Our 14th Easter!
In our first year as a church in 2011, we did not know what to expect financially from the body of Hope. I hoped we would have the resources so that at least I could pastor full-time and we could cover the rent of Wilson K-8 School. However, we really didn’t have any giving history or big donors for our young church plant. Nevertheless, God provided above and beyond those first couple months, and instead of being worried about making it, I felt nervous because God had entrusted us with abundant blessings to be used for His great causes (We are blessed to be a blessing!).
So, I called a friend from the Philippines, Pastor Wilson, and asked him if we could come alongside them for an Easter project for the poor and precious Aeta people, a tribal group of the Philippines. Pastor Wilson shared his desire to build a Tilapia Fish Farm so that when the parents came to pick up their children, they could be given fish to take back to their Aeta villages. This is a great need because there is malnourishment among the Aetas. The only problem was that the two-pond system was going to cost around $12,000 and we were a very small and young church. Yet, on our first Easter offering, Hope gave $19,000. We sent the money to the Philippines and the two Tilapia Fish Ponds were built. In addition, God knew that the Aeta Children’s Home (and school) would need an extra $7,000 to fix their water filtration system for the 120 children who live on the compound.
This was such a blessing to our young church back then, and it felt like - even if Hope doesn’t make it as a church plant, that at least, we got to do this great thing for Christ together. Fast forward many years and every year, Hope has chosen to give 100% of our Easter offering away to vulnerable children and adults around the world in the name of Christ our Savior. We are excited to do that again this Easter 2025.
This year we are giving to six projects. It is a joy to serve Jesus with all of you and BE THE CHURCH!
1. Aeta Children’s Home - Philippines: Shade structure for the kids.
2. Unite4Africa – Kenya: We are going to build a classroom for a school in an impoverished area.
3. ECMI – Ukraine: We are going to help start a church plant out of a building that has been providing bread and clothes to this war-torn country.
4. Global Fingerprints: Church feeding and care projects in vulnerable areas such as Vietnam and Congo.
5, CarePortal – Tucson: Providing beds and furniture to Tucson Foster Families.
6, Hope Youth Summer Missions: Camp in Canada for Native Kids and VBS in downtown Miami.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:6–8)
~Pastor Randy
National Day of Prayer - Thursday, May 1 from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
The theme verse this year is:
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
We will be praying for what the National Day of Prayer calls the 7 pillars of influence in our culture:
Family
Media & Entertainment
Church
Military & First Responders
Education
Government
Business
Please come and join us for this powerful time of prayer!
Christian Kah
Worship Pastor
ckah@hopetucson.com
Hey Hope,
Click the link below to check out our Spotify playlist!
Blessings,
Pastor Christian
Blessing the staff at Wilson School with a coffee truck!
Christian Kah's Commissioning
Women's Ministry
Suzi King, Director
sking@hopetucson.com
Ladies, please join us on Saturday, April 12 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Community Room. We will be supporting the RNR and VBS teams in creating journals for RNR campers and blessing "kits" for VBS volunteers. A light breakfast will be provided!
Women's March Brunch - thanks to all the women who attended!
Marriage Matters
In Genesis 2:18 God said it’s not good for man to be alone and yet individuals who are married will encounter brief moments or long seasons of feeling lonely. This is the result of a chasm that occurred over time or a single breach of trust that erected a wall between them. Gabriel Lobato, a licensed therapist who specializes in couples therapy, will be offering an extended mini-conference presenting on the the topic of closeness: How to pursue it, what are the barriers, and how to measure it. He believes this is one of the most foundational elements to having a satisfying, secure, Christ-centered marriage. Come hear practical techniques that you can apply immediately in your marriage. This mini-conference will include teaching, exercises with your spouse, and guided table discussion with others.
March Mini Conference
Lynne Hooge, HopeKids Director
lhooge@hopetucson.com
Our Key Passage This Month:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:23)
Big Picture Question:
What is the fair payment for sin? The fair payment for sin is death.
What We’re Learning:
April 6 (Family Sunday): God's Miracles Prove Who He Is; Mark 16
April 13: The People Kept Sinning; Judges 2
April 20: Easter! Jesus Saves Us from Our Enemies; Matthew 27-28, Mark 15-16, Luke 23-24, John 19-20
April 27: God Used Samson; Judges 13-16
We are excited and busy getting ready for this year’s VBS!
Wonder Junction
May 26-30
9:00 a.m. to Noon
Ages 4 years (by 7/1) to entering 6th grade
(6th graders can attend or help at VBS)
Registration begins April 13th!
We will email the link to our Hope families. You will also be able to register with a link on the Hope App. For now, registration will only be open to our own HopeKids due to limited space. But, we would love Our HopeKids to reach out to their unchurched friends! Please contact me if you know kids that might join us.
Want to volunteer at VBS? Contact me at lhooge@hopetucson.com. There will be a training lunch for VBS volunteers on Sunday, May4th after church at Hope on Overton.
Donations are needed! Below is a link to our VBS Amazon Wish List.
If you would prefer, you may give Amazon gift cards to HopeKids or designate a donation to VBS in your Hope offering.
Serving Jesus Together,
Lynne
April Birthdays
Oliver Brown 4/1
Caleb Brown 4/3
Ellory Behrends 4/3
Julian Knutson 4/5
Ava Alexander 4/6
Brady Mason 4/7
Lucia Arellano 4/9
Levi Hunt 4/12
Boaz Fleming 4/15
Marlena Bellars 4/15
Brady Roberts 4/18
Lola Colella 4/19
Alice Papajohn 4/20
Cali Alcala 4/22
Hazel Arnold 4/24
Tytus Phillips 4/24
Ellie Manoogian 4/26
Violet Arnold 4/26
Quinley Hunt 4/29
We had a great time at the Grand Prix this year. Thanks to all our Sparks and T&T's who made cars to race in this event. Congratulations to our Hope winners!
Grand Prix Participants
Gary Jones, Discipleship Pastor
gjones@hopetucson.com
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
HG Leaders, our next leader meeting is Saturday, May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars. We'll meet in the Community Room. Our last meeting together at the beginning of March was very encouraging. I loved getting to hear from you all about your experiences currently in your HGs. My hope is that these meetings will fill your cups and not just be another "meeting" that you have to attend. Don't miss out on the next one!
Do you desire to be in a Home Group? Home Groups are a great way for us to grow in community and in our walk with Jesus. We desire to see everyone connected to a Home Group, so if you are interested in getting plugged in, please contact me.
No Men’s Breakfast in April as it falls on Easter weekend. We’ll have our next Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, May, 17th from 7:30-9:00 a.m. in the Community Room. If you are free, arrive an hour early to help out with work projects on the church’s property.
Men's Bible Study will continue to meet the Fridays of April 4th and 18th from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room. This Bible study is a great time to dive into God’s Word, pray, and build relationships with other men. This study is for men of all ages.
Camping Trip! We’ll be having a camping trip for men of all ages and their sons on Friday, June 13th to Saturday, June 14th. This will be an overnight trip in a cool location near Tucson over Father’s Day Weekend. It will be a great time to bond and enjoy the outdoors!
Hey Young Adults,
HopeLife is in an adjustment period right now. We’re going to try out a few new things moving forward. Saturday nights have been hard for most people, so we’ll be meeting on Tuesdays from now on. We’ll also try meeting at the Joneses' house. We’d love to have you join us this month!
Tuesday, April 1 – 7:00 p.m. @ the Joneses
Tuesday, April 8 – 7:00 p.m. @ the Joneses
Tuesday, April 15 – 7:00 p.m. @ the Joneses
Tuesday, April 22 – 7:00 p.m. Game Night! Location TBA
Tuesday, April 29 – No meeting
For more information contact Gary & Paty Jones – gjones@hopetucson.com.
Want to do some spring cleaning? Donate your gently-used items to the Rock Nest Ranch yard sale, to help support our RNR short-term mission's team this summer. Donations will be accepted Friday, April 4 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at our church building (3130 W. Overton Road).
Come shop at the sale on Saturday, April 5 from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
If you have any question, please contact Beth Bumb at 520-349-6574.
Kevin Mason, Family Pastor
kmason@hopetucson.com
April Calendar for Youth Group:
Sunday, April 6: Youth Group from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room
Sunday, April 13: Meet at Handel's Ice Cream Shop at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 20: No Youth Group (Easter Sunday)
Sunday, April 27: Youth Group from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room
Save the date for Youth Summer Camp!
Bob & Merrillee Whren, Directors
Interested in our Seniors' Ministry? Contact Bob Whren at bwhren@gmail.com.
Reserve the date - Sunday, April 27 for Hope Seniors Lunch in the Community Room. For details contact Bob Whren, 904-887-7019 or Merrillee Whren, 520-304-6773.
Our goal is to grow a community of support and encouragement for all families at Hope Community Church who wish to educate their students at home. All are welcome to participate in the activities regardless of what type of school they attend. Children that are not school age are also welcome.
For more details and information on this group, please contact Bre McCabe at bmambros@gmail.com or Tina Edgin at tsedgin@gmail.com.
