Champions of Hope

We got the news a few weeks ago that we were going to be able to send 12 of our kids to summer camp with Mercy Street Ministries.  A few hours later, we learned that we (Carly and Jill) needed to join the kids and serve as counselors…

(That gave “sending kids to camp” a whole new meaning.  We aren’t just “sending”… we, in fact, are “going.”  We’ll be sleeping in the cabins.  We’ll be thrown off the blob.  We’ll be crying like babies on the top of the zip line… )

The plan is to load up and leave this Sunday to head down to Pine Cove Christian Camp in Columbus, Texas. There will be horseback riding, sports, games, arts and crafts, and of course evening activities which we’re told involve, ‘nerd square dances,’ ‘camo,’ and, ‘mud.’

There will be lots of activities, great food, and fellowship.  Most importantly this camp will be focused on the Lord.  We are praying this will be a week that will deepen our relationships with these kids, and each other. We are praying that our kids grow in, and start to desire an intimate relationship with our Lord.

We are so thankful for this opportunity. And we hope someday we’ll get the chance to take all of our kids.  We pray that this 6 days away at camp will be unforgettable to each child that goes.

Another cool story from Jack…

We went and saw a movie on a Wednesday night.  It was after dark getting him back so I was in a hurry to get him home.  It is a little unsettling for me to hang out in SouthD after dark so we pulled up to his house, I told him I had a good time and that I’d see him next week.  And he said “Hey, aren’t you going to pray?”

I had made a habit of every time I’d come down, before I’d drop him off, I’d pray over him before he got out of the car.  Well, being in a hurry on this night I was just trying to get him out the door and he totally called me out on it! So, we prayed.  I prayed for him and then he prayed for me.

It was very humbling, and I’m just pumped for more of these.

God IS Mighty to save, that’s all I got for any explanation because there is nothing I did, I feel awkward, out of place, and definitely outside of any confidence I may have. I don’t’ understand these things but they sure encourage the heck outta me.

~Jack Drake

This post was written by a devoted mentor, Chris Despain.  Chris has been mentoring J, a student from Charles Rice, for a year and a half.  He and his wife also moved into the South Dallas community this spring to be a part of the neighborhood and be closer to J and his family.

~Read Chris’ story below.  The kids’ names have been abbreviated.

“This past weekend [May 21-23], I took my mentee, J, and his brother, D, camping with my wife and sister.  We went to Possum Kingdom State Park, a short 2 ½ hour drive from South Dallas.  Originally, we were going to canoe on the Brazos River, but the day before we left, they decided to release some water from the dam, thereby closing the river.

The trip was a ton of fun.  We decided to go tubing on the lake Saturday – definitely a first for the boys. In fact, it was a trip full of firsts – first time in a tent, first time on a boat, first campfire, first s’more.  Honestly though, the trip was very challenging for me.  J doesn’t exactly like to listen and he often does things without asking.  Needless to say, I was on edge for most of the weekend.  I set pretty strict rules, and I was inflexible with them.

On the way home, I was really beating myself up mentally for being so hard on the boys.  While they were in good spirits, I feel they missed out on some of the fun I had on camping trips growing up.  Then, really out of nowhere, J said he wants to get baptized.  I had noticed before that he had been carrying around a pocket NKJV New Testament that he said he had been reading.  This spurred a 30 + minute conversation about God with the boys.  They asked so many ridiculous questions – often referencing South Park, American Dad (the Rapture) or Family Guy as the source of their misconceptions.

This question and answer session was incredibly encouraging.  It reminded me that in my immense weakness, God is supremely sufficient.  The boys not only had a great time, but it is becoming more and more clear to me that God is doing something in J’s heart.  This is a kid that asked to go to church with me and gets up at 7:30am on the weekend to do so.  He hums worship songs from church while he rides in the car.  He started reading the Bible on his own.  It is incredible.
While this was definitely a great trip just in that the boys got to experience new things and had a great time, I think I will be able to look back at this trip and see a vital turning point in my relationship with J.  He made it clear he wants to learn about Christ, and I am fortunate enough to be along for the ride as he gets to know our King!”

~Chris Despain

‘Ridiculous!!!’ you might be thinking… Well, half ridiculous for sure.

The last blog was posted on January 19th.  Guess what happened 8 days after that post? … The Champions of Hope Board of Directors met.

And they made a big decision—

If we are going to see change in lives in South Dallas, we need more healthy, thriving mentor relationships.  If we are going to match and support more mentor relationships to be healthy and thriving for years to come, we are going to need more staff to support them.  If we need more staff, we are probably going to have to pay them…

Goal: Raise enough funding by May 1 to hire our second staff person.

THAT is why there has been no blog post since January 19th.  This staff has been busy!!  And the efforts of the board and many volunteers in that fundraising effort have proven to be successful.  We should have a second person starting very soon!

And surely, SURELY this blog will be worth checking into every week or so.

In all seriousness, THANK YOU to those of you who have given time, effort, prayers, and cash.  We are grateful for every person that makes up this ministry.

Carly

I wanted to share this GREAT reflection on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by one of the students that we mentor.  Her words, spoken to her mentor, show that she really understands the impact that Dr. King made on our lives, even in 2010:

“Kacee, did you know that if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr didn’t change things, the world would be much worse…and we may not have had the chance to be friends like we are” ~ Charles Rice student

What a blessing to be a part of the reconciliation process: people to people, and people to the Creator God.  Thank you Dr. King for being far more than an activist, but an activist for the Lord Jesus Christ himself- without whom no hope for reconciliation would exist.