All Resources
Omar Abuzzahab – Baptism Story
Omar was baptized in December 2022. If you have interest in getting baptized at Hope Community Church, you can learn more by visiting hopecc.com/baptism. My faith journey comes from being born Lutheran and going astray at a young age before finally returning to...
What Makes Hope, Hope?
A great part of my job is taking people out for a cup of coffee and hearing their stories. It also gives me a chance to hear people’s impressions of Hope. What brought them here? What keeps them coming back? If I had to boil it down to a couple comments that people...
Nathaniel Durtschi – Baptism Story
Nathaniel was baptized in fall 2022 at our annual kick-off. If you have interest in getting baptized at Hope Community Church, you can learn more by visiting hopecc.com/baptism. My upbringing was centered around the importance of God and Jesus. My parents encouraged...
Ryan Schnabel – Baptism Story
Ryan was baptized in fall 2022 at our annual kick-off. If you have interest in getting baptized at Hope Community Church, you can learn more by visiting hopecc.com/baptism. Always had a distant relationship with God up until recently. Acknowledged He was there, but...
Drew Chmieleski – Baptism Story
Drew was baptized in fall 2022 at our annual kick-off. If you have interest in getting baptized at Hope Community Church, you can learn more by visiting hopecc.com/baptism. I have grown up in this church all my life, but I never understood faith until middle school....
Leif Johnson – Baptism Story
Leif was baptized in fall 2022 at our annual kick-off. If you have interest in getting baptized at Hope Community Church, you can learn more by visiting hopecc.com/baptism. I was fortunate to be raised in a God-fearing family and Jesus was always present at home in...
Matthew Miller – Baptism Story
Matthew was baptized in fall 2022 at our annual kick-off. If you have interest in getting baptized at Hope Community Church, you can learn more by visiting hopecc.com/baptism. I grew up in the church but didn't really understand what Jesus had done for me until I went...
Why Hope Loves College Students
In 1996, I had the privilege of being the founding pastor of Hope Community Church, which we purposely started right by the University of Minnesota. I was told not to do this as college students are very transient and do not have any financial resources to help fund...
Small Group Fencelines
While no two Hope Community Church small groups are identical, some parameters have been established to help ensure groups maintain a healthy environment that is in keeping with the vision and philosophies of Hope Community Church. These parameters are referred to as...
The Dragon Boat Festival
Growing up Asian-American, I celebrated both American holidays and traditional Chinese holidays. One of these Chinese holidays was Dragon Boat Festival (Duānwǔjié), which occurs in May or June, depending on the lunar year. This was an interesting holiday to grow up...
God Through an Asian American Lens
We Should be Unified, Right? “So you’ll be working with Epic this school year!” My heart sank when I heard that - I was a first-year intern with Cru at the University of Minnesota and we were discussing assignments for which ministries we would be involved in besides...
The Asian American Identity
Identity is something I have struggled with my entire life. I am a Japanese-American born in the United States to immigrant parents. My first language is not English and growing up I considered Japan my second home. I have had the opportunity to spend portions of...