Our History Shapes Us

My parents have been slowly giving away many of the things in their home. Recently, my mom
gave me a small, plain, white coffee mug. It might not seem like much, but I was super excited!
You see, this is a “Victor” coffee mug and was the very one my grandfather used when he served in the Navy.

A little research on Victor coffee mugs and I learned: “World War II gave impetus to the
development of the Victor chinaware business. Orders for great quantities of rugged cups built to military specifications have been and are being delivered to the Navy…The heavy Victor coffee mugs were originally used on Navy ships because the mugs did not tip over easily.”
My grandfather served for eight years, first as a midshipman, and later as a lieutenant. I grew up hearing many of his world traveler stories. Numerous times he shared how his Victor coffee mug accompanied him on his trips, including into his duffel bag after he completed his service and returned back home. Now the coffee mug is mine!

Learning history is important. Specifically, there’s something important about learning the
stories of our ancestors. Of course, many of us are limited in what we can learn, but trying as we can to understand the unique sacrifices, challenges, mistakes, and accomplishments of our
ancestors, can give us perspective and appreciation for where we have come and where we are
headed.

This coming Spring, Hope Community Church will celebrate thirty-five years as a church. It’s
important for us to understand we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. We have many committed Hopesters that have gone before us; they dreamed, sweat, sacrificed, and faithfully have given of themselves to Jesus for the sake of seeing His church grow and thrive within our community. Here at Hope, we have a unique history that has shaped us and impacts our vision and mission forward.

As we start 2023, we will spend a few weeks looking at our name: Hope, Community, Church.
We will see that for thirty-five years our name has given us direction on how we interact with
each other and our community. And then later this Spring, we have a bunch of fun things
planned to help us learn about our history as we continue to move forward together.
If you are new to Hope, or know someone that is curious about our church, this is a perfect time to jump in, learn that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves, and understand why we do some of the things we do. Hope to see you this Sunday!

Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you've had or ever
will have - incomparable, irreplaceable - From the very beginning telling you what the ending
will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long
haul, I'll do exactly what I set out to do'
(Isaiah 46:9-10, The Message.)

Peace,
Nick