How we got started…

Champions of Hope was started informally in the summer of 2007.  A handful of caring adults were serving at Cornerstone Baptist Church in the South Dallas community.  As they spent time with some of Cornerstone’s youth, they wanted to develop relationships with them that would expand into all areas of life including spiritual growth; family, church, and extra-curricular activities; school work and long-term academic success; and all other challenges of life that come with being a teenager.  The desire to see the hope of the Gospel growing and active in these children’s lives led the adults to commit to mentoring them. Many of these relationships, from 2007, are still strong and thriving (May 2010).

Harlem Globetrotters

As these initial mentoring relationships grew and the connection to the community was fostered by the time spent in it, hearts were stirred in the volunteers to have a greater impact on the South Dallas community as a whole.  The vision was cast to see the Gospel go out in South Dallas to impart long-term, generational change by reaching the future leaders of South Dallas – the children.

In 2008, the mentoring program was incorporated as Champions of Hope.  That fall a partnership was formed with Charles Rice Elementary (DISD) to reach the 4th and 5th grade students there with mentors.  Through the committed efforts of many and the support of The Village Church, CoH currently mentors 35 students.

Our hope has always been that these, and countless more, students will embrace the hope that is in Jesus Christ and that their lives will be transformed.  We are seeing this successfully manifested through the changes in each child academically, in their relationships, and how they serve as leaders in their schools and community.