Welcome to Season 2 of the Faithly Podcast. In this premiere episode, host Alicia Lee is joined by Pastor Steve Milazzo—Lead Pastor of Bethlehem Assembly of God and President of the Hope Day Network—to explore the powerful story behind Hope Day, a nationwide movement reshaping how churches serve their communities.

What began 15 years ago as a unified outreach in Hempstead and Uniondale has grown into a model for transformational compassion and collaboration. Pastor Steve recounts how a burden God placed on his heart as a teenager, to help people experience God’s love in tangible, practical ways, ignited a movement that has since served over 195,000 people.

Together, they walk through the evolution of Hope Day, from its roots as a single event to a decentralized network of churches hosting community-tailored outreaches across the country, outlining what makes each Hope Day so unique. Pastor Steve closes with a vision for what’s ahead, including the upcoming February 7 launch and how ministry leaders and churches can encounter new ways to connect through the Hope Day Network.

Website: https://www.hopedaynetwork.org/new/

(00:00) Obedience Before Outcomes: Trusting God with the Growth
(03:10) The First Hope Day
(07:09) What Hope Day Looks Like Today
(10:14) The Event Experience
(13:19) Growth and Expansion
(16:37) What the Network Provides
(24:51) From Despair to Hope Through Hope Day
(33:01) Discipleship, Unity, and Letting God Lead the Growth

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