Born in '74

Lately, several newcomers to Hope Community Church inquired about our history.  One lady asked, “When was the church started?”  My reply seemed to startle her.  “The church was birthed in 1974.”  She said, I don’t remember this church being in Jefferson that long.”  I replied, “It was conceived in my heart in 1974 and born on September 10, 2017.  

Let me explain.

I was born in Ashtabula and grew up in Jefferson, graduating from Jefferson Area High School in 1974.  Four years prior to graduation, I came to faith in Jesus Christ while attending youth camp and simultaneously felt a call into ministry. 

The summer after I graduated from JAHS, I struggled with my perceived need to remain home after my mother’s untimely death in 1972 or to leave for college.  One day, while walking in the field behind my home and feeling overwhelmed, I cried out to the Lord for direction.  I remember falling to the ground, sobbing in the high grass.  I then heard the Lord say, “He who does not forsake father, mother, brother or sister for my sake is not fit for the kingdom of God.  One day you will return to Jefferson and plant a church.”

That promise came to pass 40 years later! 

I subsequently attended Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, where during my sophomore year I met Lori Owens.  We married in August 1977.  Over the next 35 years, we pastored five Assemblies of God congregations in three states.  Each time we completed a church assignment, we wondered if it was time to see the Lord’s vision for Jefferson fulfilled.

In 2012, we transitioned from our fifth pastorate.  Both of us were experiencing ministry burnout.  And that’s when the Lord directed us to Journey Church in Fairview Park, Ohio.  For one year we simply attended services.  Members of that congregation, along with lead pastors, Jim and Jennifer Wilkes, loved us back to spiritual and emotional health.

During the summer of 2013, Pastor Wilkes asked me, “Roger, do you still have a dream left inside you?”  I then shared my dream of one day returning to Jefferson to plant a church in my hometown.  Not only did the Fairview Park church support this dream, they also financially resourced the new church!

In September 2013, Lori and I began holding monthly “Meet ‘N Greets” at the Henderson Memorial Library, and Journey Jefferson was born!

Later that year the infant church moved to a small room in the Jefferson Recreation Center, still holding monthly meetings.  Momentum continued to build and by May 2014 the church was ready to begin weekly meetings.  The church launched its first weekly service on September 26, 2014.  By that time Journey Jefferson had relocated to Giddings Park, adjacent to the Jefferson Police Department.

Initially, servant leaders from the Fairview Park campus were scheduled weekly to help lead the infant church until local leaders could be raised up.  Journey Jefferson enjoyed steady growth over the next two years, necessitating yet another move.  The church moved back to the Jefferson Recreation Center in May 2016, utilizing the entire facility.  By March 2017 average weekly attendance reached 100 plus people with local leaders in place for the worship team, children’s ministries and other ministries.

Hope Community Church owes Journey Church a tremendous debt of gratitude.  The church’s first four years of existence were made possible by Journey.  In early 2017, it became apparent that Journey Jefferson’s rural culture, along with the substantially long distance from the main campus, were working a hardship on the campus’ ability to move forward.

The church exhibited needs and core values different from those of Clevelanders.  Leadership felt the unique needs of Jefferson necessitated an autonomous church in Ashtabula County.  God was doing a new thing!  In short, the campus had moved from infancy to a more mature family of believers.  It was time to move forward with a new vision, a new name and to place a pastoral presence in Jefferson.

To that end, Hope Community Church was birthed in May 2017.  The “new church” held its first service on May, 28, 2017 while still meeting at the Jefferson Recreation Center. 

In June 2017, members of the new church leadership team began looking for a permanent home for HCC, when the Lord led them to the former home of Bethel Bible Church, located at 573 Goodale Road in Jefferson.  This sister church agreed to owner-finance this facility, making it possible to acquire its new home.  Hope Community Church held its first official service on September 10, 2017.

From our inception we have been a servant leader-driven church, praying always that many who are far from God will come to faith in Christ.  If you are not part of a church family anywhere in Ashtabula County, check us out.  Allow our family-friendly environment to capture your heart!  Our Sunday morning worship service begins at 10:30 a.m.   Hope Tots (nursery-preschool) and Hope Kids (Kindergarten-sixth grade) are available, too.  “Hope” to see you next Sunday!  

The $23 Miracle

Raising seven children in the 1960’s I’m sure was no easy task.  My parents were hard workers and wonderful providers.  Not only did they both work full-time jobs, after they got home they either worked in the garden or dad took on outside carpentry jobs. 

Dad planted unusually large gardens, and in September mom canned vegetables in our large kitchen.  Their labors provided us with vegetables during cold weather and course helped reduce groceries bills. 

On many occasions mom canned well into the early morning hours.  I remember drifting off to sleep listening to the sounds of lids popping!  My siblings and I would later line our basement shelves with green beans, corn, tomatoes, okra, beets, potatoes, and other yummy winter delights. 

In late summer dad would load his pick-up truck with garden produce and head for the Farmer’s Market in Youngstown.  Proceeds from these trips went toward buying school clothes and supplies.  Dad also raised a hog or two or a cow to slaughter in the fall.  By the end of October we were ready for winter in the “snow belt.”  I realize I sound like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 21^st century counterpart, but it’s true!     

You can imagine that money was tight in our home, and I tried not to place additional financial burdens on my parents, except for one day in July 1970.  My pastor’s wife had approached me with the idea of going to youth camp in Big Prairie, Ohio.  She sensed that God was working in my heart and encouraged me to do everything I could to attend. 

Because I had no way of earning money, this meant asking my dad for the necessary registration and camp fee.  Timidity almost overwhelmed me, but something (Someone!) strongly stirred me to approach dad for the money.  It’s not that I was afraid of him, but I knew that money for “extras” was in short supply.  Besides, I had to consider my brothers and sisters.  Understand, $23.00 represented quite a sacrifice in a family of nine. 

In retrospect, I realize the Holy Spirit honored my hungry, searching heart and gave me the fortitude to ask my dad for the necessary amount.  Mom and dad were sitting at the kitchen table, relaxing after a hard day’s work.  I approached them with my voice quivering and said, “Dad, I’d love to go to camp in a few weeks. Could I have $23.00?”  I believe the Holy Spirit touched his heart at that precise moment and without hesitation dad said, “Yeah, I don’t see why not.”  Subsequently, he placed his hand on my head as if to say, “It’s alright!”  That quick touch said, “We love you.”  Mom immediately wrote the check.

Since that day I have referred to this incident as my “Twenty-three dollar miracle.”  First, I knew my parents sacrificed greatly to send me to camp.  Second, on August 4, 1970 I responded to an invitation to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and simultaneously was called to preach!  Dad’s $23.00 investment yielded a minister of the Gospel!

To this day, as finances allow, I love helping young people go to camp.  I wish to payback what God so miraculously made possible in my life. 

Single or Single Again?

Are you single?

Are you single again?

Then this blog post is for you!

Many times (most of the time) individuals who fit within one or both categories above feel like fifth wheels in the church.  They seem to have no place among married couples and even families in general.  It’s not that they’re unwelcome, but what they share in common is next to nothing!

Singles often feel left out and at best awkward in social settings.  Our culture inadvertently stigmatizes them.  Some churches try to address the needs of singles by forming singles groups.  Who are we kidding?  These groups can and do become places where singles meet rejection when dating opportunities are elevated above supposed fellowship.  

I feel sorry for them, and I think I have a solution.

Whether you’ve never been married, or you’ve been married and divorced, or you’re widowed, God has an on-going plan for your life.  Understand this:  It is absolutely true that you have little or nothing in common with marrieds or those in dating relationships.  Absolutely nothing!  However, instead of seeing yourself as the “odd man out” or a fifth wheel, see yourself in a different, new way.

Realize that a new season has come into your life and ready or not, changes are required.  Don’t fight it, ride with it!

Look for new opportunities to pass the time and to bring fulfillment back into your life.

The biggest lie that often attempts to weave its way into the fabric of your life is that you no longer have significance – you have nothing to offer.  Paul writes to Titus and in 2:1-10 outlines several ways that single women (especially) can use their experience to teach other age groups valuable life principles.  Bible teachers often refer to these single individuals as “Titus Women.”  This passage can also pertain to single men in the right contexts.

Paul writes, “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

“Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (verses 1-10).

Then in verse 15 he says, “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”

Are you single or single again? After reading the above passage, ask your pastor how you can practically apply Paul’s words to your current life situation.  Those unschooled and less seasoned in their faith need your wisdom and insights.

Your life can still remain fruitful and productive as you teach others and demonstrate godly principles to them.  Your new season holds exciting days but will probably mandate a shift in priorities.   Remember, you’re not washed up; you’re just changing cycles!

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