April @Hope Newsletter 2021
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.
Who Is One You Could Share The Gospel With This Month?
Easter brings some great news to us. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and rising from the dead frees us from our slavery to sin, frees us from being objects of the wrath of God, and frees us from the power of death. What great news! And it is news that God calls us to now go and share. Over the next few months at church, in our home-groups, and in our other ministry opportunities, my desire is that we focus on this call that we have to OFFER HOPE.
Here is a great focus for our prayers and Scripture to guide us:
1. Pray for eyes to see the harvest all around us and for hearts to care with compassion.
Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest?" I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35)
2. Pray for God to open the doors and pray for courage to share this Good News.
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 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 4:3-6)
3. Pray for the heart of God – who wants all people to be saved and believe the Gospel.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle… (1 Timothy 2:3-7)
Who is your “one”? Who is one person you could pray for, develop relationship with, and share this great news with in the days ahead? Share these names within your home group and pray for each other that we can proclaim the message clearly – planting seeds and watering them as God allows us opportunities.
~Pastor Randy
Women's Ministry
Suzi King, Director
sking@hopetucson.com
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." ~Jim Elliot
Like many of you, the last year has afforded me more time for personal reading. I have been reading and listening to biographies of prominent missionaries and evangelists. I recently reread Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. I have been on a bit of a treasure hunt, seeking to discover the qualities of lives, like Jim Elliot's, that are punctuated by a singular devotion to Jesus Christ.
Last week I watched the movie Free Burma Rangers. It has created a well deserved buzz in the evangelical community and among Army Rangers I've been told. Its impact was profound and lingering. A few days later, I discovered an interview between the Eubanks family and Francis and Lisa Chan. The topic of fear arose and the eldest Eubank daughter shared how her dad has taught her to deal with her fears, while serving in conflict zones. Simply put - when you are afraid don't pray for the fear to go...pray for love, because "Perfect love casts out all fear."
As spring sees Hope focusing on evangelism, I am guessing that many of us will experience anxiety and fear as we purpose to share the Gospel. While it's unlikely we will encounter mortar fire we may experience indifference, hostility or overt rejection. Let's purpose together to remember the power of being perfectly loved as we encounter those souls that have yet to experience it.
In His Service, Suzi
Ladies...mark your calendars - Women's Camp August 27 & 28!
Bob & Merrillee Whren, Directors
HopeSeniors
Covid certainly changed the world for the past twelve months especially for seniors as our immune systems are not as strong as our young counterparts. Praise the Lord on the creation of covid vaccines. In April we will begin our HopeSeniors functions again. We are starting with small groups of six to eight people for a luncheon or a dinner in a home setting. If you are interested in participating, contact Bob at 904-887-7019 or Merrillee at 520-304-6773.
Discipleship Corner
We often believe that we need to do something huge, something never seen before, something extraordinary to make a difference, to leave a legacy, to live a life well lived for God. We all want to be great and have an impact on people around us. I am convinced that one of the best ways to make a large impact is to intentionally make disciples. That’s it. Just make a significant investment in a few people who will do the same with others. Would you pray about two things:
1.Who in your life doesn’t yet know the saving power of Jesus Christ, and what can you do to share your faith with them?
2.Who is already a follower of Jesus that you can intentionally invest in to help them grow in their love and obedience to the Lord?
We can make a huge impact by deeply investing in a few people, when we live a disciple-making lifestyle, God can take our 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread and multiply it greatly!
Go Get ‘em! Pastor Dave
Jim Zimmer, Director
Zimmer1501@comcast.net
Thanks to all the men who came out to the Men's Retreat on March 26-27. We had a great time hearing God' s Word and hanging out together!
Kyria Kelly, Director
kckelly@hopetucson.com
Happy April, Hope!
We were so blessed to have Okongo and Shyla Samson visit our classrooms and share about Unite 4 Africa with our students. After their visit, we saw an increase of students excited to memorize Scripture and, through that, be a part of helping kids their own age on the other side of the world.
As we enter this next quarter, we are shifting our memory verse focus from supporting Unite 4 Africa to supporting Josh and Danielle Brock. Instead of donating cash, students will have the option to donate materials, including pencils, LEGO sets, and craft supplies. Each item will again be 5 or 10 fish.
If your 2nd-5th grader has not yet received a “My Time with God” journal, please let me know and I will get one to you. I will be hanging out in the K-1st classroom after the service each family Sunday if your student wants to come share with me something awesome they learned about God through their personal Bible study in the previous month!
Thanking God for all of you,
Kyria
April Birthdays:
Zelda Manis 4/01
Caleb Brown 4/03
Levi Hunt 4/12
Harper Luckow 4/12
Iris Durree 4/14
Marlena Bellars 4/15
Taryn Martin 4/21
Mackenzie Schwarz 4/25
Hannah Alexander 4/26
We have reached the end of our 2020-21 AWANA year, and in spite of all things COVID, God has been gracious to us! There have been so many new children who have joined us; we expect an even larger group of spiritually hungry children when we begin again in the fall. If God’s Spirit is whispering to you, we will most likely be needing more workers who love God with everything you are, and are willing to give of yourselves for His kingdom in the lives of His growing Family.
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to our amazing volunteers from this year who have served faithfully. Some of you have been in and out due to the virus, but all of you have served with all your hearts.
THANK YOU to:
Cubbies Team
Kyria Kelly
Elizabeth Lawson
Teresa Mote
Josh Newman
Sparky Team
Dave Braun
Gina Braun
Liz Martin
Max Mote
Melanie Schwarz
Marilyn Tolson
John Turner
T&T Team
Keith Banales
Nancy Funk
George Hires
Tammi Moore
Teresa Seekatz
Commander
Tim Tolson
Kevin Mason, Youth Pastor
kmason@hopetucson.com
HopeYouth has a plan of deployment! I once read that "training without a plan of deployment is not training". So, for the next couple months, HopeYouth will be training students to go out and share the Gospel. Please pray with us, and even encourage your student to go out and share the Good News. We plan to have an outreach event at the end of May to share the Gospel and to invite all new students to camp in June. It is my prayer that we will be a youth group eager to share the Good News and that God will use us to expand His Kingdom.
Also, please keep on the lookout for emails about upcoming Bible studies.
Love doing ministry with each of you!
HopeYouth Meetings:
No Meeting on April 4 - Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 11 at Riverfront Park
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
(551 W. Lambert Lane)
Sundays, April 18 and 25
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
At Summit Ridge Community Church
(505 W. Hardy Road)
Mark your Calendars:
Sundays, May 2, 16, 23 & 30: Senior Blessings Sundays (contact me at kmason@hopetucson.com if you would like to participate)
Friday, May 21: Senior Blessing Dinner at the HopeHouse (time TBA)
Thursday, May 27: Evangelism Outreach (more info to come)
June 21-24: Summer Camp at Tonto Rim Christian Camp
