Adoring Jesus, Loving People & Equipping the Church


What is Mission New Hope: Equipping the Church?

Our educational plan for helping believers become...

Christ-Centered Christians.

Mission New Hope

A national spiritual life survey conducted over four years by the Willow Creek Association and involving 157,000 congregants in more than 500 churches of all sizes has provided revealing answers to the question: “What do people really want from the church and its leaders?”

The top five responses:
1. To understand the Bible (87%)
2. To help in developing a personal relationship with Christ (86%)
3. To provide strong programs for children (85%)
4. To be challenged to take the next faith steps and grow spiritually (83%)
5. To provide compelling worship services (80%)

Interestingly, this same Reveal Survey, conducted in the fall of 2008 at New Hope Community Church, verified these results. Our members are completely in step with the congregants of this large, national survey. So, given the third pillar of our church’s vision statement, “Equipping the Church,” we have felt God’s call to thoroughly prepare the Body of Christ (2 Tim. 3:16–17) and build up its faith and knowledge (Eph. 4:11–13) through sound biblical education. We believe doing so puts us in step with what God wants for us.

Born from this belief, Mission New Hope has become a simple core curriculum that represents the foundations of our faith. This will help us all better understand who we are, how we can walk more closely with God, and how we can become more fully alive Christians. The challenge we offer our members—and anyone, for that matter—is to take advantage of these educational opportunities that are guaranteed to advance their spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ and help us all more closely become the Body of Christ to our local communities.

The Opportunities

For those ready to fully realize their potential in Christ, New Hope will offer the following five fundamentals of discipleship classes at a variety of times throughout the year. Members are challenged to complete all five in a two-year period.

Freedom in Christ1. Personal Spiritual Freedom: (Dr. Neil Anderson’s Freedom In Christ, formerly known as Beta) Discovering your identify in Jesus Christ









Experiencing God2. Personal Relationship with God: (Dr. Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God) Recognizing the voice of God










The Truth Project3. Biblical Worldviews: (Focus on the Family’s Truth Project) The “glasses” through which we see our lives





Contagious Christian4. Evangelism: (Mittleburg, Strobel & Hybels’ Contagious Christian) Easily sharing the hope you have in Christ with others









Network5. Spiritual Gifts Assessment: (Bruce Bugbee & Don Cousins’ Network) Your God-given gifts, passion, and personality









The Process

Each of these fundamental discipleship courses will be offered on a regular basis in various settings and times, in an effort to provide the opportunity for everyone to take advantage of these offerings within the two-year period. Our Pastor of Education will work with you to accommodate your needs.

There is a suggested chronological order (see #1–5 in previous section)—especially for new believers or those exploring Christ. However, this order is not mandated. Upon completion of the five core curriculum courses, members will receive a Certificate of Completion.

It is understood that some individuals will have already completed the listed core offerings, or similar courses, in prior settings and/or years. Those individuals who wish to make their coursework known and counted toward their Certificate of Completion should contact the Pastor of Education.

The Result

It is our desire and hope that these core offerings will not only move you into a deeper relationship with God and a more Christ-centered life, but will also equip you toward the work of the church. For as Christ said: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).

Why Mission New Hope?

As Believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to follow His example as closely as possible, to “look” like Him and be His hands and feet to a world that does not fully understand His teachings. In the culture we presently live in, it’s not only a challenge, but extremely difficult to be a light in the darkness without understanding the foundations and basic tenants of our beliefs.

Our desire and calling, as the leadership of New Hope, is to empower our church family by coming alongside each one and providing exceptional opportunities to get to know our Jesus in a way that makes a relationship with Him a reality. We believe that by understanding who God created you to be, and how He has made you a unique person with a specific calling, you will begin to walk more closely with your Savior, in a relationship that will guide you in all aspects of life.

We’re excited about these offerings and anticipate that, as you become equipped to walk the walk and talk the talk, you will come to clearly recognize the voice of your Father, whether He speaks loudly or chooses to whisper.
Pastor Paul Bane

Return to Adult Education Opportunites page.

For more information about any adult class contact
Clay Harlin 373-1590 ext.12 or Clay@newhopechurchtn.org.