The Joy Candle - Advent Week 3

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing… Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” - Isaiah 35:1-2,5-6 (ESV) 

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (“GOW-deh-tay”) Sunday. It’s the “pink candle Sunday” on our Advent wreath. Gaudete is latin for “rejoice,” and this is the Sunday where we can think about joy, maybe in two different ways: joy in what God has already done, and joy in what God has promised he will do one day. 

Having joy doesn’t mean we will always be “happy,” because happiness and joy are two different things. Happiness comes from outside ourselves, and can sometimes go away as quickly as it comes. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, but it has its limitations. A hug, a beautiful sunset, a great meal; these things can make us really happy. But joy comes from a deeper place. It happens when we know that God fully knows us and fully loves us, and that the promises he gives to his people are true and trustworthy. It’s tough to feel happiness when you are crying, but joy can be present even in the midst of sorrow. 

So, we can live in the joy of what God has already done, in the joy of Jesus’ birth, when God became a man to bring mankind back to God. We can know that because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, he is present in our hearts and lives, as we walk with him through this beautiful but broken world. 

And, we can have joy in anticipation of his second coming, when the promises of God will be fulfilled. When Jesus returns, everything sad will come untrue, and he will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Isaiah 35 talks about that final fulfillment of God’s promises: We will never cry again, because there won’t be anything to cry about. And not only that, but there will be constant and never-ending joy because we will be hanging out with King Jesus in person. It will be a reversal of everything that’s wrong in the world – those who can’t speak will be able to sing with joy, and those who can’t walk will dance with joy. Because Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, will be shining on them, in person, forever. May our steps be filled with joy as we walk ever closer to that day when we are in the presence of Jesus forever. May he continue to shine on us, and scatter the darkness from our path. 

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Suggested Prayer 

Heavenly father, we thank you for the joy we have in Jesus. We rejoice in what Jesus has already done for us by being born a man and dying for our sins, and we joyfully await his second coming when we will be with him forever. And it’s in his name that we pray, amen. 

- Rev. Jay Traylor - Church Planter, Staunton VA, Diocese of Christ Our Hope, Anglican Church of North America 

The Love Candle - Advent Week 2

CERTAINTY IN CHRIST 

“It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.” - Luke 1:3-4 (CSB)

Turn on the TV, go to the store, talk to friends, and you will know the Christmas buzz is on; the songs, the movies, trees, and decorations are everywhere. During Advent, we celebrate peace, love, and rejoicing; yet for many, even Christians, it has become a time of stress, anxiety, and grief. But, as we revisit the story of Jesus, we can actually find certainty. Certainty is what Luke hoped for Theophilus as he read the story of Jesus; it is what should also come to us. It should be a place of rest for us.

When Luke wrote this story, there may have been many conflicting stories of who Jesus was in circulation, and he wanted him to be able to determine which accounts were reliable and which ones were doubtful. Jesus was not a myth, but the God-man who entered into time. Luke is sure that the birth, life, and death of Jesus actually happened, fulfilling God’s promises for a savior (vs.1). He had eyewitnesses (vs.2). The story was carefully investigated and put down in an orderly sequence (vs.3). In the story of Jesus, there was enough to secure Theophilus’s faith (vs. 4). In this story, we can also come to know the unchanging Emmanuel, “God with us;” the God who came to dwell with us and in us, and who will come in the future. The God who so loved the world that He sent His son. Thank God that this message is certain, trustworthy, reliable, and true.

Luke wanted Theophilus and his readers to find confidence in the gospel story they had heard. We need to hear the gospel daily to be assured over and over of what we have believed. Hearing it ushers us into a sanctuary where we rest in God’s love for us. Then, this Gospel reassurance results in 

inexhaustible implications. One worth highlighting here is that we can honestly say with the Psalmist in Psalm 23:1 that “the Lord is our shepherd; we have everything we need.” In Jesus, we have enough, we are satisfied, and that dethrones anything that attempts to assail us. 

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Discussion 

- Examine the state of your heart. Are you anxious, restless,or uncertain? List those things and bring them to God with the certainty he hears your prayers.

- What will you do to make Jesus the center of your advent season? How will you rehearse the gospel to find confidence in God’s love for you?

Suggested Prayer 

Lord, thank you for the good news of Christ and the inexhaustible riches we have in him. Amid all the uncertainties of life, lead us to rest secure in you because you are enough for us. This Advent, may the story of your coming reassure us that you are present with us and that you love us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

- Raphael Mnkandhla - Church Planter, City.Church –Williamsport, Pennsylvania

The Hope Candle - Advent Week 1

HOPE IN GOD, HE ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES 

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” - Isaiah 11:1-2 

Guess what, Christmas is in 25 days!!! Do you feel the excitement? What is the one present you are hoping to receive? If I close my eyes I can imagine the alarm going off running into the living room and seeing all the presents under the tree. Could you imagine if you had to wait 100 more days for Christmas? What about over 1000 years? 

At the very beginning of the Bible, God promises that he will give his people the greatest gift they could ever receive, a better gift than you could ever imagine. A gift that would never run out of batteries, break, or that you would get tired of. What kind of gift could be that good? The gift God promised to his people was himself. He would make away for us to fix our broken relationship with God. This gift was Jesus and he would come in a really unexpected way, like a really big surprise. The only challenge was that they would have to remain hopeful and wait to receive it. They would have to trust that God would keep his promise. In the same way you and I hope Christmas will come each year, the people of God had hope that God would send a savior. 

God was very kind to his people as they waited. As the years went by God would send them signs and reminders that he was trustworthy and that he would keep his promise. They had to continue trusting and hoping that the Lord would send the greatest gift, a savior. 

God kept his promise and gave his people a savior. Jesus came as a baby and by his life, death and resurrection gives the gift of eternal life to all those who believe. Today as you’re waiting and hoping for Christmas morning to come, remember that God has already given us the greatest gift Jesus. This also helps us to remember that the best place we can put our hope is in God, he always keeps his promises. 

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Discussion 

- What is something you are hoping for? 

- Make a list of the prayers you are hoping God will answer. Pray through them with eager hope that God hears your prayers and will answer. 

Suggested Prayer 

Lord, thank you for always keeping your promises, especially your promise to send a savior. Please forgive us when we lose hope in you when we are waiting on your timing. Help us to remember that we can place our hope in you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. 

- Derek Kimes - Church Planting Resident, Stonegate Church - Midlothian, Texas 

Gospel Community Genesis

“That’s such good news!” 

This was the statement a family in our body shared with me during one of our GC Genesis trainings. The person who shared this with me also shared about the culture of discipleship they grew up in. It was a culture for the experts and elites. The message was that all the weight on being a good disciple and on making disciples rest squarely on your shoulders. Who could carry that kind of burden? Who could stand up in the face of that kind of fear of being good enough? As we talked about the reality of the finished work of Jesus in the second week of GC Genesis, I was so struck by the above statement from one of our participants. Thankfully, Jesus welcomes us to participate with him in his on going and present work of making disciples. Discipleship is not for the elite, discipleship is not for the professionals, discipleship is for those who know good news about a person and a promise. If you’ve experienced good news, if you know how to listen to others, you can disciple anyone!

It was a gift to gather with more than 20 families from within Living Hope as we shared good food, good community, and most importantly good news. We oriented ourselves around the good news of what God has done in Jesus every week. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is either going to a meal, coming from a meal, or reclining at a meal. This teaches us that something profound happens in our own discipleship at a table. As we gathered at tables during Genesis we shared struggles, fears, and encouragement together. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of. I’m so grateful to see more and more from within our body orient themselves to good news. As we roll around to GC Genesis in the Spring, I’d love for you get connected to others around good food, and good news! 

- Dakota Zook, Gospel Community Pastor

Jeanne McGonagill

I grew up in the Episcopal church and was “sprinkled” as a baby. At the age of 12, I was confirmed, which made me a member of the church, however, I wasn’t deeply rooted in my faith. At 22, I got married but my husband was not a believer. We had three children, Allen, Dixon and Trace. I took the children to church often, but my marriage was struggling. At the age of 52, after thirty years of marriage, we went through a difficult divorce. As I look back, I know that Jesus carried me through that time. 

I had struggled with depression all of my life; I felt unloved and I attempted suicide. Jesus protected me from myself and saved my life, again. After my divorce, I needed a source of income, so I began cleaning houses. I met Geneva Stagg, who was also cleaning homes and we began working together. As Geneva shared about the Lord, I started wondering more and more about Jesus. I wanted to know God and His Word. I started going to the Precepts Bible study with Geneva. I loved sitting under the wise and godly teaching of Marie Strain. 

In 2018, I went through another difficult time. My oldest son, who was living with me at the time, died from complications due to diabetes. It was only because of faith in Jesus, and my deepening walk with Him, that I was able to go on. I started attending Living Hope and joined a small group. I enjoyed the fellowship, the honest sharing and the deep caring that I experienced as part of that group. I also grew spiritually as I sat under the weekly teaching of Gib. 

When I decided that I wanted to become a member of Living Hope, Ron Favaloro graciously walked me through the baptism process. He even offered for me to get baptized in his pool! I am so grateful for those who came to celebrate this joyous event with me…my small group, my friends and family and the God I serve! 

David & Esther Bledsoe

Leaders Collective

Neighborhood Christian Center

The Neighborhood Christian Center has been serving impoverished communities in Memphis since 1978, and recently NCC has extended its reach into other communities in the area by adding a Collierville location. The programs of NCC are designed to be holistic in nature-meeting physical needs while intentionally pointing children and adults to Christ-and the ministry they offer relies heavily upon volunteer service. Ephie Johnson, NCC’s president and CEO, said,”Overall, we provide compassionate services and then empowerment programs where we do training for adults and youth in academics, reading comprehension, job readiness, financial literacy, conflict resolution–all of the different areas that most of those that we serve need most.”

Living Hope supports the new NCC branch financially, and we are now in search of individuals and Gospel Communities to serve there. Currently the COZY COATS drive is underway to collect new or gently used coats for men, women, boys, and girls from now until November 10th. For the Christmas Season, there will be a need for volunteers to pack and distribute Christmas baskets and to stock a Toy Store for under-resourced children. 

Ongoing and beyond the holidays there are opportunities…

• to set up and stock a Clothes Closet and Food Pantry,

• to lead bible studies on Tuesdays, 5:30-7:00 p.m. for middle and high school students,

• to mentor and / or tutor middle and high school students, 

• to provide snacks for middle and high school student programs, and

• to serve senior citizens every third Thursday of the month.

If you or your Gospel Community are interested in serving at NCC, contact Michelle Green,  michelle@ncclife.org or visit ncclife.org for more information.

Mosaic Church

Everything we read about church mergers looked grim, but our experience has been incredible. As of now, both LHVE and the old Mosaic church both seem happier, healthier, and more equipped to do ministry than ever before. I’d like to quickly share a few ways that God blessed this merger:

• Both churches were in the same relative place regarding theology. Regarding the gospel and other core beliefs, we were a perfect match. Regarding other secondary issues, both churches were in the same stages of studying and writing (which we are now doing together).

• Both churches had the same vision for the city, just on a different scale. LHVE was a neighborhood church originally, but was becoming more and more geographically spread out. Mosaic provided us the prospect of naming what we were becoming - a church for the city of Memphis. Mosaic’s vision for Memphis as a whole was a great match.

• Each staff needed a compliment, and was willing to sacrifice for it. There’s not room here to        explain, but we now have a staff that is a combination of the two churches’ best qualities and gifts.

• We immediately had a third group of people that were from neither church. From the very first  Sunday we began to have visitors that nearly outnumbered either church and this was a great guard against any territorialism that may have occurred after the merger. This group was made up of some strong believers that went quickly in to service and leadership. The result was that we never felt the need to talk about what “LHVE” or the “old Mosaic” used to do.

• We both had church partners that stuck with us and were rooting for us. Living Hope became a newfound friend to the leadership of Mosaic (old and new). 

Lastly, I just want to say thank you to LH for continuing to pray for us. We still have our challenges and covet your prayers as we wrestle with race and ethnicity, begin writing out beliefs about gender and the role of women in the church, and grow (something new for all of us!).

- Justin Burkhead, Directional Pastor - Mosaic Church

Gospel Communities on Mission

The pastors and elders of Living Hope share the vision for all LH Gospel Community Groups to enjoy a rhythm of regular service within a community. Though our residential neighborhoods may be defined as a community, there are certainly other ways to engage. Because of this it is helpful to begin to think of places that may be a little outside of the box when it comes to Gospel Community engaging on mission together. 

The Collierville Nursing and Rehabilitation Home is a great place to demonstrate the love of Jesus regularly and routinely to residents and staff. There are residents who seldom, if ever, have any visitors. Loneliness is real! This is a community ready to be served!

The Neighborhood Christian Center hosts Clothes Closets and Food Pantries for which regular volunteers are needed. They also need bible study teachers, tutors, mentors, and snack providers for bible studies and after school programs. NCC is another community ready to be served.

St. Mark Village in Moscow, TN is a low income housing development. The government gives funds directly to the apartment owners. Saint Mark’s charges lower rent for low income persons. The management is very receptive to people building relationships and serving in any way possible.

Any Sports Team is a great place to connect and engage in life on mission. If the people within your own GC have kiddos on sports teams it can be a perfect place to not only love one another intentionally, but to serve and engage other families involved. 

Fayette County’s Southwest Elementary School has reached out to Living Hope to ask for help with various ministry opportunities throughout the school year. Some specifics include the need for GCGs to provide muffins and juice for the school’s Muffins with Moms event on October 25th. Likewise, Donuts with Dads in November, School Wide Feld Trip in January, Career Fair in March, Picnic and Field Day in May. Again, this is another community ready to be served. 

Living Hopers have provided cupcakes for the Refugee Empowerment Program once a month for ten years. We also have at least one member who volunteers at REP weekly. There are opportunities for service which include tutoring and mentoring students and teaching English as a Second Language to adults. The Binghamton neighborhood is a community of refugees from several countries…ready to be served. One needs not go around to the world to reach the world with the love of Jesus. 

Life Choices of Memphis offers a community of local residents and churches who are passionate about the sanctity of life and serve the ladies of our community who are in a crisis pregnancy, struggle with post-abortion trauma, etc. Living Hope Gospel Community Groups can serve together in many ways. Two upcoming events that are noteworthy include an annual banquet on October 25th and a Community Center Tour on November 5th. You would be surprised to hear just how many ways your GCG can serve together. 

Safe Families creates extended family-like supports for families through a community of devoted volunteers who are motivated by faith to keep children safe and keep families intact. Safe, loving homes are provided where parents may voluntarily have their children cared for while parents seek to restore stability in their lives. Some of our LH people are partners with Safe Families already. This is a beautiful place to not just engage by caring for children, but to invite moms and dads of the children into the life of your GC.

The Common, our partner church in the Orange Mound neighborhood, offers several ways in which LH GCGs can engage the community. A food pantry at Melrose to serve elderly and students who otherwise would go hungry, renovation of homes of elderly residents, and meals for the Melrose football team are just a few specific ways to serve this community. 

Contact LH Missions Administrator Alan May at amay@lhchurch.com or LH Gospel Community Pastor Dakota Zook at dzook@lhchurch.com for more information about these service opportunities and/or to share with us ways in which your GCG is already serving! 

The Table Church

Hello Living Hope family. I wanted to give you a brief update as the Table Church in west Germantown/East Memphis continues to take shape. We are so grateful for our sending church and covet all of the encouragement that we receive from you.  

First of all, where are we in this process? In one sense, we have no idea! God builds His Kingdom at His pace, which is scary and exciting to witness (mostly exciting). In another sense, we are moving ahead with what God has clearly called us to do. Working with our elders and Launch Team, we are developing our Mission, Vision, and Strategy–or the day-to-day rhythms of Table Church life. 

Simply stated, our Vision is to offer a table of grace and belonging on every street in our city. We are driven by a desire for everyone around us to have access to a place where they can know the grace available through Jesus and the belonging found among His people. We make room in the beautiful mess that is our lives, with an empty seat at our tables and enough food to go around.  

The Smiths hosted their first neighborhood party a few weeks ago and had around 20 neighbors attend. Two of these neighbors talked for the first time, and they had lived three doors from each other for over 20 years! Their next-door neighbors had been very standoffish, even failing to respond to friendly waves, but that entire family came to the cookout and were the last to leave. The Smiths are also experiencing the challenges that come with loving their neighbors, as others have some overwhelming needs that Austin and Brandi are wading into - not trying to fix everything, but engaging these new friends with love and trusting God to do what He does with seemingly impossible situations. 

God is doing so much among us that a brief article cannot begin to describe. If you’re interested in getting regular updates please email greg@tablechurchmemphis.com. You can also reach out if you are interested in joining our support team. Lastly, I ask You to ask God how He wants you to engage, welcome in and serve those around you who are outside of Christ and His family. Then reach out to Dakota Zook (dzook@lhchurch.com), Living Hope’s Gospel Community Pastor, for help with whatever God puts on your heart.

- Greg Jackson, Lead Pastor - The Table Church

Kleen Team

When I think about being a Kleen Team leader for all of these years, I believe the passion I have for it now should have been my attitude from the beginning. I use to think of Kleen Team as a much-needed obligation to be good stewards of the church budget, because everyone in the church has the ability to clean. I said ability not desire, right? However, my view and attitude have significantly changed.

Being part of the Kleen Team has become an honor. Cleaning an honor? I know many are thinking that. However, it has changed my view of how grateful I am for this church. It has changed my view of the importance of committing to a team. Most importantly, it has changed me into a church member that feels a level of respect for not just a building, but to contribute to what this building is and what it has to offer hundreds of people every week.

As changes to the Kleen team are happening, schedules are being changed, and a new group of volunteers are being recruited, my thoughts go to -this is OUR church, OUR responsibility, OUR ability to serve others, and OUR commitment to cherish a building that has been entrusted to US. 

Cleaning may not be your passion. If I am honest, it certainly is not mine. But, if you see this building as I do now, as a building entrusted to us by God, to reach its members, attendees, and the community at large by providing a clean and comfortable space to worship, learn, and serve, then the new Kleen team may be the perfect place for you.

- Amy Kraft

The Common

WE ARE 2 YEARS IN!!! WE MADE IT! We couldn’t have done this without your commitment to Church Planting. Thank you for your faithfulness and for being a part of God’s work that He is doing through us!

What’s next for The Common? As we begin to shift into our third year and new focus, there will be three areas of focus with a primary objective:

POWER of GOD - Word / POWER of CHRIST - Resurrection / POWER of the Holy Spirit - Do

The obvious objective here is POWER. The power we will focus on is the dunamis. The literal definition means the ability to perform, power to achieve by applying the Lord’s inherent abilities. We can only mobilize, with true dunamis/power, when we come together as a body to address the issues of Orange Mound. As we address the disconnect that exists, and confront the issues many refuse to acknowledge, we move by our faith in Jesus Christ. We know Him and love Him when we are together, and now it’s time to draw those in that are absent from the gathering.

In this third year we work to heal those not just broken in Orange Mound but in our families, those that watch our life moments through social media. Year three is displaying for a community that doubts the power of His Holy Spirit that we can “do all things through...” (Philippians 4:13).

We’re launching two new programs this year: a feeding program for the seniors (60 years and older) in Orange Mound, and a backpack program that will allow us to send food home with students of Melrose every Friday. On Sunday September 29 we will come out of the building and go into the homes of families in and around the Cherokee and Melrose area. We will be feeding, painting homes, and tending to yards as we take our worship to our neighbors. We will be a people that uses the power of the gospel by putting Acts 4:32 on display for our neighbors to see. In year three we plan to do the necessary things to draw people in so that they can experience true Biblical community. We have built within, now it’s time to go out and be a community that will not ignore the broken we see. We ask that you pray for us and for opportunities to connect with those that would not enter the doors of Melrose High School on a Sunday. Also consider joining us as we take the gospel community experience to those who won’t come in.

- Broderick Connesero, Preaching & Visionary Pastor, The Common

Southwest Elementary School

Last summer, my husband and I moved our family from Cordova to Fayette County. Having been engaged with the Living Hope community for several years, we found God calling us to make a deeper commitment to the people in homes and neighborhoods we drove past every Sunday.

When prayerfully considering where our family might start to invest our time and efforts to serve our new community here, we felt pulled to a local school because of its proximity to our home and Living Hope. Southwest Elementary School (SWES) serves hundreds of students in Fayette County, over 40% of them living in poverty. Teachers at SWES consistently go without basic supplies like copy paper, pencils, and instructional materials they need to teach their students. Despite their struggles, SWES achieved the highest level of growth and attendance possible last school year. These educators, students, and their families are fighting against the odds to achieve great things!

After reaching out to the principal at SWES in July to better understand the school’s needs, I hosted an adopt-a-teacher fundraiser through social media channels. The goal was to provide each educator at SWES with a $50 gift card to purchase materials they needed for their students and classrooms. Within one week, our fundraiser was halfway achieved. As I shared this news with our Gospel Community, one couple wrote a check to contribute. You can imagine my complete shock and amazement when I opened the folded check in the car on the way home from our GC meeting that night and realized that this one family had donated the remaining amount needed to reach our goal!

A few days later, I was able to visit Southwest Elementary with the gift cards and handwritten notes in hand. The joy in that small school office is something I hadn’t experienced in quite some time. The faculty and staff shared with me how the generosity of members of Living Hope and other people in our community is encouraging them in their work and empowering them to love their students well.

More than 5,600 people here in Fayette County are living in poverty. The needs are real, and the harvest is plentiful. I look forward to many more opportunities to serve the staff and students of Southwest Elementary and hope you’ll find ways to be a part of this ministry, too!

- Ellie Talley

Summer Missions Recap

“Watch to see where God is working and join Him.” These words were challenging many years ago when working through Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God study; they remain challenging today. God is working in countless ways around us locally and throughout the world. In our busy day-to-day lives, perhaps we fail to “watch to see where God is working,” and therefore, fail to “join Him.” 

There is a lot of great gospel ministry going on in our midst and among Living Hope ministry and missions partners around the world. Have you considered going on a mission trip or volunteering to serve in a local ministry? You may have to say “no” to some of the activities that claim your attention in order to say “yes” to a call from God. When the prophet Isaiah heard God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” he readily replied, “Here I am! Send me.” God still calls us to carry the gospel message to others near and far. What is your response? A good number of Living Hopers answered the call to go on a short term mission trip this summer. Likewise, others answered the call to prayerfully and financially support someone else to go. 

In Querétaro, Mexico we were able to serve alongside our partners to reach into their communities. The painting, landscaping, and VBS activities were not an end unto themselves. Such activities provided opportunities to foster relationships, to encourage our partners, and to plant seeds of the gospel into their respective communities. Likewise, in Eldoret, Kenya we were able to encourage orphans,  caregivers, prisoners, residents of slums and villages, as well as children in the local school and church. Mission team members found themselves the recipients of blessing as much as the people they served. God is indeed at work in Mexico and Kenya!

Regardless of life’s circumstances, there are avenues for joining in God’s work…just watch and see where He is working, and join Him! 

- Alan May, Missions Administrator

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. Psalm 96:3

LH Students

This summer at United we got a glimpse of what God is doing in the student ministry and it was glorious. New and deeper friendships forming, students working through what the gospel means for their lives, and real worship of Jesus was the sweetest way to end a great summer. 

I am fully convinced that we have the greatest students ever. They each bring something different that the group needs and we want to see them all living in Christ’s resurrection power. I get to have a front row seat to what God is doing in the middle school girls and it absolutely amazes me how much they’ve grown this year and what God is starting in them. And that’s just one group! The Spirit is moving throughout the entire ministry. God has been so faithful in the past year and it is truly only the beginning. It is such an honor to get to be a part of it. 

This is the rising generation and if you aren’t already investing in them in prayer I encourage you to start now. Our team is filled with anticipation for what God is going to do. As we walk through Luke this semester, go to Rally Weekend (sign your student up now ;) ), and continue to pack out Freddy’s once a month, pray that students grow together and are utterly captivated by the gospel. 

Come now, for all we’ve seen we ain’t seen nothing yet. 

Bring your praise for what He might do next. - Ready or Not, Hillsong United

- Emma Stopher - Middle School Girls Director

LH Kids - Come Join Us

My family had a rough 2018. A serious health diagnosis for my husband combined with the loss of some close friendships for both me and our son eventually led to feelings of loneliness and depression throughout our home. We were in a hard place. 

Fortunately, we were blessed by some caring people here at Living Hope who stepped in and truly acted as Jesus’ hands and feet. They prayed for us, offered wise counsel, and just loved on us by listening to our hurting hearts. The gift of their presence and prayers was a real comfort and reminder that regardless of how we felt, we were absolutely not alone. What a difference their compassion made in our lives! In fact, I believe my son’s life was literally saved by it. 

So it was only natural, when I learned that the LHKids program was growing and that more volunteers were desperately needed, that I wanted very much to give back to this church that had done so much to minister to my own family in our time of need. I wanted to express my gratitude to God by meeting the church where IT had a need, serving young families with babies in LHKids. 

I love that it has never really felt like a job or an obligation. I have found so much joy in watching these babies grow and learning more about their unique personalities and preferences every time I am with them. It makes my heart happy to know that the time I am spending caring for them in the classroom gives their parents the freedom to go and enjoy worship without a care or distraction. 

One of the first people I met in the infant room joked that we (volunteers) have a small group of our own in there and she was right. Each week while we play with the children we catch up with each other and share prayer requests. It’s great! Serving in LHKids has absolutely been the best way for me to meet others at church. I get to enjoy fellowship with other volunteers while building relationships with the parents of the babies I help care for! 

Recently, I felt led to begin praying for each little one I’m holding--that they would grow to love the Lord and His Word, and enjoy strong, healthy relationships with their families. Yes, I love my “job.”

Come join us?

- Amy Hale

LH Kids

Our vision for the kids of Living Hope is that from birth to grade 5, each child would see the beauty and love of God, and know His redemptive plan as revealed through the Gospel. We do this through God-focused, Christ-centered, and Holy Spirit directed teaching in an age appropriate way that reinforces all of the Bible as God’s story and how each child fits into His Story. Every Sunday, men and women arrive to Living Hope early to set up classrooms, gather teaching aides and craft supplies in order to teach and minister to over 150 children. We are so grateful to those of you who have sacrificially served and taught and cared for the kids of Living Hope. 

Two of our long time volunteers share why they teach kids at Living Hope...

Nurturing…it is what I do. Caring for pets and plants is good training…dogs require more attention than cats, ferns require more water than cacti to thrive...you get the idea. As a teacher in Hope Park’s Younger Ones class, I likewise love to figure out what soothes a child that experiences separation anxiety. One wants to be held, another needs to be distracted with toys and activity, yet others respond to music or strolling. Parents, moms particularly, are better able to engage in worship when they know their little ones are in good hands, being loved and nurtured. 

- Alan May

I have worked in Hope Park Preschool since the early days of Living Hope. My time has always been with the three year olds. To me, that is a great age for children to begin to understand the Gospel. One of the greatest joys for me is to hear them say the name of Jesus. An example is when I explain the Easter story, including the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, as best I can on their level. It is amazing when I finish and ask them is Jesus still dead and I get a resounding , “No, Mr. Keith, Jesus is alive!” That makes is all worthwhile.

- Keith Hamsley

If you’re interested in being a part of LH Kids, visit lhchurch.com/kids today!

LH Women's Retreat

Women from Living Hope gathered for an overnight retreat and of course, all the amazing things happened…new relationships formed, existing relationships deepened, amazing food was eaten (that we didn’t have to prepare!) and testimonies were bravely shared. I’m in awe of the stories told from the women in our Living Hope body. 

This past fall, LH Women completed a study in Judges. I couldn’t help but contrast the difference between the Israelites in Judges and the women at the retreat.  The Israelites chose not to share their testimonies and disaster ensued. I looked up at the stage listening to women bare their hearts and could only imagine the souls that were transformed from the words that were shared. 

I’ve never heard a testimony from anyone in my family. I may in fact be the only Christian in my entire family…including grandparents and great grandparents. As a parent, I find it unimaginable to not share how the Lord has redeemed me with my son. It makes me wonder, how many souls are inside those pearly gates that came to know the Lord through hearing someone else’s testimony. Our stories show how the Lord redeemed, healed, restored, and made us a new creation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:15 tell us to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” People need to hear our stories. They need to hear the everlasting hope in how we have been redeemed and restored! 

This life is the journey that God set aside for YOU before the foundations of the earth were ever formed. He is entrusting you with a story…YOUR story. The hard memories that we are scared to share, are the first ones we need to talk about. The bondage the enemy is using as a stronghold to keep you quiet, let’s release it. Let’s experience freedom, like never before, where those around us…know us - truly know us. What if, church, we actually did this? The Lord has prompted me to share my testimony since the women’s retreat and it’s has been remarkable to see how the Lord has already used it in that short time. And let me just warn you, once you are ready and willing…he may flood your path with opportunity. 

- Lorie Worden

Cooperative Outreach of India

Church planting movement is an organic Holy Spirit inspired action through church leaders & members who are motivated to share the gospel message through their testimony & prayer among their neighbours, people groups or unengaged village communities around them.

COI’s church planting movement began in 1998 through discipleship, mentoring and recruitment of various native leaders who were motivated to plant churches in their neighbourhood, cities and share the gospel message around them. Due to the superstitious nature of our culture, idol worship & black magic prevalent across the country people are confused about salvation, abused by various religious priests & seem to be stuck in the reincarnation cycle. What this means is that many people, families & communities are usually oppressed by evil spirits for some it could mean that they can’t have children, for some literally demon possession, oppressed by various physical ailments & diseases and for some evil oppression in the homes. In this scenario when some one offers a prayer of peace or invites a non-believer to a worship gathering and when people start experiencing supernatural healing, peace & escape from demon possession they not only bring their families to hear about the salvation received in Jesus Christ but they become actively involved in sharing of their faith among their relatives, neighbours and villages.

This is a brief intro into the church planting movement that we have experienced in India over the years similar to how we read in the book of ACTS. The challenge here is to make certain that our leaders are periodically theologically equipped and continue to promote healthy christian doctrines so that they can promote healthy church culture also recognise & recruit new native leaders who can then willingly take the good news further into hostile regions. We will be sending out our newsletter which will give you some insight how the church planting movement over the years spread into NEPAL from year 2009 onwards. We are now formalising some of our leadership training modules, children’s projects & skill development centres for women that allows us to bring communities out of poverty also disciple them to continue to grow in their knowledge of Christ through years of interaction and weekly engagement.

COI baptizes over 1000 individuals each year from various cities across India through the discipleship & church planting efforts of our team now spreading into western NEPAL.

- Ravi Landge