider joining us for worship on Sunday, September 27^th? Even if you sense that you are far from God, you are welcome because God does not want to be far from you. As I preached yesterday, God has not given up on you. Who knows, but this might be the way that he is reaching out to you again. God loves you. You can have hope. Come join us on this adventure and see where our hope-giving God takes us.