Hope Rising: How Inclusion and Faith are Changing the Bay Area

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.
— Hebrews 11:1 NET

Hope may start as something we can’t see, it doesn’t stay that way. It rises every time we take a step forward until it becomes something bigger than we could ever imagine.

At BACC, we are devoted to making God known and doing good so that hope can rise in every home, neighborhood, and community we’re in.

When we started E-Sports, it was just a few parents creating a Saturday morning experience that all our kids could enjoy. We never imagined that we were building a program that would pioneer inclusion for those with special needs all over the world and gain the attention of professional sports teams.

The good news of our E-Hoops and Warriors clinic was broadcast 10 times this weekend on all four major networks in the Bay Area—ABC7, Fox, CBS, and NBC. We were excited to discover that this segment was even aired multiple times in Monterey and Los Angeles!

In addition to the impact of E-Sports, we are also creating new inclusive programs that make inclusion a way of life, both in the church and in our community. And that is hope rising.

As hope rises, it grows, expands, and spreads. My friend Voahangy Rasetarinera founded a bakery called The Giving Pies to give back to inclusive community programs like E-Sports and E-Life. Through her heart and persistence to give, Voahangy not only garnered overwhelming community support, but even won a “Woman of the Year” award as a woman making history in her district… and that is hope rising.

We need to see women like Voahangy and all the other women in the church empowered to lead and make a difference. At a time when many young women are leaving church because they don’t see a place for themselves, we are building a thriving women’s ministry where women see other women flourishing. And that is hope rising.

Eight years ago, we posted a Bible study online about living a spiritual life. We had no idea how important our work would become. We now have a library of content on deepspirituality.com that serves tens of thousands of people in the Bay Area and beyond who are searching for spiritual answers. This led us to release a book that helps people discover God for themselves … and that is hope rising.

In the 90 years since the BACC was founded, we have built a truly diverse culture where anyone—from any generation, background, gender, or ability—can feel heard and seen and loved. As we follow Jesus’s teachings, we are building a culture of humility, respect, and trust—a refuge for the world … and that is hope rising.

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we all have access to hope that rises. It is with this hope that we come together to make God known and do good, and it is with this hope that we invite you to join us. This hope is life-changing, it’s radical, it’s what changes the world. It’s. hope. Rising.

If you want to join us today, head over to bacc.cc/im-new. Tell us how you want to get involved, and we will keep you updated about all God is doing through us in the Bay Area and beyond.