There is HOPE

There is HOPE

If you had to choose one word to describe how you feel entering 2022, which word would you choose? A word that comes to my mind is HOPEFUL. I know that may seem crazy after the last two years we’ve experienced through COVID and the last five years of Transition. But as Henri Nouwen writes, “HOPE is not dependent on peace in the land, justice in the world, and success in business. HOPE is willing to leave unanswered questions unanswered and unknown futures unknown. 

Five years ago we created a HOPE wall and listed all the things we HOPED would happen FIVE years’ time.  We had HOPED we would have a school on this campus; We didn’t know what it would look like or how it would happen, but we had HOPE. We had HOPE that we would be out of debt in five years. We had HOPE that there would be a Mission House. We didn’t know-how in 5 years’ time we would have a full-time Spanish Pastor, but we HOPED. We didn’t know how we would baptize 50 people in 5 years but we HOPED. We HOPED we would be back to giving thousands to missions. And we have accomplished all of those in just five years and there is much more to come. We have HOPE for the years ahead.  HOPE makes us see God’s guiding hand not only in the gentle and pleasant moments, but also in the shadows of disappointment and darkness.”

God has answered and led us through darkness, through every challenge, every force that has come against us, every person, obstacle, lie, theft, hurt, debt, and so much more. God has been faithful. We are in a position to carry on the work and success of those who have gone before us here at Trinity Church. Each of you, have loved, given, prayed, and made it here. Trinity Church will reach GENERATIONS to come! Where we are today is night and day where we have come from. When I arrived five years ago, I was told in three years this church would close based on our finances, spending beyond our means, millions in debt, changing community, economic uncertainty, facility costs and bond payments. Not only did we get past year three God continued to strengthen and instill HOPE. As we moved forward, God unearthed sin, pruned, shined light onto sin, and raised up committed leaders who share in a commitment to Christ, live generosity, have covenanted to live and model generously and tithing and a commitment to biblical stewardship and fidelity.

As much as this world has changed, God has changed us even more because now the ministry has to expand well beyond our campus and into the city and world in ways we can only imagine. This city and world need this church. This Bay area is not like it was 50 years ago. This is an area of great economic expansion and greater spiritual recession. On top of that, COVID has churches stretched thin, in every way. But this church has had HOPE! You have modeled HOPE. You have been a light in the dark. It’s been your persistence, prayers, friendships, and faithfulness and dependence on God,  that have placed us in a position to be healthier, stronger, a missional influencer, and out of debt to be free to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples… Praise God! 

When some people have misplaced their HOPE because they’ve looked to things of this world to rescue them, this church has had HOPE. You have placed your HOPE in a God who used the school to provide for our needs, and now He has provided new ways to provide to accomplish His mission of making disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples… We have been strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit together and remain HOPEFUL because we worship a God who suffered and came out victorious. God is always with us, his promises are true, he is at work all around us, and he invites us to work in His world. We can have HOPE because although there is less peace in the land, we have the answer, the peace that comes through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Right now our own Bay Area is more unchurched than it has ever been. Our neighbors need Christ. Our Doctors, barbers, co-workers, school friends all need Christ. We have HOPE that God has put us here and given us a God-size plan to BELIEVE THE BIBLE, BELONG TO FAMILY, and BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM. Yes, doing ministry here will be more akin to doing missions in a hostile country with laws and financial challenges that we’ve never seen before, but we have HOPE The greatest enemy to HOPE is simply trying to predict what the future will be from our past or trying to make our future identical to our past. Why is that dangerous, because that doesn’t require HOPE and faith.

HOPE FILLED!