Our Story
History
Our church was formed in 1998 with only a handful of people. Over the years the church grew in numbers holding services in various halls, theatres, hotels and office buildings in the Surry Hills, Redfern, Chippendale and Camperdown areas.
In 2009, we bought our building in Camperdown where we are currently located. Initially, we renovated the offices and ministry centre, then in 2016 we moved into our new purpose-built 400-seat Auditorium in the same location.
Throughout the history of our church, we’ve had many challenges and changes which have shaped who we are today. Through the many challenges, we discovered Christianity is not about performance, or institutional religious practices or even about serving a hierarchical leadership. Christianity is solely a relationship with God, one of genuine faith and hope in Jesus Christ, where leaders are called to serve not to be served, just as Jesus came to serve.
Our journey has taught us to have complete dependence on God, trusting in Him knowing that we can rejoice in our sufferings as Christians, that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. (Romans 5:3-4). These experiences have also been a major catalyst in shaping our mission, vision and values.
Throughout our history, our church has had a few name changes, each name change marking a significant shift in direction and culture.
The most recent change to Living Hope Church signifies another shift in direction and culture, moving our focus from a city-taking and influencing church to a church with a mission to Loving God and Loving people in our community.
Why Living Hope?
Our church name Living Hope has such a significant meaning to our church community as it is a reflection of our identity, our mission, vision and values.
The exact phrase 'Living Hope' appears only once in scripture in 1 Peter 1:3-4 (CSB):
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
This phrase 'Living Hope' can also be translated as a lively active hope, having complete trust and confident expectation in our eternal hope in Jesus Christ.
Looking ahead
This living hope in Jesus Christ continues to grow us into greater depths of His love, healthy relationships, maturity, faith, peace and joy.
We are excited to the future God has prepared for us with a living hope and complete confident trust that our God who began the good work in our church community will continue until the return of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6)