OUR MISSION
We exist to join Jesus in his mission to transform lives.
If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
OUR 5 FAMILY VALUES
The gospel is the heart of the Christian faith. It is the good news of what Christ accomplished for us through his death and resurrection. Out of his immeasurable love, Jesus willingly gave his life to rescue us from our sins and open the door to a relationship with him. We are saved by trusting Christ as our Savior and Lord of our lives. Our salvation is a gift of God's grace; we are not saved by our efforts to impress God or prove how morally deserving we are of his love. Jesus already definitively proved his love for us on the cross. Our lives of faith, including obedience to God's commands, are a joyful response to what he already did for us. The gospel, therefore, is our primary lens of faith.
The Apostle Paul said it this way in Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us...(Romans 12:4-6)
Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
While [the lost son] was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24)
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6)
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvestis plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38)
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (Matthew 5:46-47)
The Samaritan woman said to [Jesus], “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) (John 4:9)
THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE.
In ancient Greek – the original language of the New Testament – the word for Church does not refer to a structure; it refers to a people. The word is ekklesia, which literally means ‘those called out.’ It’s an assembly. A gathering. It’s easy to mix this up in 21st century America because we’re so accustomed to thinking of churches as buildings or destinations. The result is that we view ‘church’ as a venue instead of a people - brick and mortar instead of flesh and blood. We want to speak and think about ourselves in a biblical manner.
This means that we don’t attend Real Hope. We are Real Hope.
HOW DOES ALL OF THIS LOOK?
We speak grace and truth into the struggles of life. We look to the Scriptures for our understanding of God and ourselves. We embrace God’s agenda above our own. We are a safe place to ask real questions. We act as ambassadors of Christ to the world around us. We discover and use the gifts God has given us. We trust God in all areas of our lives. We give generously to God’s global mission. We are a voice of unity and reconciliation, not division and condemnation. We walk with people who are hurting. We celebrate life change. We rely on God to make all of this true of us!
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Real Hope Community Church embraces the beliefs and practices of historic Christianity, as expressed in ancient statements of faith such as the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. The statements below represent our non-negotiable essentials of faith. On secondary questions of theology and biblical interpretation that have been sincerely debated by men and women who love the Lord, we allow room for differences of opinion. In all things, we strive for unity and give each other grace as God has given it so generously to us.
What we believe about The Bible
The Scriptures are inspired by God, without error in the original writing, and authoritative for all matters of faith.
What we believe about God
We believe in one God, creator of the universe, perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. We believe that Christ shed his blood on the cross, dying for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice, and that he rose bodily from the grave and ascended into heaven. We believe that salvation comes only through personal faith in Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, equal with God the Father and God the Son. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells believers from the moment of salvation and empowers them for a life that glorifies God.
What we believe about the Church
We believe that all people who have genuinely placed their faith in Christ are part of the universal Church, regardless of denomination or organizational affiliation.
Apostles' Creed (3rd century)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (i.e. universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Nicene Creed (4th century)
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic (i.e. universal) and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
We have 3 overlapping spheres of leadership and accountability:
Pastors: Provide spiritual leadership and organizational direction for Real Hope, overseeing ministry operations and worship services.
Elders: Oversee the finances of the church and provide prayer support and spiritual leadership for Real Hope.
Overseers: Three experienced pastors of other churches who have agreed to provide encouragement and accountability for the Lead Pastor of Real Hope.
AFFILIATIONS
Real Hope is not affiliated with any denomination.
We are part of the Bent Tree Network, ARC, and also have a broad, informal network of friends in ministry in our city and around the world (e.g. pastors, churches, non-profits).