Hope

After getting off work last Saturday I decided that, yes I really do want to go to church tonight. There were two Churches I was considering going to. Both of which I found the information online about when and where. Anyways, back in 2003, I came out to Vegas on a spring break mission trip. We worked with a church called Hope Baptist Church. Since this church had a Saturday service, I decided to go. I am SO glad that I did. Really words can not describe what I was feeling and what I thought. But i will try to do my best. When I arrived at the High School where they met, I was surprised to see so many cars. I figured there might be 100 people if that. Wrong there were probably 200 people there. While walking toward the school, I realized that I along with the team I came with had prayed for this school and I had been on campus here before. I go inside the school walls and see a few booths set up. Information for the youth camp, how to help out with local missions, and a general information table. I was shocked to see that all of this was going on. Not shocked in bad way but a good way. When I was here in 2003, the church had maybe 150ish members. This church has truly been blessed by God. It has grown so much from what I remembered. Anyways, I take a seat in the school gym and just looked around bewildered at all the changes. Of course they were meeting in a much smaller place in 03. When the service started, I loved their style of music and worship. (Think the WELL). When the pastor came up to pray and welcome visitors, I did remember him, but only slightly. Anyways, he was introducing to the church a couple who had been called to start a Filipino church in the Vegas area. Awesome! but it gets better, he said that this new church would be the 9th church plant to grow from the fellowship of people at Hope. I had tears in my eyes. I was simply overwhelmed by what the church had become through allowing God to use them. The rest of the service was right in line with what I was looking for and praying that it would be. The pastor, Vance Pittman, was teaching biblicaly based truths and I was simple in awe of what God had done. Afterwards, I talked to the pastor for a few minutes. He asked how I had heard about Hope and I told him of the long ago connection. He said he remembered the group and could see that I was amazed by what God had done there. When I left, my heart was racing and I am still so shocked about what mighty things God can do through people who are willing to be used by Him. My heart was so full that I just could help but keep tears in my eyes during the whole service. I remember sitting there shaking my head and thinking wow, what a long journey.

I can honestly say that I have seen the fruits of walking the streets of Henderson, going door to door putting out flyers about the church and inviting people to come worship the one true God.