I’ve always enjoyed 2 Corinthians 9. It is a chapter where Paul urges the Corinthian believers to excel at giving. If they sow generously, they are told they will reap generously. They are also told to give cheerfully (not under compulsion) because God loves a cheerful giver. Here in verse 11, Paul tells this generous church that God will keep enriching them to give, and the result will be many people sending thanksgiving and praise towards God.
Hope, you are such a generous church. I find it a true joy to serve alongside such a generous people. May God continue to enrich us to serve Him cheerfully and generously.
I wanted to update you on how giving/budget/expenses have been turning out so far in this crazy 2020 year.
Giving for January – October 2020: $1,099,796. (We planned on $1,121,517. We are just a little behind.)
Expenses for January – October 2020: $1,008,475. (We budgeted $1,007,960. Pretty close to on target.)
Currently $91,321 ahead (which can be used for other ministry, building project, etc.)
I’m sure many of you would agree that just being ahead in a year like this seems like such a blessing that we should thank the Lord for. However, I want to also share how I believe God allowed us to invest in His kingdom in ways greater than we could have hoped for or imagined. I am thankful God allowed us to invest funds to: get some property development work done, host a training for our leaders, raise money for African Pastors through Shirtember, generously support our body through benevolence assistance, send 294 Christmas boxes to kids around the world, sponsor 50 vulnerable kids in the Congo, build a home for one of our missionaries serving the Apache youth (almost complete), send a team from Hope to Kenya and Ethiopia to see schools and churches that our church has empowered and built, take on a new local missionary from Hope who is training up high school students to share the Gospel on public school campuses, build a high school dormitory in the Philippines, purchase a roaster in Ukraine, hire an intern on the Apache reservation, support orphans in Africa (through the Easter offering), hold our largest women’s camp and youth camp in Hope’s history (and even more importantly, spiritually impactful), pay our pastors/staff, cover all our rent and ministry expenses, and we were able to purchase equipment and cameras to begin live streaming services due to COVID.
And in addition to this, I’m thankful God has used you all to continue to offer Hope, grow in Community, and be the Church!
~ Pastor Randy
Thank you Hope for your extraordinary participation in Operation Christmas Child. We filled 294 boxes! Also, a big thank you to Dean & Jeri Odell for heading up our OCC ministry at Hope!
Suzi King, Director
women@hopetucson.com
Thanks to all the women who joined us for our 2020 Women’s Camp. We had an amazing time of fellowship, worship and hearing God’s Word!
In an abundance of caution amid rising COVID numbers our annual December outreach on the 12th has been changed from an in-person event to a donate and drop off one. Our desire is to deeply bless the women at the La Paloma Women’s Shelter by collecting high quality hygiene/personal care items as well as premium chocolates and candies.
Our aim is to collect enough items for 15 gift and treat bags. Unlike previous years, homemade baked goods are not an option and all edibles must be purchased in sealed packages. We are requesting personal care items in quantities of five and the treats in bags of individually wrapped items.
If you are interested in making a donation, items can be dropped off at the church office beginning Tuesday, December 2 during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday & 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday). Please contact Gina at info@hopetucson.com and let her know which items you will be donating to avoid overlap of some and neglect of others.
Below is a list of suggested items: (Donations of 5 or more in original sealed packaging)
Nail Polish/Remover
Mascara
Body Lotion (travel or small size)
Chapstick
Lipstick
Shampoo & Conditioner (travel or small size)
Brushes and Combs
Bodywash (travel or small size)
Blush
Eyeshadow
Treats/Candy (individually wrapped)
Ghiradelli Chocolate Squares
Lindor Truffles
Pepperidge Farm Cookies (Small Individual packages at Costco)
Gourmet Candy Canes
Werther’s Butterscotch Hard Candies
Any Premium Candy/Treat
The deadline to drop off items is Thursday, December 10. We are excited for this opportunity to bless these precious women and thank you in advance as we “Offer Hope” during this Christmas season.
Hope Women’s Ministry Team
Discipleship Corner
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)
Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey Him. Out of His love for us, we should love Him in return, which includes living like He has asked us and told us to live.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Jesus has told us to go make disciples, more followers of Jesus. If we are not making disciples, do we really love Jesus? Now, none of us obey God perfectly, and we all have different gifts and personalities, but obedience, and therefore making disciples, is not optional. If we love Jesus, we need to obey and follow Him and He has told us to make more followers of Him.
My prayer is that we all take this responsibility seriously. Let’s make disciples for Jesus!
Go Get ‘em! Pastor Dave
Kyria Kelly - Director
children@hopetucson.com
We have been blessed with many opportunities to include our kids in giving to others in the past month. From helping at the Operation Christmas Child table in the lobby, writing cards to go in shoeboxes, and wearing a shoebox costume to helping kids in the Congo get sponsored on Orphan Sunday, we have seen our kids excitedly jump into opportunities to serve others. It has been a huge blessing to me, and I hope it has been to you, too!
Somehow December is already upon us, and HopeKids in preschool-5th grade are practicing “We Three Kings” and “Joy to the World” to sing at our outdoor Christmas Eve service. Save the date – we hope to see you there! If you would like to practice the songs with your children at home, you can find them at these links:
We Three Kings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBwL3y-Wlms
Joy to the World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OaM6b48k8
If you are looking for a place to serve at Hope, we would love your help in HopeKids. Our greatest needs are for teachers in the nursery and preschool classes, and an assistant teacher in 4th-5th grade once or twice a month. Working with kids and pouring into their lives is so rewarding. We want our kids to know, love, and serve God, and if working toward those goals is your passion, we would love to serve alongside you!
Please let me know if there is any specific way I can be praying for you, and/or if you’d like to connect in person with me. I look forward to hearing from you!
Kyria Kelly, HopeKids Director
kckelly@hopetucson.com
Awana is up and running and we are experiencing growth in all age groups and we are in need of more leaders! Is the Lord calling you to be a part of this vital ministry for kids? If so, contact Tim or Marilyn Tolson at 520-575-1307. We really need you!
December Birthdays:
Amelia Walker 12/01
Maddie Adler 12/02
Rome Vroom 12/04
Emily Morell 12/05
Nicole Braeutigam 12/06
Sage DeVries 12/06
Arabella Walker 12/08
Bear Adler 12/09
Colton Bogard 12/10
Gavin Roberts 12/11
Brigitta Bellars 12/13
Rory Caffarel 12/13
Emmy Frambaugh 12/23
Wynter Whiting 12/25
Molly Collins 12/29
Kevin Mason
Youth Pastor
kmason@hopetucson.com
2020 is almost over! So crazy! We just ended our Gospel series in HopeYouth, and even in a tough year we are all blessed that we have been saved by Christ. One thing we ended the series with was “preach the Gospel to yourself everyday”. That is my prayer to all of our students. May we always remember the work of Christ as we continue to live for Him.
On another note. Please be on the lookout for emails this December. With COVID cases rising again we may need to adjust things in HopeYouth. Again, we do prefer to stay meeting, but we want to be wise in how we meet. If you have any questions, please contact me at kmason@hopetucson.com.
Important Dates for December:
HopeYouth
Sundays, December 6, 13 & 20
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
at Summit Ridge Community Church
(505 W. Hardy Road)
NO HopeYouth on Sunday, December 27
Bible Studies:
Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15, 22
Systematic Theology at 8:00 p.m. at the Masons
Wednesdays, Decemeber 2, 9, 16
Bible Study for 6th & 7th grade girls
at 5:30 p.m. at the Masons
Saturdays, December 5 & 19
Bible Study for 8th grade girls
at 1:00 p.m. at the Church office (8710 N. Thornydale #110)
Contact Information:
Website:
www.hopetucson.com
Administration:
info@hopetucson
Pastor Randy:
rbrainard@hopetucson.com
Pastor Dave:
dcollins@hopetucson.com
Pastor Matt:
mpoling@hopetucson.com
Pastor Kevin:
kmason@hopetucson.com
Mailing Address:
2114 W. Grant Road, PMB 87
Tucson, Arizona 85745
Phone:
520-400-1483
