In 1998 Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Ardmore asked its then Associate Pastor, Stuart Stogner, to begin a new congregation in the Mt. Tabor area.
Are you a part of a denomination?Yes, Hope is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America. For more information see the Community/Our Groups section of our website.
When will you have your own building?We have deliberately chosen NOT to set a specific date for the completion of our building. God has blessed us with a fabulous 7.5 acres parcel of land on Peace Haven Rd., across from Whitaker Square Shopping Center. Our property is fully paid for, and we are adding to our building fund. In the meantime, however, we are determined to keep our focus on ministry, not money.
What should I wear to church?You are welcome to dress casually or more formally, according to your preferences. If the meaningfulness of our worship fails to eclipse concerns over how anyone is dressed, we have failed to be the kind of church that genuinely represents Jesus.
How long will the service last?Our service begins at 11:00 and ends at 12:15.
Will I have to say anything, give anything, or be singled out in any way?Nobody at Hope wants to put you on the spot. Feel free to visit and observe, your level of participation will be on your terms, in your time. The door to Hope Church is open wide, but nobody is going to push you through it!
Will you talk about money?Not all the time, but-to be candid-sometimes, yes. Rest assured that no one is ever pressured to give. The offering is provided for those who consider Hope their church home. However, Jesus talked about money, not because he was greedy (he died with only one garment to his name) but because he didn’t want us living as though our life consists in the things we possess. Few will deny that in these days we need to hear his challenge against materialism all the more.
Do my kids come into the worship service?Children four years old and younger should be taken to their assigned classroom before the service begins at 11:00. Children from 5 years old through 2nd Grade begin in the worship service and after approximately twenty minutes are dismissed to Children’s Church. Children 3rd Grade and older stay with their parents during the worship service.
Do you have a Youth Ministry?You bet. Our Youth Group is led by Brandn Greene. Brandn is a graduate of Bucknell University and is currently a student at Wake Forest Divinity School. Brandn’s background includes wrestling and involvement in Young Life. He loves the outdoors and his wife, Lucy, whom he married this past summer.
Do you have a Men's and Women's Ministry?Yes. Among other things, the Women’s Ministry conducts a morning and evening bible study, that provide wonderful teaching and fellowship. The Men’s Ministry consists of periodic discipleship courses that address offer challenge and encouragement.
Do you have a Sunday School program?We have Sunday School for all ages, from 9:30-10:30am.
Do you have a Wednesday Night Program?We have no Wednesday night program at present. However, our small groups and our Women’s Evening Bible Study provide alternative during-the-week ministry opportunities.
What does your church believe?Although we would much prefer to chat with you about our beliefs over a cup of coffee, what follows is a succinct statement of our position regarding key points of historic Christian teaching:
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
We believe that salvation is by God alone as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
We are very involved in World Missions. In addition to other various missions opportunities, Hope sends a team every year to Haiti. We also prayerfully and financially support numerous missionaries around the world.
What if I have more questions?If you have more questions, take a look at our "Get Involved" sections under each of our Worship, Witness, Community, and Following Jesus sections, where you will find contact information. If you have still further questions, you may contact the church office at office@hopepresws.com or our pastor, Clyde Godwin, at cgodwin@hopepresws.com.