Hernando Today
Hope Church Geared Up For Summer
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Published: May 17, 2008
SPRING HILL - Soon there could be live music outdoors and fellowship under the stars at Hope Community Bible Church.
A new, large wood deck and patio furniture adds greatly to the outreach ambience of the church. Workers are putting the finishing touches on its two new spacious fellowship office and classrooms buildings, which flank the deck. The added spaces and church facilities will create more room for many of the busy church ministries.
Young singles could just hang out in Ackerman Hall or on the deck on the Friday Night Thang held each month. Youth can enjoy overnight "lock-down" worship, games, music and fellowship. Prime Timers have monthly lunches and ladies are signing up for Women of Faith weekend June 1. Families can attend funfests that include barbecue, a rock wall climbing tower, crafts, games and Bible quiz competitions. Even energetic local children will appreciate the extra space for the annual free Vacation Bible School inside and outside. This year's VBS will be in June, and the theme is Outrigger Island.
Leo G. Duarte is the church youth pastor. His wife Saralyn is a church secretary along with Priscilla Hulsizer. They are anxious to see the expansion of community outreach and church activities made more doable with the new buildings and deck. They worked to help the church stage a recent "Spaghetti Dinner to Go" to help raise funds for youth to attend Lake Swan Summer Camp of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. "Some of the mothers volunteered their time to cook and serve the meatballs, pasta, sauce, salad and brownies," Saralyn Duarte said. "Ingredients were graciously donated by Publix and Wal-Mart, and people could just do takeout or dine at the church. We raised nearly $500, to help pay costs of the Hope kids attending the weeklong camp in Melrose."
Duarte gave praise to the youth for voting to donate monies earned at one of the recent car washes to the family of Brittany Saavedra, the 11-year-old who died in the retention pond in Sterling Hills. "One car wash was held at Advance Auto at Mariner and Northcliffe, while the other car wash was at the Shell gas station at Spring Hill Drive and Mariner. The kids worked hard, we had great weather, and we were able to present a check for $277, along with a special offering taken by the church, to the bereaved family."
The charity-minded church youth are going to be hungry and work for no pay soon. The World Vision 30-Hour Famine project teaches participants that by the simple act of going without food on behalf of children half a world away, they learn compassion and create camaraderie. Starting at 5 p.m. May 23, 30 Hope students will begin their fasting, with worship, games and music as they learn more about the global project. On Saturday they will do volunteer work on church grounds and conclude the 30-Hour Famine with a special dinner served by church members. Monies collected for church support of their famine will be donated to the project. The global charity project website is www.30hourfamine.org.
Duarte also appreciates the commitment and sincerity of the youth in their weekly Bible study, worship, service projects and fellowship as they learn Christian principles and values and discuss ways to apply them to everyday life. They have donated time at Holy Ground and help serve meals to the homeless and also Thanksgiving dinners.
The church youth memorize Bible verses each week. "Memorizing verses from the Bible helps the students to understand the Scriptures better and thus be able to apply them to any given circumstance or challenge they might face," Leo said. "The Bible teaches, 'Your word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.' Psalm 119:11." Leo recommends the book "Living with Teenagers," by Lifeway Publications, as a great resource for parents with teens.
Saralyn said she met Leo at Trinity College Dunedin in 1981. Leo enrolled in Jungle Training Camp with New Tribes Mission in Mississippi after graduation, and Saralyn worked for Worldteam Missions in Miami. They married in 1986 in Dunedin, and have worked in youth ministries in Shady Hills and Spring Hill for the past 15 years. Their daughter, Mireya, 20, is a student in elementary education at Trinity College. Their son, Trevor, 11, will enter middle school. He enjoys working with the church puppet program.
From 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, local church youth will participate in the interfaith "Summer Surge," a day of basketball and volleyball team challenges, games, a climbing wall, live bands and refreshments.
Leo marvels at the way members of all ages interact in support of the youth and children's ministries.
Muriel Hamm, an octogenarian and founding member since 1986, likewise appreciates the way the older people work with the young. A teacher for 30 years, she worked with the church children in religious education, helped with Bible studies, directed the choir "and wore many hats, as did quite a few of us," she said. She gives much credit to Leo.
"He does a remarkable job in attracting youth," she said.
Leo added, "Hope Church is committed to making children and young families a priority. The slogan 'Children First,' was adopted along with allocation of funds for the newly acquired portable buildings, and the emphasis in good children's workers and great programs for them.
Pastor David A. Pletinks leads the charge of children first, and has been one of our greatest supporters. We really appreciate the encouragement he has shown us. We all will enjoy the new facilities and hope the community will, too.
When do they meet?
Sunday contemporary service: 9 a.m.
Sunday school: 9 a.m.
Sunday traditional service: 10:45 a.m.
Sunday Bible study: 6 p.m.
Wednesday family night: 6:30 p.m.
Young adult fellowship: call church
Interfaith local Summer Surge: Saturday, August 16
Hope Community Bible Church is located at 13241 Spring Hill Drive, east of Mariner Boulevard. Phone: 686- 2080. Web site: www.hopebible@bellsouth.net.
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