Let
me give some background to August 2002. In our denomination,
we have a good process for starting new churches. The
first step is to be sent to an Assessment Center to determine
whether one has the gifts and calling to plant a church.
After that, a one year internship is recommended for those
wanting to plant a new church. Gentry and Rebecca McColm
entered the Assessment Center in 2001. Later that year
they moved to League City to begin their one year internship.
Hope
Church began as a dream and a vision of the McColms. After
hours and hours of prayerful forward thinking, they moved
to Pearland in August 2002. The only apartment available
for them was on the east side of Pearland, and the area
they were targeting was the west side of Pearland. They
began to work out their vision through one on one meeting
people, and inviting them to participate in fellowships
and bible studies. God brought one couple along early
on; another person a little while later; a musician and
his wife; a small business owner in Pearland; and finally
another person with a great passion to see this church
get started. Thus, Hope Church had a "core group."
Pastor
Gentry and Rebecca had worked for thirteen months doing
all sorts of things to get this church started. You may
have seen them outside of Randalls or Kroger; or in your
neighborhood handing out new mover bags; or in the park
with a HUGE Easter Egg Hunt. Anyway, after thirteen months
of sweat and prayers, a core group of seven folks was
ready to launch the church. Hope Church's official beginning
was September 7th, 2003. When that day came we only knew
of about 20 folks that were coming. We were entrusting
the rest to God. And God showed mercy: we had 86 at our
very first worship service!
In
June 2009 Hope did some serious self-evaluation. From
that process we discovered that we had a long way to
go to becoming a church that truly brought God's hope
to West Pearland, and beyond. We recommitted ourselves
to a "New Beginning" of this ministry. Improvements
were made in every ministry. New things were
started, and some things were ended. Our vision is
to Equip the Church, to Transform the Community, to
Glorify God. Our New Beginning, in September 2009 is
our stretching out to see this vision realized.
We
invite you to come
and be a part of a church
where God is evidently at work!