I can’t write today’s blog without mentioning the loss of our colleague, Vivian Winslow. Vivian passed away very suddenly a few weeks ago, and the team here at Star of Hope has felt her loss terribly. With her unwavering dedication, Vivian was a beacon of hope for many here at Star of Hope, just as she was for countless others in her life. Losing her is akin to losing a part of this place’s soul. She has gone to her well-earned reward and, I have no doubt, is looking down on us as we continue to do God’s work.
We are now in a time when many people will choose to give to Star of Hope, and I hope you will consider giving generously. We indeed have needs to meet, and we can only do so because of the generosity of the people who support us. In my short time here, I have come to see Star of Hope as the evangelism of our time. Here, Christians show the love of Jesus for the world: God so loved the world that he gave his Son, and in turn, Christians so love the world that they love the least and the lost. And so, when the world demands, show me your faith, show me your God, we say, “Come and see.” I actually mean that literally.
I invite you to come and see God’s work in action. Come and see how, through structured recovery programs, we can make a difference in the lives of God’s broken children. Come and see our classrooms teaching GED, life skills and biblical counseling. Come and see our child care and after school tutoring. And come and see how we steer our clients toward employment, housing, and a better future. Come and see that Star of Hope is MORE THAN A SHELTER.
We continue to do all of this with God’s blessing and your help. This year, give the gift of a “fresh start” and know that you helped change a life.