Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The first time I attended Abiding Hope, I sensed it was a special place. After becoming a member and getting to know the community, I knew it was a special place. Now that I have been on MLST for a few years and president for nearly one year, it has become clearer what makes it special.
We are blessed by incredible leadership and an amazing staff at Abiding Hope, but Abiding Hope is especially blessed to pair that leadership and staff with a community of people who love the church and love each other. The pastors and servants at this church inspire the congregation to live a vibrant and energetic church life, and the congregation of this church inspires the pastors to serve the church with passion and love.
In 2024, we were able to see the fruits of our Planting Hope campaign. Over the summer, we held worship in the Family Life Center and held Wednesday night outdoor services at the Nature School while the worship center was revamped to provide a richer worship experience. The sound system was upgraded along with the acoustics and configuration of the musicians, the old carpet was replaced with new flooring, the altar was painted, and the kneelers were given new fabric, along with many other upgrades. The feeling was electric when we returned to worship in the sanctuary, and that first weekend back was an energizing experience. It was the dedication and generosity of the congregation that made it possible for us to make these much needed upgrades, and this new worship center will help Abiding Hope continue to grow and bring more people to join this mission of building God’s kingdom right here, right now.
This year also saw the Nature School hit stride as a fully functional preschool serving children with neurodivergence. The Nature School went from a start-up school to having a waitlist almost immediately. As a congregation, we may not always see it, but the mission of the church extends beyond the walls of the sanctuary, and both schools are a large part of that. They serve our community by helping children learn and grow every day, and they are a critical piece of Abiding Hope, giving us stability and outreach to strengthen the work that we do.
This year, we saw the vision of our new Lead Servant for Worship Life, Doug Holzapfel, take shape. Doug’s enthusiasm and musical talents have been showcased with worship services that inspire praise and contemplation and convey the message of God’s love in new and exciting ways every week. Our family ministry continues to grow and bring new life to the church. “All-in”, the high school and middle school ministry, has become a place where young people of all backgrounds come together and support each other in the spirit of God to build deeper relationships with each other and with God. This year, over 40 students and leaders went on Servant Tour to New Orleans for the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Additionally, Pastor Jay led multiple retreats and camps throughout the year.
Spiritual life at Abiding Hope also thrived during 2024. Small groups have been resurrected after the pandemic with over 20 groups gathering regularly with 216 participants. These small groups provide the congregation a family sized community within the greater congregation to build bonds and share life experiences as a part of the church. Pastor Julie led a particularly popular women’s retreat centered around the life and witness of Dolly Parton.
In a world where churches are shrinking and often closing, Abiding hope is staying strong. I have only highlighted a handful of the things that happened at Abiding Hope this year, and our outreach and commitment to serving God’s children remains core to everything we do. While maintaining that core mission, I look forward to watching as we look for new ways to deliver on being the Heart, Hands, and Feet of Jesus.
Chad Anderson MLST President
