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Hope’s Place About: Hope’s Place is a victim-focused, children’s advocacy center that provides a safe atmosphere, lessens trauma and promotes healing by maximizing services through a multi-disciplinary team approach for child victims of sexual abuse. Hope’s Place actively seeks to reduce the occurrence of sexual abuse and heighten awareness through prevention education. Facts: Statistics show that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by the time they are 18. In other words; 400,000 babies born this year in the United States will be sexually abused before they turn 18. Children are the victims in 66% of all sexual offenses reported to law enforcement. It is estimated that this crime is severely underreported and that the actual numbers are much higher. Sexual abuse is a genderless crime void of socioeconomic limitations. Studies show up to 90% of children who are victims of sexual abuse know their abuser and 60% of

I am a “cut to the chase” kind of girl.  I like to take the shortest route and find the end as quickly and efficiently as possible. If I can skip a step or two and come to a viable conclusion—perfect! Done. But, a few years ago, at a writer’s conference, I was challenged with these words by Lysa TerKeurst, “The process is the point.”  These are the kind of words that echo in my mind for days, weeks, or even years.  “The process is the point.” We can also say:  The trials are relevant. There is a purpose for this season. Circumstances don’t define us. That last one is tough but so true. Circumstances aren’t meant to define us– They are meant to refine us, but the refining comes through defining decisions.   Abraham knows about defining decisions. At 75 years old, Abram, and his wife Sarai were childless.

I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions…well, not anymore. I quickly learned that resolutions are counter-productive. Whatever I resolved to stop doing became even more appealing, and whatever I vowed to start doing became ever-more appalling. My focus became skewed by what I couldn’t have or had to do instead of focusing on the right thing.   I do like the word resolution, though. Resolution means: the ACT of finding an answer to a solution or conflict bringing something to an end the ability to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail.   Resolution is a word of action whose purpose is outcome and clarity, much like a goal. But, goals, like resolutions, have a way of shifting my focus sometimes. If I’m not careful, I can focus too much on checking that goal off my list and forget to keep it in God’s perspective and

One of my favorite aspects of the Word of God is that it is truly active and alive. I don’t care how many times I’ve read through it or even just read a particular passage; I can always find something new and relevant.  Reading the book of Matthew this past week, I was newly struck by the recurring phrase, “as was foretold by the prophets.” These six words are so powerful and pertinent, bringing greater relevance to everything that surrounds them—exposing the greater purpose of Jesus’ life and ministry.  These words proclaim that Jesus isn’t just a great man or another prophet, as some thought. He is the Messiah, as was foretold by the prophets. Jesus is God’s love and mercy sent to us to be the blood sacrifice to pay for my sin and the sin of all humanity. Everything Jesus did on earth was to fulfill God’s purpose

Backpack Buddies Changing the lives of children one weekend at a time.   Backpack Buddies is an organization dedicated to reducing the effects of childhood hunger by providing nutritious, easy-to-prepare food over the weekend to children residing in food-insecure homes in Lawrence County, Ohio. Backpack Buddies serves children and families in Lawrence County, Ohio through our Backpack Program and Emergency Food program. Children struggling with hunger come from families who are struggling too.   Listen to our Community Matters Interview with Jodie Hunt:     To learn more about Backpack Buddies, visit their website. Jodie Hunt, Program Coordinator Backpack Buddies PO Box 522, Ironton, Ohio 45638 740.534.3550  

This time of year, it is easy to think about those less fortunate and have fallen on hard times.  There is more focus on food pantries, Angel Trees, and shelters as the temperatures drop and the push for Christmas gifts hits full tilt, which is all good stuff! We definitely should keep these things in mind all year round.  But, I don’t want to talk about the Matthew 25 type of “least of these.” I’d like to talk about the Luke 2, “least of these.” The Shepherds. These guys are the lowly rabble in Biblical culture, yet God chose them, gave them a special Herald Dispatch announcement, if you will, to tell them that His Son was here. His promise was on track for fulfillment.  Why the Shepherd?  I think it’s because they would listen, for one. They weren’t so caught up in social status or even social etiquette, for