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Identity Statement – Who are we?

  • We are a people totally overwhelmed by the kindness and mercy of God because He has delivered us from sin and death, given us an eternal inheritance among His people, and has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation so that we might glorify His great name among all peoples. (Ephesians 2:4-5; Col. 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Purpose Statement – Why do we exist?

  • We exist to bear compelling testimony of the supremacy of God’s glory in Jesus Christ among all peoples. (1 Peter 2:9)

Vision Statement – What do we want to become?

  • We desire to become a house of prayer and exultation for the joy of all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7)

Mission Statement – What are we called to do?

  • Our mission is to partner together with God to build a House of Prayer and Exultation by magnifying the supremacy of God’s glory in Jesus Christ through the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit for the joy of all peoples (Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; Is. 56:7; Ps. 69:30)

Mission Rationale – What  is the Scriptural basis for our mission?

  • Matthew 21:13 – He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
  1. First, at H.O.P.E. we firmly believe that the most fundamental call and responsibility of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is to become a corporate “house of prayer“.
    • The phrase “shall be called” indicates that the most fundamental identity of the church is a “house of prayer”.
    • The reference to “house of prayer” shows that what is primarily in view is corporate not individual prayer.
    • The statement “but you make it a den of robbersfunctions to show two things:
      • First, it shows that the natural tendency is to make the church something else other than a house of prayer.
      • Second, it shows that when a church fails to become a house of prayer, it necessarily becomes a “a den of robbers”. In other words, there are only two options. A church either becomes a “house of prayer” or a “den of robbers”.
  2. Second, at H.O.P.E., we firmly believe that to be a house of prayer means to passionately pursue the heart of God as our primary calling as a church for the purpose of sharing in God’s great compassion and mercy for the world through the intercession of the Spirit.
  3. Third, at H.O.P.E., we firmly believe that there are at least three reasons why God has ordained the exercise of corporate prayer as foundational for the church.
    • Corporate prayer is the God ordained means to most effectively cultivate and produce corporate dependence on God.
    • Corporate prayer is the God ordained means to most effectively cultivate and produce true spiritual unity and fellowship in the church.
    • Corporate prayer is the God ordained means to bring about the manifestation of God’s kingdom and glory here on earth.

Mission Strategy – How do we plan to do our mission?

  • Our mission strategy will involve a commitment to 5 things:
    1. Commitment to God’s Word: We believe that the Scriptures are the inspired word of God, the primary means for training in righteousness and sufficient for all things pertaining to salvation. (2 Timothy 3:15-16; 1 Peter 1:23; Hebrews 4:12)
    2. Commitment to God’s Name: We believe that the Scriptures teach that God is ultimately and climactically committed to the glory of His Great Name. (1 Sam. 12:22; Ezekiel 36:21-23; Malachi 1:11; John 17:6; Philippians 2:9-10)
    3. Commitment to God’s House: We believe that the Scriptures teach that God has bound up the glory of His Great Name to His House. (2 Kings 21:4; 2 Chronicles 7:16; Psalm 26:8; Matthew 16:18; John 2:17)
    4. Commitment to Prayer: We believe that the Scriptures teach that God has ordained prayer as the primary means by which God’s glory is manifested in the House and the benefits of Christ’s atonement are applied to His people. For that reason, intercessory prayer is the main spiritual vocation of the church. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Jer. 29:7; Luke 11:2; Rom. 8:34; Col. 1:9; Hebrews 7:25)
    5. Commitment to People: We believe that the Scriptures teach that God’s glory in Christ is primarily manifested in His mercy and steadfast love towards broken and needy people. (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 115:1; John 1:14; Romans 9:23; 2 Corinthians 4:15; Ephesians 1:5-6,12)

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