Kids Hope: One Child, One Hour, One Church, One School

Two weeks ago I preached a sermon on God’s provision in desperate situations. One of the application points was look for those around you who are dealing with despair and anxiety and look for ways to point them to the hope and peace we have in Christ. As the academic year is almost in full swing and many of us are beginning to establish schedules and routines, I would like to encourage all of you to get involved with Kids Hope, a ministry whose primary job is pointing desperate children to the hope and peace in Christ.

Kids Hope is a nationwide ministry that partners with churches and enables them to partner with local schools. For the past several years New Life has been sending volunteers to Pleasantview Elementary and Yorktown Elementary schools to meet with and mentor “at risk” students. These students are considered “at risk” if they are struggling academically or socially or if they come from broken or difficult home environments. A mentor is only required to give up one hour a week to spend with their child. During that time you can help them work on their school work or homework, sit and talk with them, or if you’re really lucky sometimes you get to go outside and play tag or four square. The commitment is very small, but the impact is tremendous. In past years, many families have been touched with the gospel through New Life and Kids Hope, and we have even seen some start attending New Life.

During the years that I have been involved in Kids Hope I have been richly blessed by seeing how God uses my meager efforts to encourage others. But every time I go to the elementary school, I always notice several more children that desperately want mentors and need people like you in their lives. To become a mentor, all you need to do is find the time in your schedule and go through the short training session with our Kids Hope coordinator. Kids Hope is beginning on Sept. 20. I urge all of you to prayerfully consider getting involved in this ministry that is making a tremendous impact on the students and families in Yorktown. There are many students that need the gospel and need to experience Jesus in the flesh; please help them see His hope and peace.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” ~Matthew 9:36-38

In Him,
Adam