Our Story
On 13th February, 2010 Hope Chapel opened its doors at the Gawler Recreation Centre for their first service. It was well attended and filled with expectation and excitement for the future. Also filled with expectation and excitement were Pastors Andrew and Rachel Cole, with their hearts full of questions as to what Hope Chapel’s future was going to look like and how it was going to be outworked.
In truth, this journey began back in 1987 when Pastor Andrew responded to a call from a man preaching, offering the opportunity to become a Christian. Words whispered in the heart of Andrew as he walked to the front of that church to a prayer line to surrender the rest of his life to serving God.
With that response, Andrew and Rachel walked out the call of their faith and, for the next 23 years, served God in that same church
In late 2008, in the midst of difficult circumstances and storms, they decided to respond to the faith that was in their hearts and move out from that church. Over the following 12 or so months, God prepared them for Hope Chapel.
With those years of preparation, Hope Chapel has grown into a significant church in the Gawler area. People have gathered and lives have changed. Questions are being answered as dreams are becoming a reality.
Hope Chapel will continue to be a place where people can belong and grow in their faith, becoming the best they can be.
Our Church
We see our Church as one of diversity and acceptance; young and old, rich and poor, different nationalities and backgrounds, marginalised, bruised and broken. Luke 4:18 Jesus came…to preach the Gospel to the poor…to heal the heartbroken…to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
A Church without walls that exists to connect with people and share the life giving message of Jesus Christ, offering the world Hope.
A Church that is committed to releasing, empowering and equipping people to live with passion, purpose, joy and fulfillment, understanding a real God in a realistic way.
Our Vision.
Real people sharing a real message with a real community.
To provide a House for you to:
Genuine friends are to be prized, held dear. We see Hope Chapel as a safe place where companions can be made for life.
Proverbs 27:17 (New Living Translation)
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 18:24 (New Living Translation)
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Understand what community means. Outside the doors of Hope there is a community that we endeavour to get to know and be a part of. Follow Jesus’ example; he was in the community and served all walks of life everywhere he went.
To provide a place where change can take place on a day by day basis, a transforming change that the apostle Paul speaks about.
Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)
Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Have fun, have a child-like faith. Why do church if it’s not enjoyable? Life isn’t to be endured, rather enjoyed…that is the same for church.
John 10:10 (New Living Translation)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Church should not be a quiet silent place, rather it should be filled with the praises of His people and laughter from His sons and daughters. A place where you experience Gods presence and love and a place of acceptance for all. A place that people can flourish as they plant. A place that you can belong.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (New Living Translation)
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.
Use the experience of others. Listen to their life stories. Learn from their journeys.Lavish in their experiences. Then dream your own dreams.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (New Living Translation)
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.
More About
God has a promise and a plan for your life.
Look at Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”
God’s ultimate goal for your life is to make an eternal difference in the life of another person. An important part of discovering your purpose is to ‘Plant.’
Psalm 92:12-13 “…Those who are planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
Planting means more than just attending. It means serving. It means being a contributor, not just a consumer.
Hope Chapel offers opportunity for growth and the necessary experience to help discover and develop your redemptive purpose.
1. By presenting the reality of Jesus, delivering a prophetic, relevant, real and genuine message for people at all stages of their spiritual journey. Thereby creating an atmosphere of acceptance, value and a sense of belonging.
2. We consider connecting people to Jesus and to each other one of the greatest responsibilities. God wants to redeem the broken and the lost world around us. He has chosen to do this through us. Romans 1:16
3. Through missional discipleship, realigning our lives around the person of Jesus and His Lordship.
1 Corinthians 14:33 & 40 “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
Believers who invest their hearts, time, families and finance in the building of a local church deserve to have confidence in church leadership. People are looking for leaders who conduct themselves with integrity and respect when making decisions that affect their lives.
As our constitution states we are governed by a Board and an Eldership (Ministry Team).
Board responsibilities are generally around the financial and employment of the Church.
The Eldership responsibilities are for the spiritual oversight of the Church.
Apostolic network of Ministers, which include:
Ps. Peter Rodgers ACC Minister
Ps. Nick Resce Apostolic Minister
Ps. Kevin Forlong ACC Minister
Crosslinks Christian Network. Hope Chapel is a part of the Crosslinks Christian Network and Andrew Cole is also part of the national leadership of this organisation. Crosslinks is based in Canberra and headed up by Ps. Brian Medway.
At Hope Chapel we encourage living generous lives, including our finances.
Proverbs 11:24-28 “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right. But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. The people will curse him who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it. He who earnestly seeks good, will find favour, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil. He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”
Giving generously of time, talent and treasure frees us to bless others and be blessed by God. No boundaries or constraints.
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 encourages us to be Happy Givers, to give hilariously (Message) (this world is also translated as prompt or willing).
The giving of tithes and offerings to God is worship to Jesus and is an expression of the relationship between the individual giver and the Lord. An expression of gratitude towards God.
Many people love to give to God, but need to have confidence in the methods and purposes used by organisations to which they give.
Hope Chapel finances are administered by our board, reviewed by a certified book-keeper and checked by a certified accountant.
Matthew 16:18 “I will put together My Church. A Church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of Hell will be able to keep it out.”
We believe that God is building His Church. Hope Chapel gives opportunity to partner with us by a simple thumb print, expressing your commitment to the Church and agreement with Hope Chapel’s beliefs and values.
> One God living eternally existent in three persons; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
> Divine inspiration and authority of the holy scripture.
> Repentance and regeneration by grace, through faith.
> The life of Christ via virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, resurrection and ascension.
> Royal priesthood and second coming followed by eternal kingdom reign.
> Justification and sanctification of the believer through the finished work of Christ.
> The sacraments of baptism through the immersion and the Lord’s supper.
> The security of the believer as they abide in Christ.
> Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
> Gifts of the Holy Spirit for edification, exhortation and comfort of the Church.
> Governmental structure of the Church through Eldership with the function of ascension ministries.
> Opportunity and responsibility for generous giving as offering to the Lord.
> Relationships; via acceptance, value, belonging.
> Restoration; via refuge, renewal, reconciliation.
> Release; via purposeful equipping and empowering.
> Reaching Out; into community with kingdom values and dynamic care.
> Righteousness; teaching right living concepts and life principles.
> Responding generous unconditional giving of time, talent and treasure.
> Reverence; recognising God through His Word, worship and work.