My husband, Jeff, and I grew up in different churches, but we always knew we were believers. For me, though, there was a longing for something more. Around 2010, we found ourselves searching for a church home. That season became a journey we shared with friends, attending services at Hope and gathering afterward. Over time, that friend group scattered, but by then something lasting had begun to grow: a community rooted in Hope. I’ll never forget those Sundays when it felt as if every word had been written just for my story in that moment. I mentioned this to Pastor Nick, and he said, “That’s not us. That’s the Holy Spirit.” From then on, I began to recognize his presence—the tears welling during a worship song, the stirring in my soul when a sermon pierced my heart. After that, our roots at Hope grew deeper, and as our kids grew, they discovered their own places to serve and belong. Our oldest, Kirsten, serves on the production team at Kairos in Hope Ames, has worked summers and ...