Imperfect People, Perfect Hope in Jesus: Embracing Our New Vision - Revision Week 1
When we think about the future of our church, it's important to first understand where we've been. Our past shapes our future, and the journey we've taken as a congregation has led us to this pivotal moment of revisioning.
The Journey of Our Church Vision
Hope Summit has always been a forward-looking church. From our beginnings in the fairgrounds in the 1950s, to meeting in a house, then an old Lutheran church, and finally breaking ground at our current location in the 1970s - we've never been content to stay where we are.
When I arrived about 11 years ago, one of my first questions to the elders was, "What is the vision of Hope Summit?" Their response was telling: they knew they had one written down somewhere, but couldn't quite remember it. The staff had a slightly better grasp, but it was clear that while we had a vision statement, we weren't truly living it.
This led us to a six-month process of prayer, fasting, and sometimes heated discussion as we sought God's direction. We asked important questions:
What kind of church does God want us to be?
What kind of church are we now?
What's in our DNA that's good?
What needs to change?
Living to Love and Glorify Jesus
After this process, we emerged with a clear vision: "Living to love and glorify Jesus." This vision has guided us for the past decade, shaping our decisions, our preaching, and our church culture.
We began filtering everything through this lens - our time, energy, resources, and events all had to contribute to helping people live lives of love and point to Jesus. We spent four years preaching through the Gospels, taking our time to truly understand Jesus and glorify Him.
The results were beautiful. Our church began to be known in the community as a place of acceptance and love. I remember hearing stories of people saying, "Oh, Hope Summit - isn't that the church that just accepts people?"
How Our Church Became Known for Acceptance
Organically, a phrase began to emerge in our congregation: "Your mess is welcome here." This wasn't something we strategically planned - it just happened naturally as we lived out our vision of loving and glorifying Jesus.
This phrase resonated because it reflected Jesus' own ministry. He was the one who hung out with sinners and prostitutes, who was criticized by religious leaders for associating with the "wrong people." By loving like Jesus, we naturally became a church where messy, imperfect people felt welcome.
However, we realized that while "messy is welcome here" spoke to many, it might not be the most inviting phrase for everyone. After all, who wants to go to a "messy" church?
Our New Vision: Imperfect People, Perfect Hope in Jesus
After much prayer and discussion, we're excited to share our new vision statement: Imperfect People, Perfect Hope in Jesus
This isn't a dramatic change from our previous vision - it's a refocusing, a more clearly defined statement of what kind of church God wants Hope Summit to be. We're not losing "living to love and glorifying Jesus" - we're just becoming more intentional about being the kind of church Jesus would want to be part of.
Why This Vision Matters
This vision is deeply rooted in Scripture. Romans 3:23-24 tells us: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
We are all imperfect people. None of us measure up. But through Jesus, we have found perfect hope. This is who we are as a church - not a place for people who have it all together, but a community of imperfect people who have found their hope in Jesus.
Stories of Imperfect People Finding Perfect Hope
This vision isn't just theoretical - it's already happening in our church:
A woman who was afraid to enter our church because she thought it might "catch on fire" when she walked in, who later became a regular member with her family
A man with a violent record who found acceptance in a Bible study group, which helped him reconnect with his wife and child
A woman literally living in the gutter who was embraced by our congregation despite her appearance and language
Multiple people who had been asked to leave other churches but found acceptance here
These stories show that we're already living out this vision. We're a church where imperfect people are finding perfect hope in Jesus.
The Biblical Foundation of Our Hope
The apostle Peter, in his first letter to the church, begins by pointing to our hope in Christ: "Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
Later, he continues: "Therefore, with minds alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming" (1 Peter 1:13).
Our hope isn't just for this life - it's for the future when Jesus returns. In a world desperate to know that the future will be okay, we have the truth: a perfect hope in Jesus.
Understanding "Perfect" Hope
When we talk about "perfect" hope, we're not using the English understanding of perfection (flawless, without mistakes). The biblical concept is more about completeness and wholeness.
Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are made complete in God. What was lacking because of our sin - a real connection to God - is no longer lacking. We are made whole, and from that place of completeness, we are being made holy.
This means we don't have to try harder to earn God's favor. Instead, we put our hope in Jesus, and He leads us forward. When we make mistakes (which we will), we're not abandoned or shamed by God. He picks us up, dusts us off, and continues walking with us.
Life Application
As we embrace this new vision, I want to challenge you to examine your own life:
Where have you been placing your hope? Is it in your finances, your job, your relationships, your government, or your own abilities? Or is your hope firmly placed in Jesus?
Have you been trying too hard to earn God's favor? Are you exhausting yourself trying to be "good enough" for God?
Have you been too hard on yourself? Are you avoiding God because you know you don't measure up?
Are you willing to be honest about your imperfections? Can you embrace the freedom that comes from acknowledging that you're imperfect but have found perfect hope in Jesus?
This week, I challenge you to shift your hope from temporary things to the perfect hope we have in Jesus. When you face difficulties, remind yourself: "I am imperfect, but I have perfect hope in Jesus."
Remember, Hope Summit isn't meant to be a church of perfect people. We're meant to be a church where anyone can show up, no matter where they are or what they've done, and find love, acceptance, and the perfect hope that can only be found in Jesus.
