Shawn Widenhofer (Mr. Wid or Wid) 

7/1/23

What service do you attend most and why?

The 9am service and online (kids’ program). It has become part of our Sunday routine.

Who do you attend with?

Immediate Family, Sharon, Sarah, Seth, Spencer

How long have you been attending HOPE?

Approximately 20 years

What brought you to HOPE?

My wife and our overall positive experience when we first moved to Cranberry Twp.

What keeps you at HOPE?

The relationships that have been formed as well as location and programming

What are some of your passions or hobbies?   

Volunteerism, creating things, whether it’s a computer program or something material.  I find it sometimes hard to believe the creativity and thinking outside the box that it takes to accomplish some tasks.  Bicycle riding, Youth Baseball, Stock Market

Have you been able to incorporate them into your life at HOPE?  

Yes, some of the property jobs that come up take some thinking ‘outside the box’ and ingenuity to fix or resolve.  I enjoy saving money by at least attempting to do some of it ourselves.

What volunteer activities do you do at Hope? 

I help with property committee tasks that need completed.  I have had a hand in all the major projects at Hope for about the last 10 years and know the building literally inside and out.  I also attended several mission trips with the youth group as chaperone.

How does your volunteerism at Hope or elsewhere make you feel? 

I move data around all day everyday so, I feel good when I am able to help others and enjoy doing things with my hands.  It makes me feel proud when I accomplish tasks that others need assistance with.

How does it support your life of faith?  

I believe volunteering in any form is a very important concept in all religions,  helping others when you can.

What other HOPE events and activities do you enjoy attending?  

Music Events, Car Cruise, Kickoff Sunday and of course Spring and Fall Clean up days 🙂, Mission Trips

What inspires you to attend activities or give of your time and talents at HOPE? 

I mainly do it out of respect for the elders in my life that have taught me how to be ‘handy’.  Monte, Will and Dave were all blue-collar workers and that was how I was brought up.  Working with your hands and getting dirty.  I enjoy being outside my comfort zone with tasks at Hope. Finally, learning from those experiences, that I will hopefully one day pass onto someone else in the same manner.

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Are there new or existing ministries that you’d like to get involved with, or learn more about?  

Maybe a bicycling/fellowship, and I would like to see Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University be reviewed and possibly offered to our members