Hope Illustrated This Far by Faith by HopeAD33

HOPE ILLUSTRATED T H E

T H I R D

A N N I V E R S A R Y

E D I T I O N

THE EDUCATION MINISTRY

WE WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT

HOPEVILLE SUMMER SERIES 2016

MINISTRY WORK: EVERY MAN A BEAM

FAITH LOVE HOPE MODO MAGAZINE Â· PRICE $19.95

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT

GRIEFSHARE

Editor’s

Letter

Bro. Alvin L. Daniels, Jr I am extremely excited about this Third Anniversary Edition of Hope Illustrated. It speaks to the journey of the Hope Church of Christ since its inception. It has been a fast paced but steady walk toward God’s ordained destiny. The journey has been one of revelation and confirmation. I can vividly recall our Dedication Service during which the dynamic Wesley T. Leonard preached a prophetic message entitled “Pregnant, but Not Showing.” The message was telling of what we now see and celebrate. We have trusted the development process and endured the labor pains, and we now give thanks for a thriving and growing ministry. We have witnessed the births of souls, ministries, marriages and children. Through our presence, we have exposed our community to God’s goodness. We have come a long way since our days of gathering in the living rooms of the

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Senats, Smiths and the Johnsons. We have traveled from the Betty T. Ferguson Community Center to 295 NW 199th Street. The physical journey has been reflective of the spiritual journey. We gave grown from 20 or so members to a hundred plus, and we currently have over three hundred in membership. Our ministries have expanded from just Worship to include classes for all ages. We reach out through a state of the art Media Ministry that has now produced its first printed version of the online quarterly Hope Illustrated. We have a thriving Youth Ministry (Hopeville) along with a vibrant Singles Ministry. In addition, we are actively serving our community and schools through Community Engagement. We serve families through our Marriage Enrichment and our Women’s and Men’s Ministries. The list is only growing, and we are glorifying God with each addition. We pray that you are blessed by this special anniversary edition of Hope Illustrated.

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EVENTS

OCTOBER 1st City of Miami Gardens Paint the City Pink --------------------------------------------------OCTOBER 9-12th Third Anniversary Celebration --------------------------------------------------OCTOBER 15th Singles Ministry Fellowship -------------------------------------------------OCTOBER 21st Young Adult Ministry Devotion & Fellowship -----------------------------------------------------OCTOBER 23rd 4th Sunday Youth Fellowship ----------------------------------------------------OCTOBER 30th Pink Sunday -----------------------------------------------------

OCTOBER 31st Trunk or Treat

---------------------------------------------------------NOVEMBER 18th

Young Adult Ministry Devotion & Fellowship

----------------------------------------------------------NOVEMBER 20th

Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Giveaway

---------------------------------------------------------NOVEMBER 24th Serving Thanksgiving Dinner at Betty T Ferguson ----------------------------------------------------------NOVEMBER 26th Hope for Thanksgiving ---------------------------------------------------------DECEMBER 17th Hope for the Homeless --------------------------------------------------------DECEMBER 31st NYE Fish Fry & Program

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MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT

The 2016 Marriage Enrichment class fell nothi of being life changing to those who attended already has everyone looking forward to the next A powerful class such as this can only lead to marriages, which will only lead to a powerful chu nightly childcare, the creative and much need nights, the weekly love challenges, and the timel strengthened relationships and created a new sta for the Marriage Enrichment class.

CONTENTS

ing short d, and it t session. powerful urch. The ded date ly lessons andard

Contributors

EDUCATION MINISTRY

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alvin L. Daniels, Jr. EDITOR Zakyia Odoi

As the Education Ministry continues to grow, there is no doubt that God is directing its course. Through faith, He continues to increase our territory, providing us with a growth in students as well as willing, able-bodied instructors.

GRAPHIC EDITOR Diedra Chatman ASSOCIATE EDITOR Brandon Odoi

WRITERS Colleen Blakely Tenecia Cousins Cynthia Daniels Roxanna Dunn Reuben Holliman Demetrius McClain Aldanzo Pratt Devin Stanely Brittany L. Henry TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Laterrance Chatman SPECIAL THANKS

SONGS OF FAITH We pride ourselves on being a ministry first and a song group second. We minister and teach via song. As members of Harmony of Hope we serve in the body of Christ in any capacity we can as a group and individually. Our focus is to save souls and keep souls saved by ministering in song to anyone in need.

HOPEVILLE

305 Elite 15th Street Church of Christ Brownsville Church of Christ CAMA City of Miami Gardens South Central Church of Christ Southside Church of Christ (Orlando) We Care Health Services of South Florida

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Marriage Enrichment

5 LOVE LANGUAGES It’s safe to say the second installment of Hope Church of Christ’s Marriage Enrichment has evolved from simply being a class to becoming an experience. This year’s class drew an array of attendees, from members of Hope to friends from neighboring cities and congregations. Among the participants were couples thinking about marriage, to newly engaged couples, to married couples that have stood the test of time for 57 years and counting!

The ministering of Brother Alvin L. Daniels, Jr. along with Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages was transformative for all who participated. After each bi-monthly session, couples departed feeling full intellectually, spiritually, and physically. Whether people attended as a young couple just starting their journey or as a couple well-versed in marriage, this year’s experience taught everyone that a relationship is only as strong as each person’s willingness to become fluent in his or her partner’s love language. For some, the transparency of the seasoned marriages served as a preview of where their love will lead. For others, the honesty of the younger couples served as a reminder of where their love began. For all, the importance of effectively communicating a spouse’s love language was made crystal clear.

Reuben & Veidra

My husband and I are so much better at communicating with each other, and we are

continuously

filling each other’s love tanks. We’re appreciative of all designees involved for

affording

this

opportunity

to be a part of a class such as this. We look forward to the next session as we continue to grow spiritually and allow Christ to be the leading force in our marriage.

Rodson & Amy Rodson and I look forward to each season

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marriage

enrichment

look at our marriage - it tests our love for one another and truly makes us understand each other better. We are grateful for this season’s lesson on love languages because it gave us a way to understand each other better. After we learned each other’s love language, it was easier to communicate and

because it makes us take an inner

love

each

other

better.

Brandon & Zakyia

The 5 Love Languages book and class were truly a blessing to our relationship. We learned each other’s languages and got a better understanding of our own language also. As a result, our marriage has been strengthened and our communication much improved.

Tahme & Alberta

We would like to Thank God and the vision of minister Alvin L. Daniels, Jr.

for

the

marriage

enrichment

class. Being in the classes not only helped me but also allowed us to foster wholesome relationships with other couples. I am forever grateful.

Roger & Venus The Marriage Enrichment class has helped improve our communications based on our individual love language. We discovered through the class what our primary and secondary love languages were. We were given various activities to do together as a couple and along with the other couples who participated. My husband and I practiced communicating by sharing our innermost feelings to each other in the presence of the other couples as a way to be open, honest and vulnerable. The class was very informative and fun… we laughed and in some cases cried together. We enjoyed getting to know the other couples. Bro Daniels did an excellent job facilitating the class. We look forward to the next Marriage Enrichment class. HOPE

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KITCHEN 5000 I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS. PHILIPPIANS 3:14 WE ARE THANKING GOD FROM WHERE WE CAME AND FOR WHERE WE ARE GOING -- AS WE MOVE FORWARD BY FAITH.

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MINISTRY WORK

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servants” Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38

Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

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FAITH

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WALK

FAITH author:

Demetrius McClain

The first chapter of the book of James talks about trials and temptations and our faith being tested so that our endurance can have a chance to grow. There has never been a more true expression than this as it pertains to my life. My Christian walk has been riddled with trials and tribulations that have shaped me into the servant that I am today. I remember a time in my life when I felt so far from GOD. Like some, even though I was raised in the church, similar to the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 who left his home, I walked away from God and behaved recklessly. I stayed away for about two decades; and my unrepentant nature, choosing to do my will, and in essence my sins, cut me off from God (Isaiah 59:2). Life became unbearable and I felt like there was no one that I could turn to. It was when I found myself at the end of a second failed marriage that I felt as though my life had no purpose. My heart was heavy, I felt empty, and I wanted to end my life. But God never gave up on me. My now ex-wife was invited to worship by two of her co-workers who were members of the Church of Christ and we accepted the invitation. The experience felt like a homecoming and all was well with my soul. So pricked was my heart that I felt that I had to repent. 1 John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I believed that. I remembered that, and I had faith that God could restore me if I just asked Him.

So I prayed. I made a fervent plea. I told God that I would rededicate my life and remain faithful if He got me out of my volatile situation. I trusted His words and the knowledge I had found when I was first convicted by the Gospel a few decades ago. So I prayed and then I waited. And God moved! I was so grateful to God to have been restored to the fold that I dedicated myself more so than I ever had. I wanted my service to reflect my gratitude. I rolled up my sleeves and began to participate in worship. My faith began to increase under the tutelage of my current Minister, Alvin L. Daniels, Jr. I had some hardships; my testimonies were just as strenuous as before. However, I never reached a point where I felt hopeless. I think it is truly a testament to my faith because my trials gave me a chance to grow. The Christian walk will continue to present troubles and there have been many tough times since I rededicated my life to God almost a decade ago. But what I have learned is to solicit prayers of the righteous and to fast and pray. I will not cower from my burdens as overcoming my trials has increased my faith and assured me that GOD will provide. And as I continuously reflect on my life and remember all that I have been through, I know I have only gotten this far by faith; and I know that it is faith that will continue to help me make it through.

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. HOPE

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FAITH

Our faith in God is not a blind faith, just because we can’t see the one we worship. On the contrary, our faith keeps our eyes open to the fact that God is continually working in our lives. A living faith is when one puts work or action behind their faith.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, an primis quodsi nam. When we pray to God for spiritual strength, Oratio appellantur ea per, vim ex ponderum insolens, for example, we have faith He will give us the an duo natum placerat senserit. Illum decore vim ex, strength. However, there is still a part we must vel te purto nusquam. Erant assentior persequeris play. We must attend regularly worship and et mel, id pri commodo tincidunt, eos novum oratio spend devotional time with the Lord because detraxit ex. Omnis dictas imperdiet ex vis. these times are designed to edify us spiritually.

Personal Bible study through devotion must also take place so that our spiritual muscles are ready to go when they are needed. This is what a living faith does, it pushes us to step out into the unknown knowing that our God is always with us. Remember when Peter walked on the water (Matthew 14:22-29) putting his faith to the test by asking Christ to allow him to have the ability? A living faith pushes us out of our comfort zones into what we think is a bad situation, but as long as we keep our eyes on Christ we will walk over the troubled waters and not sink into its depths. Seeing as the time of day was well past the midnight hour; Peter and the other disciples probably couldn’t see but a few feet or so in front of them. This puts Peter’s faith to the maximum because the Bible doesn’t specify how far away from the boat Jesus was, however this didn’t stop Peter from putting his faith into action and making it come alive to ask Christ to bid him to walk with him on the water.

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STAND STRONG IN FAITH Stand strong in faith and never take Your eyes of Jehovah ; The work of the flesh is weakness, Don’t look back to the past its long Gone and it will hold you in darkness, Satan is the Father of sin ; Even when you can’t see your way Stand strong in faith ; Satan is always transforming himself Into an angel of light , To make you lose sight of the way of Your faith to Jehovah God . Even when you feel like you can’t face Another day , Hold on to Jehovah and Never let go , Stand strong in faith and what you know, Even when the tears want to flow from your Eyes , Let Jehovah hold you to what is Right, Stand strong in faith and Jehovah will make Way ; Knowing that Jehovah will always provide What you need , Even when you feel that all hope is gone Never let go ,keep moving along to what you Know , Stand strong in faith ; Knowing that Jehovah is always there for you Just cry out and give all your worries to him , Stand strong in faith ; Even when you feel like giving up let Jehovah Give you his love.

CONSIDER THIS by Danzo Pratt

Consider this: seeing once deadly diseases that have been eradicated, or barren lands now industrialized at the hands of man, Satan would have us believe that faith is no longer required. He wants us to believe that these advancements have rendered the Lord obsolete; that, through science and force of will, we are now able to survive mostly on our own, with often very vague references to us trusting in God to protect us from harm. And, for many, they’re ok with the Lord simply being their protector, but not so much with Him being a master. In this, the chief danger of this life lies in the belief that we ourselves can define the terms of this discipleship based on our imagined lack of need to lean on Him anymore. Because we’ve seen so many great advancements that people never attribute to The Lord, we’ve become a people who seek Christianity without Christ, salvation without sacrifice, praise without persecution. We want Jesus to be with us, but only on our terms. We want glory, yet none of the suffering. But, we cannot separate Christ from His Church. He already has rules; He’s already developed a standard.

And, in an instant, the Lord is capable of reminding us of just how little control we have over the things of this life. We are reminded of how, even with every safeguard and preventive measure, unless He is our protector, the idea of safety is merely imagined. Therefore, we must make it our duty to follow Him. Even while Satan wants us to believe that being religious is the same as being righteous. It isn’t. Being a Christian isn’t just about going to worship and saying our prayers. It isn’t about seeing the greatest that man has achieved and forgetting that the Lord’s hand was upon all of it. It isn’t about us growing above a need for Christ; it’s about us coming to understand just how dire our need is for Him on a daily basis. And, this is where faith is most required and our discipleship shows truest. We don’t know what will happen; we just know that whatever does happen, the Lord is in control. And, Him being in control is better than anything man can offer. Ultimately, either the Lord is going to be our everything, or we must decide that He can’t be our anything. He didn’t die for the church we’ve made up in our heads; He died for His. His is better.

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STRAP HERE

GriefShare

Sitting in a pew Sunday after Sunday listening to the prayer requests, one can’t help but notice the frequency of requests made on behalf of someone who has lost a loved one. What follows is usually a sympathetic gasp or a heartfelt moan that echoes throughout the sanctuary. After service, concerned members seek out those individuals who made the request and offer words of comfort.

s I witnessed this same scene play out week after week, I thought to myself, “Surely, there is something that the church can do for people who are grieving” – A hug and the usual “My deepest sympathy… call me if you need me” seemed redundant. While offering words of encouragement is not something one should denounce, I personally felt as though there was more that the Church could do. Having gone through a season of grief in my past, I asked myself what was the one thing that I wanted more than anything as I traveled through my valley of bereavement. Realizing that I longed to share my story with others, I realized that I longed to share my story with others who may have experienced loss like me, and I wanted to feel safe in doing so. While God blessed me tremendously to make it out of my season of grief unscathed, I always knew that perhaps there were others that were in a dark place in their season of bereavement. I knew if I felt that way about my grief, there was someone else feeling the same way: alone, depressed, stressed, with no one to talk to. The church needed something in place to help following the death of a loved one. Through prayer and supplication I asked God to give me the strength to do His will, and to make me a light to those who have lost a loved one. Although the specifics of the ministry were unclear, I knew I needed to step out on faith. So I asked God, “What Shall I render? What is Bereavement Support? “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted,” was the scripture that captured my attention on more than a few occasions and is now the guiding scripture for the support group. It struck me that the Bereavement Support Group could serve as a vehicle for our members to have an open dialogue about their emotions following the death of a loved one. The Bereavement Support Group was birthed in response to the

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Visit www.Griefshare.org for more information

The group meets weekly on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. This cycle will be ending on October 3, 2016, and will resume on November 21, 2016. The group is open to the community as well as any churches in the area. For more information please visit www.griefshare.org unique needs of members in bereavement, and on November 23, 2015, the Hope Church of Christ launched its first Bereavement Support Group. The purpose of the Bereavement Support Group is to provide individuals who have lost a loved one with a safe space to mourn, share their feelings, and to feel whatever emotions they want to feel. The facilitator encourages members of the group to feel free in an environment that is specifically designed for them to cry, vent, moan, or even sit in silence if need be. The facilitator gives members of the group free range to discuss anything they want to discuss, so long as it pertains to the nightly topic. Each session incorporates a scripture based lesson. Nearly a year later, the Bereavement Support Group has evolved into a more comprehensive bereavement support group known as GriefShare. GriefShare is a support group that meets weekly for 12 consecutive weeks. It offers a warm, caring environment and one will come to view it as a small family. GriefShare is a network of 12,000+ churches worldwide equipped to offer grief support groups. The program is nondenominational and features biblical concepts for healing from grief. When asked by leadership to put a ministry together for the bereaved, I was uncertain as to what direction to turn. To be honest, I was afraid; I doubted myself and the power that God put inside of me. After all, who wants to talk about death? So, I fasted and prayed and asked God to give me the strength to do whatever it is that He has called me to do. He chose me to deliver His message; He chose me to be a beacon of light to those who have lost a loved one, and so, by His grace I delivered. By stepping out of faith, God has moved me to some uncomfortable positions, but it is all for His Glory. Looking back on this year, the Lord has truly blessed the Hope Church of Christ. The blessings of the church would not be possible if we did not have members that walked by faith.

GriefShareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3 Components

Video seminar: Encouraging, information-packed videos featuring leading grief experts.

Support Group: Small group discussions about the weekly video contents.

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Workbook: Journaling and personal study exercises that reinforce the weekly session

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WOMEN

OF HOPE

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Women of Hope meet on the third Sunday of each month at 3:30 PM for Devotion and Fellowship. All sisters are encouraged to attend.

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he Women of Hope Ministry, also known as WOH, offers women of all ages quality opportunities for personal growth and ministry. Recognizing that our sisters have a specific set of spiritual needs that deserve special attention, the activities of this ministry are designed to meet those needs while placing emphasis on growing, gaining, grounding and glorifying. We do this through serving our greater community and ministering one to another. As God transforms our women, they in turn will transform the world around them. Over the past nine months, the Women of Hope Ministry has engaged in monthly devotions, dedicated to the spiritual edification of the sisters. The devotions are taught by different sisters from the congregation, and give sisters an opportunity to share their testimonies and the lessons they have learned along their Christian journey. As is consistent with the ministry from its inception, every 2016 devotion has been based intransparency and honesty. We began in January with a powerful sunrise devotion, which was held at Sunny Isles Beach. Sister Zakiya Odoi presented our devotion and Sister Cynthia Daniels and others led visionary

prayers to lay the foundation for 2016.

movies and shopping at Mizner Park.

In February, Sister Teara Davis led a thoughtprovoking devotion entitled “Women of Many Hats.” This devotion encouraged sisters to examine their different roles, while emphasizing the need to keep the focus on the most important role: Daughter of the King.

In August, Sister Roxanna Dunn presented a timely lesson entitled “Prepare me a Sanctuary.” Paired with a powerful spoken word by our young sister Micaiah, this devotion helped sisters understand the importance of both having a dwelling place with the Lord and being a dwelling place for the Lord.

In April, Sister Gina Vernon led a powerful devotion called “Bag Ladies and Breakthroughs.” This devotion encouraged all sisters to think about the many figurative bags they carry and how the weight of these bags may be pulling them down and away from Christ. At the end of this devotion, sisters were reminded of the importance ofpacking light. Sister Stephanie Wooten presented a devotion on “Our Sons” in May. The personal devotion gave sisters an opportunity to pen love letters to the men and boys in their lives while lifting them in prayer. In addition to the normal third-Sunday devotion, in July the sisters enjoyed a miniretreat to the Embassy Suites and Mizner Park, both in Boca Raton, Florida. In light of publicized growing issues between civilians and law enforcement, the sisters unified in prayer for the safety of civilians and law enforcement alike. The night ended with fun-filled games, food and fellowship. The following day, the sisters enjoyed makeovers,

In September, the sisters lent their support to the anniversary celebration at Deerfield Beach Church of Christ while planning for their upcoming Retreat, to be held in late October. From October 28 – 30, the sisters will be in Clermont, Florida enjoying the cabins at Lake Louisa. With the assistance of Sister Heather Walker, they have planned a wonderful time of relaxation and renewal. The theme will be “Retreat to Recharge”; and Sister Lisa Snell of the Ninth Street Church of Christ will be the guest speaker. We are so excited and looking forward to this wonderful event. Over 72 sisters will be attending. The Women of Hope are thankful first and foremost to God for the spirit of unity that bonds us. This Spirit has helped us all to grow closer to one another and to Christ Jesus. We are also grateful for each and every sister who participates and makes theministry everything that it is. We are confident that God will continue to grow

The Women of Hope are thankful first and foremost to God for the spirit of unity that bonds us. This Spirit has helped us all to grow closer to one another and to ChristJesus. We are also grateful for each and every sister who participates and makes the ministry everything that it is. We are confident that God will continue to grow and bless us as we seek Him in all things.

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Care Group: FAITH Care Group

CONGRATULATIONS! Hope Church of Christ On Your Third Anniversary

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Care Group

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HARMONY

HARMONY OF HOPE Harmony of Hope, the dynamic ensemble for Hope Church of Christ, was formed in October of 2013, under the directorship of Colleen Blakey, who was selected by our Minister, Alvin L. Daniels, Jr. and the leadership of the Hope Church of Christ. In 2015 Rueben Johnson was selected as our co-director. Our first performance was on December 31, 2013, which also was the first time that the members of the Hope Church of Christ fellowshipped together in our new building. Since that time Harmony

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of Hope has ministered at various sister congregations, community events and nursing homes in our community. We pride ourselves on being a ministry first and a song group second. We minister and teach via song. As members of Harmony of Hope we serve in the body of Christ in any capacity we can as a group and individually. Our focus is to save souls and keep souls saved by ministering in song to anyone in need.

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Lite of Hope Our Youth Song Group In November of 2014, God truly showed

our

group

favor:

were nominated for and won the prestigious 2014 National Academy of Christian Acapella Music Awards (CAMA) for the 2014 Choral Group of the Year. Not only has this experience humbled us, but it has also increased our zeal to work even harder in the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kingdom.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. Psalm 104:33

Our Members

Colleen Blakey (Director), Reuben Johnson (CoDirector), Leandria Ates, Yolande Batiste, Cynthia Daniels, Demarcus Grayson, Jackie Grayson, Ciara Johnson, Veidra Johnson, Annette Lewis, Brittany McKnight, Brentt Miller, Malayjia Parrish, Shawntay Simpson, Janice Stroman, Gina Vernon, Tommy Williams, Catherine Wilson, Deidre Wright, Mary Allen, Chavis Davis, Adnie Gaudine, Dorothy Pernell, Charlotte Smith and Nicaise Wiggins

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Care Group: LOVE Care Group Care Group

CONGRATULATIONS! Hope Church of Christ On Your Third Anniversary

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Care Group: Hope Care Group Care Group Care Group

CONGRATULATIONS! Hope Church of Christ On Your Third Anniversary

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M IN IMA L

MAGA ZINE

FRUIT NEEDED FOR HEALTH

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HOPE gallery

2. BROTHERS The Brothers playing basketball after gathering for a community prayer

1. COMMUNITY Hope provided breakfast for faculty and staff at Norland Middle School. Hope adopted Norland to assist in mentoring students and provide support to our communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s school.

3. SINGLES The Singles Ministry gather for fellowship and bowling

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4. Paint the City Pink The Women of Hope at Miami Gardensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Breast Cancer Awareness Month Kickoff event

5. Relay for Life Hope photographed with the Mayor Miami Gardens, Oliver G. Gilbert at the Relay for Life Miami Gardens

6 6. Hope for the Homeless Hope serving the homeless at Chapman Partnership

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TREE OF LIFE MINISTRY

Congratulations! Hope Church of Christ “This Far by Faith” 3 4

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SECURITY MINISTRY

SECURITY MINISTR Congratulations on your Third Anniversary Hope Churchs of Christ

Congratulations! Hope Church of Christ “This Far by Faith”

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Pressing Forward Upon inception, the Hopeville Youth Ministry was named by faith, with the goal of creating a youth ministry that focused on resuscitating the African proverb: “ it takes a village to raise a child.” God placed vision on the hearts of the youth minister and his wife, Chivas and Teara Davis, and the leadership of Hope Church of Christ graciously received it. The membership has thoroughly supported this vision, from sponsoring events, to teaching bible study classes, to chaperoning various trips and activities. To coincide with this concept, Hopeville’s first goal has been to teach our youth about Christ, with primary emphasis on the full armor of God and preparing our youth to be soldiers in God’s kingdom. During the past quarter the youth ministry conducted a summer bible study series that focused on each facet of this spiritual armor. The youth carefully studies Ephesians 6:14-18, gaining understanding of each piece, from the belt of truth to the sword of the Spirit. The unit was specifically chosen to prepare our youth for spiritual battle, by teaching them the importance of staying “girded up” in a world where God’s Word and the “norm” collide.

Core values like accountability, humility, honesty, respect, faithfulness, and family values are not always easy to uphold. As a result, our children and teens are exposed to many things we did not face at their age, or at least things that were not so easily accessed. This includes everything from social media sites, to YouTube, to apps like Kick and Snapchat, which encourage kids to do and say inappropriate things because most recorded messages disappear after 24 hours. These sites and apps give children access to things that they aren’t mature enough to handle yet, and create an environment where kids can disrespect one another, tarnish reputations, and exude inappropriate behaviors and languages without the fear of being held accountable. The study of Ephesians and the whole armor of God encouraged the youth to remember their values and that they are ultimately accountable to God. The series culminated with a Back-To- School rally during which Sis. Breaux encouraged our youth to be eagles instead of pigeons, flying high and never staying low with those who are unmotivated, irresponsible, and ungodly.

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FOCUS, an inspiring acronym, that challenged our youth to: F-Always consider their Faith and Future, O-Own your stuff and take responsibility C-Your choices matter U-Use your resources S-Soar with your own wings

Finally, we had the opportunity to send our 2016 graduates off with love, support, and encouragement during our Graduation Recognition Ceremony. The graduates were empowered to achieve their goals, and keep Christ as their anchor as they leave their nuclear family and church family to pursue their dreams. We are steadily striving to create an environment where children and teens feel like they matter, where they are encouraged and held responsible for their actions, where they know they can confide in adults that care about their well-being, and where they can receive non-judgmental wisdom to help them conquer their daily struggles. Through various fellowship opportunities, such as our group trip to the Dade County Fair and the Youth for Christ Conference, by participating in games and activities at our annual church picnic, by hosting 4th Sunday Youth Fellowship, and attending group bowling nights, families have had the opportunity to grow closer.

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Fully committed to the cause of CHRIST.

Education Ministry We are blessed to be a part of the Hope Church of Christ Third Year Celebration.

Commit thy woks unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3

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EDU CAT ION The Education Ministry is a prominently postured component within the Hope church of Christ, focused on meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation by providing and increasing knowledge of the Word of God, while also developing and fostering servants dedicated to the Christian cause.

t serves as a learning foundation to a comprehensive population, ranging in age, spiritual need, and biblical familiarity. This is an enormous undertaking that is solely dependent upon faith in the Father for continuous guidance and direction. Since its inception, the ministry strives to thrive, and not simply survive. It attempts to exceed expectations and reach its full potential by not only increasing participation, but also by making divine strides towards God’s intended, spiritual. Truly, we “walk by faith, not by sight.” The Education Ministry has been led by Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (KJV) which says, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach the diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thy eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Considering the large population served – Pre-K, grades Kindergarten – 2nd, 3rd – 5th, 6th – 8th, 9th – 12th, New Converts, Young Adults, and Adults -the ministry continues to use a universal curriculum to ensure that the church remains a family and that all members are collectively learning and focusing on the same points. We have been spiritually led to study the Old Testament, which has provided us

with a more comprehensive understanding of the New Testament. We began with the book of Genesis followed by the book of Exodus, and recently began the book of Leviticus. The majority of the classes are team taught by spirituallygifted instructors who are dedicated to the overall well-being of their students. The teachers do not just focus on the learning of the books themselves, but also on encouraging students to apply biblical principles to their everyday living. As the Education Ministry continues to grow, there is no doubt that God is directing its course. Through faith, He continues to increase our territory, providing us with a growth in students as well as willing, able-bodied instructors. Each student category is faced with its own respective needs, and this ministry attempts to address them regularly. This is done not only during their regularly scheduled Sunday and Wednesday classes, but also through additional functions and communication outside of these normal meeting times. There is no question that the Education Ministry thrives through its faith in God. Three years ago, the ministry began with seven workers and a regularly attending population of approximately 130. Now, through the grace of God and His blessings upon the Hope congregation, the number of workers has more than tripled, and the number HOPE

of regular attendees has more than doubled. God expects education to be promoted within His kingdom. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The bible warns us of false teachings, and the efforts of the Education Ministry serve as a tool to fight against the “wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). Within this ministry, we walk hand in hand to ensure that we remain a strong force of spiritual encouragement, motivation, and direction. “I am pleased to be part of the Education Ministry,” says teacher Deana Tyre. “Even when I am not directly teaching a class, I am taking part in the adult.

He continues to increase our territory, providing us with a growth in students as well as willing, ablebodied instructors. ILLUSTRATED

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CONGRATULATIONS! THIS FAR BY FAITH 3RD ANNIVERSARY

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Congratulations! Hope Church of Christ “This Far by Faith”

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HOPE ILLUSTRATED Hope Church of Christ 295 NW 199 Street Miami Gardens, FL 33169 Phone: 786-309-8160 Email: info@HopeChurchofChrist.orh www.HopeChurchofChrist.org

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