Field of Hope

Hope Ames is on a mission to share the everlasting love of Jesus Christ. In pursuit of this mission, our congregation has prayerfully approved the launch of a giving campaign – “Field of Hope” – to purchase 20 acres of land on the southwest corner of Cameron School Road and George Washington Carver Road in Ames. We are thrilled to begin this journey together!

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Our next online Field Meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7:00 pm. Join us online to learn about Field of Hope!

A message from Pastor Danny on Field of Hope:

Dear Hope Family,

I’m not good with plants. The poor flowers and little trees that tragically find themselves under my care always seem to suffer short lives. Simply, I don’t understand how to sustainably grow them.

Meanwhile, there are two bushes in front of our house that require no maintenance besides sunshine and the occasional shower. I don’t know how, but they just keep growing – so much that I need to trim them occasionally.

“The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens” (Mark 4:26-27).

Can I admit something else I’m not good at? I’m not very good at growing a church. Seriously! I do my best to be a faithful pastor, but I don’t understand how to sustainably grow a church on my own.

Meanwhile, there’s a church – you – called Hope Ames that I’ve been blessed to pastor for four years. I don’t know how, but we just keep growing from a few dozen people to several hundreds.

The point I’m trying to make is this: God is a master gardener with plants and people, and God has proven it through the miracle of our congregation, growing us far beyond any human abilities or expectations.

Dig deeper into the soil though, beyond the numerical growth, and you’ll discover growing seeds even more beautiful. At Hope Ames, you will find people who’ve experienced the soul-satisfying power of God’s love. Lost souls have found their home. Christians, whose faith has gone to rest, have come awake. Hurts have met healing. The Holy Spirit has faithfully nourished our roots, and it’s time for a harvest.

“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you” (2 Corinthians 2:10).

The harvest isn’t the end, but I believe God is calling us into a new season. This is what “Field of Hope” is about. It’s about making room for those who are already here and those who are not, yet. It’s about planting new seeds of faith that the Holy Spirit can use to bring more people into a heavenly eternity. It’s about deepening the roots of faith of those who already trust Jesus as their Savior, encouraging them to follow and serve him as Lord! It’s about a church answering God’s call to expand the Kingdom of God!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

I believe God is ready to harvest through this church and for our community. Will we join him? Will we let God continue to grow us? Will we ask God daily in prayer: “What do you want to do through me to accomplish your will for this church?” Will we quiet our lives enough to listen for the answer God lays on our hearts? Will we respond with a giant-sized leap of faith, trusting God enough to do what he says?

If we do, I can only imagine how plentiful God’s harvest will be, how deep and wide he will grow his kingdom through us, and how glorious the scene will be all around us!

In Christ,

Pastor Danny Housholder