New Hope Transformed

Come and Grow With Us!

We're excited to tell you about what God is doing at New Hope . . . and how you can be a part of something big!

This is what we look like today. It's a great place to worship and learn and fellowship. New Hope is known for its friendliness, for clear Bible teaching, for outreach into our community and the world. With all that, God is blessing, our church is growing, and this place is not big enough anymore. As someone said with a smile, "By God's grace, we need more space."

This is where we believe God is taking us - an expanded and updated facility ready to invite others to learn and grow with us. New Hope Community Church is all about transformation – in our own hearts, in the world around us, and now, for this time, a transformation of our church building so we can better worship God and serve others.

The need to expand first became evident in the KidZone area where we house children's programs, serving kids from babies through 5th grade. Even with newly renovated space, we are full and overflowing most Sunday mornings. New Hope has lots of young families, new babies, and more are coming week-by-week. It's an imporant ministry where the littlest among us are learning through Bible stories, kind and gentle teachers, and prayer times that Jesus loves and cares for them.

Then, there’s Rock, the exciting youth program at New Hope. Every Sunday evening during the school year, more than 150 area teens flow into our church. They reconfigure the worship center to have a place for group activities, but they have far outgrown that space. They need room to move and room for more of their friends to come and learn about what it means to know and walk with Jesus. The new gymnasium will meet all those needs and more!

If you worship with us on Sunday, you will find a little space in the first service, but the second service is almost always full to capacity. More room is needed and a slight expansion of the worship center will provide more seats for more people. Along with that will be a new lobby area where we can fellowship with friends and visitors before and after the service. We'll provide additional parking, too, since we're overflowing a bit there, too!

Because of God’s obvious blessing on the ministries of New Hope, we have spent months assessing the needs, both present and future, and to review options for expansion of our facilities. After interviewing the heads of various ministries, considering possible pathways, and working with experienced church-designing architects, we have come up with a plan that, over time, will provide space from which the Body of Christ at New Hope Community Church can worship God, study the Word, encourage each other, serve those in need in our community, and share the Gospel message with those who are ready to hear, both here and around the world.

We are inviting you to come along on this journey as we anticipate what God will do.

This website is the place where you can find all the details concerning the plan for expansion and find updates on our progress toward seeing the plans become reality. Scroll down for details about the project and for FAQ's.

If you feel God is calling you to participate by supporting this project financially, please contact us at:

info@newhopecc.com

call us at (616) 363-2000

You can give online by clicking on the Give/Building Fund button below.

If you want to know more about New Hope Community Church, you can visit our main website at newhopecc.com.

Our New Look

Site Plan

Project Details

Purpose: To glorify God and to serve him, his people, and those who need to know him in Rockford and around the world.

Method: To provide additional space for the operation and expansion of all aspects of the New Hope ministries.

Needs:

Children and youth: Our children’s and youth ministries are large and are growing. They have far outgrown the space they presently have, and there is an urgent need for more room. In addition to meeting space needs, the proposed expanded facilities will create opportunities for new and creative ways to reach more families and more of the teens of our area.
Small group meeting space: New Hope has a shortage of places for small group meetings. The new plan accommodates that with seating in the lobby (much as we have now), a seating group in the concourse, an additional conference room in the office area, and three classrooms in KidZone that can be set up for group meetings of various sizes.
Storage: We have very little storage in the present facility. The new plan provides for storage in each of the ministry areas to accommodate those needs.

Project: Renovation of the existing New Hope facility

Office areas (moderate updates and expansion)
Worship center (moderate refreshing and addition of 80-100 seats)
Fire suppressant system for entire building
Removal of existing lobby area

New addition will include:

Relocated entrance with drive-up canopy
Large, inviting lobby with concourse which will include:
- Coffee/snacks area
- Casual café seating
- Information area
- Access to KidZone sign-in
- Access to Hand2Hand resource space
- Access to kitchen which will serve both lobby and gym
- Access to restrooms
- One small group meeting space (2-6 people)
Full-size gymnasium which will provide:
- Activity space for Rock and KidZone
- Opportunity to engage community with basketball leagues, pickleball courts, and other activities.
- Large meeting space for church events, dinners, etc.
Addition of KidZone ministry space
- Nursery (ages 0-1)
- Toddlers room (ages 2-3)
- Designated classrooms for ages 4, 5, and 6
- Connect room for sensory-sensitive children
- Secured entry for all KidZone space
- Kids’ bathrooms within the secured space
Addition of meeting and activity space for Rock
- Rock will continue to use the existing worship center for their large group meetings.
- The gym will be the primary area for their group activities.
- Small group meeting spaces will be available in the KidZone area as well as the lobby and concourse.
Site work to comply with current ordinances

Project FAQ’s

If you don't see an answer to your question listed below, please contact the church office and you will be directed to someone who can respond with the information you need. Thank you for your continued interest in this exciting transformation!

1. What are the goals of the Transformed and Renewed Campaign?

This is the third and final step in our multi-year vision of Transformation, To Transform our Church Facility and Team.

In July 2022 we said, “We trust God to fill New Hope to capacity and by 2025 transform our facility and team to meet the increased attendance and ministry needs.”

2. Why are we launching this campaign right now?

We have reached our capacity, particularly in Rock and KidZone, but also in small group ministries, and in our helping ministries such as Hand2Hand. So our first phase focuses on meeting these space needs and will also add seating in our present sanctuary.

3. What parts of our facility and team are being Transformed and Renewed?

We’re transforming our entrance, lobby, KidZone, classrooms, meeting rooms, kitchen area, office space, sanctuary, parking, and fire safety system. And we’re adding a gymnasium.

4. How much will this cost?

Estimated cost is $4.6 million.

5. How are we going to pay for this?

We have $1.4 million in our building fund and that's a great start. We’re asking you, our church members, attendees, and friends to help pay for the rest.

By God's grace, you can be a part of what he is doing at New Hope, in our community, and around the world.

6. What happens if we don’t reach $4.6m by the end of January?

We anticipate breaking ground in 2024 and building what we can afford to build and then will continue to raise funds to complete the project.

7. How are we addressing the need for more parking and sanctuary space?

We are adding a number of new parking spaces in the spring and expanding the current seating in our sanctuary.

After this campaign is completed, we will address the need for a new sanctuary and even more parking.

8. Why aren’t we addressing the need for more parking and a new sanctuary now?

We’re addressing our most urgent needs first. Those needs are more space for our children’s and youth ministries, more space for our entrance and lobby areas, more space for ministry meetings, and more space for offices.

9. Why are we building a gymnasium now? What makes it urgent?

The New Hope Community Church gym is a cost-effective solution that adds an abundance of recreational space for our youth and adult ministry members and guests.

The gym will be a space that also opens new windows for New Hope fellowship, discipleship, and community outreach through recreational events and leagues, conferences, church family dinners and other creative in-house and community events for decades to come.

Help, God is in pursuit of me.

Welcome and thank you for being a part of New Hope Community Church’s Transformed and Renewed campaign. This website is a place for updated information and inspiration on our campaign progress. If you’re anything like me though, church capital campaigns have been something to try to avoid. (Hah, nice pick to lead our campaign committee, right!?)

In August I heard that quiet but very clear thing God does with me when he’s pursuing me. I was nervous to share it with my wife, because once it’s out loud there’s no turning back. I was hearing God’s voice through Pastor Josh’s voice. Jesus is pursuing me, again.

Now the purpose of this campaign is to attain the funding we need to continue growing God’s church through all New Hope’s ministries. The purpose undergirding all New Hope’s ministries is to build genuine and authentic relationships with people that model our faith in the Gospel and our love for Jesus. And we do this because it’s how God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit work together to grow God’s kingdom here on earth through his Church now, and in heaven for ever.

If you haven’t had a moment yet where you’ve recognized that you’re being pursued by the creator of the universe, here are a few more examples of how and when he got through to me. I heard and rejected the gospel at least 250 times in my first 35 years. Then I heard Jesus through three friends on the way back from a Pistons game. I was broken, ashamed, and scared, and nobody knew except Jesus and me. Two mornings later I submitted the rest of my life to Jesus Christ.

When I look at how the Lord has used New Hope over the first 11 years and how he’s grown the scope of our ability to impact people for Christ, I’m a little surprised that he’s let us get this over-crowded. In case you might not know, we’re maxing out our space in all directions: from the parking lot to the sanctuary, from the lobby to the offices, from the stage to the KidZone, from staff to volunteers. And I’ve been wondering, just who is responsible for all this growth?

Hearing Jesus and trusting Jesus are two different aspects of our journeys as believers. As parents, Mary and I heard Jesus more often than we acted upon. I think perhaps that’s because he was telling us to release our children to God, and that intentional action required more trust in Jesus than we had at that time. We’re getting better at hearing and trusting God as grandparents.

Family, careers, stewardship, sacrifice, mission trips, churches, relationships, and serving. If our destination is heaven, and I believe it is, then these practical decisions comprise our journeys. I do love how God lets each of us make decisions on our own faith journeys. We heard God when a co-worker invited us to come visit New Hope in 2018. She enthusiastically proclaimed New Hope to be the most genuine visitor-friendly church we’ll ever be a part of. She was right; it is.

We hear you, Jesus, at New Hope. We are being transformed by the renewal of our minds. We are not being conformed to this world. By our faith in you we are 100% pleasing to God, holy and acceptable in our worship. We are testing, discerning, and trusting your will for our participation in this Transformed and Renewed campaign. Come, Lord, fill this $4.6 million New Hope ministry expansion with your hands. Thank you for bringing us 1/3 of the way already. You are the only catalyst we need to stir our hearts and minds to action. You are bringing more and more people to New Hope; thank you! Let us all hear and trust you now for $3.2 million more to transform and renew our facility in Jesus’ name.

Bruce T. Hakim

Lead Servant

New Hope Capital Campaign Committee

Are you ready to join with others in supporting this facilities expansion and renovation? If so, you can do one of the following:

Give online by clicking on the GIVE tab at the top of the page, and then selecting “Building Fund” from the drop down box.

Or print and fill out the Participation Form below and mail it to the address shown.

Contact us at 616 363 2000 if you want to talk to someone in person about your gift.

Give

Pray With Us

WE ARE BLESSED TO BLESS OTHERS

We invite you to join us in praying for the facilities expansion at New Hope. This prayer, written this morning by Jane Sironen, Prayer Director at New Hope, may stimulate your own prayers for God's leading and blessing:

Heavenly Father we praise your hallowed name. You are the creator and sustainer of all things. Your word is truth and an encouragement in all we do.

Lord, as you supplied more than enough for the Israelites to build the Tabernacle, may you also supply more than enough to build the addition for New Hope.

Lord, you laid out the plans for the Tabernacle and we believe you have laid out the plans for this addition. Lord, your word also says that you supplied the skilled labor, you give skills and abilities, so we pray for all who will be working on this project that you Lord, will lead, guide and direct every step of the way.

Lord, as everything falls perfectly into place, may all see that it is because of who you are, not because of who New Hope is. May this be confirmation to all that your loving hand is blessing this project.

Lord, you have blessed us in so many ways. We pray that all we do will be a blessing to many. Lord, we first and foremost seek to honor you as we seek to do your will in all things.

We place the name that is above all names, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, over this project - Amen!

(From Exodus 36:1-7 The Lord supplied all that was needed to build the Tabernacle.)

PLEASE PROTECT, GUIDE, AND PROVIDE

Abba Father, you have blessed all of us at New Hope in so many ways. We are
blessed to hear the truth of your word preached every Sunday through your
faithful servant, Pastor Josh, the one you sent to be the shepherd over the New
Hope congregation.

We are blessed by all the faithful, God fearing, God loving, praying people that you have sent and continue to send to be the family of New Hope.

We are blessed by Brent and Anna whom you sent to lead the children and
youth ministry at New Hope. Lord, as we heard Brent's heartfelt account of how
you have blessed and grown this ministry, we cry out for your protection over all
the ministries of New Hope.

Lord send Your heavenly Angels to stand guard over New Hope. In the all powerful, authoritative, name above all names, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we pray against the schemes of our enemy who would like nothing better than to divide, frustrate and discourage Your people who attend and serve at New Hope.

Lord bind us together to stand strong in hope, faith and trust in you Lord - declaring that we will not allow the enemy to win in our lives or in your church in any way.

Lord give us patience in the waiting for the financing of this project, know that as we look to you and stand strong in your will, all things will fall into place in your perfect timing.

Let us be reminded, that as we set our minds on things that are above, not on
things that are on earth (Colossians 3:2), we ask that you unite us in your ultimate
heart's desire that all people come to a saving knowledge of the truth through Jesus
Christ (1 Timothy 2:3-4 NIV).

May New Hope be that light on a hill (Matthew 5:14-16), that glorifies You Lord in all we do (1Corinthians 10:31). Lord we anticipate a mighty moving of your hand in the future of New Hope, for it is you, Lord, who has brought us together to serve as witnesses to your love, grace, and mercies that you pour out on us each and every day.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying in our place that we have been set free from sin and death so that we may further your Kingdom here on earth. All glory to our Savior and King. Amen!

FATHER, ACCEPT AND MULTIPLY OUR GIFTS (John 6:1-15)

There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said,“Have the people sit down."Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples,“Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. - John 6:9-13

Abba, Father, in the all powerful, name above all names, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - we set before you the funding for the expansion of the New Hope facility. Lord our desire is to be in your will.

We have total faith, hope and trust in you. As your Word inspires us to seek you in all things, we are seeking you concerning the funding for this project. Lord as the message we heard on John 6:1-15 showed us: As we turn what we have over to you, you are able to multiply what we have into immeasurably more than we can ever imagine.

Lord in your will and your timing we trust that all the funds necessary to proceed with this project will come forth. May we each be led by you concerning our giving toward this project. May each of us have total peace in our decisions, knowing that peace, which comes from you alone - is confirmation of your will. We anticipate the mighty moving of your powerful hand. Amen!

A PRAYER FOR PERFECT UNITY

Abba, Father, You have brought together wonderfully diverse, multi-talented, godly people to New Hope for a purpose. Lord as we embark on this journey to transform the facility to glorify You and to be a beacon of light that carries Your message of hope into the community, we ask, in the name of Jesus, that You unify us so that we are in complete agreement - as this will show the world that You are the one who has orchestrated this project.

For as Your word tells us; when we are in "PERFECT UNITY" the world will know that You sent Jesus and that You Father, love us as much as You love Your Son. Lord, our desire is to be in Your will. As we seek You Lord, we pray for that "PERFECT UNITY" as confirmation of Your will being done at New Hope - for that kind of unity could only come from You.

It’s happening at New Hope

Rock Kids' Testimonials

“Rock has changed me as a person in the way that it allows me to be surrounded by good Christian friends that I can grow in boldness with, share in small group with, and draw closer to Him with!”

- Jacob

“I am blessed to have such an amazing youth group. Rock has helped shape and strengthen my faith. The leaders and community encourage me to be more like Jesus!”

-Hannah

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies

as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern

what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Romans 12:1-2