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Why? • The Book • Our Proverbs • Dialogue Quarterly

Why Circle of Hope?

 

Who we are…

We are a circle of hope in Jesus Christ
Called to be a safe place to explore and express God’s love

What we do…

We build the church for the next generation by the power of the Holy Spirit
Multiplying cells that are authentic expressions of life in Christ
Forming congregations as diverse as the kingdom of God
Constructing a reconciling network to bring hope to the challenges of 21st century urban life.

We started this new expression of God’s love in March of 1996 because we were dreaming of a church for the twenty-first century.

Here are five of the many stories behind our ever-forming church…

Every person has their own story to tell and it is an important one. We want to be there to hear each one and to participate in it as each new friend writes the on-going story of his of her life in relationship to God and His people. The following stories are composites drawn from the people at the center of Circle of Hope which represent the motivations and dreams we hope you can share as you find your place among us.

“I want to bring people hope”
John (all names have been changed) has had good and bad experiences with churches in the past. One thing that bothered him was that, as far as he could tell, most of them end up being a small clique of people who can not see past their own experiences and relationships. He’s part of Circle of Hope because the church has a vision for reaching out to give people hope in Jesus, not just storing it up for themselves.

We long to live a full life in Christ by reaching out to tell people the good news that Jesus Christ has opened up the way for new life that brings hope for every generation. We don’t always know what to do, but we want to be among the pioneers who bring Jesus into the postmodern future.

“I know I could be deeper”
Carrie is no stranger to the subject of spirituality. She has tried several avenues. But she wanted to return to Jesus Christ. She is with Circle of Hope because of the promise of being with people who are struggling with the deep issues of faith, who are determined to know God.

We are a people who focus on worship and prayer, who know how to be quiet and listen and be joyful and celebrate, who use contemporary music and appreciate all sorts of artful expressions.

“I long for friendship”
Tanisha was not surprised that relationships among Christians take work, too. But she was encouraged by Circle of Hope’s intention to work on having good ones. She found a place to be known for who she is in a small “cell” inspired by the vision of being a multiracial and culturally sensitive church.

We are excited about being partners with people determined to avoid the trappings of “business” and to keep things personal. We think community is basic to our survival as people and to our mission for Jesus.

“I want to make a difference”
Chas is a hands-on kind of person. He doesn’t want to talk about social action; he wants to do something to heal and empower. He’s part of Circle of Hope to join with a group of young people who aren’t giving up, but are just getting started.

We want to create an organism devoted to serving and to walking with people who are reconstructing their lives and their city. Circle Venture is the 501c3 we created to keep us generating opportunities to make a difference and share our gifts and resources.

“I want to explore without pressure”
Harold did not want to be involved with Christians because he was not all the way settled about what he believed. Sometimes the church people seemed so educated, he didn’t know if he could fit in. He’s with Circle of Hope because the church is committed to treating everyone individually, letting them go their own pace, accepting them where they are, and helping them get where they want to go.

Our cells, teaming training, periodic retreats and seminars, men’s and women’s groups, group counseling all provide a place for everyone to grow, no matter where they start.

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The Book: A Circle of Hope

Rod White and friends have written a book about who we are.
We’d love to have your comments as it appears, piece by piece, on a new blog, here.


The Proverbs of Circle of Hope

Distinctive aspects of faith that drive us.
Since we have been in dialogue in the fall of 1995, we have come to share common convictions that define who we strive to be and what we decide to do together.

Jesus is best revealed incarnationally:

  • The church exists for those yet to join.
  • The “Great Commission” (Matt 28:18-20) is to be obeyed; it is the #1 job of the church.
  • Our deliberate attempts to make disciples are “incarnational,” friend to friend, so we accept that what we do will never be instant.
  • The skepticism of others is warranted if our message does not originate from a community that demonstrates the love of Christ.
  • In an individualistic age, being the church is a counter-cultural statement.
  • Like any healthy organism, we grow. So we are always preparing to birth a new cell, plant the next congregation and generate the next venture of compassionate service.
  • Life in Christ is one whole cloth. As we participate in and love “the world,” we bring redemption from the Kingdom of God to our society. Jesus is Lord of all, so we have repented of separating “sacred” and “secular.”
  • Any believer, who is not doing their part in the “family business” of redeeming the world, is missing the point of their ongoing existence.
  • We are “world Christians,” members of the transnational body of Christ; concerned with every person we can touch with truth and love.

We are called to move with what the Spirit is doing next:

  • Those among us from “traditional” Christian backgrounds are dying to our precious memories of “church” in order to bring the gospel into the present with great flexibility.
  • The truth in and from Jesus is revealed in many ways: through the Bible, through the members of the body, through the creation, through the Holy Spirit.
  • Words of wisdom and knowledge are given in many ways, but always within accountable relationships.
  • We intend to keep all the great things God has given through the church of the past and be totally at home in our own time, ready and able to relate to the people of our day.

We are meant to go deep with God:

  • To have a full relationship with God, one must live in an environment where worship can be learned, the spiritual disciplines gained and spiritual warfare fought.
  • Prayer is the key to our fulfilling our mission of transformation.
  • Solitude and silence are crucial tools for experiencing God’s presence.
  • Without worship, a person shrinks.
  • We appreciate and use all helpful spiritual disciplines from all traditions that believers have developed over the centuries.
  • Accepting failure and moving on in hope is basic to living in the grace of God.
  • How we relate sexually is a spiritual, communal matter and can’t be reduced to a discussion of private expression or individual rights.

We must be doers of the Word:

  • The Bible should be known and followed, and that is a group project.
  • Jesus is the lens through which we read the Bible.
  • Being successful is faithfully following the teaching of scripture according to one’s ability and one’s role in the body.
  • We are disciples for mission, not just for personal growth.
  • In the postmodern era it is even more important to speak the truth in love, and a love in Christ.

Generating justice and hope through compassionate service must be at the heart of us:

  • We hope compassion is among the first thing people notice about us.
  • Whether rich or poor we are united in demonstrating the gospel through justice, not merely talking about it.
  • We are obliged to speak out against unjust laws and practices that oppress people and ruin creation.
  • We do not generally hand out resources; we extend a resourceful hand.
  • Every church in our network intends to serve their neighborhood in a distinctive way.
  • In the United States the sin of racism impacts all we experience. It is a fact of life for which the dominators are accountable.
  • Our mission teams have the “right to die,” that is, they are not obligated to create a permanent program with interchangeable participants.

We are called out to be a living organism, building community together In love:

  • The “Great Commandment” (John 13:34-5) is to be obeyed. One’s ability to love others unlocks their life.
  • Our cells are the basic components our living body in Christ.
  • Following the example of Paul, we have a 20/20 vision of ministry, teaching one another “publicly,” and from “house to house” (Acts 20:20).
  • Our cells are the primary place where we help one another grow as disciples, face to face.
  • In our cells, Jesus is the “agenda.”
  • Living in covenant, like a family with a common Father, is basic to being a Christian.
  • The Love Feast is a corporate expression of who we are as a people, a family reunion, and a network celebration.
  • One does not join our church. One joins our team.
  • The church is not a “thing” that does things; it is not a building. We are the church and we support one another as Jesus expresses himself through us.
  • A congregation and a cell are always larger and deeper than their meeting or meeting place.
  • We are living as a created organism, not creating a religious organization.
  • We are called to develop a trust system.
  • When we talk about accountability, we are talking about mutually helping one another fulfill what we have already agreed to be or do.
  • Forming cells and teams is a basic way we keep learning how to express who we are and what we do as people called into a new community in Christ.

Dialogue keeps us connected and protects our gravity:

  • Everyone is recovering from the sin addiction; expect conflict.
  • Forgiveness is the root of our love; because we are flawed, loving each other is not always easy. We practice Matt. 18.
  • Truth without loves kills, while love without truth lies.
  • Engaging in healthy dialogue is what keeps us real. We want everyone among us to experience respect and understanding as they explore what they think and feel.
  • Our system is held together by a dialogue of love.
  • We want to perfect the “care-frontation,” which is all about being affirming and assertive, concerned with relationships and goals, looking to achieve “our” way through the danger and opportunity of conflict.

Formenting diversity and reconciliation is at the prophetic heart of our gospel:

  • We are always reaching across barriers: across racial/ethnic, class and cultural divides
  • Racial reconciliation is a matter of demanding justice, not just peace.
  • A gospel that does not reconcile is no gospel at all.
  • We will do what it takes to be an anti-racist, diverse community that represents the new humanity.
  • All cultures are fallen, yet Jesus reveals God in all of them. The church does not need to force people to leave all aspects of their culture in order to worship God through Jesus Christ.
  • Welcoming the “stranger” is at the heart of being a Christian. Hospitality exposes the fear of the giver and receiver to the transforming touch of God.

We expect people to express their gifts, talents, art and worship:

  • It is essential to discover, develop and use one’s spiritual gifts.
  • God is an artist. The artist who follows him creates to reveal the glory of God, too.
  • Since we are each and all temples of the Holy Spirit, art among us is never merely a matter of “self-expression.”
  • Respect for gifts and abilities is not reserved for older people.
  • Women and men are co-bearers of the image of God and therefore fully gifted and responsible to lead, teach and serve.
  • Our public worship needs to be in public language focused on those yet to join in, but not restricted to that.
  • One doesn’t need to be smart or completely trained to be a fulfilled Christian.
  • We stretch ourselves to worship with diverse styles. God is transnational, transcultural, even transhistorical.
  • We admit that we are not a “safe place” for people who don’t want to take initiative, own their dignity or make commitments.
  • Parents have the unique privilege of creating a family where grace and truth may be known. The church surrounds them with support and everyone plays a part in each child’s protection and growth.

Sharing our resources brings freedom and unleashes power:

  • We share our resources of time, money and love person to person, with the leaders, between congregations.
  • All our money belongs to God; the percentage we share in our Common Fund reflects our mutual commitment to be an authentic church.
  • Minimally, members of our covenant share in our public meeting times, participate in a cell, express themselves in service and contribute to our Common Fund.
  • As part of our obligation to mutually share resources with the poor and lost, we invest at least 20% of our Common Fund income in causes beyond the basic operation of our church.

Leadership is a team effort:

  • A leader is always part of a team, is always a mentor, and is always preparing his/her successor.
  • Leaders listen to the body and to God; their function is discernment as much as direction.
  • We learn best person to person, not program to person.
  • Our basic mission is to build cells and our primary leaders are deployed and trained for that work. We wait for people to take the lead in further enterprises, or we don’t do them.

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The Dialogue Quarterly

This quarterly journal is a gift to everyone who wishes to be a part of the ongoing dialogue we share in Christ that forms us and deepens us as a real church. Whether you just arrived or have been with us from the beginning, we want you to be part of the conversation and an informed member of the team. We hope you will work with us to build a safe place to experience and share the love of Jesus Christ. Dialogue is a crucial part of that.
If you would like to view the Dialogue archives from January 1999 - October 2005, click here.