Advancing the gospel, one at a time.

Over the next three years, we're following God's call to pursue One. Will you join us as we commit to making space in our lives and our church for one more?

A Message from Pastor Mark

Hope Family,

There's a moment that happens in every restaurant. You know the one. You're sitting at your table, enjoying dinner with friends, when you notice your server. Really notice them. Maybe they're having a rough night. Maybe a customer was rude. Maybe they're just tired from working two jobs. And you have a choice. You can look through them like they're invisible. Or you can see them. Really see them.

Recently, our server, probably around nineteen years old, looked exhausted. When she brought our food, I said, "Thank you. You're doing a great job." She stopped. Looked at me like I'd spoken a foreign language. "Really?" she said. "Nobody ever says that."

Here's what hit me: She matters. Not because of what she does. Not because of how she looks or what she believes. She matters because God sees her.

One person. One moment. One conversation.

But here's what I can't shake: Wells County and beyond is full of people just like her. People who matter to God but maybe haven't heard it yet. People whose stories are waiting for us to step in.

Our leadership reached a conviction: It's time for bold steps. It's time to build bridges and tear down barriers so that one more person can discover Jesus. This is the conviction that started sixty years ago in that Bluffton living room. One family. Then another. Same heart. Same calling. This mission has led us to become the thriving community that we are today.

That's why, after much prayer, planning, and a deep resolve, we're launching our One Matters Initiative.

It's simple. We're asking everyone to identify one person who doesn't know Jesus yet. Someone you'll love. Someone you'll serve. Someone you'll pray for. But reaching your One will cost you something. The families who started Hope? They sacrificed. They gave their time, their energy, and their resources. They said yes when it wasn't convenient.

Now it's our turn. If we want Hope to have a greater impact, we will need to do what they did. Give of ourselves. Give resources. Sacrifice so that one more person can discover Jesus.

Let’s start by praying. Ask God what part He wants you to play. Maybe it's identifying your One. Maybe it's giving sacrificially. Maybe both.

What is One Matters?

A CHURCH-WIDE INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON "ONE"

In August 1965, Howard and Jean Hawkins opened their home to neighbors. They weren't planning to start a church. They were hungry for something real. They gathered for prayer and Bible study because they believed God had more for their community. But they weren't content with just having a Bible study. They were seeking God's will for reaching lost people in Bluffton and beyond. People who needed hope.

That small group meeting in a living room grew. By 1966, Hope Church had her first building. In the fall of 1967, we became an official church when we received our first members. By 1973, we moved to Dustman Road.

Over the next 39 years, we continued to say yes to reaching one more person. Yes, to creating spaces where they could experience Jesus' life-changing message. That’s what led us to launch our Ossian Campus in 2012. What started as a few families stepping out in faith has become something remarkable. In 2022, we added a second service. This campus now averages over 220 people per week.

We stand on faithful shoulders. After 60 years, we’re seeing fruit from seeds planted by people who sacrificed so more could experience Jesus’ love.

Hope is still growing, still following God’s promptings, still listening for His voice as we intentionally reach lost people. Today, over 1,300 people gather weekly across our campuses. Students keep discovering authentic community. Life group participation has exploded. We are up 250% this year alone. In the past four years, we’ve celebrated 318 baptisms, a 200% increase over the previous years. Here’s what matters most: 128 people said yes to Jesus for the first time.

All of this growth and life change is an amazing gift from God. But growth also brings some challenges. Currently, our facilities in Bluffton and Ossian are holding us back from fully pursuing our mission.

We plan to address the following facility challenges through the One Matters Initiative.

One Matters Projects:

A Permanent Home in Ossian:

In Ossian, we’re like a family renting a house. We love the neighborhood and are deeply invested in this community, but we are limited in how we can shape the space to fit our needs. For years, we have dreamed of building something new – custom designed for our future needs. We even bought land. But construction costs? They’ve made that dream financially impossible. Building new isn’t just expensive anymore—it’s unrealistic. Instead of building new, God has opened a door. We have the opportunity to purchase our current building, where we meet, as well as two adjacent ones. Combined with our three acres next door, this gives Hope a permanent home and positions us for future growth.

Centralized Nursery in Bluffton:

Currently, our nursery and toddler spaces are at the opposite end from our other children’s and student areas. If you have a two-year-old and a four- year-old, you’re navigating from one end of the building to another, then you’re trying to figure out where to worship. Parents with young children face a maze every Sunday, and they spend their mornings managing logistics instead of building community. In this initiative, we plan to expand our HopeKids area and create a new Hope Babies area. This will allow all of our kids and student ministries to be centralized—no more maze navigation. This image gives an idea of where this new area will be located.

A Dedicated Space for All-4-One:

All-4-One, our Special Needs Ministry, has experienced significant growth over the last few years. Through the Bridge of Hope Gala and our unique weekly programming, more and more families are learning that individuals with special needs are not only welcomed but celebrated at Hope. Once our Hope Babies space is moved to a centralized location, we plan to convert the former nursery space into a larger, more intentionally-designed space for All-4-One. This will position us to better serve our friends with special needs both now and in the future.

One Matters, Two Commitments:

As we embark on this three-year initiative, we're inviting everyone who calls Hope home to join us in two meaningful commitments.

1. Identify and Commit to Your One

Identify One person in your life who isn't walking with Jesus. Someone you'll intentionally love, serve, and pray for. Someone you'll build a genuine friendship with, so they see Jesus through your life. This is not a spiritual project, but a friend. We call this person your One.

Imagine the impact over the next three years if everyone at Hope is intentionally loving, serving, and praying for a One who is far from Christ!

2. Make a Financial Commitment

The total cost of these projects is $3.8 million. After much prayer and seeking God's direction, our leadership believes that we should ask our church family to commit $2.5 million over a three-year period. We'll use some of our reserves to help bridge the gap, and we're prepared to responsibly mortgage the remaining $1 million, with a plan to pay it off as quickly as possible. We're asking for equal sacrifice, not equal gifts. Some will give in small amounts. Others, much more. What matters is that everyone participates according to their ability.

COMMIT TO ONE MATTERS

GIVE A GIFT

One Matters Initiative Booklet

Your guide to all things One Matters, including devotional content to follow along with throughout the sermon series.

One Matters FAQ:

Have questions about One Matters? Find answers to some of our most common questions here.

What’s the main goal of the One Matters Initiative?

We want to see more people in our community come to know Christ. In order to help make that happen, we’re seeking to remove any obstacles that may stand in their way within the environment at Hope Church’s Bluffton and Ossian Campuses. Through this important initiative, we’ll see the relocation of the nursery at the Bluffton Campus -
instead of being tucked away in the oldest and furthest portion of the facility, it will be right next to the existing HopeKids and HopeStudents ministry areas right in the heart of the campus.

Additionally, this will open the door to ongoing efforts to create meaningful ministry spaces at our Ossian Campus by positioning us as owners of our facility rather than renters.

Why are we launching the One Matters Initiative now?

Obviously, before we’d bring something of this magnitude to the attention of the congregation, our leadership has invested much time and energy in prayer, seeking the Lord’s guidance. When our board felt the go-ahead from the Spirit, the One Matters Initiative entered its initial stage of preparation. There’s been much thought and prayer poured into this over the past several months as the staff team has begun working hard to bring this initiative to the point that it’s now ready for presentation to the church as a whole.

Honestly, we’re weary of seeing obstacles laying in front of new friends who come to either of Hope Church’s campuses. We see things that are preventing people from a genuine encounter with Jesus — barriers that we can see ways to remove — and we’re ready to boldly follow the Spirit’s leading to knock down those obstacles and usher folks to a saving encounter with Christ.

What are the projects/emphases that this will address?

At our Ossian Campus, we want to see God glorified through the purchase of the acreage and buildings just south of the three acres that we currently own on the south edge of town. While we have been blessed with a gracious landlord to this point, we believe we’re being led to purchase the building we currently lease, along with two other buildings on this property. This will enable us to shift from renters to owners, and it will bring with it the ability to improve/renovate the facility as it will meet the needs of the community at the Ossian Campus.

At our Bluffton Campus, the biggest obstacle that will be removed is the location of the nursery. Our youngest attendees are tucked away in the back corner of the oldest portion of our building, which causes parents to walk back and forth over long distances in a large facility. Rather than relaxing into a mindset where they can receive nourishment from the Word during services, they’re having to just catch their breath after walking all over the building.

Additionally, we’ll invest some funding into general renovations to the current nursery area to become a ministry area for our blossoming All-4-One ministry to special needs kids and adults. This will position us for growth for years to come.

Is there enough room to continue to grow in Ossian if we don’t build right now?

Yes. By purchasing these three buildings, as we continue to grow, we will be able to reclaim, renovate, and improve flow through the current buildings. We believe that this is the next step that God is asking us to take at this time, as we continue to position ourselves for long-term growth in Ossian.

Right now, we are leasing a little over 7,000 square feet of space. The total of all three buildings is a little over 16,800 square feet. Currently, about 9,000 square feet of these buildings are being leased to other tenants. Our current plan is to continue to retain those tenants until we need the space for programming on Sundays.

What are we going to do with the three acres that we purchased 3 years ago?

As the board and leadership have continued to seek God’s leading in this, we have decided to retain ownership of this plot of land. We believe that purchasing this land was part of God’s plan for our Ossian Campus, which has not changed. Retaining this parcel allows us to continue to dream big for our footprint and impact in Ossian and beyond. This also enables future growth beyond the three buildings we will acquire in this initiative.

Where will the HopeBabies (Infant-3’s) be relocated to in this initiative at the Bluffton Campus?

Once we have completed the new addition, the youngest attendees will be dropped off in the same area where our current 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, and Kindergartners are located now. Our plan is to convert the current Powerhouse Jr. Space and the connecting room into our new Nursery-3’s space. We will then relocate the 4’s, 5’s, and Kindergartners into the new space that is being built as a part of this initiative.

When do we start and for how many years are we doing this?

We’re starting right now! As you’re hearing about this, there have already been countless hours invested in preparing for the One Matters Initiative and its presentation to you. We invite you right now to start praying and seeking God’s leading as to how you might participate. As you’ve already heard, there are two parts of participation — defining your One and praying about how you might join us in sacrificial financial giving. At this point, we’re inviting you to pray— and in a few weeks, we’ll all join together for Commitment Sunday, where we’ll boldly follow in obedience to God’s direction.

The One Matters Initiative will take place over the course of three years. So the commitments we make on Commitment Sunday we begin then and continue to roll out through the following three years.

What are the options through which I can give financially?

There are a host of options for giving in obedient response to the Spirit’s leading. Obviously, family units may give through normal giving channels at Hope Church — offering boxes on the walls of the physical facilities, online giving through the church website, mailing a check, etc. But we know that many times people are moved to give in other ways outside of the normal channels — stocks, crop proceeds, gifts of physical items, etc. If you have a specific idea, we would love to hear from you!

Who is helping Hope Church with the One Matters Initiative?

Hope Church has partnered with an organization called Amplio to help us navigate this process. While we’re not new to the process of raising funds for a large project, we’ve felt as though we wanted some assistance in knowing how to take the appropriate steps as we move forward with this important initiative. Amplio has a long history of helping local churches as they seek to encourage church attenders to define their One as well as to give financially in a sacrificial fashion.

How is this important to my family and our community as we seek to reach lost people?

We’re all called to reach the lost in our community. And what better way to focus our families and our church on the lost people in our community than by encouraging everyone to begin intentionally praying for and supporting a One in our lives who needs to come to know Christ?

We’re imagining families sitting around their dinner table actively talking together about their Ones. Can’t you just envision a gathering of adults talking together over a cup of coffee about how they’re building intentional discipling relationships with their Ones?

Will this replace some or all of our normal year-end-giving opportunities? If so, for how long?

Yes, and no. The traditional “Year End Project” that Hope Church has featured for many years will be rolled into the One Matters Initiative for this year. We don’t want the important segments of the Year End Project to lose their funding course — the camp experience for kids and students, the internship and residency opportunities that allow us to build into future Kingdom Workers, the “neighborhoods and nations” components. All of those continue to be important and pressed on our hearts. But rather than looping back to the church and asking for additional funds, those components will be included within the One Matters Initiative. After this year, we’ll bring back that giving opportunity at the end of each year.

What does it mean that we will take out a mortgage for this initiative?

While Hope Church has operated debt-free for many years—and we remain committed to returning to that posture — we believe God is clearly leading us to step forward with this next phase of ministry expansion. The total cost of these projects is $3.8 million. After prayerful consultation with The Amplio Group, we are asking our church family to commit $2.5 million over the next three years.

That leaves a $1.3 million gap. A portion of that will be covered by existing reserve funds designated for ministry development. The remaining amount — approximately $1 million — may need to be temporarily financed through a mortgage.

It’s important to understand that this is not a decision made lightly. If a mortgage is needed, our leadership is committed to paying it down aggressively. We plan to use existing lease budget allocations and rental income from tenants at our Ossian Campus to accelerate repayment. At the same time, we want to be clear — we fully believe God can provide all $3.8 million without the need for a loan. And we are praying boldly for that outcome. This is a step of faith and stewardship. We’re trusting that God will provide through the generosity and obedience of His people.

How can I help this initiative at HMC succeed?

Pray with us, seeking God’s provision over the course of the next three years! We know this isn’t a small ask, and we know that it will only move forward if God’s hand is in it. We have already been praying, and we’ll continue to do so. But we ask you first and foremost to join our church leadership in that prayer.

Second, we invite you to think and pray about your own One. Who might the Lord be laying on your heart to intentionally build relationship so that they might come to a saving knowledge and experience with Christ? You likely won’t need to think long — typically we already know someone for whom we’ve been feeling a deeper burden.

Lastly, begin considering what you might give toward that overall goal as a church. We know it’s not easy to carve out an additional dollar amount within our own personal budget. And we’re not asking everyone to give the same amount — there’s just no way we could all do that. But we are asking that everyone give sacrificially to help remove obstacles that may keep lost people from finding a meaningful relationship with Jesus.

Is there a plan/picture of what we are going to do?

At the moment we don’t have specific architectural drawings or plans drawn up for what we will build at the Bluffton Campus. We only know where we’re feeling led to construct additional space, and we’ll be more than willing to share those plans as they come together in the weeks and months ahead. For now, we have some very initial ideas and renderings that can be seen below.

At the Ossian Campus, we don’t have a need to build anything immediately. As we shift from being renters to owners, we’ll have some ideas of how we might bring some renovations to the building that will erase any obstacles to ministry there in the coming years.

One Matters Sermon Series: