With no action, there is no commitment. With no commitment, there is no faith. Pastor Mike wrapped up the series with the admonition that authentic faith means receiving the truth, embracing the truth and acting on the truth.

Thanks to all who attended the first annual Parent Summit! We appreciate everyone who helped make this event a success. To all the parents out there, we believe the Hope Milestones philosophy will serve you and your children well throughout the many stages of life. We hope to see you for the second annual Parent Summit in fall 2011! In the meantime, please visit hopemilestones.net for information and resources throughout the year.

Song by Karl Moraski, worship pastor at Hope Community Church.

On Friday, March 11, author and nationally recognized speaker Kris Swiatocho spoke at Hope’s monthly worship night for single adults at Hope’s Raleigh campus. Kris spoke on the topic, Nip It in the Bud: Boundaries in Relationships. There were over 325 singles of all ages, including more than sixty first-time guests, who were challenged to consider boundaries in relationships using illustrative clips featuring Barney Fife from “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Kris led the group through Scripture to show that boundaries serve important functions that help define our relationships and us. By setting boundaries, Kris helped attendees understand that we “let others know who we’re following.” By not setting boundaries, “we let others define who we are.” They also learned how to allow relationships to change for the future while still keeping with God’s will. Singles were also encouraged to not miss the journey of being single. Say out loud…”do not miss the journey singles!!”

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness, preserve my life. -Psalm 119

Kris Swiatocho is the Director of The Singles Network Ministries and From His Hands Ministries. Kris has a heart for singles ministry and travels all over the nation speaking at churches networking resources and leadership development.

Hope’s Singles Ministry, Journey, meets the 2nd Friday of each month at the Raleigh campus for Singles Worship Night.

The Global Hope India team that returned from India on March 12 had both a sense of accomplishment and humility. India is one of the neediest countries in the world. Our team from Hope did its part to make a difference in each village they visited.

The mission trip kicked off in Hyderabad where the team visited the orphanage to meet the children, many for the first time. They then boarded a 10-hour train to Jangareddygudem to meet over 200 native missionaries. There, a pastor’s conference was held along with a gospel message, live worship in a local church, a baptism outreach as well as the team handing out over 1,700 Telugu Bibles to the native Indians. Men and women gave out more Bibles and care packages that included personal and hygiene products that were much needed by all to a total of 3 villages.

After visiting the rural villages, the team headed back to Hyderabad and met a key contact from Agape International, Lynne Voggu and her husband, who was a doctor, cared for one of the team members who got sick on the trip. Lynne manages 6 orphanages in the area with ties to HIV. This was a delight to the Global Hope team as they build contacts in the area to serve the greater good. The team also spent time at a children’s home that houses over 66 kids. Team India had a service at a local leper colony and also visited the area in which sustainable agriculture had been planted to help the community gain self-sufficiency.

In October, $12k was raised to help build a girls dorm. By March 2011, an additional $14k was raised to start building the 2nd/3rd floor of the dorm where the girls would sleep. Finally, Team India did an abundant amount of research for the upcoming student ministries trip. The June trip includes 32 high school students that will visit India to pick up where Hope left off June 21-29, 2011.