lifeasmission

The Door of Hope

May 11, 2007

A few of us from the church community I am a part of have begun serving at a local project called the Door of Hope.  Basically, this non-profit organization takes in homeless families and walks them through a year long process in an attempt to help them become self-sustaining.

Families are referred to The Door of Hope from any number of sources.  If they are accepted, they spend 6 months living in the main house while they participate in financial seminars, parenting classes, counseling, and Bible studies.  After these six months are up they are invited to move into an apartment behind the main house where they have a bit more independence, they solidify themselves with employment, and they continue to participate in the life if this small community. 

It has been an absolute joy to get to know the families that live at the Door of Hope.  A few weeks ago, The Door of Hope held a wedding ceremony for four couples currently living there.  One couple had never been married and three others had never had the opportunity to do any sort of public and meaningful ceremony.  I was able to shoot video and take pictures while others from our community played with some of the children, got to know the residents and friends of families, and were available to help with whatever else came up.  It was one of the most beautiful and touching things I had ever been a part of. 

A number of us are committed to being at The Door of Hope each Tuesday evening to share a meal with the residents and to continue building relationships, but our hope is that those relationships and our connection to these families will run quite a bit deeper than Tuesdays.  We are hoping to become, in the truest sense of the word, friends with those who live at The Door of Hope and it’s a thrill to watch it beginning to become a reality.

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