We’ve heard it from churches and individuals in the past and I am quite confident it isn’t the last time we’ll hear it: “Hope Community Church is all about the numbers.” 

What our friends mean by this is Hope will do anything to get big.  That all we want is more and more people so that we are deemed “successful” by others around us.  That we want to be the biggest church in the area.  The flip side of the the same comment is that we water down the truth.  We don’t call sin sin.  We put on productions rather than lead people in worship. We are not so concerned with Jesus as we are with big buildings, big programs and big budgets.

Truth be told, our friends are right.  We are all about numbers!  But when we say this, we are not affirming the disparaging remarks of our friends as stated above.  Rather, we believe that every number represents a person for whom Christ died.  A number is a person who might some day be numbered among those who “were added to the church” as we read in the book of Acts.  Those numbers are people who may be used of God to bring the message of Christ to the next generation. To bring hope and healing to the hurting of this world.  To offer a drink or food in the name of Jesus.  To aid in helping the world see Jesus through their love and unity.

So, yes, Hope cares very much about numbers…seeing numbers of people—large numbers of people—embrace Christ through faith and experience the joy of being part of God’s family.  I think the old adage is appropriate: the more the merrier! 

I mentioned in a previous blog how much I love what I do and where I do it.  I work at Hope Community Church, Raleigh, NC (www.gethope.net)—the best church going!  I have the supreme privilege of helping people take next steps in their spiritual journey.  I can’t think of anything more rewarding than coming alongside someone to assist them in discovering where they are, where they want to be, and how to get there.  See why I love what I do…and you’ll have to come to Hope so see why I love where I do it.

And to top it all off, I work with an amazing group of people who are real, filled with grace, and ready to roll up their sleeves to help people take the next step that is best for them! 

How many of you jump out of bed excited to head to work?  How about not wanting to leave work?  Probably not many of you!  I am probably one of the lucky ones. 

I love my job.  I love the people at my job.  I love the prospects of making a difference through what I do.  How about you?

If you don’t love what you do, you probably shouldn’t be doing it!  People who are not passionate about what they do generally don’t work hard at what they do.  They don’t often think about how they can make things better, whether a product or a service.  Those not passionate tend to be the weak link in an organization.  Most likely they don’t mean to be a weak link, a ball and chain.  But they are.  In fact if that’s you, then you are not catapulting your organization forward.  You are in neutral and another word for neutral is stagnant.  I had a prof who used to say, “You know what a rut is?  It’s a grave with the ends knocked out!” 

Believe you can make a difference.  Act like it is your responsibility to make a difference.  And do it with alacrity (another prof’s favorite word), i.e. with enthusiasm.  You might actually begin to make a difference!

I am blessed beyond belief with my job!  Hope you can say the same.  If not now, soon!