The Christian Education Ministry is involved with the planning, developing, and execution of a large variety of opportunities for Hope Church members to engage in faith development. The Ministry seeks to celebrate Hope’s diversity, to become even more faithful to the vision of Jesus, and to assist Hope Church in becoming a mission center in our community and world. A year’s activities include a variety of educational offerings for all ages, from the child in the nursery to the retiree; all of which aim to foster a commitment to the denominational curriculum which continues to present the church family with new opportunities.
Children and Youth activities can include: Children in Worship, Sunday morning church school classes, parents and children gathering for a time to play together during the week (PACT), youth hiking adventures and mission trips. Recently, the Christian Education Ministry saw a need to address the many issues our teens face on a daily basis: split-second images, fast-food dinners, instant messages, and intense competition. Thus began the 6th and 7th grade church school class, a new offering that meets twice a month during the program year. The group meets in the library to discuss the curriculum, “Dwell,” developed by Faith Alive, which asks the questions: What if church were different? Not more of the same, but less? What if our teens had the opportunity to press pause on their fast paced life so they could “be still, and know, that I am God”? Dwell is a place where we pause to imagine, wonder, marvel, and dive into God’s story.
The Adult Education task force meets independently under the umbrella of the Christian Education Ministry. Adult Education activities can include: Sunday morning small groups, presentations and discussions focusing on current world topics relating to the church and her mission, as well as opportunities for members to carry out their faith commitment related to world need.
Anyone interested in supporting this ministry is encouraged to contact any of the Christian Education Ministry members: Mark Sneller, Margaret Buckley, Anne Duinkerken (Youth Ministry), Keith Derrick (Adult Ed.), Judy Parr (Adult Ed.), Kim Rosenau, Sarah Kolk, Jocelyn VanHeest (Children’s Ministry), and Gordon Wiersma.