Sunday, August 29 was a special day for Show Hope and a special day for the children at Christ Community Church in Franklin (just outside Nashville). It was “Show Hope Day” for the children’s ministry. Christ Community is Steven and Mary Beth’s home church (mine too) and Steven, Mary Beth, and Emily shared with more than 300 children and leaders about all that God is doing through Show Hope in the world of orphan care and adoption.

MBC and Shaoey reading "Shaoey and Dot"

Steven led worship and sang his new song “Meant to Be” which will be on the VeggieTales Christmas DVD, Emily gave a wonderful talk about the needs of orphans around the world and how all of us can help, and Mary Beth read from the book, Shaoey and Dot. Afterward, the children were all given a craft project that incorporated a picture of one of the children currently being cared for at Maria’s Big House of Hope. With the project, they were asked to list five things they could pray for the kids at MBHOH. It was a fun morning of ministry, engaging children and families of our home church on behalf of the world’s waiting orphans.

I have been welcomed into the Let It Shine family will open arms and am so very thankful for the ministry that they have here in middle Tennessee. Let It Shine is dedicated to teaching children excellent gymnastics in a positive, encouraging, Christ-centered atmosphere! In addition to all the amazing gymnastics that takes place in their facility, they are also dedicated to raising awareness about important causes. And so, my father-in-law and the rest of the Let It Shine family have gladly welcomed the presence of Show Hope at the gym! How cool is this??  They have offered us space in their Pro Shop to sell some of our new Show Hope apparel!! We have hats, necklaces, scarves, tote bags, adult tees, youth tees and toddler tees now available for purchase there. If you live in the middle Tennessee area and are looking for some Show Hope product, then swing by the gym (1892 General George Patton Drive, Franklin, TN) and pick up your favorite tee or tote!

Again, we at Show Hope are so grateful to the entire team at Let It Shine for this amazing opportunity and for their commitment to raise awareness about the global orphan crisis. Many kids and families come into this gym, and it is our hope that they will leave the gym more educated about the millions of children around our world currently growing up without anyone to be there for them, without anyone to take them to a gym to play.

“We’ve prayed for months that each evening of this tour be an opportunity to ponder important things, and to celebrate the hope we have in Jesus, the great hope I’m so thankful continues to carry us all,” comments Chapman.

Mary Beth Chapman, Show Hope’s president, will join SCC for the first time ever on the tour. She will share her journey as reflected in her book, Choosing To See, co-written with Ellen Vaughn. MBC will open up about how she has wrestled with God even as she has allowed him to write her story–both during times of happiness and those of tragedy. The band Caleb, featuring Caleb and Will Franklin Chapman, will also be participating in this special family tour!

The tour kicks off next week on September 10 in Lancaster, PA and runs through November 21 in Joppa (Baltimore), MD.We look forward to seeing grant families and meeting Show Hope sponsors on the road this fall! For tickets, visit stevencurtischapman.com.

9/10 - Lancaster, PA - American Music Theatre
9/11 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre
9/12 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Faith Assembly of God
9/16 - Westerville, OH - Grace Brethren Church
9/17 - Cincinnati, OH - Landmark Baptist Temple
9/18 - Willoughby Hills, OH - Willoughby Hills Friend Church
9/23 - Chattanooga, TN - Abba’s House
9/30 - Little Rock, AR - Church at Rock Creek
10/1 - Murray, KY - Lovett Auditorium
10/2 - Ft. Wayne, IN - First Assembly of God
10/3 - Springfield, MO - Remington’s
10/5 - Louisville, KY - Southeast Christian Church
10/7 - Houston, TX - Houston’s First Baptist Church
10/14 - Durham, NC - King’s Park International Church
10/15 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Civic Center
10/16 - Thomasville, GA - Thomasville Municipal Auditorium
10/17 - Ft. Myers, FL - McGregor Baptist Church
10/21 - Holland, MI - Central Wesleyan Church
10/22 - Merrillville, IN - Star Plaza Theatre
10/23 - Elgin, IL - Harvest Bible Chapel
10/24 - Davenport, IA - Adler Theatre
10/28 - Myrtle Beach, SC - Beach Church
10/29 - Jacksonville, FL - First Baptist of Jacksonville
10/30 - Ft. Pierce, FL - Westside Baptist Church
11/11 - Knoxville, TN - Knoxville Civic Auditorium
11/12 - Simpsonville, SC - Brookwood Church
11/13 - Aiken, SC - Millbrook Mountain Baptist Church
11/14 - Birmingham, AL - Shades Mountain Baptist Church
11/18 - Troy, OH - Hobart Arena
11/19 - Cicero, NY - Believer’s Chapel
11/20 - Joppa, MD - Mountain Christian Church
11/21 - Joppa, MD - Mountain Christian Church

We hope that families will watch the Show Hope video in the bonus features and consider joining this movement to care for orphans by participating in Change for Orphans, making a donation to Show Hope, or becoming Show Hope sponsors.

The It’s a Meaningful Life DVD also includes a new song from Steven Curtis Chapman, titled “Meant to Be.” The music video released on Friday, and features several photos and video clips from Show Hope grant recipient families whose children have come home! Consider how your family can help care for orphans in distress this Christmas by watching VeggieTales and becoming involved with Show Hope.

Show Hope has also linked arms with Hope for Orphans, a ministry of FamilyLife, and Focus on the Family for the 2010 Cry of the Orphan campaign. Together we are creating a special, one-hour program called Answer the Cry in support of Orphan Sunday. The program features Francis and Lisa Chan, Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman, Mark Shultz, and more! This November 7th is Orphan Sunday, which is an excellent opportunity for you to engage your family, community, friends, or church to care for orphans. Learn more at www.showhope.org/orphansunday. Stay tuned for more information on this special opportunity. This program will be webcast for you to use at your event or church on Orphan Sunday! Learn more at www.cryoftheorphan.org

A few months ago I was reading a series of fiction books, and I was struck by a verse that I’ve heard too many times to count, Jeremiah 29:11. It was used several times in the series, so that’s why it was on my heart daily…right? Pure coincidence that while reading the series the verse was brought up in a sermon, right? The third time I heard the verse, in a movie, I knew God was speaking to me.

My first time going into a room to play with the babies here at MBHOH, my heart broke for this one little boy, Asher. The rest of the day I was unable to get him out of my mind. I couldn’t shake the sorrow my heart was feeling for him. Who wakes him on his birthday singing happy birthday? Who will take him to his first day of school? Who will cheer for him at school functions?

The next morning,  I still couldn’t stop thinking of Asher. I heard that verse yet again, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Just a few hours later I learned that this little one, who was so heavy on my heart, will soon be going home to his forever family. One day, I walked into his room and saw that his shirt said “Daddy loves me.” Oh little buddy, you have no idea just how much!!! Again I thought, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.” For the rest of the trip, I was comforted with the knowledge that everyone at MBHOH, nannies and even myself, is held in the palm of our Heavenly Father’s hand. He has a plan, and I am so grateful to be part of it!

Blessings,

Lindsey

Lord, raise up college students who will spark a fire at their school with their passion to care for orphans.

This prayer is continually on our hearts at Show Hope, and was featured as our “Daily Prayer” yesterday. I can tell this resonated with many of you by the response it received on Twitter and Facebook! As I read the prayer yesterday morning, I couldn’t help but smile…I planned to go to lunch that day with two very special college students!

Ginna Claire Mason and Alexa Behar joined Emily, Julia, and I for lunch in downtown Franklin in the precious last few days before they return to Elon University in North Carolina. Along with their small group at school, these girls joined the movement to care for orphans by raising more than $5000 in three days!!

While home on a break last spring, these young women were given twenty dollars through the “Living A Better Story” program at Brentwood United Methodist Church, located just outside of Nashville. The program was inspired by Donald Miller’s latest book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, and included a devotional that they were to read through as they discerned what to do with their funds. They were asked to pray over and invest in a ministry or person outside of the walls of the church.

Alexa suggested that they raise the funds for Show Hope, and Ginna Claire and their college small group got on board with full force! They raised the funds by asking friends to donate “meal swipes” in their school’s cafeteria, selling cupcakes and hand-made pieces of art, and through “dorm storms,” where they asked their classmates to donate spare change to change the world for orphans. These girls are showing hope to their school in an exciting way, and they are already planning their next fundraiser for Show Hope this fall!

I have been in on the recent Show Hope meetings where we’ve dreamed about and planned new student initiatives, and these ladies are definitely an inspiration to us! I hope you will continue to join me in prayer for Alexa and Ginna Claire, the students from our youth trips this summer, and the millions of college students across the nation who are heading back to school.

“It is hard to imagine our lives without Aubrie, our little princess from Korea. Our son, who is 23 months older, absolutely adores her. Aubrie brings us unmeasurable joy. I learned many things in the adoption journey.

I have wanted to adopt since I was a child. I was surprised at how adoption parallels a pregnancy in many ways. The waiting is a different kind of labor. I realized in new ways God’s passion for the fatherless as I saw Him bend over backward over and over again to bring in the finances needed to bring our little girl home. I discovered it was more challenging than I expected and more rewarding than I had dreamed. Adoption is no doubt a miracle. Thank you to all of the Show Hope sponsors who allowed themselves to be used by God in our journey!”

-Heather Dickinson

Today we celebrated the birthday of Show Hope’s social media guru, Melissa Wheatley! Melissa keeps this blog (as well as any number of other things at Show Hope) going strong. As is our office tradition at Show Hope, our birthday celebrations culminate in a fabulous dessert! Today, much to everyone’s delight, Melissa chose to go to Nati*creme, here in Franklin, for her birthday treat!

Naticakes (now expanded to also include Nati*creme) recently worked to raise funds to build a playground for the children at Maria’s Big House of Hope in China. The mission of Naticakes/Nati*creme is to support the Natalie Wynn Carter Foundation through the proceeds of the business. The Natalie Wynn Carter Foundation’s focus is two-fold: 1) to enrich the lives of children through providing spaces for them to play, as well as, 2) to come alongside other organizations that do great work in the lives of children. Having Melissa’s birthday there seemed particularly fitting since 23 years ago today, our sweet friend and co-worker was born in South Korea. Only four short months after her birth, she traveled home to her forever family here in the U.S.

Through my work at Show Hope, I am often reminded how God continues to work on behalf of the more than 140 million waiting children around the world, and encouraged by how so many are joining hands in this movement to care for orphans. Whether you are adding to your family through adoption, becoming a foster parent, setting aside a portion of your business’s profits for orphan care, becoming a Show Hope sponsor, or any number of other ways people are becoming a part of this work, God has given us a unique opportunity to see his kingdom break through in the lives of these children. You can be a part. Join us today…