HOPE ... All Day Long!
Knowing the Holy Spirit

The topic of the Heritage of Pilgrim Endeavor (HOPE) conference this year was: HOPE … ALL DAY LONG! (Psalms 25:4-5) Our main speaker was the Rev. Stu Merkel. Stu taught us about having the Holy Spirit in our life and how to recognize His presence. Stu also taught us about our spiritual gifts. He helped us assess the gifts that God has given us through his talks and through a very thorough spiritual gifts indicator test. After we learned what our gifts were, and what they could be used for, we were introduced to many Christians who were working and using their spiritual gifts every day.

The people who came to speak to us represented various roles throughout the NACCC. Jim Hopkins from the Executive Committee came and spoke about using spiritual gifts within the business world. The Rev. Wayne Olson from the Missionary Society and Laurie Luedtke came and spoke about using spiritual gifts in the area of missions. They involved HOPEr Paul Schulz and his experience on a trip to Mision Mazahua. Dottie Schimpf came to talk about spiritual gifts in nursing and Rev. Rick Koch talked about his experience as an army reserve chaplain. Michelle Simino from the Youth Sub-Committee spoke about using her spiritual gifts in the area of teaching and working with youth.

HOPE President Kenny Meehan washes the feet of NAPF First Vice President Steven White.

I feel this program was very beneficial for College and post-College aged kids, because we are right now struggling to find ourselves and where we belong in the world. Finding what our spiritual gifts are and how they can be used not only in church but in the "real world" as well gives us a great hope. It is also very hopeful to us to see so many Christians who were using their spiritual gifts both inside and outside of the church.

308 members of HOPE and NAPF in combined worship acclaim their love for God.

HOPE is a great program; if you are currently wondering if HOPE would be a good experience for you or not, stop wondering and give it a try. God is doing wonderful things with this program, our numbers are growing, our faith is stronger, and our love for Him is amazing.

HOPErs having fun are, from the left, Karen Burnham, Melissa Schelling, Kim Sears, and Katie Meehan.