Unified Diversity | Ephesians 2:14-22
At HOPE, we believe that in Christ, the dividing walls that keep people apart —race, culture, age, doctrinal traditions—can really be broken down. We believe the gospel calls us to unity within diversity. In Christ, we can worship next to people with whom we disagree. We can experience community among people with whom we have little in common, and actually value and learn from one another. Therefore, we will do the hard work of seeking unity and submitting to one another as unto Christ to follow his calling on us collectively.
Pervasive Prayer | Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer is all about connection with God. Unceasing prayer is unceasing connection with God. Prayer goes beyond words. Learning to pray means learning to infuse every moment of every day with an awareness of the presence of God and seeing everything we do as prayer. It involves learning to will one thing —the will of God— so that every thought, every action, every word is in line with God’s will for that moment and that situation. It starts in the small things and moves to the big things. At HOPE, we will seek to grow personally and corporately in this kind of conversational, cooperative, intimate, ongoing fellowship with God.
Authenticity and Grace | Colossians 3:9-14; 4:6; Hebrews 10:24-25
The gospel compels us to be people of authenticity and grace in our relationships. The two go hand in hand: authenticity begs for grace, and grace invites authenticity. At HOPE we will seek to foster an environment where people can be honest and transparent with one another. We will purpose to be real in our relationships, not pretending to be something we are not, wearing a mask or hiding behind a role. We will make room for others without requiring conformity to a church culture in order to participate or be accepted. We will model God’s grace by believing the best about one another, giving each other permission to be in process and not holding other’s offenses against them.
Growing Maturity | Ephesians 4:11-16
At HOPE we are committed to a process of ongoing growth, continually seeking to become mature disciples of Jesus Christ, being increasingly conformed to his character and person. Evidence of growth is seen in the development of the fruits of the Spirit, in discovering and exercising the gifts of the Spirit and learning to walk in step with the Spirit, as we continually turn over more of who we are to God and His kingdom expansion purposes.
Global Church Orientation | Matthew 28:19-20; Philippians 4:14-19; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9
At HOPE we see ourselves as part of God’s larger, worldwide family. We have a unique part to play in the expansion of God’s kingdom, but it’s not all about us and what is happening here. We recognize we are just a small part of what God is doing in the world, and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ near and far. We will seek to come alongside, support and partner with other members of God’s family in expanding his kingdom both locally and globally.
Everyday Living | John 17:14-18; Colossians 3:17
At HOPE we believe in the strategic importance of everyday living. The kingdom of God is lived out in our everyday lives. It is in our homes, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our schools and our daily routines that we embody the good news of God’s kingdom. The ministries of HOPE exist for the purpose of facilitating, strengthening and equipping us to live out the reality of the kingdom of God in our day to day context.
