Cor Chmieleski

Cor Chmieleski

Cor is the Senior Associate Pastor and Lead Pastor of Hope Community Church – Downtown (Minneapolis).
Help Me to Understand

Help Me to Understand

These four words are simple but powerful. They can be used in almost every situation and setting. I use them often as a pastor. I find them helpful in the midst of conflict resolution, staff interactions, marriage counseling, decision making, teaching, and leading the...

Church Planting at Hope

Church Planting at Hope

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it." In response to this great truth, our church­–Hope Community Church Downtown–has had the joy of starting 11 churches locally and supporting many more. It's not about us;...

How Do We Worship on Easter?

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...

What Makes Hope, Hope?

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...

Caring for the Panhandler

Caring for the Panhandler

I’ve been asked numerous times, “What’s a Christian response to panhandlers?”  I didn’t know the origins of the term “panhandler”. An ASU study says, “The term ‘panhandling’ derives either from the impression created by someone holding out his or her hand (as a pan's...