Announcements
EFCA Theology Report
I arrived home last night from Chicago, where I attend the EFCA Theology Conference this week. The theme was “God will Raise the Dead Bodily and Judge the World: Evangelical Convictions of Eternal Realities.” You will hear highlights from this conference in sermons and Sunday School in the coming weeks. The audio recordings of this week’s conference have not yet been released, but if you want a sample of the kind of talks I’ve been hearing, you can listen to the 2020 lecture, The Doctrine of Hell: Eternal Conscious Punishment with Dr. Don Carson.
If you want to hear some of the good worship music that we sang, I would recommend the EFCA Theology Conference 2026 Playlist. Thank you for allowing me to attend this conference, it has buttressed by convictions and equipped me for teaching and preaching about the solemn reality of Hell and judgment as well as the glorious hope of everlasting life in God’s presence. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Professor Dr. Craig Ott summarizes my thoughts:
Our mission is not merely one of “saving souls” from hell, but one of inviting people to be forgiven and reconciled with God, to become new creatures in Christ, to be adopted by the Spirit into the family of God, to become instruments of his love, and to enjoy the indescribable beauty of fellowship with God under his rule of perfect peace and justice now and for all eternity.
Advocate for Children
Do you feel called to Be a Voice in the New Year? CASA volunteers are everyday people who make an extraordinary difference. They advocate for children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect and are now in foster care, helping to ensure their voices are heard in court and in life. With just a few hours a month, you can walk alongside a child during a difficult time and remind them they’re not alone. Visit hhs.iowa.gov/CASA or call 1-866-448-4608 to learn more.
Calendar
Feb 11 Small Group/Youth Night w/ Potato Bar at 6 pm
Feb 15 David Olson preaching
Feb 22 Odd Squad 12 noon
Mar 1 Hope Church 125th Anniversary
Mar 7 Painting the fellowship hall: contact Liz Pattie or Sophia Cuthrell to help.
Mar 21 Marriage Retreat at SYC Camp, Sioux Rapids
Hidden in My Heart
Memorize Psalm 56:3-4 for February 8
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
Major Prophets of the OT: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
2026 Memory Verses
Jan 11 Deut 10:12-13
Feb 8 Psa 56:3-4
Mar 8 Phil 2:5-7
Apr 12 Jas 1:4-5
May 10 Col 3:1-3
Jun 14 1 Tim 2:5
Jul 12 Eph 6:14-15
Aug 9 Rom 1:16 [17]
Sep 13 2 Cor 9:8
Oct 11 Isa 46:9-10
Nov 8 John 15:5
Dec 13 Psa 23:1-2
Visit with Pastor
Pastor James would like to know you better and is available Mondays through Thursdays with times for both days and evenings. Click here to book a visit and get free food and drink at Coffee Tree, the church, or a location of your choice. Book other times and days by contacting his cell.
Google Review
Visitors often find our church through a Google search and decide to come because of positive comments they read there. Help promote the church by adding your own reviews and photos for Hope Church on Google. Take a minute to give a review or post a photo: Hope Church Google Review