Reflections of Hope: Greg Hobby

SMPC Note: As part of our 2025 Operating Fund Campaign, Live Into Hope, we are highlighting four members’ experiences at SMPC as they live into the hope of God’s mercy and love at SMPC. We’ll share video and the transcripts each week. We hope you enjoy this series, Reflections of Hope, and consider making a pledge as we embrace the hope that flows from God’s grace, inspiring our collective efforts as a faith community.

Greg Hobby, Kickoff Sunday, October 6, 2024

Good Morning!  My name is Greg Hobby, and I serve as the chair of the Stewardship Committee. My wife, Julie, and my family have been members here since the early 2000’s when our two children were baptized over in Mecklenburg Hall.

The Stewardship Committee is responsible for organizing the congregation’s operating fund campaign. Each Sunday in October you will hear from one of the Stewardship Committee members about our theme, Live into Hope, and related scripture verse, Ephesians 1 verses 17-19. Our committee spent time over the summer discussing this and related scriptures to consider how we are led, inspired and blessed by being a part of South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church.

Today, I want to highlight one section of the Ephesians scripture which says “I ask…the God of glory .. to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally”.

“Intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally” – when we read that this summer I thought, what a powerful expectation. How do we become intelligent and discerning enough to know God personally?

Then, as I considered this further – how would I describe that I know God personally, I think about how this church and our ministers help me to make this connection. I listen to Matt’s, Whitney’s and Lindsey’s messages – and how they help me see God’s work in our lives and in the world around us – and what is expected of me. Something that Matt says regularly – as Christians we are charged by God with simple expectations – Love God and Love Neighbor. I, like most, fall short of this expectation, but part of our charge for stewardship is to strive to live into this goal.

I think about our church’s missions and outreach – areas that I personally engage in like the partnership with Smithfield Elementary with school supplies and backpacks. Seeing our congregation members of all ages come together to provide something that our neighbors need to be successful early in the education journey – it shows me God is at work here at SMPC. Julie and I tutor at Smithfield each week along with about 15 other church members and other community volunteers. Julie and I each work with two students 1 on 1 in building their confidence in math through the Heart Math program. It’s about improving their math skills, but it is also about being an adult in their life that does not bring any judgment – only support and love.

Love God and Love Neighbor – I see that in action as members of this congregation participate in the Crop Walk today to address hunger needs in our community.

I see it as we support those in western North Carolina who are striving to put their lives back together following the disastrous storm. This congregation has already started with financial support – and that will need to continue. I am sure there will come a time where “our hands and feet of Jesus” in this world will be called to action on the ground. Pray for those impacted.

So how do I think about “knowing God personally”? I see it in the way He influences me to be a part of this church’s efforts to serve in our missions and outreach. I see it in how this ministry touches so many lives here in this building and out in the world.

Commitment Sunday will be October 27^th. We ask that you respond to the campaign any time between now and then. If you have questions about the campaign, feel free to ask me or other Stewardship Committee members, or MK.

Being a financial steward for what happens here at SMPC is important to support the work of our ministers and members, and your pledge helps us plan what we can do in 2025. Also, being the “hands and feet of Jesus” in this world is important to SMPC’s stewardship work, and I encourage you to find your own area where God is calling you to act.

Thank you for your time and continued commitment to the work of this church.