New Hope Rising Ministries is an ongoing service project of First Church of God in Columbia, S.C. It is not a church entity, but is a ministry of the church in which it is housed.
Our mission is to sow seeds of hope in the lives of all people and cultivate them to bear fruit for harvest.
Our purpose is to reach out to all people and offer them New Hope through practical methods of outreach and evangelism.
Our vision is to see countless lives move from areas of hopelessness to new hope found through a relationship with Jesus Christ resulting in spiritual and numerical growth in the Kingdom of God.
New Hope Rising defined:
New: just discovered; starting over again in a cycle; changed for the better, rejuvenated; coming after or taking the place of a previous one.
Hope: to want or wish with a feeling of confident expectation; a wish or desire accompanied by expectation of it’s fulfillment; something wished (desired). One that gives cause for Hope.
Rising: to go from a lower to higher position; to increase in height, volume or size; to increase in amount, number or value; to advance in rank or condition; to return to life; to be erected; to rebel.
Ministry: the act of serving.
Defies: to face up to; challenge; to withstand or resist successfully; to dare, to challenge, to perform something thought to be impossible.
Gravity: weight; seriousness; to be drawn as if by an irresistible force; bringing or threatening great danger or harm; of, being or written with a mark; the condition of being grave and involving serious consequences; weightiness.
Our Mission Field…
We believe our mission field begins first, with the community surrounding our physical location. We do our best to meet the needs of those in the community around us. From there we reach out to our own circles of influence. Reaching out to those we come in contact with outside of the local congregation .We strive to be sensitive to the Lord’s direction in all areas of ministry.
There are many areas in which we serve through our ministry.
Some of the ways we are presently serving the community are…
* Providing transportation for the children and youth ministries for those in the community or those who have moved outside of our community.
* Providing an emergency food pantry for locals who are in need of groceries
* Taking and picking up orders for Angel Food Ministries to offset cost of groceries for those inside our congregation and anyone outside of the congregation who could benefit from the program.
* Providing free family fun in the form of community expo’s and special occasion events for the community.
* Providing financial aid to children and youth for special events that encourage spiritual growth, such as camp and state youth conventions.
* Reaching out, through a chaplain’s ministry, to children and youth who are institutionalized for various reasons in the Department of Mental Heath.
* Developing relationships with families and individuals in the community for the purpose of encouraging, serving and supporting them in their endeavor to improve their own quality of life.
There are other areas that may not be mentioned including Mission support abroad. Future outreach plans include: offering a free summer dance class for several age groups in the community with a recital at the end to show their families what they have learned. We are also planning weekly trips to specific wards at the Department of Mental Health for fun and fellowship with children and youth who are institutionalized. A group of ladies will be traveling to Haiti this summer to share hope through mission work. The possibilities for service are endless.
Our Job Description…
Don’t tell me, show me!
It is not our job to save a person from the weight of the world; it is our job to be readily available to the One who can save them namely Jesus Christ. God Himself is capable of doing the work necessary to transform a life from hopelessness to an abundantly fruitful life of hope. However, our willingness to serve Him and others in the process is all part of His master plan. It is not up to us how we will be used by Him, but it is a conscious decision that says “Yes, I will go” that sets us apart for the mission God has placed before us.
It is not our job to tell someone how they need to live their life. It is our job to live a life that serves as an example for other’s to follow. That example will show that our dedication and hope in the faith of Christ is genuine and true. It has been said, “Actions speak louder than words” and our actions alone should lovingly plant seeds of hope in the lives of those in need. It is our job to share the Good news of Jesus and if necessary…use words.
Our job is to walk through life with our spiritual eyes open and our spiritual ears listening to the Holy Spirit as He reveals to us the time and the place for service. If we plant a seed and water it in ground that hasn’t been cultivated to receive the seed, then the odds of that seed germinating and producing fruit to its fullest potential is slim to none. But God knows when the time is right and He will prompt us at just the right time to sow toward a plentiful harvest. This requires a close relationship through prayer, much faith in His word, and a complete dependence on God.
It is our job to do whatever it takes for the sake of others, even if that means getting outside of our own comfort levels, God has given us everything we need to do effective ministry. By coupling His provision with faith in His abilities and not our own, nothing will be impossible. Only believe!
“Go and Make Disciples of all nations”…
In order to make a disciple, we must be a disciple. A disciple is a follower of Christ. Discipleship is not a formula or a method; it is a way of life. More specifically it is THE WAY of life for the believer.
Most of Jesus’ ministry involved people coming to Him, open and ready to hear His message. The proper time to plant is when the soil we’re working in is ready to receive the seed.
Below are a few ways to think outside of the box in terms of discipleship.
The “P”’s for when to plant.
* Presence Evangelism: To simply be present in a situation or group. Where we are right now is always an opportunity to model the life of Jesus: acting as He would act, speaking as He would speak, showing kindness, and speaking encouragement. It is always looking for opportunities to act in love, keeping in mind that Christ is with us wherever we go. (For example… you are in a meeting where most comments are negative in tone. When you speak you try to interject positivity into the discussion and someone approaches you afterward to let you know how much they appreciated the comments you made. That is cultivated soil that is fit for planting seeds and your invitation to take the conversation further.) Always wait for an invitation unless God instructs otherwise.
* Passing Relationships: There are some people we may only meet in passing once or twice in a lifetime (convenience store clerks, cashiers at the grocery store, person sitting next to you on a plane). A casual conversation with someone we are not acquainted with is an open opportunity to plant a seed or water what has already been planted. Just because we may not get to see the end result of the experience, does not mean God is not doing something great in the life of the person we have the privilege of conversing with. We may play a vital role in what He is doing in their lives but we must be willing to open our mouths.
* Permanent relationships: Those considered as permanent relationships would be family and close friends. They may be in our life for a long period of time and we may begin to get impatient and try to evangelize out of desperation. Force is never a good idea unless it’s being used in prayer against the spiritual forces at bay. Impatience can be our enemy and cause our witness to be null and void in most circumstances. Keep in mind God’s timing is perfect and ours is not unless He is in it. It is best to pray, wait and watch for an opportunity to speak. Remember to speak with actions more than with words. Listening is a very important tool to develop as well.
* Proclamation: We do not have to be a great orators or prolific writers to proclaim the Good News effectively, nor do we need to be preachers or famed authors. Our audience does not need to be large to proclaim (which means to give an outward indication of something to show others openly and publically) the Kingdom life. Actively look for opportunities to proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers. The message is simple. Repent and believe. Use your own personal testimony when applicable. Look for those who respond positively to what is said, and enter into a relationship with that person and disciple them. Evangelism is inviting a person to walk the walk of faith and leading them in that walk. It is not just getting them to pray a prayer and adding another notch to our religious soul saving belts.
* Preparation: This is much like cultivating soil and planting seed in advance of harvest. Kind words turn a person’s soil. Acts of service can turn the soil once again. Being there for that person during a time of need can turn that person’s soil still again, softening it and making for the perfect ground to plant a seed. Building friendships and creating non-threatening climates that are safe for non-Christians to ask questions and feel comfortable doing so makes for wonderful planting conditions. Patience is key as the questioning process may seem endless. Just remember, God’s timing is perfect timing and we are there as tools in His Hand to serve His greater purpose.
* Power: There was and is power behind Jesus’ ministry and we should not be afraid to use it. There are times when we may be moved to pray for healing and/or miracles that God’s power may be seen through us for the purpose of drawing other’s in by curiosity or awe. God will sometimes work in ways to create awe in those who have yet to commit to Him. We do not create miracles, but we must be ready if God decides to perform one. A cultivated person could be revealed at any moment. That is why we should be ready in season and out of season to share the hope that makes a difference.
* Perception: We must be able to perceive the condition of the soil of the ones we encounter. If the person shows no signs of openness to the Good News of the Gospel, chances are we could be acting in our own strength and power (trying to get them to cooperate with us). It is best to move on at that point, because God’s timing is perfect. If, on the other hand, the person shows openness to what is said and seems willing to listen , use that as an opportunity to pursue a relationship with them and share whatever God lays on your heart with confidence. Perception can also be false and misleading if we are not careful to be in constant contact with Jesus (through His Holy Spirit) as we try to discern a situation. Be open to observation. Become aware of the Holy Spirit’s leading and understand how to respond when awareness comes.
*The “P’s” for when to plant: referenced from “A PASSIONATE LIFE” by Mike Breen and Walt Kallestad (chapter 24 “Where is the Person of Peace”).
Remember…
God will honor our willingness to serve Him.
Put our trust in Him completely and do not fear!
Perfect love casts out all fear, and if we walk in the Love of God we have nothing to fear!
Pray continually and always armor up with…
Ephesians 6:10-18.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions and with all kinds of requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Opportunities for Involvement…
New Hope Rising ministries have many areas of opportunity for involvement. It is an opportunity for the body of Christ to work together with all its many parts to advance the Kingdom of God through regeneration and multiplication.
If you have a specific area of giftedness or a preference for areas of service, make it known to the ministry director. If necessary, a spot will be created specifically for you. Everyone is a vital part of this ministry and if you can do nothing more but pray, that is crucial to the life of this ministry.
New Hope rising Ministries will not have the same appearance at all times. It’s face will change as the need arises, as long as there are willing and committed volunteers to see it through. It is a work in progress that will not be completed until Christ, himself, returns.
All Suggestions for getting involved in service opportunities will be considered by New Hope Rising Ministries but will only be carried out if the supply of willing and committed volunteers meets the demand of the opportunity as unto the Lord.
Prayerfully consider becoming a vital part of this ministry. Little is much when the Lord is in it. Never underestimate Christ in you, the hope of glory.