# @hopewdm on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DKiH9IWuH5A
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/31262114-hopewdm-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0f0fa52542.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-05T20:52:20.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** HOPE (@HopeWDM) — https://gondola.cc/HopeWDM

## Caption

I live in Ontario, Canada, and I went to a Lutheran church here with my family pretty much every Sunday till I was 18. When I went to college, my church visits became intermittent at best, though I never lost my faith in God and I continued to pray.
 
I visited my parents often, though, and would always go to church with them on my visits. About four years ago, my mom had a stroke and was put in a wheelchair. This made it difficult for her to go to church regularly, even though she wanted to.
 
The local pastor knew our situation and suggested we watch Lutheran Church of Hope online, so we started watching every week together as a family. When COVID hit and no one could go to church, we continued to watch online as a family, and Hope became our regular church.
 
My mom talked about going to Hope in person, but we never made it before she passed away in October 2024. I wanted to take my dad while I still could, so we went on a road trip this year for his 90th birthday. The trip was a great success. Everyone at Hope was very friendly and welcoming. It made us feel even more a part of the church.
 
Besides being a great church, Hope has introduced me to “The Chosen” series. It has humanized God to me and made him more relatable. I love that Hope is working to help translate the series into as many languages as possible!
 
Hope has helped strengthen my faith, and I’m grateful. As I told most of the Hope staff during our visit, you affect people you may never meet because you don’t know who’s watching online. God bless and keep up the good work!
 
Eric K.
#HopeStories

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## Credits

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## Tags

hopestories

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