General Board of Global Ministries
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UM
Reporter
Florida Southern College
Bethune
Cookman College
FL UM Children's Home
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CHURCH DEVELOPMENT A New Church Comes Of Age By Charles W. Courtoy
Executive Director of Church Development
On
Wednesday night, Sept. 13, 349 persons gathered for a wonderfully uplifting
chartering service of Community of Hope United Methodist Church, a church
for the western communities of Palm Beach County. The Rev. Dale Locke and
his wife, Beth, have led this church since their appointment in June 1996 in
becoming a thriving congregation with an average weekly worship attendance
of 415.
From the beginning the emphasis has been on reaching the lost. This is reflected in their stated core values:
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Lost people matter to God, and
therefore to us. |
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The Church is a place where broken
people find healing. |
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It is the kindness of God that
leads people to Christ. |
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Big faith is grown in small groups. |
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Worship is a lifestyle, expressed
in corporate celebration and personal
devotion. |
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In Christ, we are free to be
ourselves. |
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Full devotion to Jesus Christ is
normal for every believer. |
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The methods will change, but the Message is timeless. |
Dale reports that 250 persons came forward that evening, 70 percent of whom came on Profession of Faith. To date 92 persons have been baptized. Because everyone who wanted to become members of the new church could not be present that evening, the decision was made to hold the charter membership open until Dec. 31. The expectation is that well over 300 charter members will be part of the official beginning of Community of Hope.
The exciting story of Hope is the result of the revival in new church starts and revitalization of established churches that God is bringing to the Florida Conference. Thanks for your support to enable the Hopes of the Florida Conference to reach lost people.
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