Dear Hope,
Along with our friend Corby Wise, my wife Rebecca and I recently headed west to Mountain View Orchard & Winery in Olathe, CO. For two days, Mike and Wendy Young, third generation vineyard owners, showed us urban dwellers how to irrigate, graft, prune, recruit staff and expand barns while praying continually for the bearing of much fruit.
Like a vineyard, Hope Community Church requires faithful cultivation. So, annually, we ask God to lead us into a new ministry season (Sept. 1 – Aug. 31) with clarity of purpose for the upcoming year. We pray and listen to God and the Hope family until plans emerge toward which we can all pray, serve and give. In recent years, this process led us to learn the whole story of the Bible; improve our listening and take steps to expand our kids, youth, adult, worship and prayer ministries.
Now, as we approach the fall of 2018, 3 goals have emerged to help Hope bear more fruit.
- The Abide Project – So we may experience more of God’s daily presence, this fall (Sept. 9 – Nov.) we will journey through Jesus’ teaching in the vineyard and His invitation to abide in Him (John 15:1-11). Children, youth and adults who chose to participate will learn on Sunday and process further in groups so that more of life can be experienced in God’s presence. This 12-week project will also serve as the final phase of research in my doctoral studies at Denver Seminary, so I would love to have you participate. Will you join us for The Abide Project this fall?
- Adult Pastor – To help Hope graft new people into our community; provide more groups; facilitate gatherings; equip adults to grow, gather, give and go; serve locally; and more, we believe it is time to hire an Adult Pastor. Since Anna McMichael, our current Community Life & Kids Director, is sensing God wants her to narrow her focus to Kids Ministry and I will focus more, among other things, on leading our elder team and staff, this new pastoral position will be full-time. This new role is also the primary reason for the 17% increase in this year’s budget over what was given this past year.
- Renovate Main Level – Like an enduringly great vineyard, Hope’s building and grounds have been thoughtfully designed and maintained. In 18 past years we have upgraded the offices, youth room, kids wing décor, upper level west wing, theater, reception hall, kitchen and park. This year we plan to finalize plans, raise funds and begin to renovate our main level including safety and security for our Kids area as well as fresh paint and new windows in our Sanctuary!
Thank you for the sacrificial investment many of you have made into this local church. Hope’s leaders and I are praying that everyone who calls Hope home (and those who will join us in the days ahead) will pray more, give more and serve more that we may continue to become an enduringly faithful disciple reproducing church. Will you unite with us in these ways to see these 3 goals become reality?
Our family recently visited a family from Hope who have moved out of state. The parents expressed how God awakened them and their children to Jesus through friendships, music, teaching and freedom to process within Hope during their time in Denver. We never know whom God will graft into our community next. It may be your co-worker, family member, neighbor or someone you spot as lonely in a coffee shop. Let’s all do our part to see this vineyard healthy, well-led, hospitable, beautiful and bearing much fruit!
With Love & Anticipation,
Dean Wertz