Above and Beyond - By Jeff Bills

On November 18, 1990, HOPE Church held its first public worship service in the cafeteria of Signal Hill Elementary school. It was a brisk, clear morning when we pulled up to the school with our eight-foot long trailer that was packed with boxes of hymnals, Bibles, baby equipment for the nursery, and our keyboard/amplifier. We had no idea if anybody would show up to check out this “new church” so there was a strong mix of anticipation and anxiety among the members of our core group.

At 8:30 a.m., HOPE Church had less than twenty people. But for nearly two years that group of people prayed, planned, and prepared for launching a new church in Voorhees. At 10:40 a.m., the cafeteria was packed with two hundred and eighty nine people! It was far beyond what we ever expected and that has been the story of HOPE ever since.

? When HOPE decided to buy a home for the pastor (which would also house the church office) after only existing for six months it was far beyond what we ever expected.
? When we took in one hundred and seventy two charter members, it was far beyond what we ever expected.
? When HOPE was featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Burlington County Times, and Christianity Today Magazine all in our first year, it was far beyond what we ever expected.
? When we were able to purchase seven acres of prime land in the middle of Voorhees for a third of the original asking price, it was far beyond what we ever expected.
? When Tony Campolo made HOPE one of his annual speaking engagements because he believed in our vision of ministry, it was far beyond what we ever expected.
? When we built this building and then built phase II three years later, it was far beyond what we ever expected.

The list of things that we have seen God do here that exceeded all expectations goes on and on including exciting things happening still today.

There is one thing that happened that we did expect – God drew people to HOPE that needed to see and hear of the transforming power of Jesus Christ. We knew that if we presented the truth of Jesus Christ in ways that people could relate to – the result would be positive and powerful life change. We saw that power at work the very first Sunday and it has been at work ever since. God is GOOD!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21