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ROOTED: Belonging That Goes Deeper

If you’ve been around Living Hope (or Lisbon Methodist) for a while, you may be familiar with the words BELONG, BELIEVE, BECOME, BE BOLD. These words express our values. They capture who we are and what we are striving to be as a church. They also carry a rich history—rooted in Scripture and shaped by faithful leadership, including Pastor Karen.

Our new branding doesn’t replace those values; it brings them into clearer focus. When words have been on the wall for a long time, there’s a risk that we begin to walk past them. They fade into the background and lose some of their shaping power. Giving those same values fresh language helps bring them back to the forefront of our shared life together.

You’ll notice that our wording is shifting to ROOTED, GROWING, and FRUITFUL, but the heart remains the same. To be rooted is to belong.

Living Hope continues to be a faith family where everyone is welcomed to worship God. Through Christ Jesus, God’s garden is open to all. And at the same time, it is a place where God longs for people to put down roots—roots that lead to connection, nourishment, and mutual support.

It’s possible to belong without commitment. You can feel welcomed and still remain disconnected. To be rooted takes our value of belonging a step deeper. Our desire is not just that people feel at home, but that they are lovingly planted in God’s good soil, where life and faith can truly flourish.

Next week, we’ll explore GROWING and how it connects with our long-held values of BELIEVE and BECOME.