Saturday night’s theme of “One Hope” began with an invocation by General Superintendent Eugénio R. Duarte.

Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International Director Woodie Stevens highlighted the importance of SDMI throughout the world.

“85 percent of all Christians come to Christ between the ages of 4 and 14,” he said.

Prior to the message by General Superintendent Jerry D. Porter, who was assisted by his wife, Toni, missionary Erica Contrarez, Olivet Nazarene University Professor Simone Twibell, and Stevens, the chorus “Revelation Song” was shared in a multitude of languages, representing the diverse locations of the Church of the Nazarene.

Jerry Porter began by allowing each sermon participant to interact throughout the message. The sermon challenged the audience with the question: “What is my hope?” The message reminded the audience that there are many who have lost hope: those who have suffered, been betrayed, and been abandoned. Porter, through interaction with the other participants, illustrated the need for hope on both individual and national levels. Porter shared that “none of us knows how God will answer prayer.”

However, hope is what sustains us throughout the journey. Sharing the example of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27, Porter reminded: “even when we experience loss, our lives are in God’s hands, and Jesus is our only hope.” This hope begins with the hope that Jesus is our Savior, and it must be shared.

“Hope has a name,” he continued, “and it is Jesus!”

Our hope is also in Jesus as our sanctifer and sustainer.

“If Jesus is the hope for our world, then we, as the Body of Christ, also are the hope for our world,” Porter said.

He stated that the Vision 2020 goal is a hopeful vision for the future that challenges Nazarenes to continue to share the hope of Jesus with the world. We are to pray for workers for God’s mission while being a worker ourselves – this is how the hope of Jesus will transform the world.

Highlighting the Seven Characteristics of the Church of the Nazarene, each presenter emphasized the means by which we can share the hope of Jesus to the world. Porter concluded the service with personal testimonies of changed lives through the hope of Jesus Christ.

Got hope? Share it!