ANNUAL REPORT HOPE COVENANT CHURCH
GOD moves
Lives CHANGE
2018 LOVE acts
Table of Contents
3 4 5-7 8-9 10 11-13 14-15 16-25
ECC President’s Message
Elder Board Chairman Report
Treasurer’s Report
Lead Pastor’s Report
Worship Pastor’s Report
Youth Ministry Report
Children’s Ministry Report
Other Ministry Reports
“... know that the Holy Spirit will continue to comfort, strengthen, unify, and instruct you.”
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 3
President’s Message November 2018 To All Covenant Congregations Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Grace and peace to you as you gather for your congregational Annual Meeting/Celebration. It is a joy to greet you on behalf of the entire Evangelical Covenant Church. I am deeply grateful for our partnership in the whole Gospel. We join as mission friends to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of Jesus. As we live into this partnership, I want to call the entire church to a renewed emphasis on the Holy Spirit. A conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit is one of our six core Covenant Affirmations. My prayer for each church in the Covenant – for your church – is that your reliance on the Spirit of the living God would continue to grow stronger. Our mission is to join with God in God’s mission to see more disciples, among more populations, in a more caring and just world. Local Covenant congregations, regional Conferences, and the entire Covenant denomination are seeking to live and serve faithfully in what some term a post-Christian society. We are mindful of the challenges, but I remain enthusiastic about the great opportunities we have to share the Gospel in word and deed. More than 875 Covenant congregations in Canada and the United States are serving locally and partnering together to impact over 2.5 million lives, in over 40 countries, on five continents. Our kingdom impact is only possible through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in and among us. As you gather to celebrate this past year of ministry and plan for the year ahead, remember that you are partners in ministry with many other Covenanters. Most importantly, know that the Holy Spirit will continue to comfort, strengthen, unify, and instruct you. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit continue to lead us deeper in Christ and further in mission. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13. In Christ’s Love,
John S. Wenrich President
4 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
A message from the
Elder Board Chairman People of Hope, I am so grateful that God has brought all of you, from different backgrounds, on different paths, to this community at this very point in time. My faith is strengthened when I consider how God somehow orchestrates events of the past into our present situation to accomplish unknown things in the future. What a Master Planner He is. We were saddened by the passing of Pastor Paul Thompson in 2018. Paul was with us for a relatively short time, but God used his time here to set off some amazing things for the future. We miss him, and grieve his loss with Mary and the family, but once again, we are grateful God brought him here as part of His master plan for a greater purpose. It was through Pastor Paul, that we established a connection and relationship with Doug Glynn. Last year, we called Doug to be our permanent lead pastor. This has set off another sequence of events that God will use somehow in the future. When we look back at the history of Hope, we see God has worked in similar ways over and over again. So, what does all this mean? Well, if we use the allegory of an orchestra, God is the conductor and we are the instrumentalists. We may not know exactly how the piece will end up sounding, but we must remain faithful to our Conductor and trust that He is going to make a beautiful sound. Each of us must be willing to play our instrument (i.e. use our particular gift). Each of us must set aside our personal music preference (i.e. our own agenda) and play from the sheet of music God has given us. Things are not always going to sound just right. The tempo may seem too fast or too slow. Someone may be out of tune. Someone may be playing too loud or too soft. However, we trust that in end, The Conductor will pull it all together and hold a beautiful concert. It is not by chance that we are all here at this time. We have a purpose and that is to be a community where imperfect people belong, God moves, lives change, and love acts. We want to encourage and build each other up to become Christ-like servants so that we can be used to bring others closer to God through Jesus. Looking forward to an amazing concert at Hope in 2019. Blessings, Gary Boydston Chairman
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 5
Treasurer’s Report Our hardworking and talented Treasurer, Debbie Selland, prepared this financial report. The report summarizes the budget and actual numbers for our 2018 budget.
Hope Covenant Church Statement of Income and Expenses January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 2018 Actual
2018 Budget
Ordinary Income/Expense Income 4100 · CONTRIBUTIONS 4110 · Operational contributions 4111 · Offering
539,874.18
741,768.00
4114 · Momentum for Ministry
8,293.00
0.00
4115 · Love Offering
2,860.00
0.00
551,027.18
741,768.00
20.00
0.00
1,540.00
0.00
125.00
0.00
4161 . 1Mission
7,335.00
6,000.00
4162 · Navajo
2,559.00
2,500.00
4163 · Other Designated Missions
6,480.00
0.00
4166 · Benevolence
3,651.13
5,000.00
220.00
0.00
Total 4160 · Outreach gifts
20,245.13
13,500.00
4190 · Other designated gifts
43,644.67
0.00
616,601.98
755,268.00
0.97
0.00
350.00
0.00
3,845.00
4,800.00
249.47
0.00
621,047.42
760,068.00
304.50
400.00
110,791.54
165,317.00
30,571.63
43,100.00
Total 4110 · Operational contributions 4120 · HopeKIDS gifts 4130 · Youth Ministry gifts 4150 . Worship gifts 4160 · Outreach gifts
4167 · Mercy/Justice
Total 4100 · CONTRIBUTIONS 4300 . INTEREST INCOME 4200 · EVENT INCOME 4400 · RENTAL INCOME 4600 · REIMBURSEMENT INCOME Total Income Expense 5000 · SALARIES & BENEFITS 5001 · Payroll expenses 5100 · Pastoral salaries 5150 · Administrative Salaries
Total 4160 · Outreach gifts
20,245.13
13,500.00
4190 · Other designated gifts
43,644.67
0.00
616,601.98
755,268.00
0.97
0.00
350.00
0.00
3,845.00
4,800.00
249.47
0.00
621,047.42
760,068.00
304.50
400.00
110,791.54
165,317.00
5150 · Administrative Salaries
30,571.63
43,100.00
5200 · Housing allowance
70,253.24
110,000.00
5300 · Employee insurance
22,667.23
53,657.00
5400 · Employee pension
14,635.39
26,875.00
5500 · Employer Social Security
4,512.06
5,700.00
5600 · Employer Medicare
1,055.24
1,334.00
5700 · Workman's Compensation Insurance
1,654.00
2,200.00
5900 · Honorariums
2,802.80
1,800.00
259,247.63
410,383.00
1,366.03
1,500.00
12,192.80
25,200.00
6020 · Conferences
8,073.33
10,000.00
6040 . Scholarships
500.00
6 | H O P E C OTotal V E N4100 A N T· CONTRIBUTIONS CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 4300 . INTEREST INCOME
Treasurer’s Report 4200 · EVENT INCOME
4400 · RENTAL INCOME
4600 · REIMBURSEMENT INCOME
Total Income Expense 5000 · SALARIES & BENEFITS 5001 · Payroll expenses 5100 · Pastoral salaries
Total 5000 · SALARIES & BENEFITS 6000 · MINISTRIES 6001 · Ministry memberships/books 6010 · Pastoral Ministry Expenses
6050 · Food, fellowship & gifts
6,429.19
9,600.00
28,561.35
46,300.00
6100 · CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
4,476.21
8,300.00
6200 · YOUTH MINISTRIES
3,575.54
6,500.00
6300 · HOPEGROUPS
6,827.69
9,100.00
6400 · WORSHIP
11,910.91
8,345.00
6500 · MISSIONS/OUTREACH
56,388.91
56,400.00
7111 · Principal
129,000.60
104,632.00
7112 · Interest
12,435.40
17,000.00
Total 7110 · Mortgage
141,436.00
121,632.00
7120 · Property insurance
5,915.00
5,800.00
7130 · Storage Rental
2,415.40
2,210.00
25,111.24
0.00
174,877.64
129,642.00
7200 · MAINTENANCE & SUPPLIES
23,135.21
34,716.00
7300 · UTILITIES
20,912.70
20,882.00
7400 · OFFICE & ADMINISTRATION
17,628.60
28,000.00
174.00
1,500.00
607,716.39
760,068.00
13,331.03
0.00
7100 · BUILDING 7110 · Mortgage
7140 . Facilities Improvements Total 7100 · BUILDING
8000 · NON-BUDGETED EXPENSES Total Expense Net Ordinary Income
7100 · BUILDING 7110 · Mortgage 7111 · Principal
H O P E C O V E N A N T C H129,000.60 U R C H A N N U A L R E P O R104,632.00 T | 7
7112 · Interest
12,435.40
17,000.00
Total 7110 · Mortgage
141,436.00
121,632.00
7120 · Property insurance
5,915.00
5,800.00
7130 · Storage Rental
2,415.40
2,210.00
25,111.24
0.00
174,877.64
129,642.00
7200 · MAINTENANCE & SUPPLIES
23,135.21
34,716.00
7300 · UTILITIES
20,912.70
20,882.00
7400 · OFFICE & ADMINISTRATION
17,628.60
28,000.00
174.00
1,500.00
607,716.39
760,068.00
13,331.03
0.00
8,299.03
0.00
5,032.00
0.00
Treasurer’s Report 7140 . Facilities Improvements Total 7100 · BUILDING
8000 · NON-BUDGETED EXPENSES Total Expense Net Ordinary Income Other Expense 9000 · IN & OUT EXPENSES Net Income Notes: This statement is a summary of our income and expenses. Please contact the Treasurer if you would like more detailed information.
Item #7111 Principal is not normally included as an expense item but is included here for informational purposes. The Other Income/Expense category is for funds that generally just pass through (example retreat fees, camp fees, book purchases, Donations to Covenant World Relief and Tea Room and Memorial Garden income and expenses) and are not part of our operating budget.
8 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
Lead Pastor’s Report 2018 : A Mixed-Bag... 2018 has indeed been a ‘mixed bag’. As I have reflected on the past year, it’s hard to comprehend all that we’ve journeyed through as a church. At the start of the year I was serving as the interim associate pastor, never imagining that we would see all that we have seen and experience the kind of change that we have experienced. Our entire staff has transitioned in one way or another. The greatest loss we experienced, of course, was the passing of Pastor Paul Thompson. Paul was and is beloved by many, and the absence of his bright smile and enthusiastic appreciation for life leaves an enormous void for his family and those of us who knew and loved him. We also said good-bye to Ryan and Laura Starr, who led our Worship Ministries faithfully for the past six years. Ryan received a call to a church back home in Minnesota, where he had wanted to return to for quite some time in order to be near family. They are deeply missed, and we feel the loss of their committed leadership at Hope. But part of what’s been remarkable about this year is that, in spite of deep loss and the many staff transitions, the Hope family has continued to grow as God has brought new people into our community. Twenty-seven of those folks have committed to Hope and become members this year! Alpha is a course for people who are exploring the Christian faith, and this year we hosted the largest Alpha class of all the churches in Arizona. The faith of each participant was strengthened, and others took a step closer to following Jesus. We also launched Discover Groups as a way to connect with one another and grow in our faith.
The Staff and Leaders of Hope We have also seen excellent, gifted people step in to shore up our staff: Sheli Sloterbeek has brought her talents, insight, and wisdom, as well as a depth of peace and spiritual maturity which positively impact the work environment of Hope. Pat Bahle continues to team-up with Sheli to keep our office running smoothly. Troy McDonald has stepped in and strengthened our Worship and Tech teams. His humility, creativity and flexibility have made space for growth in the areas under his leadership. On any given week Troy is leading worship, playing in the band behind another leader, or running sound – whatever it takes; Troy is an incredible example of a team player and a servant-leader. Will Hopkins stepped in this fall to help ‘for a few months’ while we looked for a permanent youth pastor. I was immediately struck by his ability to love people and care for them wherever they were at. He would strike up conversations with our teens and, before they knew it, he would draw them in. An energetic and motivating leader, Will has impressed our adult leaders, parents, staff and elders. He has been a gift from God to Hope, and we are excited about the next steps in his ministry. Heidi Glynn has also stepped in to a temporary role, filling in as our Children’s Ministry Leader.
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 9
“It’s hard to comprehend all that we’ve journeyed through as a church.” Along with Taryn Davidson and a strong core of volunteers, our kids are being discipled and drawn to faith in Jesus. Under Heidi’s leadership, we have seen our Sunday morning volunteer core increase considerably. We are, for the first time, almost fully staffed in our kid’s ministry! As a volunteer herself, Heidi impresses me with her desire to recognize and appreciate others who faithfully serve. Most of all, her love for Jesus and for the people of Hope fuel her desire to minister in the Hope family, and for that I am deeply grateful. Heidi is the best partner I could have ever asked for! Our elders and ministry leaders, as well as the volunteers who team up to ‘do’ the ministry of Hope together, make this church a special place. Heidi and I love this church and are grateful for the way so many people come together to demonstrate God’s love to each other and our East Valley neighbors. Just a few months ago, I was honored to be called as the Lead Pastor of Hope Covenant Church. Honestly, I look back and I am floored by how God took me on a journey back into church ministry. When people ask me how I ended up leading Hope, I am only half-joking when I tell them that ‘God kinda tricked me into it.’ My plan was to help out here for six months, then be an associate pastor somewhere, or perhaps plant a church. Instead, I found myself with the privilege of leading a church whose DNA is remarkably similar to my own. This is a
storyline I could never have come up with on my own. Thank you to the staff, leaders and members of the Hope family for welcoming Heidi and I to such a beautiful church family. We are truly thankful for you! I continue to be impressed by the people at Hope who have stepped up and worked together. Because
Looking Forward
of you, Hope is a place where the love of God is displayed to all who come through our doors. “Imperfect people belong,” is far more than a slogan on our marquee. When people walk through our doors on Sunday mornings, they are welcomed and embraced. The kind of genuine love on display through you – the people of Hope – is a rare and beautiful treasure. In the upcoming year, we are asking God to deepen us as a community of grace, where we all have the opportunity to know others and be known, with no need to wear a mask.
our staff team. This is a huge task that requires the prayers, support and patience of the entire Hope family. We look forward to building community through small groups, outreach initiatives, and times to celebrate and enjoy each other. Our best days are truly ahead of us, and as we have gotten glimpses of how God is shaping our church for the specific assignment He has for Hope Covenant Church in His Kingdom, it’s pretty amazing to behold. In 2019, I am asking God to mobilize our church family to reach more people with the love and grace of Jesus, particularly those who have shied away from church in the past. I am asking God to teach us more about living lives of grace, rooted in the identity He gives to us. I am asking God to deepen our times of worship and communion, where we connect with His heart in ways that shift our perspectives. In 2019, I am asking God to bring healing, hope and restoration to us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Let Hope Arise!
In an environment of grace like that, we believe that God will continue to move, that lives will be changed, and that love will act – bringing hope to those inside and outside of our church community. In the coming year, we are asking God to guide us as we solidify our staff in the youth, children’s and worship areas. We also need the right associate pastor to round out
Doug Glynn Lead Pastor
10 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
Worship Pastor’s Report I am grateful and honored to serve as the Interim Worship Director here at Hope Covenant Church. In September of 2018, Pastor Doug asked if I would be able to fill-in as Hope continued to seek God and His direction for this community. My wife, Karie, and I came to visit and immediately knew that this was more than just another church community. This was a family of brothers and sisters living together in God’s Kingdom. We are happy to be here. Although we have only been here for a few months, we have experienced a kind and loving welcome. We have heard stories from the people here at Hope, and realize that this church is filled with grateful hearts that have been deeply touched and transformed by the love of God. These stories are personally encouraging as we seek to grow stronger in our faith, but they are also a testimony of how God is moving and working in the lives of so many people here at Hope. As the Worship Director, I have the opportunity to work with a group of faithful, God-loving people who care deeply about worship and serving the Kingdom. Each week I look forward to meeting and worshipping with this talented group as we draw our creative hearts together. Their dedication to Hope is inspiring and humbling. The power of music has won battles and soothed souls for thousands of years.
The power of music has won battles and soothed souls for thousands of years. Worshipping through songs has the ability to touch and move us in a way that very few other things can. We combine our need to worship with God’s invitation to worship Him, and gratefully carry that gift into our worship service as we gather each Sunday. The words can penetrate our hearts as the sound tears down barriers to our soul. When we join our creativity with the Creator, we enter into the kind of worship that can bring us to tears, fill us with joy, or give us peace. In this kind of environment, the healing, transforming presence of God shows up in beautiful ways. Finally, I am overjoyed to be surrounded by such a faithful group of brothers and sisters in Christ. The hard work of our volunteers is overwhelming. I could never overstate my gratitude. I enjoy working with Pastor Doug and the rest of the staff. I am grateful that God brought Karie and I to Hope Covenant Church. I look forward to worshipping with you!
Troy McDonald
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 11
Youth Ministry Report A message from the Youth Elder Board Youth Ministry at Hope has been in transition throughout 2018. In many ways it is much like Hope as a whole. We began the year struggling to maintain momentum. Evan Kolding worked with our youth while completing his seminary degree. He had a great deal of vision and passion to build up the program but was challenged to find time to execute as he also filled in to help with children’s ministries. Since Evan’s departure we attempted to fill in with volunteers. Fortunately, we have had awesome volunteers that have been instrumental in keeping our youth ministry alive. Kimmy Slaughter, Mikey and Ashley Dascoli have poured their heart and lives into our youth this year. They have enabled our kids to hang in there during challenging times, and faithfully committed themselves to this crucial ministry. In October we were blessed to have Will Hopkins join us as our temporary youth pastor. Will is gifted as a mature Christian leader who relates to teenagers on their level. We are truly blessed by God’s gift of bringing Will to Hope, and are grateful for his ministry among us.
Brad Karlberg Elder
12 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
Interim Youth Pastor’s Report “When a teenager gets a clear picture of Jesus, they simply want to know Him.” - Joey Colleti On Oct 3rd 2018, I visited Hope Covenant Church for the first time after Pastor Doug Glynn approached me to see if I would be willing to help out with the 6th - 12th grade youth. That day was the start of an incredible new journey and adventure for my wife, Kristi and I and out 3 little boys. One of the things I noticed right away about the Hope Covenant Church family, is that they are a people who welcome others very warmly, and create opportunities to share Christ in a meaningful way. Here at Hope it feels as if you walked into a room of family who sincerely want to pursue a relationship with you, deeply care about you as a person, and genuinely want you to know how much Jesus Christ loves you. In my many years of experience working with teens, this is exactly what our youth want and need: adults who have
an unparalleled love for Christ. Adults who are willing to penetrate the culture, learn the ‘codes’ and language, loving kids right where they are at. We deeply need adults who are willing to enter into the messiness of kids’ lives, build authentic relationships, and point them to Jesus. Teens need adults who stand firm in their identity in Jesus and lead kids to the truth. Who are these adults for Hope’s Youth? Mikey and Ashley Dascoli, Brad Karlberg, Kimberly Slaughter, Mark and Tracy Sullivan, Vince Kame and Erin Ammesmaki. The past few months our team has focused on building up the core of our youth group. We have continued the Sunday and Wednesday night ministries, building faith foundations though adventure, fun, small groups and bible studies. We have had some of the classic memory-making highenergy youth group events, including a dodgeball tournament, bonfire, nine-square, hockey, volleyball and Spikeball. Here at Hope, we are offering kids a positive and lifechanging experience, helping teens find their way by inviting them into friendship, fun, adventure and
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 13
pointing them to discover a relationship with Jesus Christ. As we look toward the future we want to continue listening to where the Lord is leading and our desire is that Hope Youth continues to be a place where:
• We are building up the family – the place where faith is best nurtured and formed
I am excited to see the ways in which God will deepen and widen our reach as we influence teenagers to grow as followers of Jesus in 2019.
• Kids experience the Gospel. • The Holy Spirit stirs up a view of Jesus where we all are astonished • We prayerfully enter into what God is doing through this missional community • We grow to be the disciples God has called us to be • We have an opportunity to be loved by Jesus and to love Him back
Will Hopkins Interim Youth Pastor
14 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
“Our number one goal is that children feel loved by their teachers, and they know that they are loved by God.”
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 15
It is with gratitude for the people who served Hope’s kids that I write this report. 2018 has been a year where I’ve seen God’s grace cover Hope’s Children’s Ministry. Our volunteer leaders truly rallied to step in and care for our children during several difficult transitions. The first three months of this year, Children’s Ministry was led by people who volunteered and we ended the final three months in similar fashion with volunteer leadership. Evidence of God’s love shined through, as those who faithfully served didn’t miss a beat during the multiple changes in Children’s Ministry this year. It has truly been a year of servant-leadership, that showed what Hope is all about: family! These difficult transitions didn’t stop the love for Hope’s children, it made our love stronger! With Doug and I entering our second year here, I can honestly say that serving in this capacity has caused me to fall even more in love with the people of Hope (children and the adults) and I consider it a privilege to serve. We’ve had a full year of ministry with events including family movie nights and game nights. Vacation Bible School hosted nearly 30 children. This year’s theme featured “Under the Sea” as its curriculum, teaching lessons about Jesus. Pastor Doug led a skit (in costume) that taught how Jesus walked on water and healed people. Ryan Starr played the role of Peter, as he was called to leave what he knew as a fisherman to become a fisher of men. This year, we have continued to use the Orange curriculum to teach the children Kingdom values like how to take initiative, working well together, and how Jesus took care of our greatest need based on the scripture verse John 3:16. Orange’s motto is that two combined influences make a greater impact on a life. Church and family, together, play the most important role in the development of a child. More than forty different adults volunteered regularly and contributed to the care of our kids, most serving once a month. Our goal is for teachers to only serve once a month so they only miss one Sunday service per month. We’ve nearly attained this goal due in part to the response from the appeal made in the fall for more helping hands and hearts. While most served in the classroom, we were fortunate to also have two “behind the scenes” leaders, Mary Thompson and Taryn Davidson, who made certain lesson plans were in place and classrooms were stocked with activities. In Hope Kids, our number one goal is that children feel loved by their teachers, and they know they are loved by God. It takes a community to love children well. We are grateful for parents, who faithfully bring their children each Sunday, and to all our classroom teachers for loving and serving Hope’s kids!
Heidi Glynn Interim Children’s Ministry Leader
16 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
First Impressions Ministry (FIM) Welcome to Hope Covenant! We’re glad you’re here! If you have visited our church this past year, chances are you were greeted by one of our team members on the First Impressions Ministry. We’re a group of high-spirited volunteers who are ready to shake your hand, answer questions, give you tours and of course free hugs! This year we have seen a lot of change with the passing of our beloved Senior Pastor, Paul Thompson and the confirmation of our new Lead Pastor, Doug Glynn. Through all this change, I am reminded of God’s faithfulness and lovingkindness. “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us – yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindness.” – Isaiah 63:7 In the midst of change, God’s faithfulness still resonates in our wonderful and dedicated volunteers. Week after week, our FIM team sets up the coffee, prepares the communion table, wakes up the computer for child check-in and of course, greets everyone that comes through our doors. It is in this team that we can see the tangible lovingkindness that our Father gives to us. As we embark on 2019, think about ways you can help and give back to Hope, your family. If you are looking to get plugged-in, the First Impressions Ministry is a great way to get your feet wet. The minimum commitment is serving once a month. Please feel free to reach out to any of our team members to learn more. We’re easy to spot -- we’re the ones with the green lanyards! I’m looking forward in personally saying hello to you on Sunday.
Sincerely,
“Only a life lived to the service of others is worth living.” Albert Einstein Lily King-Cisneros Ministry Leader
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 17
Sisterhood of Hope, believe that women minister uniquely to women and that our encouragement, support, friendship and accountability of each other can make a dramatic difference in our lives, the lives of our families and the lives and health of Hope. Our desire through Sisterhood is to create an environment where women belong, where they are received as they are and where they grow deeper in their relationship with God, mature in their personal lives, and develop deep friendships within the church. Every woman, no matter age, stage or place in life, is welcomed with open arms. Some “Sisterhood” highlights this year include: • “Abide”, our women’s retreat was held at Spirit of the Desert in Cave Creek in February. Approximately 40 women attended. • Two 8-week Bible studies led by Pam Karlberg on Sunday mornings. “No Other Gods” by Kelly Minter in the Spring and “God of Creation” by Jen Wilkins in the Fall. • A summer Friday morning Bible study, led by Terry Hill, studied “No Other Gods” by Kelly Minter. • Thursday evening Bible study, led by Heidi Glynn, “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. • “Sisterhood Gathers” monthly social gathering which includes fellowship, games, crafts, food and lots of laughter. • Hope’s Treasures, 28th annual boutique was held from November 7-10. This is our big fundraiser to aide in the support of women’s ministries and other ministries within the church, in addition to a huge outreach into the community. • Secret Angel Prayer Partner Program during Advent. • Christmas Luncheon at Meridiem on December 3 was attended by 40+ women. Heidi Glynn was our speaker and we had a wonderful couple of hours enjoying each other and a delicious lunch. We are looking forward to our events in 2019, and inviting all to join us. If you have any questions, please contact one of our ministry team members. Terry Hill shillfamily5@hotmail.com Pam Karlberg pam.karlberg@gmail.com Karen Pfautz karenpfautz@hotmail.com
18 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
The Landscape Crew (TLC) Hope has two landscape crews comprised of approximately 12 volunteers. Each crew works once a month on a selected Saturday to clean, trim, sweep, rake our Church grounds to beautify our Church grounds. While tending for the 5 acres and 100’s of plants we also encourage and support our team members as a ministry of service to each other. Ministry Goals: o Keep the Exterior of Hope looking Inviting, Clean and Manicured o Annual All Church Workday – Taking on Larger projects while encouraging other Hope attenders, and those who utilize the facilities the opportunity to serve the church. o Contracting weed control company annually to keep our grounds weed free o Providing a ministry where “the body” can “Serve the Church” in an outdoor, physical environment. o Having a devoted Hope attender clean the front patio every Sunday morning. o Keeping our back/dirt lot available for overflow parking for our larger events o Annual celebrations as a Thank You to all team members o Saving the Church money by using our volunteers Challenges from 2018 The Nordstroms and Sellands departed their leadership roles on the teams this year. As original members with a lot of knowledge about our grounds, they are highly missed. Along with these departures, the attrition of other volunteers has us with very small crews, thus our current focus is on maintaining what we can. Anyone who is looking for a practical way to get involved and connected at Hope, The Landscape Crew will welcome you with open arms!
Chris & Michelle McCracken
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 19
Over the past 4 years, Hope Covenant Church has partnered with 1Mission to build 9 homes for families in need in Puerto Penasco Mexico. In 2018, Hope sent 21 people to Mexico to build 2 homes. 1Mission is an evangelical organization focused on building community in order to bring people to Jesus. While our home building missions are important, they are one part of a much bigger plan that includes education, evangelism, and church planting. In order to earn a home, a family must perform 200 hours of community development service. So, we are not just building homes, we are deeply connecting people to their community. 1Mission trips provide you with an opportunity to serve our neighbors, just a four hour drive away, by helping them build a new home and a new life. This year we plan on a single trip at the end of April to build our 10th home in Rocky Point Mexico. So, If you are looking for a way to serve, take a look at 1Mission. You can make a difference just a few hours away. It is also a great opportunity to bring the whole family. The 1Mission organization truly serves the servants with lodging and food. Please join us in April—we would love to have you.
Serving together,
Gary Boydston 1Mission Leader
20 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
Advocacy for Victims of Abuse (AVA) Ministry AVA is a team-driven ministry that has been operating since 2015. Unfortunately, this past year we were not able to meet in person once a month, but instead held most of our monthly meetings via phone. Our team planned and held an outreach event at Hope that have included agencies from the Chandler-Phoenix area and speakers who have overcome domestic violence. These types of events provide exposure to our Hope family the different agencies that exist in our community and allow us to continue and strengthen our relationships so that we when someone breaks silence within Hope we know who to contact. In, addition I did specific AVA-type training for pastors and their wives at the Navajo Ministries that Jim Selland heads up.
Plans for 2019 We are interested in to accepting additional AVA team members who are willing to take the classes/training to become part of the AVA team. Beth Sanders has expressed an interest in this ministry, so she will be added this year. • Offer AVA Training for those interested in becoming part of the AVA process. (Will be screened prior the training to see if they are a good fit for AVA.) • Offer another MTS group for women. Dream is to have one for men too. • Hold a community event during National Domestic Violence Month in October. • Continue to increase our presence within the community. • Recruit more team members. • Work with Gary Boydston to meet with pastors in Rocky Point to talk about the work we do and how the AVA ministry might be of service there.
Yvonne Devaughn Ministry Leader
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 21
Lights of Hope My name is Anna Rittenhouse and I am a proud member of and Administrator for“The Addict’s Mom” (TAM), an organization consisting of over 90,000 members, founded 10 years ago by Barbara Theodosiou. We offer, among many other things, support to all who love a person suffering with substance abuse disorder; moms, dads, family and friends. Our closed Facebook groups offer the opportunity for open, honest sharing of our experiences, sorrows, pain, challenges and victories with our addicted loved ones, where our broken spirits find healing, hope and comfort in the darkness of addiction. The mission of TAM is to “Share without Shame.” In addition, we advocate, have proposed laws to make treatment more accessible and affordable through insurance or the state; have requested State Legislators to place the obscure, currently legal, but deadly drug Kratom on the watch list to be regulated; and successfully convinced lawmakers and the court system to pass legislation permitting parents to secure guardianship over their adult children whose substance use has hindered their decision-making abilities. TAM partners with the FED-UP! Organization for their Annual Rally in Washington, DC and provides countless resources to help those affected by this horrific disease. Every September, which is designated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as National Recovery Month, TAM participates in “Lights of Hope” in all 50 States in the US, Canada, and Internationally. Loved ones of those suffering from addiction come together to light candles for those in active addiction, those in recovery, those who have lost their lives to the dreadful disease, and those who are incarcerated because of their disease, in homes, parks, churches, auditoriums, and online. In 2018, TAM members hosted over 100 “Lights of Hope” events across the nation. Hope Covenant Church has been blessed to have hosted three Lights of Hope Events, in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
22 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
This year, Hope was blessed by a new family. Brandon and Rahel Hodge moved to the area and selected Hope as their home church. Brandon works full-time as a Campus Staff Minister with InterVarsity. His vision is to plant a campus ministry on every Maricopa Community College Campus. We are honored and excited to support and partner with this fine couple!
Outreach Partners: InterVarsity, The Hodge Family God loves every student and faculty member who steps onto campus at each of the ten Maricopa Community College campuses. That’s why I’m working hard to start a planting movement that deeply impacts all ten of these colleges with good news of Jesus. I’m also excited that, nationally, InterVarsity is officially on 695 campuses—near our alltime high—which means thousands will be welcomed to campus by an InterVarsity chapter this fall. But God has also been breaking our hearts as an organization for the hundreds of campuses across the US that don’t have any known witnessing community. In response, the Lord has given InterVarsity a
Together, Pastor Doug
bold picture for the next 12 years, our 2030 Calling: Longing for revival, we catalyze movements that call every corner of every campus to follow Jesus. By the year 2030, we hope to see diverse witnessing communities on all 2,500 US campuses that have over 1,000 students. Even more, we’re praying for God to bring revival, along with: -71,500 multiplying small groups -134,000 new followers of Jesus -4,000,000 partners praying -12,000,000 reached for the Gospel This vision connects directly with what God has already been doing through my work with InterVarsity, and what He longs to do in the
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 23
next season. During the 2017-2018 school year, God has reminded me to look back on all he is done. The simplest way to describe my three years of planting work in Tucson at Pima Community College is: Transformed Lives. In three years, we saw 34 students make decisions to give over their lives to Jesus. Some were new decisions, others re-commitments, but each represented a new season of fruitfulness in a spiritual journey. The Lord also brought tremendous breakthrough in terms of student leadership and ownership. During my three years at Pima, we saw dozens of students raised up as Apprentices, learning how to disciple their peers, lead Bible study, and even give calls to faith! In fact, of our 34 faith decisions, at least 4 of those came from a student inviting their peers to follow Jesus! Finally, God used students to invite other students to experience God-centered community at Pima. In three years, we shared the LaFe vision with over 650 students and invited them to become part of our fellowship. After all, lives can only be transformed when we are bold enough to step out and invite! For the past three months, God has transitioned our family into a season of rest. I began a ministry Sabbatical in October as a chance to renew my spirit, spend time in prayer, and develop a new passion for the next challenge God has for me. Beginning this Fall, I will begin building a network of ministry planters in the Maricopa Community College network. These ten schools reach a combined total of 220,000 students, a massive undertaking. My strategy
will combine all the skills and experience I gained at Pima Community College with my experience in coaching to empower community members, faculty and staff, and even students to plant thriving witnessing communities on their campuses. This new undertaking is big, but I believe God is in it, so I have no reason to fear. Please be praying for this current season of rest, and for the new season to come. Thank you for your support and partnership in Ministry,
Brandon Hodge Campus Staff Minister InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
24 | HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT
HOPE COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT | 25
Ministry Directory Accounting & Finance Debbie Selland debbieselland@cox.net Bruce Heimkes theheimkes@cox.net Operations Rob Hess rob@rhessjr.com First Impressions Ministry
Lily King-Cisneros
kingcisneros@gmail.com
The Landscape Crew
Chris McCracken
mccracken.chris@gmail.com
Men’s Ministry Doug Glynn doug@hopechurchchandler.com Women’s Ministry Terry Hill shillfamily5@hotmail.com Brittany White britnicolewhite@gmail.com Heidi Glynn heidi@hopechurchchandler.com 1Mission Mexico Gary Boydston garyboydstonaz@gmail.com
Our Pastoral Staff DOUG GLYNN Lead Pastor doug@hopechurchchandler.com
TROY MCDONALD Worship Pastor
Our Board of Elders GARY BOYDSTON garyboydstonaz@gmail.com
WILLIAM DEVAUGHN devaughn63@gmail.com
troy@hopechurchchandler.com
WILL HOPKINS Interim Youth Pastor
STACEY HEIMKES sheimkes@yahoo.com
will@hopechurchchandler.com
Our Admin Staff
LILY KING-CISNEROS kingcisneros@gmail.com
SHELI SLOTERBEEK Office Manager
BRAD KARLBERG
sheli@hopechurchchandler.com
bradkarlberg@gmail.com
PAT BAHLE Office Assistant
DOUG GLYNN
info@hopechurchchandler.com
dougl@hopechurchchandler.com
Hope Covenant Church: A Community Where
God Moves. Lives Change. Love Acts. 1770 S Dobson Rd, Chandler, AZ 85286 Tel: 480-899-7255 | Email: info@hopecov.com www.hopecov.com