How important is it for you the church?

To me, the church is an extended family.  It is important because the relationships I build at the church help me build my personal relationship with Jesus.  It is also important for me for raising children; I know that Biblical values are being represented by the environment and people my children are around when we participate in worship, Awanas, Wednesday meal time, Sunday School, and during special programs and events.

What is the importance of praise in worship?

Praise in worship is very valuable because it teaches us to not be ashamed to openly express our love for our Lord Savior Jesus Christ, it reminds us that there are many ways, such as song, dance, sign, silence, meditation, scripture, in solitude, and en masse, that we can give honor to God, and it helps open our hearts towards God as we prepare for the lesson provided by Pastor.  I look forward every week to going to Hope Evangelical Free Church on Sunday morning and being a part of worship.

When did you start attending Hope Church?

We started to attend Hope Free Church on a regular basis about April 2004.

What are your Motivations in life?  

I like to help with needs of people.  I enjoy any good project that has a benefit. My problem is that I tend to over commit and take on too many things.

Why are you interested in coming to church?

I grew up in a Christian home and we were expected to attend church.  When I was able to make my own choices, I decided that I liked being with people that believed as I did.  I also realize that I need to around others and I love to learn from others what they have learned about God.  This encourages me to learn more about Him, and grow in my personal ralationship.

Do you have a plan for life with God?

I am not sure what God has in store for my life, I know that I want a relationship with my Heavenly Father, simply because I need Him and I love Him.  And He loves us enough to have given us Jesus.

What kind of songs/worship music do you like?

I appreciate all kinds of music,   Worship, Hymns, Classical, joyous. I like to listen to Spirit 92.9 because of the variety.   If the music has a good message, I appreciate it.  I do not really like the songs that have few words and are repetitive.

What is your favorite praise, and how has it marked your life?  

My favorite way to praise is to go out in the woods or someplace by water.  I feel peace; I am in awe of the beauty and am amazed at how everything fits together so well.  The creator did a miraculous job in all he has made.

What is the message that you give the world if you had a big microphone to speak to people?  

When Jesus spoke to the multitudes the disciples assisted him in feeding the people.  I think that God did not give me the gift of speaking to a group of people.  Therefore, I believe that my gift is not handling a microphone, but it is best used holding a serving spoon.  :)

Is there any biblical text that would give the world at Christmas?

Luke 8 – 20.   God specifically told shepherds about the Baby Jesus.   He will use ordinary people, we need to be willing and ready.

The dream of my life is……..I love to go places and see things,  I would like to travel.  Right now, however, I would like our girls to grow up with a solid relationship with Jesus Christ.

I was not raised in a Christian home. The only time I remember going to church was when my dad made my brother and I go to confirmation of which I didn't remember anything except the Apostle's Creed. 

I grew up living for myself, doing just what I wanted to do. 

At the age of 23 I got married.  I became a father at the age of 25.  Eighteen months later we were blessed with a daughter and sixteen months later our second son was born.   

Now that we had a family, my wife decided that we should start bringing our children to church. We decided to go to a nearby Lutheran church, since I knew some people who went there.  A few years later a new pastor was called and it was at that point I realized that pastors were just ordinary people who God called to the ministry.  

Through the ministry of this pastor and his wife, both my wife and I came to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  That means that I didn't just know about Jesus or who He was, I saw that I wasn't perfect, asked to be forgiven and that Jesus would be a part of my daily life.  

A couple of years later we started going to an Evangelical Free church about 10 miles from our home.  This is the place where God became really important to me and I let Him be more in control of my life.  I got more involved with different activities through the church and really started to grow in my faith through Bible studies and the friendships and testimonies that the people there lived out.  Later we even helped to start Hope Evangelical Free Church where we belong now.

Since my salvation and letting God lead me, I have softened my temper, shown more affection toward the members of my family and spent more time reading scripture and talking with God in prayer.   Though I have a lot of growing to do I feel my walk with the Lord is getting deeper all the time and I know that with God, whatever life gives me, I will be able to trust Him and know that my hope for eternal life in heaven is real. 

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