During the 2026 Rio Texas Annual Conference, attendees were invited to share where they have seen hope in their churches, communities, and personal lives. While every story is unique, each one points to the same truth: God is still at work among us.

Hope in Faithful People

By Robert Knappage, Alamo United Methodist Church

"When I think about hope at Alamo UMC, I don't think about a single event. I think about the people.

When I arrived, we were facing some real challenges. Attendance was down, finances were tight, and like many churches, we were wondering what the future might look like. But what I saw was a congregation that refused to quit. People kept showing up. They kept praying. They kept serving. They kept believing that God still had a purpose for this church.

And little by little, we've seen signs of God's faithfulness. New faces in worship. Children learning about Jesus. New Bible studies. New ministry opportunities. People stepped up to help when help was needed.

To me, that's hope—not that everything is perfect, but that God is still at work. Alamo UMC has taught me that hope is trusting God when you can't see the whole picture yet. And I truly believe God is still writing our story, and the best is yet to come."

Hope in a Growing Congregation

Shared anonymously

One conference participant chose to remain anonymous while sharing this reflection on the hope they see in their local church:

"I've seen hope in our congregation as we continue to grow and become more united as one. We're seeing our church community increase, and it's especially encouraging to welcome more children into our congregation."

Sometimes hope is found in remarkable moments, and other times it is found in the steady growth of a congregation, stronger relationships, and the joyful presence of children in worship. Both stories remind us that God continues to work in and through the churches of the Rio Texas Conference.

Thank you to everyone who shared their stories. May these reflections encourage us to keep looking for the ways God is bringing hope to our churches, communities, and lives each day.