FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOPE CITYBRANCH

The following is information specifically regarding Hope CityBranch. For more information about Hope's satellite ministry, read our General Frequently Asked Questions about Hope's satellite ministry.

Is Hope CityBranch still a part of Lutheran Church of Hope?
Yes! Hope CityBranch is a worshiping community of Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa and is under Hope's mission, vision, values, and structure. The vision for CityBranch is to reach out particularly to an area of Des Moines just west of downtown.

Where is Hope CityBranch located?
Hope CityBranch worships at Hubbell Elementary School, 800 42nd Street, across the street from the Des Moines Playhouse and the Shops at Roosevelt.

A more permanent location either for worship or weekday activities is still a possibility as CityBranch grows but, for now, Hubbell Elementary provides a great well-known space for Sunday worship and various classes and ministries. Please enter the doors facing Roosevelt High School when you visit CityBranch.

What is worship like and who will be preaching at CityBranch?
Weekly worship is come-as-you-are casual and includes worship music, scripture, a message, prayer and information about the CityBranch community. Nursery is provided and Children’s Ministry is offered weekly.

Weekly messages are offered either live by the pastoral leader of CityBranch (Jon Anenson) or preachers from Lutheran Church of Hope's preaching team, or via video from Lutheran Church of Hope's main site in West Des Moines. When a message is offered via video, worship music and all other aspects of CityBranch are live.

Can I attend worship at a Hope satellite and at West Des Moines too?
Yes, anyone is welcome to attend worship at any site anytime! If you are a Hope WDM regular attendee and invite a friend or neighbor to check out a satellite location, you are encouraged to visit a satellite with them.  

At the same time, it is critical for the mission and health of satellites that a committed core of Hope attenders make the satellites their primary place of worship, giving, and service. If you have felt or feel called to be a part of the mission of a satellite, we encourage you to be consistent in your worship attendance there. Being a part of building a satellite has been life changing for hundreds of people in the past three years and the “ownership” built around new worshiping communities allows satellites to serve visitors and new attendees in the best way.

Where do my weekly offerings go?
All monetary offerings received weekly at Hope CityBranch support Hope CityBranch’s ministry. If you are a Lutheran Church of Hope member or regular attendee who made a pledge to Building Hope 3D in 2005, you are encouraged to fulfill that pledge in addition to prayerfully considering your weekly giving at Hope CityBranch.

Can I or my child be baptized at CityBranch?
Yes! Anyone interested in being baptized or having children baptized at Lutheran Church of Hope, including Hope CityBranch, are asked to attend a one-time Baptism Class offered at Hope in West Des Moines on the first Tuesday of every month. After attending the class, a baptism can be scheduled at CityBranch. Please call 515-222-1520 to register for the class and schedule a baptism.

How do I become a member of CityBranch?
Since CityBranch is a worshiping community of Lutheran Church of Hope, joining Hope CityBranch means joining Lutheran Church of Hope! A one-evening new member class is offered several times a year in West Des Moines; visit www.hopewdm.org for more information or call 515-222-1520 to register for the next new member class.

What is the vision for Hope CityBranch?
Hope satellites remain within the mission, vision, values, and authority structure of Lutheran Church of Hope. Therefore, the vision of CityBranch is Hope’s: To be a Spirited, Growing, Christ-centered Community Filled with Hope. This vision may look very different than it does at Hope West Des Moines or Hope NorthBranch in Ankeny, however, because worship style, ministry opportunities, fellowship ideas, and relationships will be based on what God is doing in Des Moines.

As CityBranch develops, we anticipate that it may have a more urban feel than Hope WDM or NorthBranch, hopefully with a diversity of people, blend of worship styles, and a myriad of new ways to reach into and serve the community. CityBranch will be service and relationship oriented and may rely less on festival-feel worship and more on discovering what worship “style” represents the particular area where God is calling us. An exciting part of the satellite will be its partnership with Elim Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational church located in Des Moines. Hope has had a partnership with Elim for years and the satellite may be an embodiment of some of the elements of that partnership as we move forward.

What is the relationship between Hope, CityBranch and Elim Christian Fellowship?
Hope has had a relationship with Elim Christian Fellowship for years. Hope and Elim (a non-denominational congregation) share important elements of mission, vision, and values and so individuals, families, ministries, and groups have been blending in many ways throughout the years. For example, many men are involved in both Elim and Hope men’s ministries, Elim has joined Hope for Alpha as they raise up their own Alpha leaders, Hope and Elim individuals, families, and groups have shared mission projects and mentoring, Pastor Michael Hurst of Elim has preached at Hope and Pastor Mike Housholder visits Elim to preach occasionally as well. Since Elim is located closer to Des Moines, Pastor Hurst and CityBranch director Jon Anenson continue to plan strategic ways to partner and work together to reach out to the city.

Questions?
Please contact CityBranch Director Jon Anenson at jon.anenson@hopewdm.org or 515-222-1520.