Got Questions?

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

Where will Hope CityBranch be located?

A permanent location has not been determined yet. CityBranch will begin worship June 15, 2008 at Hubbell Elementary School, 800 42nd Street. The general target area proposed during Interest Meetings is as follows: 42nd Street to MLK Parkway (West to East) and Hickman to Grand Avenue (North to South). We continue to explore more permanent locations for ministry 7 days a week.

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What is the vision for Hope CityBranch?

As discussed above, Hope satellites remain within the mission, vision, values, and authority structure of Lutheran Church of Hope. Therefore, the vision of this satellite will be 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, Hope NorthBranch or Immersion, however, because worship style, ministry opportunities, fellowship ideas, and relationships will be based on what God is doing in the new area.

We anticipate that this satellite 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. This satellite 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.

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What's happening now?

Satellite Team Leaders (13) have been in place for months and are the central support team for the satellite. These Team Leaders have been building and leading ministry area teams, recruited from the 100-150 who expressed interest in CityBranch at Interest Meetings last fall. Dozens of interested individuals and families are preparing to carry out the satellite vision. With these leaders in place, we have been in an Incubation Period for the satellite where God grows, forms, teaches, and prepares us for beginning a new worshipping community in June 2008.

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When will the new satellite "start?"

In many ways, it has already started. For the months of the Incubation Period, all teams have been working to learn about and build relationships in the community in connection with their team's areas of ministry. Many people become connected through worship and through the hearing of the Word in worship, yet at the same time, many people will never come to worship unless they have a relationship with someone who will invite them. Invitation coming through trusted relationships will be a central value of the satellite; so in this way CityBranch has already started through these relationships. However, being centered in worship through Word and Sacrament is central to our identity as Christians. CityBranch worship will begin June 15, 2008 at Hubbell Elementary School.

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What is the relationship between Hope, the satellite 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 here at Hope and Pastor Mike Housholder visits Elim to preach occasionally as well.

As God made clear that He was calling Hope to move towards a satellite closer to the city, it is also clear that the satellite may be an embodiment of some parts of the organic partnership we've always had with Elim. Elim and the new satellite will remain individual congregations with their own worship and all major ministry areas; a partnership simply means that we hope to find some areas where we're "better together" for the sake of mission. Individual Satellite Teams are meeting with their counterparts at Elim to build relationships, learn from Elim, and to develop ideas of things we can do jointly.

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What about other churches in the area? Is Hope trying to steal people?

Satellites at Hope are distinctly and purposefully started and supported to reach those with no church home. There are many faithful congregations and ministries in the area where we hope to begin a satellite worshipping community. These congregations are strongly devoted to worship, missions, outreach, and relationship building because they know what we have discovered: that there are thousands of people in this area with no church home. Therefore, Hope encourages the work of all congregations (regardless of denomination) whose mission it is to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

We rejoice that there are congregations and leaders in the area that have unique gifts, values, and abilities that connect with people that a Hope satellite will never connect with (Romans 12). We truly believe that we are "on the same team" with area churches and will consistently, authentically, and publicly encourage those who attend area churches to remain faithful worshippers and servants in their own congregations.

Questions? Please contact Molly Juntunen, Kingdom Expansion Pastor, at molly.juntunen@hopewdm.org or 515-222-1520 ext. 162.

For more information about Hope's satellites, read our General Frequently Asked Questions about Hope's satellite ministry.