HIM FAMILY NEWS
Hope North America Camp 2010
On July 2 – 5, 2010, Hope churches in North America met for the North America Annual Conference at Loyola Marymount University in sunny Los Angeles, California. Our theme this year was “THE CORE – Rediscovering our Essential Values”. What an amazing time of worship, teaching and community!
We focused on the first five of our ten core values. They are: 1) Christ-Centered, 2) Bible-Based, 3) Covenant Community, 4) Holy Spirit Empowered and 5) Enriching Community Life. We were reminded that Christ is glorified when He is the center of these values. Our relationship with Jesus should be the focal point over our relationships with others and even before ministry. [View Camp photos]
Some of this year’s conference highlights include meeting international friends from South-east Asia, Australia and Canada. It was a blessing to connect and to get to know one another through the workshops, games, youth and young adult mixers as well as cheering for our pastors as they played the “Not-So Newlywed Game”. We were also encouraged to write down questions, testimonies and read about social justice issues on “The Wall”.
We were definitely blessed to have one of the best venues for the conference to date. Loyola Marymount’s facilities made it easy to get accustomed to our new surroundings. At Hope Church LA we are thankful to the Lord for a beautiful meeting hall that facilitated our creativity and our desire to host and bless the church with an unforgettable conference experience
Most importantly, God was there to meet us. Each day, we were ministered through worship, prayer and teaching. As we were in His presence, we heard from the Lord and testified of His goodness not only at the conference but even back in our local churches. We were reminded that God’s spirit in us is bigger than the spirit of our cities. We were challenged to be the hands and feet of God to touch the broken and the lost. We were challenged to live a life of deeper community and to be Holy Spirit led modeled by the disciples in Acts 2.
We look forward to gathering again next year on July 29 – August 1, 2011. You can find camp stories here www.hopeNA.org/naac2010/mainblog.html
Written by Stephanie Zee
Hope Germany Festival 2010
Besides our regional camps, Hope Germany’s festival is our chance to have a central family celebration of our church movement in Germany. Brothers and sisters who used to serve in one big team, before dispersing in small teams all over Germany and beyond, had the chance to get together and praise their God in a big hall in downtown Stuttgart. 
It is quite different from our everyday life in house churches; it is a sophisticated event we all plan together. We share our specialist knowledge in different fields: time management, teaching skills in prophesising and praying through workshops.
We met in groups to develop ideas like a common salt and light ministry, listened to thrilling testimonies, teaching and had extended worship sessions. We listened to God’s voice, reminded ourselves of our vision and core values, and welcomed new friends and even some interested strangers. Also, we held our yearly Hope Germany Football Cup, This time round, we were especially happy to invite all our friends at home to follow our teachings on our website.
Hope Manila Kids Camp: God’s Champion
The month of May brought much joy to our HopeKids as they had their Camp entitled, “God’s Champion.” We had 20 wonderful Kids who attended, and many volunteers who came and helped make the camp a success. The Kids learned that they can be God’s champion if they entrust everything to the Lord.
In addition to this, the HopeKids had fun with the activities like making crafts, fun games, praise and worship and most specially learning God’s Word.
We extend our gratitude for our moms, our youth volunteers, our sponsors and our dedicated teachers who patiently helped and taught the Kids; and of course, to our dear Pastor Soradej and wife Dra. Eunice who encouraged and inspired us to continue to serve God’s little champions! Our passion will continue to grow as we see Kids loving our dear Jesus!
Hope Laguna Churches Sport Fest, the Philippines
We had so much fun when we held our second annual Sport Fest which consisted of the Laguna Philippines Churches. It was hosted by Hope San Pedro at Elvinda Covered Court in the vicinity of the San Pedro area. People from these two churches (Hope Calamba and Hope San Pedro) enjoyed every moment of the event and there was a high level of excitement for every competition. There were two groups in each church: family/working and youth. We competed in three individual games (chess, dart and Scrabble) and three team sports (basketball, badminton and volleyball), a cheering competition and an obstacle course.
We prepared ourselves well prior to the festival. Also, we encouraged everyone to attend this event as part of bonding and building strong sense of unity in every care group that is needed in mobilizing our churches.
Hope San Pedro youth emerged as overall champion. They won all three individual games, two of the team sports and runner-up in the cheering competition. Everyone made their own contribution in the event. Everyone enjoyed and was filled by God’s grace. We hope our paths will cross again in the next Sport Fest and that they will give their best to the Lord. Be all the glory to God!
Pastor Henry & Hani
Hope Laguna, The Philippines
Hope Kuala Lumpur Camp: Divine Exchange
It was a refreshing time getting away from the routines and busyness of life in the Klang Valley, and more so when the weekend is spent in the sun, the sand, and the sea. We are encouraged to have fellowship with our families (physical and spiritual) whenever opportunities arise and to build up each other spiritually (Hebrews 10:25).
This year’s family camp, with the theme Divine Exchange was held at Glory Beach, Port Dickson (28 to 30 May 2010). Many of us got into the excitement for this camp. We had a wonderful fellowship in the journey to the resort and some of us ran into each other along the way. [View Camp photos]
We were assigned to different groups of the names of God. These names actually reflect the characters of God, for example God who is the Shepherd, the Healer, the Provider, and etc. Those of us who attended the camp noticed that they were put up to stay with people from other homogeneous groups. We got to mingle with the families, the students and the working people. It is a desire that this fellowship among the different homogeneous groups will continue even after the camp because our church, regardless of groups aims for a common vision.
Besides that, we had a fun time at the telematch games. The games had meanings that represent our spiritual conditions and relationship with God. We played games like poison ball (guarding against sins that poison our hearts), curses to blessings (breaking curses and guarding our words), drawing (God sees us differently), protecting the egg (guarding the new life), appreciating the team members, and building a strong tower through the Word of God, to name some. We also had fun and laughter during the Divine X-changers performance session on Saturday. We had many talented artists, news presenters, dancers, and singers to convey the message of God through creative ways.
Moreover, we had spiritual refreshment through the praise and worship as well as word impartation sessions. Here are some pointers from the teaching sessions:
1.) Divine exchange is comparable to a transaction whereby a give and get event occurs. We give up the damage areas for Jesus to restore those areas.
2.) Break areas of curses and allow Jesus to turn them into blessings
3.) We need to allow Jesus to transform our harden hearts to allow God to work in us
4.) How to get double portions of what Jesus has for us is through moving with God, being faithful, consecrating ourselves, and being desperate for God
We indeed were refreshed, had a fun time and learnt God’s word through this camp. Let us continue to work on those areas we have gained through this camp and make that divine exchange with Jesus.
Reported by Andrew Chieng, Hope KL
Hope WA Churches Camp 2010
At the Hope Western Australian (WA) Churches Camp 2010, our theme was “A Victorious Life”. All of the Hope WA churches: Hope Perth, Hope Busselton, Hope Katanning, Hope Dandaragan and Hope Esperance, had a fantastic time and experienced many amazing moments. A total of 120 people attended the camp with enthusiasm and a spiritual hunger for God’s words.
Pastor Lance and Belle blessed us tremendously with their teachings about spiritual principles and shared personal experiences where they put principles into practice. Christians can “pull down heavenly realms into the world” we are in and live in Victory over our challenges and difficulties we face in our daily lives.
There was a wonderful session on a “Victorious Family”, preached by Pastor Nigel and Sandy from Hope Busselton. In their Wittwer family vision, we learned “the higher calling of having a Family”, where obedience, love, spiritual giftings and having a servant heart are vital in carrying out the Great Commission for God’s Kingdom.
We had plenty of highlights at the camp! We had the popular bush dances, the campfire and sport activities to keep us fit and healthy. There was a special children performance by the talented Hope Children Camp.
The youth had a valuable program where Pastor Lance and Belle shared about living an abundant youth for Christ. We also had a worship concert night which brought an intense spirit-filled atmosphere of joy, love and revelations from the Lord to his children.
It has been a truly moving and groundbreaking camp for all. As is written in the Word, “in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Pastor Stephen encouraged all of us at the closing ceremony that through God’s power we can have victory in our personal and church life.
The enthusiasm of the churches is still overflowing; 100% of the campers are already looking forward to attending our next camp gathering!
