One of my friends stays home to pray on Halloween because in her childhood she was a victim of satanic ritual abuse on more than one October 31. Other friends dress their children in wholesome costumes and head out to connect with neighbors on the one night a year when doors — and, in some cases, hearts — are open. Yesterday I…
Last Saturday marked the 16th anniversary of Hope Community Church. Looking back, we are profoundly grateful for the ways in which previous generations have sacrificed, planned, and worked together in order to build a beautiful and functional campus. As we look ahead, the elders, pastors, and staff at Hope seek to continue this legacy of stewardship. Below is a list of some…
The following is an excerpt from Dean Wertz’s journal the day after the execution of 9 and wounding of 9 at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College. Good morning Father. It is Friday October 2, 2015. I am so sad for the families of those who have been killed and for those who are fighting for their lives after yesterday’s massacre on the campus of…
Last Friday (June 26, 2015), five of the nine Justices who serve on the Supreme Court of the United States decided regarding James Obergefell v. Richard Hodge “that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry” (p. 27 of 103) and “same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry in all States (p. 28).” Since then, several friends have asked, “What are…
Tanya Koneman (a grandmother, hospice nurse, friend and loyal member with Hope) recently came to Dan Kaskubar, our Pastor for Business & Mission and said, “Something feels different around here. What is God doing at Hope? How can I pray for Hope’s leaders and how can I unite in where we are going?” A few days later I was invited into the conversation…
If you want to grow in your intimacy with and obedience to God, consistent reading and meditating on God’s Word is essential. While many good translations of God’s Word are available, the one I am most comfortable recommending to others is the English Standard Version (ESV). The ESV is the “essentially literal” translation that I read, study, meditate over, memorize and preach…
Dana Yost leads a vital ministry at Hope that is based on prayer and the belief that Jesus can heal our emotional wounds when we work to identify the underlying issues and bring them before Him to experience his grace and truth. Read this brief and valuable summary of Prayer Ministry to learn more about it — either for yourself, or so you can…
The teenage years are a great time to figure out who we are. Am I an athlete, scholar, social activist, artist, nerd or something else? This year we celebrated Hope’s 15th birthday. At our leadership retreat in January, God clarified the “what?” piece of our identity as a church. What are we to do as we look toward this next ministry year…
The service on Feb. 22 has been cancelled due to the winter storm warning and travel alert that are issued through 5pm on Sunday. Enjoy a time of worship and prayer with your family, and stay safe and warm!
“We can’t fix her.” I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It was New Year’s Day, we had just finished dinner, and I was checking email on my phone. The message was from Leah’s daycare provider, telling me everything that was wrong with Leah and why I couldn’t bring her back. She wasn’t the easiest kid in the world, I knew that.…