Stories of Hope

So what is the deal with all these fundraisers?   To explain why we are holding so many fundraising events we need to start with the why question. Our “why” is that we feel that God has been calling the people of Hope to the Dominican Republic for a number of years. Despite the beautiful beaches and all inclusive resorts, the Dominican Republic remains one of the poorest countries in the northern hemisphere where its people suffer from overwhelming and oppressive poverty.

We are enjoying a series of devotions written by Pastor Dale. The focus of these devotions is the “kingdom of God” and what that looks like for us.

We are enjoying a series of devotions written by Pastor Dale. The focus of these devotions is the “kingdom of God” and what that looks like for us.

Today we begin a series of devotions written by Pastor Dale. The focus of these devotions is the “kingdom of God” and what that looks like for us. On Earth as it is in Heaven The Kingdom of Heaven is Within Us

  People know that we are living in very precarious times. Definitely, these are days of great uncertainty and concern. As a Christian community, it is ok to express and share our concerns. By doing so, we are not denying that God is ultimately in control. We are basically admitting our humanity and our need for our Sovereign God. We are admitting that we are real and that is what the world needs right now – a good dose of reality!!!

  For the past number of weeks, the newest newcomer family consisting of Reem, her mother, Ghada, and 5 children have been safely ensconced in the Youth House from Rehoboth CRC in Bowmanville. All of us are extremely grateful to the members of the Youth Group and the entire Rehoboth congregation for the use of this accommodation.

  December 28, 2016 saw the arrival of Ghada and her grandchildren. They have joined Ghada’s daughter Reem and children in their temporary home in Bowmanville. We are thankful that they are reunited as a family group and that they have had opportunity to connect with Feras and Shahla and their extended family in Canada.

  Kevin Makins, pastor of Eucharist Church in Hamilton, recently completed a four part series of sermons at Hope Fellowship. His final sermon left us with a challenge, one that bears repeating. Kevin challenged us to remain unified, not uniform, taking his example from the Trinity – God the Creator, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is one, and God is three. In something called the “Divine Dance” each part of God submits, serves and points to the others, in a unity that is not uniform

  Last week the leadership Summit took place locally at Liberty Church in Bowmanville. Many people in leadership at Hope Fellowship were able to attend.   Bill Hybels famously says and repeats, because it’s worth repeating, “Leadership matters. When leaders get better everybody benefits.

Since our offering today (Oct 2) is for Race Relations , it seems very fitting to publish the CRC's recent statement on Racism:   Concerned about recent events involving the death of black men killed by police in the U.S. and the killing of an Indigenous man in Canada, the Christian Reformed Church, through its Office of Race Relations together with other agencies and offices, has released a statement on the need for racial reconciliation

Sharon in Synodland In Alice in Wonderland the themes of identity and growing up are seen through a fantasy trip down a rabbit hole. Going to Synod was many unknowns being discovered along the way.

  Every year, before we begin our ministries and programs, the people of Hope Fellowship come together to pray and seek God’s will for our community. This tradition came out of a season of pain, when we were unsure of the future and God’s calling on the church. When we stopped all our regular meetings and programs, and met together to pray, that’s when the healing began. Every year since that time, we have come together for five days of prayer. This year is no exception—we will meet from Monday, September 12 to Friday, September 16 for one hour each evening from 7:00-8:00 p.m

  For days now, we have been averaging only 4-5 hours of sleep because we keep reviewing last week's "over the top" farewell weekend.   The songs we sang during our God-glorifying worship services have become a joyful musical loop that runs constantly in our heads. Your affirming words keep coming to mind.

  Thank you for extending a call to me thirteen years ago. After fifteen wonderful years at Jubilee Fellowship in St. Catharines, Marja and I were ready for an exciting new challenge. You invited us for a date and followed it up with a Letter of Call. That was a wonderful leap of faith on your part

  Thirteen years ago Stan challenged me to write a personal vision statement for my ministry at Hope Fellowship Church. I have shared it at every Introducing Hope Fellowship Seminar. It included this now familiar sentence: “Hope Fellowship is the hope of a multi-racial, multi-national, multi-generational, multi-ability multitude worshiping the Triune God without restraint in all of their lives as if they were already standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”

A History of Hope Fellowship, Chapter 6: The Focusing Years During the Focusing Years, from 2012-2015, our leadership introduced new words and phrases that became part of our vocabulary. Words like Believe, Belong and Bless. Phrases like Internally Strong and Externally Focused. We defined ourselves as a “community embracing and living our God’s redemptive plan.” We celebrated our “culture of grace” and emphasized the importance of “making room at the table.”

A History of Hope Fellowship, Chapter 5: The Growing Years   A new facility will attract people to check out a church. But it is the worship, preaching and hospitality that turn guests into family members. The combination of these things brought numerical and spiritual growth as more and more people began to call Hope Fellowship their spiritual home

A History of Hope Fellowship, Chapter 4: The Building Years   In 2005 the Christian Reformed Church celebrated its one hundredth anniversary in Canada.

A History of Hope Fellowship, Chapter 3: The Healing Years   On Tuesday morning, September 16, 2003, in the tiny custodian’s room of our newly purchased little school, I sat at a wooden table that the previous pastor had hammered together as a desk and began my ministry at Hope Fellowship. Outside, a manure spreader went by on Bloor Street. I laughed out loud and wondered what I had gotten myself into

A History of Hope Fellowship, Chapter 2: The Humbling Years   For reasons understood best by the staff, the elders and the Lord, Hope Fellowship’s staff disintegrated after two years. One by one they resigned or were let go. When the dust settled, only one person was left: Evelyn, our wonderful administrative assistant