Our Vision

The vision of New Hope Presbyterian Church is to become a MULTIPLYING, MULTIETHNIC,

MULTIGENERATIONAL MULTITUDE that lives for the glory of God in Christ Jesus.

These four "multi" words correspond (in reverse order) to the items contained in our mission and emphases.

MULTIPLYING – qualitatively, by improving the civic and cultural life of Clemmons, and showing that the Kingdom of Christ is broader and deeper than we often realize; quantitatively, by planting daughter churches as God gives us the means.  This is what we hope will result from demonstrating the grace of God through creative service.

MULTIETHNIC – either by growing into a multiethnic church ourselves, or by partnering with other churches that reach minority populations in the area.  Our relationship with King's Castle Ministries, a Hispanic Assemblies of God congregation, is a first step in this regard.  This is what we mean by communicating the grace of God through hospitable witness.

MULTIGENERATIONAL – becoming a congregation that includes people at all stages on the life spectrum, and that connects people across generations (adults and covenant children, older adults and younger adults, etc.).  Of special interest are senior citizens and young adults.  Seniors are often marginalized in newer churches like ours, and young adults are conspicuously absent from nearly all varieties of churches.  By connecting a breadth of generations, we will be cultivating the grace of God through intimate community.

MULTITUDE – becoming a congregation of between 300 and 600 members, large enough to accomplish our vision (including planting a sister congregation) but small enough to cultivate close relationships and to assemble in one place at once time, celebrating the grace of God through historic worship.

Why have we chosen these particular goals?  Because of our reading of Scripture and our appraisal of our community. 

Scripture tells us that the future is already written.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which took place in the middle of history, has determined what is going to happen at the end of history.  Broadly speaking, God's name will be praised, and his kingdom will at last be perfectly and permanently established upon the earth.  People disagree on exactly how this future will come about, but passages like Revelation 21:22-27 seem to suggest that the New Heavens and New Earth will be both a departure from and a continuation of the Old Heavens and the Old Earth.  On the one hand, the visible presence of God will redefine heaven and earth forever.  On the other hand, the Bible says that the kings and nations of the earth will "bring their treasures" into this "New Jerusalem." 

What does all this have to do with New Hope's vision for the present, or for the immediate future?  Plenty!  Our vision is inspired by God's future – the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope that our goals are not foolish but realistic.  Our vision must also be in harmony with God's future – we have no business pursuing rabbit trails that will not lead to the Kingdom, and we have no business ignoring features of the Kingdom that we can build and enjoy to some degree here and now.    No single church or group of churches can exhaustively embody the glory of God's coming Kingdom, but every single church or group of churches must strive to embody as much of that glory as is possible.  In looking at Clemmons and the surrounding area, we believe that the need and the potential exists for our congregation to embody these particular facets of God's kingdom here and now.