2021
ANNUAL REPORT
Hey, Be Hope Fam!
I think I’ve started our annual report for the last two years with some form of the line, “It’s been a difficult year, but God is faithful.” I started to write it again this year until I realized that will always be true. Every year will have unique difficulties, challenges, and hardships; “In this world you will have trouble….” Yet, God continues to prove Himself faithful, generous, and loving “…take heart, I have overcome the world.”
The annual report is our chance to reflect on a year of difficulty and a year of faithfulness. You’ll see statistics about how God has moved among us and stories about how God has moved within us.
As you read this report my hope is that your response is far more than “that’s cool” (I mean, it is cool!) My hope is that your response is, “Thank God, I can’t wait to see what He does next! We’ve seen Him do incredible things and we’re ready for more!
– Kevin Jack
BEING HOPE STARTS WITH SHARING HOPE
God is moving! He is moving in our community, throughout our church, and within the lives of so many. When we share the stories of how He is moving in our own lives, we ignite those around us by telling the Good News in a way that is tangible and relatable. The bible is God’s Word and is alive, true, and impactful! But, when we share our stories, it allows others to see similar things in their own lives and, therefore, see God moving!
During 2021, Be Hope made an intentional effort to capture people’s stories and share them with others. Being hope starts with sharing hope! The three stories we are sharing in this Annual Report are just part of a much bigger narrative that God is writing through His people at Be Hope. Keep reading as we highlight just three incredible stories of transformation!
BAPTISM
Be Hope’s 10-year vision is to transform the community by being someone’s first church, not simply their next church. We will accomplish this by purposefully engaging the 104,100 people in our community who have no religious identification through personal relationships. A tremendous indicator of transformation is the celebration of baptism – the public demonstration of a personal decision to follow Christ. In 2021, 228 lives were transformed as we celebrated scheduled and spontaneous baptisms! In five years, 444 people have been baptized at Be Hope Church. Check out Arianna’s story of transformation!
HOPE UNLEASHED
What started out as a way to help people claim their identity, clarify their purpose, and restore their passion, Hope Unleashed has developed into so much more. This incredible next step in a person’s faith journey was designed for everyone, from the first-time guest to the person who has been attending Be Hope for decades. What began with a handful of people attending is now a dynamic room filled with an average of 20-25 people each month engaging in dialog, sharing testimonies and stories, and seeing God moving! One such story is that of Donnie.
HOPE TEAM
Nothing we do at Be Hope is possible without the support, effort, energy, and passion of our Hope Team. From kids serving in the café, to teens operating the cameras, to adults teaching Hope Unleashed or welcoming guests (and everything in between), we’ve found that when we share our time, expertise, and ability we discover a deeper sense of belonging. The Hope Team is more than a group of “volunteers” helping on a weekend; the Hope Team is a connection that allows people to live out their purpose with passion. In 2021, with more than 500 actively serving Hope Team members, every one of the events, experiences, and stories in this Annual Report was made possible. Check out one such story as told by Jeff.
BE HOPE CHURCH ONLINE
Transforming lives doesn’t just happen at the physical location of our campuses.
Our reach extends well beyond that through our online presence on our Livestream, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. When you share a Be Hope Worship Experience or post you share Hope and impact someone’s life.
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
It’s in the context of community that our purpose is clarified. One of Be Hope’s values is “We Serve Our Community.” We believe the social fabric of the community will be stronger and families will be better because the Church is present. As such, Be Hope is diligent and intentional about immersing ourselves in service to and within our community. Here are just a few of the ways we were HOPE to our communities in 2021: partnership with the American Red Cross and incredible blood donations, 100 Nurse Care Packages delivered to Soin Medical Center and Miami Valley Hospital, Ironton Healthcare Hero boxes distributed to the medical staff at local hospitals in Ironton and Lawrence County Health Department employees, 50 boxed lunches taken to the Fairborn police, fire, and EMS departments, 400+ people positively impacted during the Ironton Bunny Breakfast event in March, Beavercreek Campus’ Egg Hunt welcoming more than 1,500 people and sharing the love of Christ with them in a tangible way, 240 gift bags created for Fairborn graduates, and so much more!
While several of the community opportunities above were in direct response to the need created by the pandemic, two phenomenal events we want to highlight are ones that happen each year. Be Hope Church is committed to living out our name by being HOPE to our community. Transforming lives doesn’t just happen within our physical building or campus locations on weekends, but, more profoundly, happens in the daily interactions, the servant hearts of our people, and the willingness to be hope to our neighbors in tangible, authentic ways.
Keep reading to discover more . . .
HOPE WEEK
HOPE WEEK 2021 was full of serving, selflessness, and sharing Jesus’s love in tangible ways. Together, volunteers in Beavercreek, Ironton, and Fairborn showed up to be hope in their communities. Projects included random acts of hope, jumping in to do whatever was needed at various nonprofit organizations, food drives, and parties for the neighbors surrounding local parks where teams cleaned & mulched. The week culminated in partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a mother and daughter!
BEST WEEKEND EVER
One of the highlights each year, and 2021 was no different, is BEST WEEKEND EVER. Imagine you could create your very best day at church – a day that would make it super easy to invite your neighbors to church. What would you do? Best Weekend Ever is a zany, fun-filled weekend full of food, freebies, puppies, kittens, costumes, cotton candy, popcorn, and even VIP seating in a Lazy-Boy in the Sanctuary. We welcomed 136 first time guests and worshiped with 2,463 in attendance (Beavercreek, Ironton, & Online).
One of Be Hope’s discipleship characteristics is the idea that the ripple is greater than the splash. Best Weekend Ever is a “splash!” A one-time event that makes an impact. However, it’s the ripple—the conversations that led to someone coming to BWE, the relationship that helped foster someone feeling welcome when they walked in the door, the perspective change of a first-time guest when they left that inspired them to come back the next weekend and bring a friend—that leads to transformation.
BLESSED OFFERING
Every year we come together as a church to give toward new works. This collective offering does not go toward the every day but, rather, it supports future works. At the end of 2021 you gave to make an eternal impact. Because of your passionate outpouring of generosity, you gave $245,136 toward Blessed Offering. We don’t give to the church but, rather, we give through the church, and your giving will go to new works, new initiatives, new groups, and reaching new people.
– Thank You
“I decided to come today with my 2 kids, and I am so glad I did. This was the first time I have been to church in over 15 years. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and I didn’t feel like an outsider, which was my biggest fear walking into a new church for the first time. Thank you to everyone who made me feel welcome.”
“I enjoy the welcoming feeling here, diversity lives in this space where faith in Jesus is praised. Be Hope’s proximity to WPAFB and WSU enables multicultural and diverse religious backgrounds a home to worship Jesus. Worship songs are modern, the leadership team blends humor with intelligent inspiration, and children’s programs abound. This is a community church welcoming everyone to find their next right step towards a faith based life.”
“I had struggled finding a church that felt right. I needed somewhere that spoke to me, and somewhere that gave me community. Be Hope has it ALL! From the minute I walked in I knew Be Hope would be my home. The amount of love, support, and community I receive is incredible! The Holy Spirit moves through this place and I’m so thankful to have found such an amazing place. It’s almost too good to be true! Shortly after attending I became involved in the kids ministry by volunteering occasionally, and even going to kids camp as a counselor! No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your past has been like Be Hope is the place for you. There is something for everyone at Be Hope and it’s such a blessing!”
“Be Hope is such a blessing to my family! The people are amazing, the opportunities to serve are amazing, the kids involvement is amazing, and the messages every Sunday are full of such passion and hope! I could not be more proud to be a member of Be Hope and their purpose to help the surrounding communities.”
“We are so blessed to be part of this faith community….supportive, fun, non judgmental, loving, inclusive, uplifting and so much more. Big church with a small church feel!!”
“I love Be Hope Church. I recommend it to everyone I know.”
“Be Hope Church is a place to learn & grow, a great community!”
“My family wanted to try a church out and start going back to church . We got so lucky because the first church we found, which is Be Hope, is amazing & we absolutely love it! I love Pastor Kevin’s humor that he puts in preaching . This is our 6th time going and look forward to going regularly….”
“Be Hope will encourage and love on you. They do not judge and simply do not care about your hang ups…they will be thrilled that you are there. We are all a work in progress and they will be there to help you grow. You’ll find encouragement through the valleys of your life and they’ll be there celebrating with you during the highs in your life.”