OUR MISSION
We exist to do whatever it takes for all people to follow Jesus, grow with Jesus, and live for Jesus!
OUR CULTURE
Every organization and every church has a culture. It’s “the how” behind “the what.” Our culture’s secret sauce is the Holy Spirit of God. We are empowered, gifted, & led by the spirit. Without the spirit, we are limited, lifeless & powerless. Fully empowered by the spirit, we are unstoppable & our potential is limitless. So, our posture is humility, our approach is hunger, & our purpose is Hope.
OUR FOUNDATION
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
ROMANS 15:13
OUR VALUES
Here are the 5 values we use to describe and prescribe the culture we intentionally create at Hope Church.
We do whatever it takes!
We are all in on the church!
We believe the church is the vehicle to equip all people to follow, grow, and live for Jesus. So, we value doing whatever it takes to help all our guests fully experience God.
we believe All People MATTER!
We believe the church should look like Heaven!
Diversity, in all of its forms, is not an initiative; it is the very nature of the church. We can’t accomplish our mission alone. So, we embrace and celebrate the uniqueness and differences of others to fulfill our God-given mission. We value every “one” because every part of the body matters!
WE FOLLOW JESUS!
Period!
We don’t follow a religion or a denomination, we follow Jesus, and this is His Church. Following Jesus isn’t about practicing religion but rather having a personal relationship with Him. So, we choose to take daily steps of faith and obedience in our pursuit of Him. This includes investing and equipping families of every generation for a lifetime of following Jesus.
we grow with Jesus and others!
We don’t do life alone!
We believe that God designed us to live in freedom and to grow in freedom together. So, we choose to always grow together with Jesus in small groups because every individual in every group contributes to and benefits from every other individual in the group. The church is always better when we work together.
we live For jesus!
It’s not about us!
We believe that we are here to make Jesus famous! God’s ultimate plan for our lives is to make a difference for Him. So, we lay down our personal preferences for the benefit of others. We embrace disciplines like serving, sharing, and living generously because these both increase our impact on Him and change our hearts in the process! We don’t do these because we have to; we get to!
OUR BELIEFS
God
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22 • Psalm 90:2 • I Peter 1:2 • II Corinthians 13:14
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on the cross. He arose from the dead after three days and demonstrated his power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23 • Isaiah 9:6 • John 1:1-5; 14:10-30 • Hebrews 4:14-15 • I Corinthians 15: 3-4 • Romans 1: 3-4 • Acts 1:9-11- I Timothy 6:14-15 • Titus 2:13
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.
II Corinthians 3:17 • John 16: 7-13; 14:16-17 • Acts 1:8 • I Corinthians 2:12; 3:16 • Ephesians 1:13; 5:18 • Galatians 5:25
People
Man is made in the spiritual image of God to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27 • Psalm 8:3-6 • Isaiah 53:6A; 59:1-2 • Romans 3:23
Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can a man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 5:1; 6:23 • Ephesians 2:8-9 • John 14:6; 1:12 • Titus 3:5 • Galatians 3:26
The Bible
The Bible is God’s word to all men. It is written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian belief and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of errors.
II Timothy 3:16; 1:13 • II Peter 1:20-21 • Psalm 119: 105, 160; 12:6 • Proverbs 30:5
POST-SALVATION SIN
After becoming saved, believers can and still do sin. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and helps us overcome sin in our lives; we should work to avoid sin and repent of sin when it is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Living in a consistent pattern of willful, unrepentant sin is inconsistent with living a Spirit-led life. • Romans 3:23 • 1 John 1:8-9 • Matthew 3:8 • John 16:8 • 1 John 3:8-10 • Hebrews 10:26 • Matthew 18:15-20 • 2 Timothy 2:25-26
MARRIAGE
Marriage is a monogamous union between one male and one female, instituted and ordained by God. According to God’s design and intent, sex difference (male and female) is an intrinsic part of the marriage covenant. All sex outside of marriage is a sin. • Genesis 2:18-25 • Ephesians 5:22-33 • Matthew 19:5
Gender
We believe God created humanity, male and female, in His image. Sexuality and gender are first made known in the creational accounts of Scripture. Equal in their dignity but different in their design and calling, the man and woman are then commissioned to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion.”• Genesis 1:26–28 • Genesis 2 • Deut. 22:5; • 1 Cor. 11:3–16