All Resources
How Do We Worship on Easter?
In less than a month, we will be celebrating Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I didn’t grow up with a strong Christian foundation. I’d overhear comments at church about special days, services, terms, and theology and wonder about their significance. What is Lent? Or Ash...
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...
Gushers & Assimilation
You look at the table during snack time at the many different snacks all around you. Your mom of course packed you your favorite crustacean flavored chips. As each of the snacks are taken out, goldfish crackers, fruit by the foot, and a wide assortment of treats from...
Seven Accessible Ways to Connect With Jesus This Easter Season
My choice of the word “accessible” over “easy” was intentional. Connecting with Jesus is accessible to all of us. But if I were to say “easy” too many would misunderstand this to mean “fast”. I don’t offer you 10 “fast” ways to connect with Jesus. But I do believe...
Is it Okay to Sleep Together if We Really Love Each Other?
Is it okay to sleep together if we really love each other? To answer, there are several considerations. Do you have a relationship with Christ? If not, then I would encourage you to first respond to Christ. His life, death, and resurrection demand a response, either...
Grieving Unmet Expectations
Expectations. We all have them. Whether they are known or not, whether they are met or not. They can be sneaky and can reveal a longing, a desiring or a hope we didn’t know we had until that expectation was not met. Expectation is defined as the state of expecting or...
Justice Requested, Justice Received
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 The year 2020 has brought us two crucial things: COVID-19 and increased awareness of systemic racism in our...
Theology of Stewardship and Money
Our Theology around Money, Giving, & Stewardship Here at Hope, we believe that giving is a worshipful response to God, as all of life is in response to how God has already given. We give not because we have to, but because we get to! We are also called to be...