OUR HISTORY

There is old saying "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."

One person's meaning was "Great things may come from small beginnings."
Little seeds planted in Pastor Gary's mind and heart; sure HOPE Christian Assembly started as a bunch of thoughts in a notebook (Pastor Gary carried around) and a belief that a church should be a safe haven and a place of hope. What Pastor Gary thought God was giving him for other churches, was really the inspiration he birthed in him and his family for sure HOPE.


The Beginning

sure HOPE Christian Assembly started as a bunch of thoughts in a notebook (Pastor Gary carried around) and a belief that a church should be a safe haven and a place of hope. What Pastor Gary thought God was giving him for other churches, was really the inspiration he birthed in him and his family for sure HOPE.

First SERVICE

sure HOPE Christian Assembly held their first public service on July 4, 2004 at Faith Allieance (now Four Corners church) on Hendrickson Road in Middletown, Ohio. We were able to use these facilities on Hendrickson Road for our first year. Then Celebration church (Faith Alliance had changed their name) merged with Four Corners church. Even though it was more church than we needed, we appreciate the opportunities allowed to us. It was a great beginning for a new church. Over the next year we used many other facilities ... people's homes, the meeting room at the Holiday Inn Express (great bunch of people there - thanks Dave) and was granted a small office space at the Xponex building in Franklin across from the Towne Mall for one year. I knew this wasn't permanent and was always asking God, where do we go at the end of the year? Our lease expired in July, 2007. Before our third anniversary, (July 2007) we were able to move into a house that was converted to office space that evolved into a church. This provides us with a youth center, children's church, nursery, cafe (for those of you who like coffee in the morning) and our office that Dr Rogers and I share, as well as a small worship/training center. We maybe limited on parking, but not on heart. Our people are excited about the church and our potentional in Middletown, Ohio and the surrounding area.

The NEED

I struggled with starting a church. Especially from scratch. Most new churches are church plants where a mother church plants a new church in a new city or another part of town. They provide a core group and ministers and money. But why God, why start a new church in Middletown? What makes me any better or more qualified than anyone else? And the answer I got back, "Was because you listened" We (my family and others) saw a need for a ministry, a church to help those who have gone through whatever situtations in life, those who have lost joy, faith, and hope itself find a place where they can find compassion, healing, encouragement and hope again. Our closing scripture says it all, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -- Romans 15:13 .

The VISION

Our vision statement is a simple one, yet powerfull .. "Let all who enter, leave with hope."

Our future is ahead of us.

But we are not waiting to become a big church to do big things, in our 3+ years - we have manged the food booth at the Youth Court for Midfest, help sponsor and run our first Middletown Freedom Fest, worked with other churches in our area to bring the Impact World Tour to Middletown / Trenton