A Word from the President
Pastor Rev. David Beidel,
President of Urban Hope NY:
There is a long and beautiful road that I use whenever I travel to my old seminary, Alliance Theological Seminary. I’m always reminded that our church was conceived and an “urban Hope” was made some 20 years ago on that quiet road. It was the recalling of a prayer request from a young homeless man that God used to break and capture my heart. The young man was temporarily living at my house when he asked a small group of friends to pray for his 10 year old niece who was being prostituted by her
step father to support his crack habit. We all sat stunned by his request. A few of us mumbled a prayer, all of us had a similar reaction, our heads were bowed, but our hearts were screaming: Don’t go there! Don’t let that in…that is way too much sorrow, if you think about it, you’ll lose your mind.” Who can bear to ponder the unthinkable sorrow of this city?
I was heading to seminary to prepare for my ministry and I sensed God saying, “Do you really want to serve me?…You have to go there, You have to let it in, You have to begin to feel what I feel.” I said, “Yes Lord” and I wept in a way I never had before and never have since as I promised the Lord, “Whatever it takes, help me to make a difference in my city.” That was 20 years ago.
New Hope Community Church VISION
“Building a House of Hope in a World of Pain”
New Hope’s vision is to be a community of individuals and families from all races and walks of life, committed to following Jesus through worship and service. We are committed to being a loving, accepting and caring community which seeks to exemplify Jesus through our lives and our actions.
Our three-fold vision is to rebuild a heart of worship, rebuild true community and rebuild cities and nations. This project would propel New Hope’s vision and enable us to train and empower a generation of leaders within the West Brighton community for Christian service and ministry within the local church and beyond.