The staff recently took time to reflect on how God moved powerfully to build a church whose love for Christ and others continues to escalate. Pastor Wayne encouraged his leaders to be dependant upon God’s Word for daily food and keep their spirits up. “If you keep your spirit up, the worst situation will get better. If you’re spirit is down, the best situation gets worse.”
He then shared what he believes is the Legacy of New Hope:
- Resourcefulness - just go for it, even when you have nothing. If all you have is zeal, use it. Quoting Taylor Hudson, “God’s will done God’s way will receive God’s supply.”
- Spirit of Evangelism - everything is connected to a soul. Don’t get involved in religion, get involved in the harvest, and everything will begin to make sense.
- Believe in People - some one believed in each of us. People come with a desire, not always fully developed.
- Base everything on Scripture - don’t soften to spiritualize and attract more people. Model ourselves after Jesus and stay true to God’s Word.
- Give people hope - not guilt and condemnation like the Pharisees. Keep the Good News the Good News without compromising. Be gracious and tell why.
Carol Ann Shima says looking back to the beginning makes her feels grateful to serve and be a part of God’s amazing work at New Hope. Although she and Dan had been Christians for over 40 years of their lives, it wasn’t until they learned to walk daily with the Lord, as they learned through New Hope, that they really experienced the fullness of Christian life. She says she’s learned three lessons:
always keep an eternal perspective, keep a burning desire to share the love of Christ, and know it is a privilege to serve such an amazing God.
Executive Pastor Elwin Ahu says the future of New Hope is still being revealed. He recalls walking into Stevenson Elementary with a heavy heart. “
With all the junk in my life, I was so skeptical about this church. But I walked in, and somebody hugged me. I sat in the back row. It was so captivating, it just drew me in. I could not resist the Lord.”
Little did he know that he would later leave his job as a Superior Court Judge and become New Hope’s Executive Pastor. Pastor Elwin is amazed at what God has done. “
The Lord saw my potential. And I believe in the same way, God sees this church not as what it is, but what it will become.”
Every weekend, hundreds of volunteers continue to transform the Farrington campus and five satellite locations to hold sixteen weekend services. On Sundays, church activities consume the entire Farrington campus (except the pool) transforming classrooms into an enormous childcare program called Children’s Ark, adult Sunday school classes and the 1,200 seat auditorium for the main worship service. In addition, Sand Island, Waianae, Leeward, Hawaii Kai, Manoa and Diamond Head locations offer Sunday morning services with live worship and a taped message, and Children’s Ark.
Space is at a premium and thus the cost and availability of land has kept New Hope from moving into a building of their own. In the meantime, New Hope has partnered with the local community and high school to buy a new air conditioning system, plant 160 trees, provide landscaping and painting services. New possibilities are on the horizon with new sites being considered by church leadership, who pray with great anticipation for what God will do next through New Hope’s exciting ministry.
previous
