Weekly Connect

HELLO HOPE…

There are three things I wanted to touch on quickly and make sure you had an updated schedule of our calendar. [FYI: The calendar is on the Hope Fellowship Facebook page and is updated regularly]

1. God has been moving radically within our church. Yes, I know some of you are struggling with job loss, job decisions, family deaths, and the many other burdens or roadblocks that come with life, but that does not mean that God is not moving. I believe that God is just beginning to move in unique and real ways among our church.
2. It’s here: Online giving. In recent weeks, some people have asked if we had on-line or website based giving opportunities. We now have an on-line portal through Pay-pal. The portal is on our website at www.hopefellowshipfc.com/give.php and is a safe, secure national provider for online donations, purchases, and e-commerce. If you click on the link above you will see the DONATION button. FYI: you do not have to have a Pay-pal account to use the service. You do need a credit or debit card.
   It does not allow for repeat transactions: It is a single transaction process.
   Multiple Transaction Support will be available sometime in the future
3. Facebook Ads: We are running Facebook adds at this time.  Please be praying for this opportunity. 10,000 unique impressions or views this week alone! We have two separate adds running.
   • We have one general Hope Fellowship add that shows our logo & the below phrase:
     You’re important to God, You’re important to us. Connect – Grow – Engage
   • We have a series specific one that has the logo for the series: The Benefits of Experiencing God. It has this tag line:
     Hope can’t solve life’s problems in 5 steps. We are a place full of people like you seeking God.

Calendar:
October 22          Band of Brothers Men’s Breakfast
October 23          Sunday Service – the Promises of God [faithfulness]
Membership Lunch / Outreach Summit – if you have outreach or evangelism ideas… bring THEM

October 28-29   Women’s Burning Fire Within Retreat
October 30          Special Guest & Testimonies from BFW
No Sunday Night Life Group This Night

November 10    Hope’s Ladies Night Out – Fondue Night
November 12    Hope’s Prayer and Worship Night

Important Prayer Concerns:

• Please be praying for the Women’s BFW next weekend.
  • Pray for the team, the flames (attendee’s), the Holy Spirit to impact and impart the Kingdom a this retreat
  • Please be praying about who to invite to our series launching November 6. I believe that God wants to touch lives through this series. YES… I know I say that a lot, but I really believe that this is THE series that can completely change the lives of those around YOU!
    • Hints: write their name down, pray for them daily, and invite them the week of November 1-5.
    • Please be praying for your Hope family. Pray for unity in families; favor, protection & provision with jobs; and wisdom & direction relating to family, work, and finances.

In Conclusion:
I am completely blessed to serve as your pastor. This week I will be praying for you, and I ask that you be praying for me. We will only see the glory of God and the move of His spirit in our church and in the lives of each and every one in our body through prayer. So please, be praying for your Hope body this week.

I look forwarding to seeing you this Sunday. Meet me at 10:00 AM for some coffee and donuts before we get the privilege of connecting with God in worship!

Pastor Kevin
www.hopefellowshipfc.com

Growth

Today at Hope Fellowship I wrapped up a series on Growth. I shared the following truths:

• Real Growth takes a new life, and not a new leaf!

This refers to the fact that many times we simply cover up our shame or problems, instead of receiving the FREEDOM that God promised us!

• Real Growth is a process, and not a destination!

No one every obtains the goals they set or the plan that God has for them overnight! The physician you saw the last time, hopefully spent the required 7 to 10 years in the process of becoming a physician! Jesus waited for 30 years to begin in ministry, and He is the King of Kings!

• Real Growth requires us to “let go” and “grab a hold”

Basically we must let go of what we think is right, appropriate, proper, and the right way to grab a hold of what God has for us!

We often do not do this because we are: Stubborn, feel Trapped, Comfortable where we are, afraid, or change hurts to much!

The truth is that change is difficult, and it is not always easy! It can be uncomfortable, it does require stepping out into the unknown many times. The rewards and benefits are greater than the discomfort!

The main question today is: is the pain of staying where you are, greater than the pain of accomplishing what God has for you?