As I write this, new Directors from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa are one floor below me at Director Training. It is a room overflowing with energy, laughter, and passion to see church members engaged in “I-believe-in-you” relationships with at-risk neighborhood children. It is simply beautiful.
Two things strike me about this group. First, their diversity. Churches ranging in size from under 75 to over 1,000 have sent Directors to training. They come from towns of 5,000 to cities of 200,000 in urban, rural and suburban settings. They come from denominations across the spectrum of Christian churches, who play different styles of music, baptize with different amounts of water, recite different creeds, and differ wildly on issues ranging from the end times to good coffee.
What’s even more striking is their similarities. I could go on and on about their common vision, mission, and passion. But let me focus on one remarkable similarity. Every one of these new churches first learned about Kids Hope USA the same way. How you ask?
A director, pastor, mentor or prayer partner shared about the difference KHUSA is making in their life, their church, and in the life of a child. Somebody took a moment to pass the vision along. Someone just like you. A simple meeting, phone call, or if you’re like me, cup of coffee to share about KHUSA was the spark that will lead to hundreds more children receiving God’s hope and love from a faithful mentor friend.
Simply beautiful.
Reaching 12,168 children through 742 church-school partnerships…and growing!