This month we want to give an #HFKvolunteershoutout to Janetta Katykhin! Janetta started volunteering with us in January—Janetta, it’s been such a blessing to see your heart to serve! Thank you for giving your time to the children of Springfield. You are an encouragement to us!
#HFKmoments
#HFKmoments
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? “Superman. Because I could fly.”
From Megan this week
The first three verses of Psalm 127 have been such a blessing to me lately: “Unless the Lord builds a house, they who build it labor in vain; unless the Lord guards a city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is futile for you to rise up early, to stay up late, to eat the bread of painful labor; for He gives to His beloved sleep.” I am so thankful for this reminder of how trustworthy and faithful our God truly is. No matter how hard we work at whatever we set our mind to, He is ultimately in control.
This weekend at Club Hope, I’m planning a special time just for the girls who have been coming to Hope for Kids for years and are now in their teens. I’m bringing my espresso maker and a stack of cute journals and planning to just sit with them in the kitchen at the Mission, talk to them about the Lord, and be there for any conversations that are ready to happen. I’ve been thinking about what to share with these girls for weeks, and what comes most naturally to me is just to throw together an outline around what I think would touch their hearts the most. But I don’t want to share something with them just because I think it would help them. I want to let the Lord show His love to them through whatever topic and whatever words He gives me. Unless He leads, our labor is in vain. As hard as we work to protect the ones we care about, He is the One who guards His children. No flat-out early morning or late night could prepare us better for whatever is in front of us than the simple act of surrendering our work to Him and trusting Him to help us work out the details. It is so humbling, and so safe at the same time, to know that God is in control!
Please be praying for this new teen time, and for all of our volunteers and staff as we prepare to share Jesus with our kids this weekend.
Megan
#HFKmoments
#HFKmoment of the week:
What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
“Having a sister. She doesn’t annoy me that much.”
From Erika this week
I am excited to share a new story with the kids this coming Club Hope. I am writing a series that will allow the kids to be a part of each story and in the interaction come out learning a truth that will change their lives. How do I know? Because the truths have changed MY life!
Last month I shared with the kids story number one about some twins- a boy and a girl- who were gripped with fear. They had little knowledge of God, but knew they did not want to continue living a life of fear. When they learned that they could ask God for wisdom, they found he answered with some clues that led them to a mountain path. At the end of the path they found a road leading to the right and one to the left. Each road led to a castle- kingdoms that each had their own ruler. The kids in attendance (about 25!) got to play the part of the twins and question each ruler about their kingdom. When they asked I would first answer for the bad kingdom (not telling them which was which) and then answer for the good. I am telling the truth....I got so choked up answering some of the questions on behalf of the "good ruler" because I am so grateful to be a part of God's kingdom! My king, Jesus, is so close to me. Kids asked questions like: What can you do in your castle? How many people live there? What do you want in return? How many servants do you have? Do you have a lot of rules? How long have you been around? What kind of promises do you make? (I challenge you to think how you would answer!)
They were good questions and I was honored to answer on behalf of Jesus. When the final clue came drifting down on a piece of paper- it held the answer to the question about how to live without fear. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. I was able to tell them that only one ruler actually loves all of his subjects and that it was HIS love that would drive away all of the twins' (and their own!) fears. They all decided that HIS kingdom was the one to choose!
Please pray for me as the story continues next Club Hope. This time they will learn about the Secret Place of the Most High. The place they can always go to be safe and find peace and true love.
These stories are coming from my own personal walk with Jesus. My mind goes to the tabernacle and the walk from the outer courts, to the Holy Place, and finally (thanks to the cross and the torn veil!) right into the Holy of Holies. I've imagined myself walking in there. There is no sickness, pain of any kind, hurt, fear, anxiety, or depression in that place. But it is a learned thing to get there. And He will be the one leading you there through the promises in His Word! I am opting to use the imagery of Psalm 91 (the secret place of the Most High) for the kids instead of the Tabernacle, but it is the same idea. I hope you let God's Word come alive for you!
#HFKmoments
What are three things that make you feel happy?
“My dog, my dad and my mom. My dog, because we fight and it’s fun. My dad, same thing. My mom, because she’s there for me.”
The Mission: before and after!
Check out these before and afters of our building! God has been so faithful—have you heard the story of how Hope for Kids came to have our very own building?
The Lion's Den, a ministry formerly based out of Indian Orchard in Springfield, contacted Pastor Matt in late February 2018 and asked for a meeting. This seemed completely out of the blue, but God had a plan! The Lion's Den had a presence in the Springfield area for almost twenty years, accomplishing a mission similar to ours as they reached children with the Gospel and built relationships with the kids who were a part of their programs. Many of their kids "aged out" of the Lion's Den's target age group and a lot of their volunteers moved on. They were ready to pass on their mission, building, supporters, and community connections to a ministry that could pick up where they left off: and they called Hope for Kids.
God opened this door in His perfect timing. This new building in the Indian Orchard area brings many new opportunities for our ministry. As a way to honor the Lion's Den and continue the connection for many community members who already know this building as "the Den", we began calling our new Outreach Center the Hope for Kids Den. In 2020 as God made our community mission more clear, the building’s name changed to the Front Street Mission.
Owning our own building has opened so many doors into this community: our monthly Club Hope programs are currently hosted at the Mission, and it’s also been home to many community dinners, Christmas gift ministry days and Family Church Sundays. Impact Hope team members use this as a place to meet and regroup before and after Impact Clubs during the summer. This space God has given us is truly a house of prayer, completely dedicated to His work. Being physically present within the Springfield community and having a home address for our growing ministry has given us public visibility and credibility, and even better, a chance to minister to those who come in off the street looking for someone to talk to about God.
We are so thankful for all the progress that has already been made in renovating this space to make it even more effective and welcoming to our families—and we are still a work in progress! If you or your church would like more information on how you can get involved in ongoing building needs and work projects, leave a comment on this post and we’ll be in touch.
From Jeb this week
I would like to begin by asking all readers to take an extra moment from your busy day and read Romans 11:33-12:3. In light of the Supreme God that we serve, I am moved to call out to each of you this day to put yourself into perspective. The passage begins with distinguishing the Infinite God from the finite man, for the last three verses in chapter 11 can only be said of Almighty God. However, the following three verses show exactly what our only acceptable response is: total sacrifice of our complete selves in holiness to God. We are to be transformed from thinking and acting like the rest of the world to thinking and acting with a mindset from God. Maybe this looks like not measuring our days in $/hour, whether it’s $10/hr or $1,000/hr (Luke 12:15), and starting to spend every hour consciously living a sacrificially holy life with the intent of completing reasonable service to the God whose wisdom and knowledge is infinitely beyond ours. I praise the Lord for you and hope we can together encourage each other to good works (Hebrews 10:24).
— Jeb
Impact Hope 2022 is just around the corner: share this with your church!
Check out this year’s Impact Hope promo video!
Teens, church leaders, and parents: you are invited to attend Impact Hope Information Day on April 2! This is a perfect time for you to learn more about Impact Club Training and the Impact Hope summer opportunity, meet the team, and ask any questions you may have. This information event will be held at the Mission (our building: 40 Front Street in Indian Orchard) from 11am-1pm.
Church leaders: here’s another version of this year’s promo video & a bulletin insert flyer for Impact Hope Information Day. We would be so thankful if you would like to share these with your church!
Pray for our kids.
Here are a few ways you can be praying for the children we reach in Springfield!
Pray that God’s Word sown into their life would be both heard and understood and take root in their life, like the seed that fell on the good ground, bearing fruit and producing a hundred times over. (Matthew 13:23)
Pray that they would confess with their mouths, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead, and accept His gift of salvation. (Romans 10:9)
Pray that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Pray that though they walk in the midst of trouble, God will revive them, that He would stretch out His hand against their enemies, and save them with His right hand. (Psalm 138:7)
Pray that they would walk with the Lord and come to personally know who He is: a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15.)
Pray that our God will supply every one of their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
Pray that they will not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of their minds. (Romans 12:2)
Pray that they would be drawn to the love of God as their Father—that they would see kind of love the Father has given to us, that they should be called children of God. (1 John 3:1)