So, how do I get started?

Please know you are always welcome—no matter who you are, what you believe, or where you are from! Since our mission is to love people, we strive to make our church welcoming to everyone.

With that said, please show up just as you are. People sometimes ask what they should wear. In Flagstaff, unless it’s a wedding or a funeral, people typically dress casual. At Hope, some ladies wear dresses, some don’t; some people wear jeans, some don’t. And once in a great while, our pastor wears a suit and tie!

Times:

Our Sunday service starts at 11:00 am. We typically end around 12:30 pm.

On the 2nd Sunday of the month we celebrate communion.

So, what’s this church about?

It’s about the God of the Bible, and his saving work in people’s lives. We believe life was created and designed by God to bring glory to himself and consequently blessings for us. He is the central focus of all creation; his purposes are/will be accomplished in each of our lives—that’s comforting! HCC is about discovering our place in history as well as God’s unfolding work today. Therefore, we believe God’s plan to restore the world to himself unfolds through the ministry of his Son and his Spirit through us his followers. Without God’s help, we believe none of us would have a chance of knowing him and living our lives entirely for him!  So we follow our Savior as a community of disciples who look forward to Jesus’ return as “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords”, and yet we celebrate our life now as citizens of God’s present and unfolding kingdom.

So, how does this church work?

The short answer is teams of people. We believe the best way to implement our mission is through loving, collaborative teams. So we have identified six core teams that enable us to carry out the basic functions of a church—worship, education, outreach, fellowship, building and finance. Our team of elders and deacons (called the Council) oversees the teams as they seek the Lord through his Word and prayer. 

When people begin to attend Hope and decide it’s the church the Lord has led them to, we encourage them to actively serve him. Their service could be at the church, but we understand it might be through their workplace, it might be focused on their home, or they may even need a season of rest in their lives. But when ready, we encourage them to serve as the Lord has S.H.A.P.E.’d them—their Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences[1]. Since we follow a God who never wastes anything in our lives, we believe he seeks to redeem all of us, (including our failures and pain) for his glory. 

The way in which our church works towards its mission is important too. This is why we have identified four core values that guide how we treat one another in ministry. Therefore, we strive to foster a culture of integrity, collaboration, conflict management, and excellence. These qualities help create a safe culture for individuals and families to grow in the faith at Hope! 

We understand every one’s S.H.A.P.E. is going to influence how they see challenges and go about making decisions and solving problems. It is inevitable that misunderstandings will occur, mistakes will be made and at times we’ll fail one another as we strive together to follow Christ and his mission. How we address the conflict should be guided by biblical principles and promote unity. Therefore, we have identified those principles and have covenanted together to work through our conflict in peaceful ways.

Wow, this sounds like a lot of work! We don’t believe work is a result Adam’s sin (Though we sure wish the conditions would not have changed.) We work because we’re made in God’s image. Therefore, we see joining God’s work as a privilege and something we want to approach with all of our hearts (see Colossians 3:17 and 23). Actively depending upon God’s help, we believe serving him is the most fulfilling way of saying “Thank you” to the One who sacrificially loves us. It’s how we experience God’s grace as we build friendships and memories that matter for eternity.

[1] Our materials are based upon the model taught by Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA (www.saddleback.com).

Vision

We desire to be and make disciples who grow in health and number for the sake of furthering God’s kingdom. Our focus is on developing leaders (who will lead key ministry teams that serve our church and community), and discipleship-driven small groups. It is our goal that all of ministry be governed by love and empowered by prayer.

As we grow at Hope, we want to keep growing in our service to our community. We believe the best way to grow a church is to follow God’s work in our individual lives and the ways He moves us a church to serve others. Our culture is not a “go to church” culture. Therefore, our church seeks to nurture an “engage and love the community” culture.

Mission

Bill Maher says the main reason people meet together in church is just to make each other feel good about believing in a nonsensical faith that only exists because they perpetuate it. Maher’s experience probably includes churches where the mission of becoming and making disciples has been replaced with a focus on relationships primarily within the church. When this happens, they function less as a church and more like a club; they just use God for the theme of their meetings and community involvement. Like a civic club, the members of a church club are the owners (even though Jesus owns the church). In a church club the longer your membership and/or the more dues you pay, the more power/influence you have over the organization’s direction (even though the Bible teaches that churches are to be led by teams of gifted, mature Christians). Decisions made in club churches come by consensus (versus shared times in prayer and the Word). They depend upon the resources of the members; reason and fear trumps faith. Club churches are common; disciple-making churches are not. Churches focused on Christ’s mission of love and discipleship have to work hard at engaging their community and world. They see past their differences to the lost world around them, pushing past their comfort levels into new levels of faith and loving engagement. This is the life we are called as believers to share. May our fellowship encourage one another to carry out Christ’s mission.

1) As a church family, we are here to love God by obeying him and loving others. We believe Jesus is God and we want his life and teachings to impact every area of our lives. The passage below is the reason why we believe this:

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”(Matthew 22:34-40)

2) As a church family, we are here to help others follow Jesus. We do this by loving them in his name and telling them about his story and his faithfulness in our lives. The passage below is the reason why we believe this:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

We are convinced these two “commandments” to love God/others, and make disciples should govern everything we do as a church—both when we’re gathered together corporately, and when we’re on our own individually. We do this with a confident hope rooted in Jesus’ advents, that secure our identity and empower our love.

History

We are a part of the Christian Reformed Church denomination (see www.crcna.org for more details). Historically, our churches came from the Netherlands. But today, although many of our members in the Midwest are still from Dutch backgrounds, we can’t honestly be called a Dutch church – unless we’re also called a Korean church, a Navajo church, a Southeast Asian church, a French-Canadian church, a Hispanic-American church, an African-American church, a melting pot church.

More important to us than such ethnic badges is our place as one branch of the tree that started growing on Pentecost, almost twenty centuries ago.

The early Christian church was like the single trunk of that tree. After about 1,000 years of growth, the trunk divided into two major branches – the Eastern and the Western churches. In 1517 the Protestant Reformation divided the Western (or Roman) church into several new branches. One of these Reformation branches, formed under Martin Luther’s influence, was called the Lutheran church. Another branch developed under the influence of Ulrich Zwingli and later John Calvin. These churches were called “Presbyterian” in Scotland and “Reformed” in continental Europe. The Reformed churches flourished in the Netherlands. In the middle 1800s, some of these Dutch Reformed people moved to the United States, and in 1857 they started the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) includes approximately one thousand congregations across the United States and Canada. About 75 percent of the churches are in the United States; 25 percent are in Canada. We’re one of only a few bi-national denominations: rather than split into different churches at the 49th parallel, we’re united.

In 1966, several families in Flagstaff joined together with the strong conviction that God was calling them to start a new church. Their first meetings were in the Thomas Elementary School. With help from the Denomination’s mission board and a lot of sacrifice, they moved into the present building in 1972, and added the educational wing in 1983. Approximately 20 families were in attendance at that time.

Several pastors have served Hope Community Church (It was called Flagstaff Christian Reformed Church up to 1993.)—Rev. William Heersink (1968-75), Rev. Stan DeVries (1976-78), Rev. Don Klop (1980-85), Rev. Fred Walhof (1986-2004), Rev. Randy Raak (2006-2010) and Rev. Dave Reynolds (2010 to 2022).

Faith & Practice Statement 

1. The Word of God. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation and the supreme and final authority infallible in all matters to which they speak (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

2. The Trinity. We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that they are equal in every divine perfection and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption (Dt. 6:4; 2 Cor. 13:14).

3. God the Father. We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 4:24; John 14:6).

4. Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son, and has precisely the same nature, attributes and perfection’s as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. We believe further that He is not only true God, but true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We also believe in His sinless life, His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension into heaven, His priestly intercession on behalf of His people and His personal, visible return from heaven (John 1,2,14; Luke 1:35; Rom. 3:24-25; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-59).

5. Holy Spirit. We believe in the Holy Spirit, His personality and His work in regeneration, sanctification and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and implement Christ’s work of redeeming the lost and empowering the believer for godly living and service (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 1:13-14; 5:18-20).

6. Humankind. We believe God created all people equally, male and female, in the image of God. We further believe all people are sinners by nature and choice and are therefore spiritually dead. We also believe that those who repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior demonstrate they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we seek to love and respect all people without discrimination while encouraging every person to turn from every form of sin to the grace found only in Jesus Christ (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23; Eph. 2:1-12).

7. Marriage and Sexuality. We believe that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman, and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is immoral and therefore sin (Gen. 2:24-25; Ex. 20:14, 17, 22:19; Lev. 18:22-23, 20:13, 15-16; Matt. 19:4-6, 9; Rom. 1:18-31; I Cor. 6:9-10, 15-20; I Tim. 1:8-11; Jude 7). We believe that God created the human race male and female and that all conduct with the intent to adopt a gender other than one’s birth gender is immoral and therefore sin (Gen. 1:27; Deut. 22:5).

8. Salvation. We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We further believe that this salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, was purchased by Christ on the cross and is received by man through faith, apart from any human merit, works, or ritual. We believe salvation results in righteous living, good works and proper social concern. We believe that all true believers, once saved shall be kept by the power of God, forever secure (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14; John 1:12; Rom. 8:1,38-39; John 10:27-30; 1 Cor. 1:4-8).

9. The Church. We believe that the Church is a spiritual body of which Christ is the head. We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through saving faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that this body expresses itself in local assemblies through worship, fellowship, instruction, evangelism and service. We believe the sacraments and ordinances of the local Church are believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe Jesus is the only head of the local church. Believers, moved by love/grace, follow Him through mutual submission.

10. The Personality and Reality of Satan. We believe that Satan is a fallen angel.  He he led our first parents into transgression, thereby accomplishing their moral fall and subjecting them and their posterity to his power. We further believe that he is the accuser and enemy of God and the people of God (Rev. 12:9-10; Matt. 4:2-11; Isa. 14:12-17; John 8:44; Gen. 3:1-19; Rom. 5:12-14; Eph. 6:10-12).

11. Last Things. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and lost, the eternal existence of all people either in heaven or hell, in divine judgments, rewards and punishments (Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 20:15; 22:3-5, 11).

12. As a member church of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, we believe the theological document Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony best explains these above summary statements (See https://www.crcna.org/sites/default/files/our_world_belongs_to_god_2008_version.pdfto download a copy.)

Team Ministry

Our Mission is implemented by our Teams

         Our Teams discover our Vision

                   Our Core Values guide how we work together

Just as restaurants serve food, and hotels provide a place to sleep, the core mission of churches is to be disciples and to make disciples. The people of God are called to love God (and consequently their neighbors) with all of their hearts (Matt. 22:34-40). Yet, without the help of God’s Spirit and other believers, we fail on our own; we’re simply not made to go it alone. This is why God placed us together as His family, much like the many members that make up a person’s body (1 Corinthians 12). Churches can easily go “off mission.” This happens when our focus is distracted from basic discipleship and turned towards routine, pleasing personalities, buildings, money, the past, fear of the future etc. Jesus said:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Churches “on mission” remain focused on this basic call of Christ. This requires utilizing their resources (people especially, finances, building etc.) to further God’s “Great Commission”. Following biblical principles and the Spirit’s leading, they grow their worship, fellowship, education, and outreach into the community much like the influence salt and light have on their environment. Churches are made to love God and further His kingdom by loving people. Yet in essence church is not a social club; it’s not a humanitarian group; it’s not a school; nor is it just a good cause started in the past that needs to be perpetuated somehow. Churches, though organized, are a living organism, the very presence of Christ throughout the earth! 

Since its inception Hope Community Church has been structured to be run by collaborative teams that are committed to its mission. In order for a team to be effective it has to have capable leaders who have been given the authority and resources to fulfill their responsibilities. Healthy teams have the potential of becoming more than task-oriented groups. Members on teams can become much more than “volunteers” seeking only friendship and opportunity to do good works. They can grow into their spiritual gifts and discover new purpose and fresh calling from God. In the process, they develop more than friendships; they develop true fellowship. This occurs when we are bound together with the shared goal of participating in God’s work. These teams creatively work alongside the other teams to carry out the church’s mission in Jesus’ name.

Collaborative teams require structure, training, and a lot of hard work! Jesus’ call to mission always does. So please pray and ask the Lord to guide you as you consider serving at Hope Community Church on one of these vital teams.

"If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. –1 Corinthians 12:19-20
The secret is to gang up on the problem, rather than each other."

 –Thomas Stalkamp

Worship Team

Providing creative, inspiring worship services requires people who prayerfully coordinate the room, bulletin, audio/visual systems, music and message with the order and focus of the service. Please consider this if you are creative, like to do public readings etc., enjoy technology or like to organize.

Fellowship Team

Planning social activities that bring people together around their faith requires a team with creative, outgoing members. If you enjoy coordinating and serving at game nights, specialty trips, holiday celebrations, and meals, please consider serving on this team.

Education Team

If you believe there’s more to discipleship than children’s Sunday school, yet your heart pounds faster when you see a child learn and sing of God’s love then consider this team. A teachable spirit, reliable schedule, and commitment to change the lives of all ages describe these team members.

Outreach Team

Giving a cup of water in Jesus’ name is simple. Coordinating a group event that brings resources and the gospel to the needy requires much more preparation.   Ongoing ministry events and training that provide assistance and witness to the gospel call for a dedicated team of people. Join and make a difference!

Building Team

We can do church without a building—all we need is people. Yet we recognize buildings are effective tools in helping the church to carry out its mission. If you have specific talents or just want to lend a hand, please join the Building Team. Our bulletin and prayer sheet post ongoing projects and needs.

Financial Team

As Christians, we believe God, not money, “makes the world go round”. Good stewardship recognizes both the bill in the mail and the faithful heart of our Good Shepherd. If you can help people use their money wisely, and want to help our church use its resources effectively, this team needs your service.

Healthy churches are both attractional and missional in their approach to carrying out Jesus’ “Great Commission”. An active team ministry helps us to keep this balance.

Team Health

For teams to be effective, they require the right people and the right working environment*:

1. The people on the team have to be given the authority to make and follow through with the responsibilities given. This requires the team to understand the church’s mission, vision, and core values as well as its collaborative role with the council.
2. The people on the team have to commit to the team—to its purpose and to its people. Ideally, our teams should be between 4-6.
3. Each team needs to create a specific vision for their area of oversight. When teams get excited about their part of the mission, they dream, plan, budget, schedule, and carry out their “vision within the Vision”.
4. In order to do this, we have to emphasize core values that promote collaboration. This means, we have to teach people (or free them up) to collaborate when working together, interacting, solving problems, and making decisions.
5. Teams help people to grow into their spiritual gifts. Teams become a part of discipling when led from a mature, Christian perspective.
6. Teams need structure—that requires leadership at the team level and at the council level. Teams without leaders become dysfunctional and take away from (instead of implementing) the mission. The council needs to facilitate who is in charge and help keep that balance through servant leadership.

*Concepts adapted from an article in National Institute of Justice Journal, July 2004.

Team Descriptions

RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNCIL

President

1. See that the stipulations of the Church Order are followed.

2. Be certain that any motion considered by either the Council or the Congregation is clear, understandable or that the body knows its precise meaning.

3. Prepare the agenda for Council meetings.

4. Prepare, with the Council, the agenda for Congregational meetings.

5. Preside at meetings of Council.

6. Preside at Congregational meetings.

7. Sign any necessary legal and/or contractual agreements on behalf of the Church.

Vice-President

The Vice-President is to fill the role and undertake the responsibilities of the President or Clerk when they are unable to do so.

Clerk

1. Take official minutes at each meeting of Council and Congregation.

2. Oversee quality and accuracy of official correspondence of the Church.

3. Maintain the record book of policies and procedures and see that new personnel are given the appropriate material.

4. Maintain the church membership records [see Articles 66, 68 of the Church Order].

5. Give the Home Mission Board secretary addresses of families moving where no CRC is located.

6. See to the proper filing and safekeeping of church records.

7. Report yearbook statistics as of August 31 and due to the office of the denominational Executive Secretary by October 15.

8. Assure corporation status papers are filed by April 15th of each year.

9. In January sign the tax exemption application on church and parsonage at the Assessor’s office.

10. Send thank you letters for special contributions from persons and churches not in attendance [appreciation for other special gifts should be put in the bulletin].

GENERAL POLICIES FOR ALL MINISTRY TEAMS

1. Each team shall have a chairperson appointed by the Council.

2. Each team shall determine a meeting schedule preferably monthly [but at least once a quarter].

3. Meetings shall be announced in the bulletin and placed on the monthly calendar.

4. The chairperson may call special team meetings.

5. Fellowship Team and Building and Grounds Team shall prepare a written quarterly report for Council. All other teams shall keep regular minutes of their meetings and submit them to the next scheduled meeting of Council. They should be distributed to each member of the team and Council.

6. Decisions that might be controversial or involve major changes must be submitted to the Council for approval before implementation.

7. Before the October meeting of Council, teams should evaluate their goals and activities before the next fiscal year and prepare a budget; they must present this budget to Council by Sept. 1st.

8. Team terms are one year, beginning in June. Membership on a team may come about through the willingness to serve, (or serve another term) or the solicitation of volunteers by the chairperson or Council.

9. The pastor may attend team meetings and serve as adviser to each team.

10. Teams, in fulfilling their jobs and responsibilities shall make every attempt to draw on the gifts and time of others in the church and community.

11. Teams shall be free to operate within their approved annual budget; permission to exceed the budget must be obtained from Council before additional expenditures are made.

12. Each team shall review its mission and responsibilities twice a year. Suggested changes must be brought to the Council as recommendations.

13. The abuse policy shall be reviewed annually by each team and implemented as appropriate for that team.

14. Each team shall review the church’s mission statement, core values and their own vision statement twice a year. They shall discuss how that team’s efforts and activities are helping to implement the church’s mission.

15. Create and propose a team budget to the Council by their September meeting.

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS MINISTRY TEAM 

Purpose:  To pray, plan and work for action that cares for the Church properties in such a way that an attractive image in the community is maintained and the other ministries of the Church are properly equipped and maintained.

Responsibilities*:

1. This team shall be responsible for the maintenance, security and repair of all Church buildings, grounds, furnishings, facilities, equipment and signs.  This includes:

   1. Maintaining indoor and outdoor lights and time clocks

   2. Arranging for semi-annual church and grounds cleaning

   3. Arranging for cleaning or replacing furnace filters and oiling the blower motors

   4. Arranging for preparing, planting and watering flower beds and shrubs

   5. Arranging for snow removal from parking lot and sidewalks.

2. The entire team shall examine the Church periodically, Church grounds and other property owned by the Church as to the need for repair, replacement of new facilities and report the same with recommendations to Council.

3. They shall supervise the work of the custodian, receiving suggestions from and making recommendations to this person[s].

4. They shall receive all requests for outside use of any church facility and obtain concurrence from Council.

5. They shall maintain an inventory of Church keys.

6. They shall make an annual appraisal prior to renewal date of insurance policies and report suggestions or changes to Council.

7. The team is responsible for the purchase of cleaning and maintenance supplies (including bathrooms).

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams

EDUCATION MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: to pray, plan (including budget), and work out activities that nurture both children and adults in the knowledge of God and His ways so that they will profess Christ as Savior and Lord and be His witnesses, and to continually look for opportunities to impact the Church and community through Bible study, fellowship and wholesome activities.

Responsibilities*:

1. Sunday school —

2. Recruiting teachers.

3. Supervising the purchase of study materials and supplies

4. Approving class divisions.

5. Bible Clubs and youth groups –

6. Organizing, including recruitment of staff

7. Planning periodic activity nights

8. Children –

9. Coordinating staffing and supplies for the nursery.

10. Assessing possibility of VBS for our church, or in conjunction with other churches.

11. Planning substitute summer activities for children if VBS is not held.

12. Overseeing the nursery attendant [yearly contract, supervision]

13. Adults –

14. Securing leaders and teachers for the adult Sunday school class

15. Overseeing mid-week small groups [leaders and study materials].

16. Planning and implementing church retreats for adults and/or families.

17. Working with the Outreach Team to set up a small group for people with special needs [e.g. cancer, depression, fibromyalgia, etc.] as needed

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams

FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: To pray, plan and work towards drawing all those who attend Hope Community Church into a genuine family relationship with each other and God.

Responsibilities*:

1. Planning periodic activities to promote fellowship [e.g. potlucks, game nights, holiday functions, colors picnics – place and food].

2. Being responsible for purchasing kitchen supplies and for preparing coffee and snacks on Sunday mornings.

3. Arranging for special observances in the church family of such things as confession of faith, membership, death, illness, graduation, leave taking, etc.

4. Supervising the use of cupboards and appliances in the kitchen.

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams

FINANCIAL TEAM

Purpose: To advise the Council on matters pertaining to the annual church budget, and assist the Council with financial decisions throughout the year on an “as needed” basis.

Responsibilities*:

1. Recommend investment policies;

2. Study and recommend debt reduction policies;

3. Develop long-range plans for developing the Church’s facilities financial health.

The Finance Team meets as needed.

*See General Policies for Teams

OUTREACH MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: to pray, plan and work for attitudes and activities that enable the Church to fulfill the Great Commission and to go and make followers of Jesus Christ [Matthew 28:19] and to be effective witnesses for Jesus [Acts 1:8], making use of all appropriate means [1 Corinthians 9:19-23].

Responsibilities*:

1. Investigate and select materials to be used for equipping the people of the Church to witness effectively, and then begin an ongoing program of training and equipping.

2. Work with the Worship Planning Team to develop quarterly worship services focused on missions and the support of missions.

3. Regularly make available information about mission involved locally, nationally and globally.

4. Encouraging all the activities and groups of the Church to be open to, welcoming of and willing to enfold those who are new to the Gospel and the Church and those who are without a Church home.

5. Preparing and keeping available a brochure that gives appropriate information about the Church and the Gospel for visitors and people in the community.

6. Working with the deacons on ‘deed’ ministries that provide help for people in need and that promote social justice. For example:

7. Providing suggestions for missionaries the Church can support and helping the Church family to be encouraging of, and supportive towards those missionaries we do support.

8. Missions (World Renew ministries in Bangladesh, and My Missionary Online)

9. Investigating and recommending to the Council ways in which we can best advertise in the community our presence and our mission.

*See General Policies for all Ministry teams

WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM

Purpose: to pray, plan, recruit and work for worship services that glorify God, inspire his people and develop deeper commitment to HCC’s mission.

Responsibilities*:

1. Developing worship services, which include variety and participation.

2. Planning services related to special calendar and religious days (Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter).

3. Working with the Outreach Ministry Team to develop quarterly worship services focused on missions and the support of missions.

4. Recruiting and coordinating worship leaders and special music (including additional instrumentation whenever possible.)

5. Maintaining worship instruments, and A/V system.

6. Scheduling greeters and candle-lighters.

7. Shall schedule those responsible for PowerPoint and sound system for each Sunday; shall oversee the training of new operators.

*See General Policies for all Ministry Teams

S.H.A.P.E.

See S.H.A.P.E. description and resources at SHAPE | Saddleback Resources (https://www.amazon.com/S-H-P-Finding-Fulfilling-Purpose/dp/0310292484).

For free resources go to: www.freeshapetest.com

Resolving Conflict

HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH’S COMMITMENT TO BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION*

Hope Community Church is committed to resolving conflict in a way that glorifies the Lord, edifies the body of Christ and reflects the principles laid out in Scripture. Since all relationships including those among believers will be faced with disagreements at different times, all Hope Members, as followers of Christ, commit to the following biblical principles as a guide for resolving these issues. We trust that the following information will serve as a continual resource for you as you purpose to serve others, grow personally and glorify the Lord in the context of conflict.

SEE CONFLICT AS AN OPPORTUNITY—As people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict. We also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like Christ. Therefore, in response to God’s love and in reliance on His grace, we commit ourselves to respond to conflict according to the following principles:

GLORIFY GOD – Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will seek to please and honor God – by depending on His wisdom, power, and love; by faithfully obeying His commands; and by seeking to maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.

GET THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE – Instead of attacking others or dwelling on their wrongs, we will take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts – confessing our sins, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.

GO AND SHOW YOUR BROTHER HIS FAULT – Instead of pretending that conflict doesn’t exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will choose to overlook minor offenses, or we will talk directly and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook. When a conflict with another Christian cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a biblical manner.

GO AND BE RECONCILED – Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation – forgiving others as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our differences.

By God’s grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship, realizing that conflict is an opportunity, not an accident. We will remember that success, in God’s eyes, is not a matter of specific results but of faithful, dependent obedience. And we will pray that our service as peacemakers brings praise to our Lord and leads others to know His infinite love.

________________________

*Adapted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, by Ken Sande and “The Lord of the Ring” series by Todd Wagner, pastor of Watermark Community Church

SEE CONFLICT AS AN OPPORTUNITY

Conflict is not necessarily bad or destructive. Even when conflict is caused by sin and causes a great deal of stress, God can use it for good (see Rom. 8:28-29). As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, conflict actually provides three significant opportunities. By God’s grace, you can use conflict to:

• Glorify God (by trusting, obeying, and imitating Him)

• Serve other people (by helping to bear their burdens or by confronting them in love)

• Grow to be like Christ (by confessing sin and turning from attitudes that promote conflict)

These concepts are totally overlooked in most conflicts because people naturally focus on escaping from the situation or overcoming their opponent. Therefore, it is wise to periodically step back from a conflict and ask yourself whether you are doing all that you can to take advantage of these special opportunities.

GLORIFY GOD

When the Apostle Paul urged the Corinthians to live “to the glory of God,” he was not talking about one hour on Sunday morning. He wanted them to show God honor and bring Him praise in day-to-day life, especially by the way that they resolved personal conflicts (1 Cor. 10:31).

As mentioned above, you can glorify God in the midst of conflict by trusting Him, obeying Him, and imitating Him (see Prov. 3:4-6; John 14:15; Eph. 5:1). One of the best ways to keep these concerns uppermost in your mind is to regularly ask yourself this focusing question: “How can I please and honor the Lord in this situation?”

GET THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE

One of the most challenging principles of peacemaking is set forth in Matthew 7:5, where Jesus says, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” There are generally two kinds of logs you need to look for when dealing with conflict. First, you need to ask whether you have had a critical, negative, or overly sensitive attitude that has led to unnecessary conflict. One of the best ways to do this is to spend some time meditating on Philippians 4:29, which describes the kind of attitude Christians should have even when they are involved in a conflict. The second kind of log you must deal with is actual sinful words and actions. Because you are often blind to your own sins, you may need an honest friend or advisor who will help you to take an objective look at yourself and face up to your contribution to a conflict.

When you identify ways that you have wronged another person, it is important to admit your wrongs honestly and thoroughly. One way to do this is to use the Six A’s of Confession:

• Address everyone involved (Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:8-9)

• Avoid “if”, “but”, and “maybe” (Don’t make excuses; Luke 15:11-24)

• Admit specifically (both attitudes and actions)

• Apologize (express sorrow for the way you affected someone)

• Accept the consequences (Luke 19:1-9)

• Alter your behavior (commit to changing harmful habits; Eph. 4:22-32)

As God guides and empowers these efforts, you can find freedom from the idols that fuel conflict and be motivated to make choices that will please and honor Christ. This change in heart will usually speed a resolution to a present problem, and at the same time improve your ability to avoid similar conflicts in the future.

GO AND SHOW YOUR BROTHER HIS FAULT

Overlook Minor Offenses:

Another key principle of peacemaking involves an effort to help others understand how they have contributed to a conflict. Before you rush off to confront someone, however, remember that it is appropriate to overlook minor offenses (Prov. 19:11). As a general rule, an offense should be overlooked if you can answer “no” to all of the following questions:

• Is the offense seriously dishonoring God?

• Has it permanently damaged a relationship?

• Is it seriously hurting other people?

• Is it seriously hurting the offender himself?

Talk in Private:

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, an offense is too serious to overlook, in which case God commands you to go and talk with the offender privately and lovingly about the situation (see Matt. 18:15). As you do so, remember to:

• Pray for humility and wisdom (1 Peter 5:5)

• Plan your words carefully–think of how you would want to be confronted (Prov. 15:1-2; 16:23)

• Anticipate likely reactions and plan appropriate responses– rehearsals can be very helpful (Prov. 20:18)

• Choose the right time and place–talk in person whenever possible (Prov. 16:21; 27:12)

• Assume the best about the other person until you have facts to prove otherwise (Prov. 18:17)

• Listen carefully (Prov. 18:13)

• Speak only to build others up (Eph. 4:29)

• Ask for feedback from the other person (Prov. 18:2)

• Trust God (Psalm 37:3)

Take Others Along (Matthew 18:17):

If an initial confrontation does not resolve a conflict, do not give up. Review what was said and done, and look for ways to make a better approach during a follow up conversation. It may also be wise to ask a spiritually mature friend for advice on how to approach the other person more effectively. Then try again with even stronger prayer support.

If repeated, careful attempts at a private discussion are not fruitful, and if the matter is still too serious to overlook, you should ask one or two other people to meet with you and your opponent and help you to resolve your differences through mediation, arbitration, or church discipline (Matt. 18:16-20; 1 Cor. 6:1-8 and Galatians 6:1-5).

GO AND BE RECONCILED

One of the unique features of biblical peacemaking is the pursuit of genuine forgiveness and reconciliation. Even though followers of Christ have experienced the greatest forgiveness in the world, we often fail to show that forgiveness to others. To cover up our disobedience we often use the shallow statement, “I forgive her – I just don’t want to have anything to do with her again.” Just think, however, how you would feel if God said to you, “I forgive you; I just don’t want to have anything to do with you again?”

Praise God that He never says this! Instead, He forgives you totally and opens the way for genuine reconciliation. He calls you to forgive others in exactly the same way: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:12-14; see also 1 Cor. 13:5; Psa. 103:12; Isa. 43:25). One way to imitate God’s forgiveness is to purpose to live with these actions and attitudes when you forgive someone:

• I will not dwell on this incident.

• I will not revisit this incident or use it against you.

• I will not talk to others about this incident.

• I will not allow this incident to stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.

Remember that forgiveness is a spiritual process that you cannot fully accomplish on your own. Therefore, as you seek to forgive others, continually ask God for grace to enable you to imitate His wonderful forgiveness toward you.

Negotiate in a Biblical Manner:

Even when you manage to resolve personal offenses through confession and forgiveness, you may still need to deal with substantive issues, which may involve money, property, or the exercise of certain rights. These issues should not be swept under the carpet or automatically passed to a higher authority. Instead, they should be negotiated in a biblically faithful manner.

As a general rule, you should try to negotiate substantive issues in a cooperative manner rather than a competitive manner. In other words, instead of aggressively pursuing your own interests and letting others look out for themselves, you should deliberately look for solutions that are beneficial to everyone involved.

As the Apostle Paul put it, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4; see Matt. 22:39; 1 Cor. 13:5; Matt. 7:12).

A biblical approach to negotiation may be summarized in five basic steps, which we refer to as the PAUSE principle:

• Prepare (pray, get the facts, seek godly counsel, develop options)

• Affirm relationships (show genuine concern and respect for others)

• Understand interests (identify others’ concerns, desires, needs, limitations, or fears)

• Search for creative solutions (prayerful brainstorming)

• Evaluate options objectively and reasonably (evaluate, don’t argue)

If you have never used this approach to negotiation before, it will take time and practice (and sometimes advice from others) to become proficient at it. But it is well worth the effort, because learning the PAUSE principle will help you not only resolve your present dispute but also negotiate more effectively in all areas of your life.

Be Prepared for Unreasonable People:

Whenever you are responding to conflict, you need to realize that other people may harden their hearts and refuse to be reconciled to you. There are two ways you can prepare for this possibility.

First, remember that God does not measure success in terms of results but in terms of faithful obedience. He knows that you cannot force other people to act in a certain way. Therefore He will not hold you responsible for their actions or for the ultimate outcome of a conflict.

All God expects of you is to obey His revealed will as faithfully as possible (see Rom. 12:18). If you do that, no matter how the conflict turns out, you can walk away with a clear conscience before God, knowing that His appraisal is, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Second, resolve that you will not give up on finding a biblical solution. If a dispute is not easily resolved, you may be tempted to say, “Well, I tried all the biblical principles I know, and they just didn’t work. It looks like I’ll have to handle this another way”– meaning, the world’s way.

A follower of Christ should never close the Bible. When you try to resolve a conflict but do not see the results you desire, you should seek God even more earnestly through prayer, the study of His Word, and the counsel of His church. As you do so, it is essential to keep your focus on Christ and all that He has already done for you (see Col. 3:1-4). It is also helpful to follow five principles for overcoming evil, which are described in Romans 12:14-21:

• Control your tongue (“Bless those who curse you” see also Eph. 4:29)

• Seek godly advisors (identify with others and do not become isolated)

• Keep doing what is right (1 Pet. 2;12, 15; 3:15b-16)

• Recognize your limits (instead of retaliating, stay within proper biblical channels)

• Use the ultimate weapon: deliberate, focused love (John 3:16; Luke 6:27-31)

At the very least, these steps will protect you from being consumed by the acid of your own bitterness and resentment if others continue to oppose you. And in some cases, God may eventually use such actions to bring another person to repentance (1 Sam. 24:1-22).

Even if other people persist in doing wrong, you can continue to trust that God is in control and will deal with them in His time (see Psalms 10 and 37). This kind of patience in the face of suffering is commended by God (1 Pet. 2:19) and ultimately results in our good and His glory.

Get Help from God:

None of us can make complete and lasting peace with others in our own strength. We must have help from God. But before we can receive that help, we need to be at peace with God Himself. Peace with God doesn’t come automatically, because all of us have sinned and alienated ourselves from Him (Isa. 59:12). Instead of living the perfect lives needed to enjoy fellowship with Him, each of us has a record stained with sin (Matt. 5:48; Rom. 3:23). As a result, we deserve to be eternally separated from God (Rom. 6:23a). That’s the bad news.

The good news is that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Believing in Jesus means more than being baptized, going to church, or trying to be a good person. None of these activities can erase the sins you have already committed and will continue to commit throughout your life. Believing in Jesus means, first of all, admitting that you are a sinner and acknowledging that there is no way you can earn God’s approval by your own works (Rom. 3:20; Eph. 2:8-9).

Second, it means believing that Jesus paid the full penalty for your sins when He died on the cross (Isa. 53:1-12; 1 Peter 2:24-25). In other words, believing in Jesus means trusting that He exchanged records with you at Calvary – that is, He took your sinful record on Himself and paid for it in full, giving you His perfect record.

When you believe in Jesus and receive His perfect record of righteousness, you can really have true peace with God. As you receive this peace, God will give you an increasing ability to make peace with others by following the peacemaking principles He gives us in Scripture, many of which are described above (Phil. 4:7; Matt. 5:9).

Get Help from Others:

As God helps you to practice His peacemaking principles, you will be able to resolve most of the normal conflicts of daily life on your own. Sometimes, however, you will encounter situations that you do not know how to handle. In such situations, it is appropriate to turn to a spiritually mature person within the church who can give you advice on how you might be able to apply these principles more effectively.

When individual advice does not enable you to resolve a dispute, you should ask one or two mutually respected friends to meet with you and your opponent to help you settle your difference through mediation or arbitration (Matt. 18:16-17; 1 Cor. 6:1-8).

Accountability

• Congregation (votes on council members and annual budget—meets as needed)
• Council (pastor, elders, deacons and clerk—meets once a month)
• Classis (CRC churches in Arizona and El Paso—meets twice a year)
• Synod (delegates from 1000+ churches—meets once a year)

Since Hope is a part of the Christian Reformed Church, it is Presbyterian in its governing structure. The Church Order (much like an organization’s bylaws) governs our Christian Reformed churches. It delineates each assembly’s responsibilities and relationship to one another.

Christ is always given first place as the “Head” of the local body of believers. The local congregation is the seat of power; it votes for its local leadership that governs the local church and sends delegates to form the regional and national assemblies. Authority increases as it widens from the congregation out to the Synod, YET larger meetings get their authority from the local church leaders. Larger meetings create temporary authority to make decisions for classis (region), or denomination.

On a local level, our particular church is governed by our Council and our bylaws. See www.crcna.org for more details.

A Safe Place

Church as a “Safe Place”

Authenticity: We strive to make HCC a place where people can be authentic with God and with one another. This means we don’t have to hide our rough edges and struggles. We know that we stumble all the time and so we encourage each other to admit our failings, not hide or try to cover them up. A sense of humor helps us to avoid taking ourselves and our mistakes too seriously—so that we can take the amazing grace of God more seriously.

Community: We want the church to be more than a disconnected group of people who attend public programs together. We strive to be a Christian community where we are connected to one another so that we may experience ‘life to the full’ that Christ offers us. We’re convinced that quality of life won’t happen if we fail to laugh and cry and work and rest and learn together, connected to God and one another.

Acceptance: We want to be a safe and accepting place for people, regardless of their background. We understand that we are all at different places in our spiritual journey; so we value the diversity of ages, experience, insights and gifts people bring to the mix. Because of our desire to remain diverse and mission-driven, we won’t spend energy splitting theological hairs. We work to keep “the main thing” the main thing and focus with wholehearted commitment on “core Christianity”—those essential truths and practices made clear in the Bible, which Christians across the ages have held in common and lead to spiritual vibrancy.

Modeling: People don’t go where we’re pointing; they go where we’re going. Christian leaders are called to follow Christ and point others to Him.

Communications: Over-communication is necessary because people tend to be suspect of what they do not understand or find out about after the fact.

Maturity: When we accept responsibility for our own actions and make appropriate adjustments we are on the path to maturity.

Health: When churches stay true to their God-given mission they grow healthy.

Healthy things grow

Growing things change

Changing things challenge us

Challenge forces us to trust God

Trust leads to obedience

Obedience produces self-discipline

Self-discipline makes us healthy

Healthy things grow….

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  –Matthew 7:11

Everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.  –John 13:35

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

–Matthew 22:38-40

“What if we took the time to get to know the people next to us and discovered that they aren’t so menacing after all?”  p. 18

Benefits:

·      God is honored and his Church’s reputation is improved.

·      It creates a strong support system around us and between our neighbors.

·      It improves our neighborhood’s security (people overcome their fears, isolation etc.)

·      It causes us to slow down and intentionally value people more than things.

·      It furthers God’s kingdom while making discipleship a possibility in our neighbors’ lives.

Key Principles:

·      The answer to the question “Who is my neighbor?” is both literally those living next to me as well as figuratively those in need.

·      Our ministry to our neighbors is more than a fish sticker and never a “ministry project.” “We don’t love our neighbors to convert them; we love our neighbors because we are converted.” P. 102

·      Keep the long-term picture in mind—relationships are progressive and take time.

·      Choose people over screens.

·      Loving our neighbor is not a science, it’s an art—different for us and each neighbor.

·      Healthy relationships are reciprocal.

·      Be present at gatherings where space is created for people to meet (i.e. meals, parties, celebrations, workdays, sports, and Facebook).

·      Wisely give of yourself and your resources to love others.  When you give away what you have, Jesus will give you more to give.

·      Invest in relationships that are working, while looking for God to provide a “person of peace” to open the door to other relationships.

The First Step (LEARN):

·      Slow down, simplify and prioritize our lives so we have “margins” and time for others around us. “In this life, we can do only a few things really well; I think it’s a good idea to make certain that one of those things is what Jesus says in most important.” p. 50 quote

·      Overcome your fears— wave, nod, say “Hello!” Walk across the street, hall, workplace (read 1 Peter 3:13-16).

·      Write down names in the household and their “story” (work/interests/dreams).  Remember—this is not an interview: it’s extending friendship over time.

·      Pray for their needs (concerns, struggles, physical needs etc.).

The Second Step (INVITE):

·      Keep praying as specifically as possible.  Pray for opportunities to be served by your neighbor (model of Jesus sending out the 72 disciples (Luke 10).

·      The goal is to move from being a stranger to an acquaintance to relationship.

·      If you’re invited, go to parties (alcohol will probably be a part of it, even in excess).

·      Consider initiating the event that brings people together—a small gathering (baking, book club, attending community event together), or large (block party, open house)

 www.artofneighboring.com has resources to help you plan.

The Third Step (GIVE):

·      Keep praying as specifically as possible.  Pray for opportunities to serve your neighbor.

·      Share the things you love (hobbies, family events, holidays, movies, dinner out etc.).

·      Beware of your motives—the goal is to love your neighbor.  Someday you might have an opportunity to plant a “gospel seed” or water, or even reap.  That’s God’s work.  Our job is to be intentional in our love and ready to give an answer for our faith.

·      Doing things with people instead of for people is the goal.

The Fourth Step (HEAR):

·      Learning how to talk with people is a lifetime pursuit:

o   Listen, question, and clarify (James 1:19)

o   Talk about what you both share in common (weather, community news etc.)

o   Talk about basic information—How long you’ve lived in neighborhood, worked at…, retired from…Where did you grow up?  Married?  Girlfriend?  How did you meet?

·      Be prepared for messy situations (people’s lives) and working through your own boundaries in the relationship.  Stephen Ministries has great resources for this.

·      Be prepared to show forgiveness; people will you're your character to see if your faith is real.

·      Pray for the things they are sharing and your role in supporting them.

The Fifth Step (TELL):

·      As you become more open to one another ask questions about heart issues (dreams, desires, regrets, losses, pain etc.)  By this point you’ll know what to ask.  When they’re ready, others will ask you about your story and your heart issues.

·      Be ready to share your faith story as a natural part of sharing your life and story. 

·      Beware of canned approaches, religious language, or sounding preachy.  The goal is to be a faithful witness vs. “closing the deal.”

·      Keep praying for a heart of love; it covers a multitude of sins (yours and theirs!)

Resources 

For Bible Study

• www.biblestudytools.com
• www.biblegateway.com
• www.blueletterbible.org

For Difficult Questions

• www.apologetics315.com
• www.carm.org
• www.alwaysbeready.com

Reviews of Books and Movies

• www.christianitytoday.com
• www.pluggedin.com
• www.christiananswers.com

Christian Reformed Church of North America

• www.crcna.org

Ministries

So, how does this church do ministry?

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. –Colossians 3:16

We believe our people and their relationships in the community are our main ministry. We also believe prayer is how God unites, empowers, and leads his people. As our congregation grows in their love for God, their love for others will increase, and the Spirit of Christ living in them will use their relationships to help people come to faith. This is what a healthy church looks like! Therefore the main ministry of Hope Community Church is to help people strengthen these vital relationships. We do this by both serving the people who attend, and encouraging those people to serve others. 

Serving people without turning them into “Christian consumers” is every church’s challenge. In response to this, we challenge our congregation to be disciples and help others become disciples too.  We follow the formula, “Worship + 2”.  We believe each person should be active worshippers throughout the week plus be active in 1) a ministry where they have authentic relationships with others who will encourage them and hold them accountable in their walk with God, and 2) be active in a ministry where they are serving according to their S.H.A.P.E. 

Since churches are made up of all kinds of people in all stages of life, who are going in and out of all kinds of circumstances, ministries at Hope will continue to change too. Yet, it is our goal to provide opportunities to worship, learn and serve for men, women, and children both as families and as individuals. 

Men

Discipleship                 One-on-one and small group discipleship sessions are offered based upon interest and scheduling.

Retreats                        Retreats are offered based upon interest and scheduling.

Women

“Mugs and Muffins”    Women gather monthly over coffee/tea and muffins to share their hearts, hear God’s Word and encourage one another in prayer (See calendar for current location.)

Discipleship                 One-on-one and small group discipleship sessions are offered based upon interest and scheduling.

Retreats                        Retreats are offered based upon interest and scheduling.

Children

Sundays:                  Children’s Church (for children up through 5th grade)

Events:                     We seek to offer monthly events for children based upon interest and available workers.

Monday-Friday:      Kids Hope mentoring at Thomas Elementary school (Trained mentors are assigned to an at-risk child for one hour each week.)  See www.kidshopeusa.org for more information regarding this program.

Membership

Membership

We always encourage people to get involved at Hope without feeling pressured to join the membership. Yet, we are an Arizona 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which is structured for membership; so we are required to have members (as well as officers.) But there’s more to church membership than the legal requirements. Often in the Bible the faith community are described in terms of members—members of a community, members of a local gathering, even in a figurative sense as members of a family, body, or priesthood. Our identity is described corporately first and individually second in Scripture. Membership has a place both legally and biblically; therefore it has practical ramifications:

1—It helps us as individuals. It deepens our accountability and commitment to serve the “church that meets at…” (1 Cor. 12).

2—It helps us as a church. It brings stability and security as we partner together to carry out the mission of the church (Phil. 1:5).

3—It helps our community. It provides a diverse, corporate and public witness of the gospel’s power to change lives. It brings unity, fosters public health, and testifies that there is hope for the future (2 Peter 1:3-8).

Hope

3700 N. Fanning Dr.
Flagstaff, AZ, 86004