Hope Dealers: Sharing the Gift That Changes Lives

Many of you know the phrase “it’s the toughest job you’ll ever love,” made popular by the Peace Corps in the early 1960s. This describes the work at Collins Family Ministries and similar organizations across our state and country. Serving children, at-risk youth, and families can be difficult, but it is also rewarding.

The Power of Hope

At a recent Cosmopolitan Woman’s Club Meeting (a local non-profit club that assists with our work at Collins), I heard Dr. Beverly J. Armento share her childhood story. Dr. Armento is the author of the book "Seeing Eye Girl: A Memoir of Madness, Resilience, and Hope." As she spoke, I was drawn into her story, and once again, I was confronted with the truth: we all need people in our lives who make us feel hopeful.

When we feel hopeful, things shift; impossible situations have solutions, the downtrodden believe, the exhausted regain strength, and the disappointed can learn to trust again. Hope matters more than you think, and giving hope to others is a gift we can give. The gift of hope can start with a smile or kind word, but true hope has a singular source.

The True Source of Hope

The type of hope I believe in is found throughout the Bible. According to what I know to be true, hope is rooted in the Lord (Ps 39:7), it provides hope for our future (Jer 29:11), it is an anchor for the soul (Heb 6:19), and it gives us a reason to rejoice (Rom 12:12). I could go on, but I think you get the point. The type of hope we all need does not come from humans, but it is made visible through humans. The Lord Jesus is the source of hope; we are simply His chosen hope dealer.

Becoming a Hope Dealer

Yes, you read that correctly. Once we have received the hope of Christ, we are His chosen Hope Dealers. Working at Collins Family Ministries gives me the privilege to Deal Hope every day. I see people with no hope become new creations. I watch children create new family trees and parents choose to believe again. It all starts with just one Hope Deal.

Join the Mission

At Collins, we are looking for volunteers who are willing to join our efforts to help children, at-risk youth, and families in our community, Rise and Shine! For information on how to become a Hope Dealer at Collins, call 864.882.0893 or click the ‘learn more’ button below!