Hopeful Imagination

Having served the last thirty years as a minister, I know what it is like to come to a place where you question yourself and whether or not all your efforts in leading a congregation are worth it. Often times this leads to feelings of discouragement and fatigue. I questioned my ability to lead. Eventually, all of that turned around for me. There was no formula. There was no quick fix. But over time there was a radical reorientation in my life and ministry. Looking back, the phrase ‘hopeful imagination’ seemed to most closely capture the changes that led to a renewed and vital future.

If the notion of ‘Hopeful Imagination’ (HI) could talk, it would have a lot to say to you…

• Don’t be afraid of tomorrow…
• The best is yet to be…
• What is God up to in your church?...
• Do you really have a hopeful vision for the future of your church?...

In my time at First Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, we finally came to a place where we were able to look to the future and expect good things to happen in the life of the church. We did it in a multitude of ways from paying attention to what God was already doing in the lives of our people, by listening to their stories and then taking a fresh look around the corner to see ‘what’s next’.

HI is not a crisis resolution ministry nor do we have all the answers for today’s church. But if you are a congregation unsure of your future and one wanting to live into God’s future for you, we think we may have something to say that can help you in that journey.

The Best is Yet To Be,

Mike Queen