“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Dear Hope Family,
I invite you to discover the joy of cheerful giving this weekend as our church wraps up an amazing 23-day, outreach-focused, Spirit-led, future-defining, and faith-building giving campaign with a Building Hope for Tomorrow special offering …
“Tell the people … to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.” Exodus 25:2
Please prayerfully consider giving to Building Hope for Tomorrow this weekend in two ways: 1) a one-time offering, plus 2) a three-year pledge from 2025-2027. You can do this simply by filling out a Commitment Card included in the giving campaign Information Packet. Extra Commitment Cards will be available for all at church this weekend, or you can give and make a pledge at BuildingHopeForTomorrow.org.
We’ll finish Building Hope for Tomorrow the way we started it — with no guilt or pressure, and no manipulative games or gimmicks — just an invitation for all of us to give based on God’s revelation, as a matter of faith, and in response to a simple prayer:
“Lord, what do you want to do through me, and my offering to Building Hope for Tomorrow, to accomplish your will?”
Don’t underestimate the power of this prayer. It’s fun to hear so many of you tell me that God laid a specific amount on your heart in response to your prayer … and now you’re fired up for this weekend’s Building Hope for Tomorrow offering! Lots of married couples, too, have said they prayed about their giving, and were blown away to discover that God gave them both the same number! Turns out Jesus keeps his promises …
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
I don’t know who gives how much to Hope. Your offering is between you and God, not you and me. But I have been told in the past that individual gifts to Hope giving campaigns have ranged from 2¢ to $2 million. Both gifts can be equally faithful …
“When someone has been given much, much will be required in return.” Luke 12:48
Faithful giving is about following God’s lead as we manage the resources he has entrusted to us this side of heaven. It’s not about holding on too tightly to “our” money when it all belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). It’s also not about spending money on things we can’t afford (Romans 13:8). If you don’t have money to give, then take part in this weekend’s special offering by joyfully bringing a prayer to the altar, or a gift of your time, or talents. Our HopeKids will bring their Building Hope for Tomorrow coin banks, or Pokémon coins, or prayers, or whatever they want to give cheerfully to God, during this Sunday’s 9:30 & 11:00 am Services, because the manner in which we give is more important than the amount.
Let’s give cheerfully and faithfully, then, out of love for God, and with a sense for the positive eternal impact of our gifts …
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth … Store your treasures in heaven … Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:21
The past three weeks of this giving campaign have been among the most memorable in Hope’s history. There’s a fresh, new, and palpable buzz of excitement in our conversations, our gatherings, and our services! Praise God for that, and thank you for your enthusiastic and full participation in Building Hope for Tomorrow …
This weekend promises to be filled with even more inspiring, moving, and holy moments as we bring our offerings to God through Building Hope for Tomorrow … expect lots and lots of joy!
Peace,
Mike Housholder
Senior Pastor, Lutheran Church of Hope
P.S.- CELEBRATE (Building Hope for Tomorrow Goal #1) Update & Invitation:
We celebrated 30 years of miracles at Hope on our birthday weekend to open the campaign … and this weekend will close the campaign with two more big celebrations: a Saturday 5:00 pm Christmas Tree Lighting Service & Party, and a Pancake Breakfast (with cupcakes, too!) on Sunday between the morning services … party on, Hope!
P.P.S.- CATCH THE VISION (Goal #2) Update & Invitation:
Almost every Hope member attended a Fireside Chat — thank you! If you were out of town or just missed out, you can still pick up a Building Hope for TomorrowInformation Packet at church anytime this week (free for the taking in the church atrium), and you can watch this online Fireside Chat video by clicking this link.
P.P.P.S.- CONNECT (Goal #3) Update & Invitation:
We connected more deeply to God & one another through weekly worship, daily devotions, ministry meetings, campaign gatherings … and you’re invited to take part in 48 Hours of Prayer from this Thursday at 5:00 pm to Saturday at 5:00 pm — sign-up here to cover a 30-minute prayer slot.
P.P.P.P.S.- CONTRIBUTE CHEERFULLY (Goal #4) Update & Invitation:
Our gifts to Building Hope for Tomorrow this weekend will open new doors for Hope to build holy spaces that will help us even more effectively love our neighbors, serve our community, and carry out our mission for generations to come as a 21st century mission church after God’s own heart! See you this weekend!
“And Jesus’ name will be the hope of all the world.” Matthew 12:21