Our Story
I had the privilege of growing up the third youngest of four kids in a Christian home in Durham, North Carolina. At the time, my childhood seemed as if it could have been captured in a painting by Norman Rockwell. It wasn’t until years later that I realized just how poor we had been. Nevertheless, after graduating from High School, thanks to a mom and dad that embodied incredible sacrifice, I had the opportunity to be the first one in my family to attend college. To be honest, my lifelong dream was to become a cowboy (stop laughing); college was never a part of the plan. But once the reality of riding off into the sunset on a horse named Paint vanished, I decided to pursue a degree in physical education with the new goal of spending my life coaching football, but God had a different plan.
By the age of 24, with no training whatsoever, through a series of events that no one could ever plan or predict, I found myself pastoring a small church in Southern California. While pastoring, I attended seminary on the fly. After fourteen years of serving in California, I relocated back to North Carolina along with three other families where I started Hope Community Church. Over the next few years the church grew into one of the largest churches in America.
After much counseling and thanks to a handful of friends that never gave up on me, to deal with my incredible despair and desperate loneliness, I began to journal. Those efforts eventually
What We Believe
About God...
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27; 3:22 | Psalm 90:2 | Matthew 28:19 | 1 Peter 1:2 | 2 Corinthians 13:14
About Man...
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27 | Psalm 8:3-6 | Isaiah 53:6a | Romans 3:23 | Isaiah 59:1,2
About Eternity...
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16 | John 2:25 | Romans 6:23 | Revelation 20:15 | 1 John 5:11-13 | Matthew 25:31-46
About Jesus Christ...
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22,23 | Isaiah 9:6 | John 1:1-5, 14:10-30 | Hebrews 4:14,15 | 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 | Romans 1:3,4 | Acts 1:9-11 | 1 Timothy 6:14,15 | Titus 2:13
About Salvation...
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self- improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23 | Ephesians 2:8,9 | John 14:6, 1:12 | Titus 3:5 | Galatians 3:26 | Romans 5:1
About Eternal Security...
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives this security.
John 10:29 | 2 Timothy 1:12 | Hebrews 7:25; 10:10,14 | 1 Peter 1:3-5
About The Holy Spirit...
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17 | John 16:7-13, 14:16,17 | Acts 1:8 | 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16 | Ephesians 1:13 | Galatians 5:25 | Ephesians 5:1
About The Bible...
The Bible is God’s Word to all mankind. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16 | 2 Peter 1:20,21 | 2 Timothy 1:13 | Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6 | Proverbs 30:5
— Philippians 3:13