Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
September 11, 2005 - W0537

Today marks New Hope Christian Fellowship’s 10^th year.

Happy 10th Anniversary everyone!

COMMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF HAWAII

Governor Linda Lingle joined us today as we celebrated our 10th anniversary and we share a summary of her comments:

It is hard to believe that in ten years New Hope Christian Fellowship church has become one of the fastest growing churches in the world with 12,000 members and 83 satellite congregations. Yet regardless of ones faith, it is clear that so many are turning to God for help and support. And recently in the wake of the hurricane disaster in the gulf, we realize just how much we must rely on the Lord. I think too, that the higher people rise in leadership, it is apparent we need faith in God even more because the responsibility is so big and not one person is able to carry that burden alone.

Thus, it is only by coming together and having faith in the Lord that can we succeed in doing great things for the church, state, and the world. And indeed that is what New Hope does. New Hope expresses its faith not just by what they say and do, but by extending their finances with generous donations of over $100, 000 for Gulf Coast victims. Sometimes people look to government to solutions of problems, but with limited ability and financial resources, it is evident the faith community does a great job of reaching into people’s hearts. New Hope gives the goodness that is in everyone a chance to surface. In fact, New Hope sets the bar very high for actually living a life of goodness outside of church. There are so many great programs offered by your church, but my favorite is the Angel Tree – a program that reaches out to provide children of people in prison with gifts and messages from their parents throughout the year. I cannot imagine any more difficult situation for a child than to have ones parent incarcerated.

So today, Lt. Governor James Duke Aiona and I proclaim that New Hope enhances the quality of life in this community through all its many great ministries. God Bless you all.

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR OF HONOLULU

Also in attendance today was Mayor Mufi Hanneman. And as we continue in this anniversary celebration we share a summary of his thoughts and comments: 

I want to pay tribute to a great, great church. New Hope has made a profound difference in the community and we so need faith-based partnerships such as the one New Hope which brings to help government. Churches bring people together for a common good.  Government cannot do it alone and New Hope has always been one who answers the call. Some time ago, I asked Pastor Wayne for his help in fighting drugs and New Hope went to work right away. Therefore, I proclaim today, September 10, 2005 as New Hope Christian Fellowship Anniversary Day because of their compassion, generosity, and many charitable endeavors. And I leave you with this final quote from Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not into thine own understanding and in all thy ways acknowledge the Lord and He shall direct thy path”. (Prov. 3:5-6 KJV))  Please pray for your leaders because we need His help and guidance.

A DECADE OF NEW HOPE

Though we’ve been around for ten years, there are tons of people who are only now catching a glimpse of “maybe there’s hope out there”.  That’s why we continue to make great strides in reaching Hawaii and the rest world via television, radio, missions – and in any way we can.

In my devotions the other day, I read a passage that reflects His word for us as we move ahead into the next season. “Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? ...Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything”. (Exe. 15:2, 5) In other words, the wood of the grapevine is not good for anything.  It is almost valueless except to be burned, perhaps. So it is curious that it is the symbol of Israel. The reason though is not that the wood is of great value, but that the grapes or the fruit of the vine is.

So what does that mean for our church? Well, I think the word the Lord has for us today and for the future is to be a fruitful vine, a fruitful people. That’s where our measure of value comes from. It’s not in our buildings or possessions, it’s in our fruits. We need to be fruitful people in our walk with the Lord, a people mature in character, influencing our neighbors and friends. As a result people’s lives will be transformed, salvations will take place, and people are delivered from addictions. And these are fruits God wants us to bear again, again, and again. That’s what makes the vineyard so fruitful. Then when God looks at us one day, we may not have a lot of grape wood lying around, but we will have a lot of fruit. “By this is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.” (Jn. 15:8)

God created a miracle in the growth of New Hope since its birth. In ten years, 31,000 people have received the Lord including 7,120 who have gone through water baptism. From our humble beginnings, the first year average weekly attendance was 679.  In our 10^th year, over 11,000 attend each week. Seventy-one children attended Sunday school ten years ago and have since grown to 1,244 children today. Sure, the Lord could have done it without us, but isn’t it great that He invited us along for the ride! And our greatest days are still ahead!  Did you know that in the late 1800’s on this very site, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel was built, but has since burned down? Today New Hope is here on the grounds of Farrington High School campus and it is almost as if the Lord has said, “What I started I will finish!”

The Bible says: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Ps. 51:12) God reminds us that we should always bring a sense of joy and a willing spirit to all our endeavors. We must take that joy into this next season and continue to contend for the hand of God for without His hand on this church and on our lives, we may have the most magnificent building in the world, but it would be empty. Thus, let us be a representation of God, radiance of His Glory, and citizens of Heaven exampling His grace. So take the fruit out of these walls into your homes and communities. Let us be a fruitful vine in this next season.

Questions for Discussion:

1. How have you been fruitful?  How so?
2. Why does government need faith-based partners?
3. Why has New Hope grown so fast?
4. How do we know when we are leaning not on our own understanding, but that of the Lord?
5. How could we bear even more fruit in this next season?

Mahalo to our consistent volunteer writer, Leighton Loo, who always rises to the call! His joyfulness and willing spirit is evidenced in his fruitfulness as a faithful and committed servant. Thank you so much for all you do!