It has been a privilege to be able to share some thoughts with the congregation via the back page of this newsletter for these last couple years. As I mentioned at the annual meeting in January, I am grateful for how Hope Church has nurtured my spiritual and ministerial development by creating new space for me. I have served as an intern through Western Seminary, as support staff when Gordon was on sabbatical, and now through this two-year pastoral resident position. I went from being ambivalent about joining a church at the beginning, to becoming a member at Hope, and finally to being ordained this past summer as an RCA minister.
A French professor in college used to say about language learning, “It’s like climbing a mountain. Each step can feel difficult at times, and it’s hard to know if you’re making any progress – until you turn around and see the valley spreading out behind you.” I believe this analogy can be applied to our spiritual pilgrimage as well, when we take a moment to reflect how far we’ve come in different ways.
Hope Church nurtured me along the way, and at the same time has challenged me to be bold, and to be particular. That is, to fully engage with people where I am, with active faith in love, humility, and joy. As I receive this challenge, I would like to reflect it back:
“Hope Church, be bold as you continue to pioneer in this community and world. Listen well. Scatter seeds in faith, without needing to control the outcome. And let love and humility be your touchstones as you rejoice in the Lord always.”
I hope we can both live into this challenge!
Kallie and I are members of Hope Church, so we will continue to share life together with this congregation, even as we look towards what’s next with neighborhood work and beyond. I look forward to how God continues to use Hope Church to shape others as we pioneer in this millennium.
Thank you!
~Andrew Spidahl