If you were to walk into the sanctuary of Orfordville Lutheran Church (OLC) and look up towards the balcony, you would see a model ship suspended from the ceiling. The Norwegian name for the ship is “Haabet” which means “The Hope.” And across the back of the ship in tall, white letters, it simply says “HOPE.”

The Hope was originally built in 1879 by Peter Kaatrud. He refurbished it in 1892, and it was displayed in the sanctuary from 1892-1912. In 1957, after a 45 year absence, Martin Nelson restored The Hope to its original appearance, and it was again placed in our worship space.

This model ship has become a symbol of OLC and the global church as a whole for me. Since the early days of Christianity, ships have often been a metaphor for the church. For example, the center part of many church building is called the “nave,” which shares the same root as “navy.”

I’ve often thought that the sanctuary of OLC looks like an upside down boat. If you were to turn it over, it might feel like you were riding in Noah’s Ark!

Inspired by this, I wrote a song in honor of OLC’s 150th Anniversary called “A Ship Called Hope.” The refrain goes like this: “We are sailing on a ship called Hope, sailing on the Holy Spirit’s wind. Guided by your love and held in your arms, you’re coming for to carry us home.”

I’ve recently received a new call that will take me away from Orfordville Lutheran, but in these final weeks I’ve been thinking about this ship called “The Hope.” Despite feeling sad, I leave with a strong sense of hope for Christ’s church.

If you listen to the chatter today, you would think Christianity is doomed. But I believe this viewpoint is misguided. The church may be changing in ways we do not always understand, but its future is guaranteed by the faithfulness of God. We sometimes forget to factor in the power of God into our conversations and assume it’s all up to us.

Part of what the ship reminds me of is that God has been faithful to OLC for over 150 years. Likewise, God will continue to be faithful in the present and on into the future. God has been faithful to the church on earth for 2000 years. Do you think God is going to give up on us now? There’s not a chance.

God’s faithfulness allows us to approach the future with a sense of adventure rather than with a sense of fear. Sailing on a ship called “The Hope” is about recovering that sense of adventure.

If you want to get a sense of what the adventure of God’s church can be, I recommend reading the book of Acts. The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the first Christian churches beginning with the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. You will find stories of chance encounters, miraculous healings, surprise baptisms, martyrdom, powerful preaching, prison breaks, and ship wrecks. If the book of Acts is our guide for what church can be, we should prepare ourselves for the adventure of a lifetime.

In my ministry, I’ve gotten the sense that God’s mission in the world is always ahead of us, always on the horizon. Sometimes we lag behind it, so God drags us forward despite ourselves. Sometimes we drift off course, so God corrects our bearings. And sometimes we catch the wind just right, and we are filled with the joy of God’s adventure.

I believe we are sailing on a ship called Hope, sailing on the Holy Spirit’s wind. I am grateful for the opportunity to have gone on this adventure with Orfordville Lutheran, and I trust that the adventure continues. May the Spirit fill your sails with hope, faith, and love!

Written for the Brodhead Free Press and the Independent Register as part of their weekly “Pastor’s Corner” column.