A Purposeful Direction

In Aug 2008, Pastor Matt shared with Hope Church the following Vision 411, four initiatives we feel God is compelling us toward, to be completed by 2011.

1) Next Generation  Improve our family ministries (Early Family, Elementary Family and Student & Family) into places through which families can grow spiritually together.  We recognize that the church is a partner with parents, the primary spiritual influencers. 

Toward this, we recently had a new Student & Family Ministries leader join our staff, and we are in the process of searching for a Children & Family Ministries staff member.  We also have renovation plans for all of our children and student spaces.

2) Worship Arts  Improve our Worship Center so that we can better use the arts in our worship services to share the power of the Gospel. 

Toward this, we have renovation plans for our worship space that will include better lighting, sound and video recording technology.

3) Local Care  Develop multi-faceted care and community ministries that will assist individuals and families in their time of need. 

Toward this, we opened a new Neighborhood Resource Center in downtown Dubuque where we are weekly doing mentoring for young parents.  We are also starting a new Marketplace Ministry to come alongside people in job transition, and to help people get out of poverty.

4) Global Church  Develop partnerships with Third World national ministries to accomplish life-changing initiatives. 

Toward this, we started a partnership in 2009 with Mountain Top Ministries in Haiti, a 10-year old ministry by Haitians, for Haitians.  MTM has a church, two schools with 1,500 students, a medical clinic and an orphange.  Over 150 households in our congregation are personally supporting students at MTM schools in Haiti.  On Christmas Eve 2009, our congregation give $10,000 for solar powered lighting for 40 homes in a village with no electricity in Haiti.