Fusion Youth (Grades 6–12)
Joseph Catterson, Former Fusion Leader
How long have you attended New Hope Church?
I started attending New-Hope when I was 10 years old, back in 2003.
What ministries / leadership roles are you involved in at New Hope?
Fusion Student Ministries
What excites you as you think about the opportunities New Hope will have because of our new building?
A new building would mean that the growing number of students in Fusion would have a place to come play, be real, and hear about Jesus. We would also have dedicated space for students to wrestle with their questions of faith, and how God can use them even at a young age.
A dedicated space would allow Fusion to do worship, something that many of the students are interested in, but we are unable to do in our current location.
How do you think the building will increase our ability to pursue relationships that change the world?
The building would provide a place for students to gather all throughout the week. We would have the opportunity to host a number of events for students to invite their friends, and their friends' families to a place where they could be known and loved, and where they could hear the good news of the gospel.
What do you love about New Hope?
New Hope strives to connect people in small groups where it is easier to be real with one another. It creates a space where people are known, loved, and pursued.
Are there specific dreams you have for the future?
I could dream of having a space to host youth athletic events where children from the area could hear about God’s love for them from caring and compassionate adults. It would provide an avenue for those who are not immediately open to attending church to be get into a community of believers.
Annika Wiebers, Fusion Youth Member
Why I love Fusion
I love Fusion because it gives me the opportunity to develop community with other believers close to my age as well as to invest in and mentor younger students.
What impact has Fusion made on my life?
I have made so many friends through Fusion and they have helped me through a lot of challenging situations throughout middle school and high school. Fusion has also given me many opportunities to share my faith and serve in our community.
Why am I excited about New Hope Having a new building and what positive changes will be possible for Fusion students in that new building?
I am excited about New Hope having its own building largely from a logistical standpoint. Previously, Fusion has been limited on outreach opportunities (like holding a VBS) by not having our own place to host them. Having a building will not only provide space for activities like that but also for student small groups and one-on-one discipleship meetings.
Kids LIFE (Infants–5th Grade)
Kira Buser, Director of Kids LIFE and LIFE Group Leader
How long have you attended New Hope Church?
I attended New Hope as a college student from 2002-2006, moving away upon graduation. My family then had the opportunity to return to Manhattan in 2011, where we picked up at New Hope right where we left off.
What excites you as you think about the opportunities New Hope will have because of our new building?
Having a building will make such a positive impact on our children’s ministry! Currently we are renting a facility that has plenty of classrooms, but they are not set up for ministry. Each week we have to cover up the items in the classroom that are a distraction or are not for our use with sheets, and we move desks around to make room for games and activities, essentially only using a small space in the middle of each classroom. We bring in tubs (and tubs and tubs!) of items for our children to use each Sunday, trying our best to make the space a fun and safe environment for learning about Jesus. A new building would give us an opportunity to make a space our very own! Our classrooms would be age-appropriate, intentionally designed for the ministry taking place in each space. Our older students would greatly benefit from hanging visual resources on the wall that pertain to the curriculum they are learning, being able to make reference to past weeks, and referring to maps. Our volunteers would be so blessed by a space intended for children’s ministry. Not only would set up and tear down be a thing of the past, but they would no longer be chasing young children around, making sure they don’t touch the things that are in the rental space that are not for our use. Less time would be spent on keeping the kids safe and out of trouble, and more time would be spent on building relationships and pointing our precious children to Jesus.
How do you think the building will increase our ability to pursue relationships that change the world?
Our current space is such a distracting environment for relationships to build. There are so many hindrances to normal play for our kids that it really steals the focus from true engagement. Our volunteers are spending more time setting up and tearing down a space than they are connecting with parents and each other. When a visitor comes to see our classrooms, it is very off-putting for a family to see a space being used not for its intended purposes. A building will take away the distractions, and allow our New Hopers to do what they do best, connect with people!
What do you love about New Hope?
I love the people of New Hope. We are a community of believers who truly desire to live life together. We long to see our friends and neighbors come to know Jesus, and realize that relationships are at the heart of the Gospel. We value meeting in small groups where we can share our hearts and spur each other on in Truth. We are so very welcoming, desiring for every person to feel seen, known, and loved—from the tiny newborn to the elderly.
Why are you excited to be a part of giving towards the worship center campaign?
We are so excited to be part of giving towards the worship center campaign! We strongly believe in the mission of this church, and want to be part of God’s desires for New Hope. We can’t wait to see His plans unfold!
Are there specific dreams you have for the future?
It has been so fun to see people dreaming about the opportunities that God may give us with a new building! We will be in a new location, with new neighbors we can share our space and love of Jesus with. We will have classrooms designed specifically for children that we can use...any time we want! Will we have Wednesday programming? Will there be special children’s classes? Will our Mom LIFE make use of our children’s space? Will the neighboring homes make use of an outdoor space for kids where relationships can form? The dreaming is endless, and a building for New Hope would just be another tool that God can use for His Kingdom.
