God’s mission for Hope is to:

Worship God together, grow in the knowledge and love of Christ, and live sent God’s light in our neighborhoods and around the world.

Someone once said that the church does not have a mission – God’s mission has a church. At Hope we don’t merely want God to bless us, but we want to bless God by joining Him in his mission to restore a broken world, to save us from evil and sin, and gather people into the family of God.

Our Vision is to:

Love Big

We all know what small love is – it is when someone loves us expecting something in return, or loves us because we love them too. Big love goes the extra mile, loves the unlovable, expects nothing in return, and even loves our enemies.

Grow Deep

God doesn’t merely want us to know about Him. He wants us to grow deep in his love and in relationship with each other. God’s Spirit invites us into the deep as we live out his Word in daily life.

Live Sent

“The mission is God’s. The marvel is that God invites us to join in.” – Christopher Wright. We don’t want to sit on the sidelines waiting for heaven. We want to live into God call to join Him in bringing heaven to earth right now.

Our Core Values

Living in Jesus’ Way of Peace and Nonviolence

Jesus refused to use violence, oppression or weapons to establish the new Kingdom of God on earth. He willingly walked to the cross and suffered and died. He commanded us to pick up our cross and follow him, even if it meant that we would also suffer for Christ. In a world where violence is power, many see Jesus as weak. However Jesus has revealed that the way of peace is the only power to defeat evil and restore the world to God. We try to live out the peace of Jesus in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces and nation.

Pursuing Intimacy with God

Developing a vibrant intimate relationship with God is our goal – learning to know His love and hear His voice by encouraging time with God and His people.

Authentic Worship

In our times together we encounter God, through singing and reflection, teaching Scripture, sharing our life experiences, praying for one another and using our spiritual gifts to encourage, build up, and comfort one another.  Authentic worship is expressed most fully through a life totally yielded to God.

Community

Loving relationships are essential in building God’s kingdom and should permeate every aspect of life.  Growth is encouraged by sharing truth with mutual authenticity and transparency while extending grace and forgiveness.

Life Change

Becoming Christ-like is our goal for each individual. We experience healing, wholeness and growth through a surrendered life and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  Life-change happens best in community as we study God’s Word and encourage one another to apply its principles in our daily walk.

Every Member Is a Minister

Everyone is shaped by God to make meaningful contribution in the Kingdom of God.  Therefore mentoring, equipping and gift activation are essential.  Opportunities for ministry are abundant and every believer is expected to serve God and the local church in some way.

Being Christ in Our Local Community

We are the hands, feet and mouth of Christ demonstrated through service and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  We expect our church and its members to reflect Jesus Christ in our local communities and beyond.

Statement of Faith

God

There is only one God, Creator and Lord of everything, infinitely perfect, all powerful, all knowing and eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (The Trinity).

Jesus

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus entered the human race through a virgin birth.  He lived a sinless human life and offered Himself by dying on a cross as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people.  He rose from the dead to demonstrate His power over sin and death.  He returned to Heaven’s glory and will come again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, Counselor and Helper who convicts of sin, reveals God’s truth and indwells believers empowering them for godly life and service.  The Spirit uniquely endows each believer with spiritual gifts for the common good of the church.

Bible

The Bible is God’s Word written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the source of truth and the final authority for Christian faith and victorious living. All scripture is rightly understood and interpreted through the lens of Jesus’s life and teachings.

Salvation

All people sin (disobey God) through choices they make resulting in eternal separation from God.  Our only hope of being reconciled with God is through repentance of our sins, faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and confession of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Baptism

The baptism of believers with water is a pledge of their commitment to God. It publicly identifies them with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is a sign of their cleansing and freedom from sin, and their promise to live life in the way of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Leadership

Kevin Kanagy
Lead Pastor

Kevin began as Teaching Pastor at Hope Community Church in the summer of 2016 after co-pastoring with his wife Nan in Ohio for eight years. Kevin transitioned to Lead Pastor in 2017, following the retirement of Pastor Gary Blosser.

Kevin enjoys preaching, encouraging the church, and  reading and discussing theology. He has a vision to help  HCC  grow more and more into the family of God that lives out God’s mission in the world.  Kevin completed his undergrad at Goshen College and a Master of Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. He enjoys art, especially photography and oil painting.  He  is married to Nan, and enjoys playing legos with his three daughters, Hannah, Madi, and Ellie.

Nan Kanagy
Youth and Worship Pastor

Nan loves youth ministry and all things that have to do with worshiping God. She was called to Hope Community in the summer of 2016 after co-pastoring with her husband Kevin in Cleveland, Ohio for eight years. One of her primary passions is to help people discover God’s calling on their lives, especially youth. She firmly believes that every follower of Jesus has a ministry and should be living into it daily. Nan has been married to Kevin since 2000 and they have three daughters whom they homeschool. In addition to her responsibilities with youth and worship at the church, she will direct a homeschool group called Classical Conversations at HCC on Wednesdays. She enjoys gardening, nature, and exploring new places with her daughters and their dog, Pepper.

Connie Homm
Church Administrator

Connie has been attending Hope Community Church since 1997 and began serving in her role as Church Administrator in 1998.