Letter from the President

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the President.......................................2

Letter from the Lead Pastor...................................4

Communication Touchpoints.................................5

Church Snapshot...................................................6

Preschool Snapshot...............................................7

Financials...............................................................8

MLST Status & Annual Gathering Agenda.............9

2020 Minutes........................................................10

Dear Friends, Brothers, and Sisters,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The framework for our mission at Abiding Hope centers around 4 key pillars: 1. Authentic Worship, 2. Intentional Relationships, 3. Sacrificial Service, and 4. Radical Generosity. Obviously, this last year has brought about change. We all have experienced life in a manner that none of us could have prepared for nor anticipated. However, our mission has never been more desired or needed in this broken world.

We have discovered new and innovative ways to continue in authentic worship. God’s message never changes, but we had to adjust utilizing the amazing skills and talents of our servants at Abiding Hope. The message of ‘ALL MEANS ALL,’ ‘YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD,’ ‘BE THE HEART, HANDS, AND FEET OF JESUS IN THE WORLD,’ was delivered in so many places. We now have people who worship with us all over our nation and beyond.

The plight of the world initially tried to take us apart. Our focus on Intentional Relationships seemed to be a real challenge for us. We are the delivery system for the needs of the poor, sick, hungry, and outcasts of the world. That is who we are called to be, so how was that possible in our circumstance? It is possible because of Intentional Relationships. We adjusted and found new ways and or places to meet and serve. We are all a part of God’s family, and we need to continue to nourish our relationships. We have continued to work with our ministry partners both here and abroad. Never has the power of relationships meant more in our broken world.

Our friends in Haiti and India were devastated by the events over last year. The ministries in Pine Ridge were just starting to provide much needed services to their constituents. The people are crying out to God asking for help. Do our relationships allow us to hear the cry? Do we hear the voices of our youth who are in crisis and doubt their worth? Does that person you used to see sit next to you need to hear from you? Do our servants who continually lift us up need your love and attention as well? As we evaluate our ability to foster intentional relationships, let’s all ask, ‘what or how can I do better?’

The needs and concerns for our families and quite honestly, for ourselves has never been greater. Do we turn our struggles over to God and then turn our attention to someone to whom we can be of service? Therefore, our mission of Sacrificial Service is so critical. It seems none of use were immune to the struggles and pain that came about from Covid. It is through Sacrificial Service that the prayers are answered, even for our own needs. We stepped up at Abiding Hope in so many ways, but we also discovered that we can all live more fully in Sacrificial Service. What a tremendous blessing and gift to be able to serve in love and be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus in the world.

That brings us to Radical Generosity. So many of you dedicated your time and talents to the important work that we are called to do. Several projects were completed that allowed us to grow our mission. We have so many talented servants who live out their calling, which is why we continue to develop our facility and abilities to serve through our own generosity. In a world that lives in fear over economic measures, we continue to grow in faith and realize how blessed we really are. If we truly only used what we needed, imagine the blessings and answered prayers we would be for those calling out to God.

We are all God’s children, but he has entrusted us with his special children, that being our kids. As we focus on our mission, it is done so with our families’ and children’s futures as a framework. Our efforts had to adapt due to circumstance. Our servants found new and innovative ways to reach and teach and most importantly to live in Intentional Relationship. So, who fits as a potential servant for families and our children? EVERYONE!

Our school is such an amazing entity in a community that desperately needs our help. We continue to keep the possibilities of expansion open. ALL MEANS ALL, and there are children and families that depend on our community. Imagine if all our children had a place to grow that was safe and full of God’s servants. Imagine if the families who have children with needs could live without fear, knowing there was a special place that brought love and hope to their child.

So, as we go into a new season, what shall our choices be?

WE CHOOSE LOVE AND WE CHOOSE HOPE

1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The call to choose love and hope is immediate. Psalm 39:7 And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My HOPE is in you.

We choose LOVE because LOVE chose us. That love was shown to us by the ultimate servant, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus taught us that in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

By choosing Love and by choosing Hope, we are choosing to be who we are. WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD.

We sincerely appreciate the dedication and efforts of our servants. They are not immune to the pressures and uncertainty of today. Yet during their own strife, they continue to pour themselves out for the sake of others. If someone in our congregation family has touched your heart, then take a moment and say, ‘Thank You.’

You all have touched my heart beyond my ability to put in words, so “Thank You.”

Christian Holgard, Congregational President