OUR LOCATION

 

We are located at 1103 EDSA, Project 7, Quezon City, a good stone’s throw from the main terminal of the Metro Rail Transit, and between two of the largest shopping malls in the country: SM City North EDSA, and Trinoma-Ayala Malls.

 

HOW WE STARTED

 

The “People Power” or bloodless revolution on EDSA in February 1986 played a pivotal role in the birth of WORD OF HOPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH..

 

Ten thousand miles away in their suburban home in Dallas, Texas, USA, Dr. Dave A. Sobrepena and his wife, Nellie, watched with bated breath the telecast of that revolt in living color. Seeing the vast sea of humanity that massed along the entire stretch of the highway from Mandaluyong to Cubao to seek the ouster of a dictatorial regime, Dave felt deep compassion for his countrymen. From those nameless faces, he saw the potential for a spiritual breakthrough in the land of his birth. He knew it was time to go back to his roots. A ministry is waiting to be born.

 

After several trips back home, and negotiations with trusted associates were made, his labor yielded positive result. They were led to Paramount Theatre – a very strategic venue for Christian gatherings.

 

On August 21, 1988, a core group of 17 trusted people organized an inconspicuous prayer meeting at the Paramount Theatre to signal the start of Word of Hope Christian Church. They marched around the theatre auditorium as if impelled by a common vision of “Jericho.”

 

On August 28, 1988, or a week after that eventful prayer meeting, WORD OF HOPE turned into “flesh.” We officially opened our door to the public. Some 150 people came to attend our first worship service.

 

That first service created a “pebbles- in –the- pond effect.” The ripples far- reaching! The Lord of the Harvest kept adding to our number. In two years’ time, W O H recorded an average attendance of 8,000 from its Sunday services which have been increased from three to five services. Thus, Word of Hope held the distinction as the fastest growing born-again Christian church in the country.

 

OUR “FAITH WALK”

 

A few years later, with only P100,000.00 savings in the bank, we started our “faith walk.” We bought a 1,400 square meter property. across SM Annex. This would eventually become our place of worship.

 

On April 17, 1992 – a good Friday--- we held the groundbreaking rites signaling the start of construction of the Faith building.

 

Kind-hearted people who have been faithfully, generously, and sacrificially supporting our Ministry “walked the extra mile” to help in the building project. To this day, most of these Good Samaritans have opted to remain anonymous.

 

Even total strangers – businessmen and building contractors alike--- who have heard of our building project, were moved by God to lend their assistance in whatever form.. One contractor, for instance, donated truckloads of cement, gravel, and sand with a promise that he would continue to do so until he saw the completion of the building. Likewise, a businessman sent truckloads of steel bars to complement our construction requirements. Still others donated marble floor tiles to complete whatever was lacking.

 

On January 31, 1993, we transferred to the half-finished building and occupied the mezzanine level, while construction of the auditorium was on-going.

 

WORK IN PROGRESS

 

Fast forward to 2005. We acquired the lot at the back of our Worship Center. Thereafter, construction of a new and much larger building was started in earnest.

 

It took three years to build the eight story-edifice that is now called the Grace Building. Today, it houses the Education Center which comprises the Hope Christian Academy, and Hope Leadership Institute, a large auditorium with a seating capacity of 3,300, ministry offices, and a gymnasium.

 

We have a great ministry, indeed. And God is using Word of Hope in a greater way--- to be a beacon of hope to millions of our countrymen who are lost in spiritual darkness.

 

Our goal is for every W O H member and attendee become part of 10,000 cell groups by 2015. We believe that through cell groups, spiritual formation will be further strengthened, leadership developed, and members evangelized!

 

We now have over 25,000 members attending our Sunday services. Together with our Pastors and leaders, they comprise the backbone of the church. Still, our church is a work in progress We are greatly inspired and motivated by the Lord Jesus’ Great Commission: To bring more souls unto the kingdom for the great harvest... For His glory! The challenge is ours!

MISSION AND VISION

"To spread the Good News of Salvation and the truths of the Bible, and bring lost souls to the Lord Jesus Christ --- the Giver of Hope."

 

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

 

Our church was established to give honor and glory to God; to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ; to build up men and women for the ministry and the proclamation of the full gospel message in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

OUR PURPOSE: TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD

 

Isaiah 43:7 tells us that God created us for His glory. Therefore in all that we are and in all that we do, we must individually and corporately bring glory to our Creator (Eph. 1:5-6).

 

OUR GOAL: TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

 

A disciple is one who lives as His master lives. For us it is a learner - follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, one who is not just a hearer but a doer of His word.

 

Before Jesus was taken up into heaven his parting words to His disciples were "Therefor go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations..." Such is our mission. We will not stop at touching and reaching people but rather we aim to make disciples who will then disciple others. We will not stop at reaching our city but from here we will actively participate in the universal effort to spread His kingdom to the whole world. By nations, we do not just mean geographical or political groupings but to distinct people groups that are yet unreached.

 

ONE MESSAGE: THE FULL GOSPEL OF HIS KINGDOM

 

the only way we can achieve our goal is through the life-changing power of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. "For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). The word Full Gospel implies a wholistic view of salvation. It means that we are not just delivered from the penalty of sin but that we can also enjoy the benefits of Christ's work (healing, abundant life and deliverance) at the present time.

 

OUR METHOD: DECLARATION AND DEMONSTRATION IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words but with the demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith may not rest on men's wisdom but on God's power," Paul says in 1 Cor. 2:4-5.

 

Empty words will not win the world, neither will it make disciples. Jesus Himself said, " Unless your people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe (John 4:48) but He also said, " I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father". (John 14:12)

 

Jesus accomplished the task He began for us by living His life before men. Paul exhorts us in 1 Cor. 13:1-3, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love I gain nothing.

 

ONE MINISTRY:

 

We are fellow workers with Jesus Christ our Lord. In Acts 1:1, St. Luke says, "I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach..." Now we must continue that work. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you! And you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth". (Acts 1:8)