In a challenging world, in the midst of challenging times,
there is a crucial need for people who are ready to serve God and others. Hope Community Church is a local congregation
comprised of such people! It is Hope’s
mission to take on the challenges of our times with a message of Jesus’ love to minister to people from every culture and ethnic group that it can, backed
by powerful, practical demonstrations of that love in ways that make a
difference in our community and beyond.
Just who makes up Hope Church and what makes these people believe they
can really make a difference?
Hope Community Church, Racine, Inc. was officially
recognized as a non-profit organization by the state of Wisconsin on May 27,
2015. It has received full non-profit
status and possesses all the rights and privileges of a Southern Baptist
affiliated congregation. These
privileges include full tax-exempt status, and the ability to minister fully
and formally in any capacity it feels called to serve.
With a mind on strategic success, Hope has built a team of
key ministry partners who are already investing resources in its formation and
growth. Who are these partners? They are people and organizations who believe
in Hope’s mission and are willing to back that belief with practical, financial
and material support! Among the strong
and established ministry partners walking alongside Hope are these: The
Lakeland Baptist Association, The Minnesota/Wisconsin Baptist Convention, Grace
Church of Racine, WI, Youth For Christ of Southeast Wisconsin, Angelstone
Ministries and The Navigators. These
partners have provided Hope with resources such as funding, grants, building
usage, personnel usage, and equipment. These partnerships have enabled Hope to
begin its ministry with strength, confidence and decisive action.
Hope is not only strong through external partnerships, but
benefits from a strong and committed internal core, comprised of professionals
from every aspect of life. This group’s commitment has established Hope to be a
church that makes a difference. After
months of introductory gatherings, Hope has grown in the number of people attending
each meeting and in the resources it has to apply towards ministry.
Hope’s heart to make a difference can be seen in its drive
to extend hands of compassion to those in need, both locally and globally. Hope has already reached out through Thanksgiving
and Christmas projects to encourage local families who were not benefactors of
other assistance. It has also partnered with the Southeast Wisconsin Youth for
Christ ministry in an outreach that began at Christmas and will continue for
the foreseeable future. This outreach is designed to assist very young, single high
school mothers and their families.
Through a partnership with Angelstone Ministries – a
non-profit, mission organization - Hope also ministers to needs of people in
tremendously challenging circumstances in the Philippines and India,
contributing to projects that have provided hunger relief, community
development and the promotion of education. Projects include the construction
of a new school, and the establishment of businesses and the initiation of
community services.
Though Hope is young and might appear - at a glance - to be
an upstart church, it is led by people with extensive experience in starting
new churches and filled with highly skilled and professional people who are
energized by new opportunities to reach out and serve others. Pastor Sam Jackson and his wife Luz, have
over 50 years of combined ministry experience in reaching the poor and starting
new ministries. They have begun new work in 2 major cities within the United
States – Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan - as well as internationally. In each ministry setting to which they have
been called to start a new work, they have gathered, organized, and directed
people into an effective, self-sustaining, congregational body that impacts
their community for the good.
In Cleveland, their place of service was located in one of
that city’s most dangerous communities, with very limited support. In time, the
Jacksons had formed a coalition for ministry that led to the establishment of
one of the most effective hunger relief programs in the city at the time,
assisting over one thousand people a month in hunger related needs. The church they established and led also saw
the transformation of scores of individuals who went from being besieged by
significant social challenges and cyclical dependence to becoming producers and
contributors who themselves reached out to help others. Beginning with few initial resources, the
Jacksons in partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention and other
agencies, led in the establishment of a healthy, growing and effective
congregation and other associated ministries.
In Metro Detroit, the Jacksons established a Multicultural
Congregation that consisted of a membership with over a score of nationalities
and backgrounds represented. Similar to
the start of Hope, the Eastside Community Church began with about a dozen
individuals and saw its membership surge within its first few years, even
partnering with the local and nationwide Southern Baptist Convention to
establish and assist other congregations.
Eastside continues to be a powerful source of help in a community that
has been sorely tested by economic hardship.
It is in Detroit that the Jacksons established and partnered with
Angelstone Ministries – a partnership which led to extensive ministry within
the local school system of Harper Woods, and led to the congregation being
recognized as the most effective congregation for outreach in the denomination
in the state of Michigan!
With this kind of experience and more under their belts, the
Jacksons are qualified and prepared to lead Hope Community Church in Racine,
Wisconsin. They have served locally for
over six years and have built strong relationships with their ministry
partners, having served on staff with Grace Church for the majority of that
time, and having built a good reputation among various community organizations
including the Philippine American Society of Kenosha and the Filipino American
Association of Racine County – organizations that have recognized and
contributed to the ministry partner, Angelstone, and organizations that have
expressed a deep interest in continuing to partner with Hope Community Church.
Hope is indeed poised to make a difference. Hope is blessed
with the compassion and the drive to serve and the determination to make a
difference. With the resources, partnerships, and experience involved in our
church’s circle of partnership, we believe the future is bright and the
potential for growth is strong. Why this place, why this church and why reach
out to those who are hurting and need help the most? Because our society and community need
it!
It is our conviction that Hope Community Church’s promise
and vision for the future, supported by caring and determined individuals, is
helping to establish it as a dedicated and effective platform for ministry for
this region and beyond! Please check out
our website at:
In Christ’s Love,
Samuel D. Jackson
Pastor
Hope Community Church
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