Ripples of HOPE by Lauree Padgett

Sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the problems of the world — wars and famines, disease, racism, religious intolerance, vanishing resources — and to feel helpless. This frustration was eloquently addressed by Senator Robert F. Kennedy in June 1966 at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Kennedy said, in part: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others … he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

This church is full of people who are all about sending out ripples of hope. If there’s a need in or outside the church, chances are, an individual or a group at HOPE is involved. This will be the case on Saturday, April 12, when the men’s group and Hope for Africa will be working together to present “A Day of Hope” that will be sending some much needed ripples to families within the local community and to children thousands of miles away.

“A Day of Hope” will begin with the spring craft show that will benefit The Good Looking Foundation, which provides respite to families dealing with children on the autism spectrum. Kids get programs staffed by licensed therapists, while parents can have much-needed down time. After a successful trial program at HOPE that involved 10 families, a new 8-week program will begin here April 26, with an enrollment of 20 families.

The vendors will hardly have put their wares away when Christopher Westfall will begin preparing for his 7 p.m. concert. Westfall, an accomplished singer-songwriter whose CDs are getting airplay around the country, is lending his voice to Hope for Africa’s Humble Place, an orphanage in Uganda that provides shelter, food, clothing, education, and spiritual guidance to children who have lost their parents to the AIDS epidemic or the ongoing civil war. All proceeds from each $15 ticket will go to the Humble Place. Tickets are on sale today in the lobby.

Become part of the ripple of Hope. Find great items at the craft fair and then come relax and enjoy a concert that will make you feel good.

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