ABOUT

MISSION

Hope on the Beach Church's mission is aligned to God's Word, heart and work of the Holy Spirit. Our mission is to Awaken Hearts to Jesus, Every Day! We are the church, everyone, wherever we go, everywhere, and no matter the day, everyday. The measurement of a great church is not Sunday, but how we live when we leave the building. We leave on mission!

VISION

While the church has always been a light of hope in the dark world, it has turned more inward and programed focus. Our vison is to go throughout the Panhandle where people live, work, play and learn to shine the light of Christ in simple ways that awaken hearts to Jesus and unite us in His love and mission.

CORE VALUES

COURAGOUSLY RELYING ON GOD

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

ALLOWING GOD TO SHAPE US

Oh how I love your law, it is my meditation all the day; Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged because I keep your Precepts! (Psalm 119: 97-100)

GENUINELY LOVING GOD AND OTHERS

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34)

MULTIPLYING DREAM DISCIPLES

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
GENEROUSLY INVESTING IN HIS KINGDOM

But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

WORSHIP VALUES

Nonjudgmental
Biblical Preaching
Good Music
Casual Dress
Fellowship
Fun

OUR STORY

Founded: 1998, with support from Grace Lutheran and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Early Years:

Started by a small, faithful group.
Moved through over 15 locations.
Focused on Christ and caring for people.

Milestones:

2003: Began Easter worship at Ed Walline Beach, evolving into a year-round service.
2009: Pastor Jason Scheler became the first full-time pastor.
2015: Dedicated current building.
2018: Started services at Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar and Inlet Beach.
2019: Added Vicar Jacob Scheler through a distance learning program.
2020: Launched worship at Seascape Resort and expanded online worship on Facebook, YouTube, and their website.

Growth:

From 12 members to 200 weekly worshippers.
Easter services attract over 2000 attendees.

OUR BELIEFS

An introduction to the teachings Hope on the Beach Church believes.

We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God, handed down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved from our sin and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Bible is completely reliable and without error. In it, we learn everything we need to know about God's love and His gifts to us. 2 Timothy 3:16

The best statement of belief that summarizes what Scripture teaches about God is the Apostles Creed. This statement of belief was developed in the 4th Century.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

There is only one true God - the Triune God - who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God the Father is our maker and the creator of all things. By the Father's Word, all things were made, and we are His most beloved creation; we are closest to His heart. The Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth as the perfect bridge between God and humanity. He has redeemed us, or bought us back, from sin, death and the devil. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, keeps us in the one true faith, and equips us for living out our faith. The Bible describes the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as being on the level of the One True God. While the Trinity is a man made term, it is a wholly Biblical understanding. (See Genesis 1:1-3, Matthew 3:16-17, and Ephesians 1 for a glimpse at Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the same place at the same time.)

We all fall short of God's expectations because we are all born "sinful". Sin can be summed up as all the things we say, think, do, and don't do, that don’t measure up to the holiness of God’s commands. Sin was brought into world when Satan lured the first people God created (Adam and Eve) into temptation through their own free will and weakness, breaking the perfect relationship between God and us (Genesis 3). From that point on, sin became part of our very existence. Because God also demands perfect obedience, our ultimate punishment became death (Romans 6:23).

Yet God is a loving God whose will is not for us to live in eternal punishment. That's why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live the perfect life He requires and to become our substitute. Christ never sinned - not even once - but He took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross on our behalf. When we believe, have faith, in Jesus Christ as our Savior, He bears our sin and gives us His forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

We believe, based on God’s Word and actions, that He has given Means of Grace for the growth and development of Christians in the Church. These means of grace, or spiritual gifts with physical elements, are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instituted and created both of these gifts in Matthew 28:19-20 (baptism) and during His last meal with the disciples as recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, and as summarized by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11. These gifts deliver forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation to all who receive these gifts in faith.

Hope on the Beach Church is a part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This is a conservative denomination that holds faith alone, Scripture alone, and Grace alone at its core. If you would like more information please contact Pastor Jason or go to https://www.lcms.org/about/beliefs and learn about the beliefs of our Lutheran denomination. You may also find it helpful to compare differences in understanding who we are and our beliefs. May the Lord bless your learning and your growth in His grace wherever your local faith community. However, we hope it can be among us!

WHY DO WE CALL OURSELVES LUTHERAN?

In spite of how the name Lutheran may sound or be represented by other churches, we are vibrant followers of Jesus Christ, not Martin Luther or culture. We call ourselves Lutherans because, like Luther, we believe that the center of the Christian message is the cross of Jesus Christ. Like Luther, we believe that the Bible is not a book of morals, but a love letter of redemption. Most of all, like Luther, we believe that God says what He means and means what He says in the Bible. We do not add or substract from the His Word no matter how difficult it might be. He is the way, truth , and life that awakens our hearts from the death of sin! We also think the Bible is too good of a story not to share. If you happen to share these beliefs, then it looks like maybe, you’re a Lutheran, too.