The Hope QuotientSample

Jesus’ Great Commandment has two parts: To love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and spirits, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The divine call remains unchanged. 

A couple, Shawn and Kelly, became Christ-followers. After a couple of years figuring out what this new life was about, Shawn was asked by the homeless ministry to help make sandwiches and sort clothing on a Saturday. When his work was done, he noticed many homeless people riding bicycles away and pushing broken ones.

He’d grown up riding, racing, and working on bikes. He fixed one of the broken bikes right there that day with tools he kept in the back of his car. Then he fixed more bikes. When he saw that people depended on bicycles to get to shelters, find food, get medical care, or get jobs, he saw how he could make a difference. He launched Cycles 4 Hope and has now fixed or given away thousands of bikes. 

“The most important thing we’ve done is to restore hope and joy in the lives of people,” Shawn says.

Dan is another one who found his place by accident. Dan retired from the computer technology industry where he’d endured four job transitions and months without work. On his own, he began mentoring professionals who were going through job transitions. 

Shortly after he made a goal to volunteer more than he golfed, someone asked how our church could better support professionals going through job transitions. The next thing Dan knew, he was meeting with leaders and launching a program. With twenty-five volunteers, they opened and on the first night, 165 people showed up seeking assistance. 

Today, the ministry he started holds weekly seminars for teaching, encouragement, and practice; offers one-on-one coaching sessions; and hosts networking nights to connect employers and workers. 

Dan said, “We lift them up and give them the confidence to effectively communicate about themselves to potential employers. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.” 

We have countless opportunities to reach out in service to our communities. Loving God and helping people is the greatest job anyone can have.

Think Up:

For every story told, are a thousand untold. What’s even better than reading a cool story is being the story. This can happen through anyone—including you.

What is your part in unleashing hope in your community? (Read on).