We are so excited to announce a new, first time ever event for our Mission of Hope Scholarship Program called “Feed Their Future”. Please make plans to come out and have an awesome dinner this weekend at Puelo’s Grille and Chili’s. They will both be donating a portion of their food sales to the Mission of Hope Scholarship Program. Please remember to let the staff know that you are there to help the Mission of Hope; when you get there and/or order your food.

A very special thank you to our Mission of Hope friends at Service Provider Group for their assistance and support in putting this awesome event together.

Thanks for your friendship and come out for “A Great Meal”…the Feed Their Need!

Sincerest regards,
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director

I shared with you in our recent MOH Prayer Request Update about a very urgent request for the family of one of our Mission of Hope Scholars. Her name is Jessica Caldwell and she was one of our first ever Scholarship Students in the class of 2009 Winners. She is a textbook example of someone who “Dared To Dream” and just needed some assistance and help to get there. She has excelled in college and has even become an inspiration to other friends and family members as well. We are extremely proud of her and all that she continues to accomplish. And now she is going through a very sad crisis and needs our help.

Jessica has two sisters that were involved in a horrible automobile accident in Bell County, KY about 10 days ago. Her sister Sharon was tragically killed in the accident. And her sister Crystal was severely injured and the baby she was pregnant died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the wreck. Crystal is in UT Hospital and has multiple broken bones and a number of serious injuries. Her status and term of stay there is currently unknown. Some of our very faithful Mission of Hope supporters have been visiting Crystal at UT Hospital. And I accompanied Jessica’s MOH Scholarship Mentor, Carolyn Meadows, to visit Crystal the other day as well. We took her a small gift and a Bible & Tract and we prayed for her before we left.

This is an extremely sad and difficult situation. And all of our hearts are broken for Jessica and her family. We are also concerned for Jessica and how this may impact her strong desire for and pursuit of her college education which she passionately desires. She will be coming to Knoxville to visit her sister at UT Hospital later this week after she completes her finals at Lindsay Wilson College. We are going to try and make sure we get to see her while she is here in Knoxville.

Jessica has humbly appealed to us for financial assistance for the funeral expenses of her dear sister Sharon. We do not normally get these types of requests nor make appeals for these types of needs, but we feel we must do something to help Jessica. I have met the Director of the Funeral Home in Kentucky by phone that handled the funeral services for Jessica’s sister. Federal & state laws prevent private information such as this being shared with others. But the Funeral Home Director did tell me that we could send a donation there for the funeral expenses of Jessica’s sister.

Please hear my heart and know that I have struggled as to whether or not to send this update and appeal for financial assistance for Jessica’s family. But in the end, I felt that I just had to make our Ministry Friends aware of this need and let each one respond in whatever manner they wish. If you would like to send a donation to the Mission of Hope for this urgent assistance appeal; please note your donation with the words: Funeral Expense Donation. We will in turn send a Mission of Hope check to the Funeral Home.

Thank you for your servant hearts & spirits and for all you do to help us extend True Hope.

Sincerest Regards,
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission of Hope

Every now and then there are just those amazing moments…When you know that what you did was indeed very special and much appreciated. That was the case at our recent Beckham Bates Elementary School closing party in Isom, KY.

I have shared in previous e-mail updates about the recent heart wrenching decision, to close down the school. We have seen it before. Student enrollment numbers drop, the buildings need expensive repairs, and then it happens – the school is closed. When we recently learned about Beckham’s Bates closing we just felt like we ought to do something to make a year-end memory for these dear students and staff members. And that’s exactly what we did! We had inflatables, clowns, balloon creations, snow cones, popcorn, ice cream, and LOTS & LOTS of laughter, smiles, and good times!  And we even had a Mission of Hope Friend go and do a version of “In It To Win It’ for the older students with AWESOME prizes. And to top things off, we gave every student a brand new book for them to read and keep.

I want to sincerely say thank you to the following MOH Volunteer Hero’s for their amazing gesture of support in helping with this event: The Beckham Bates School Staff, Ultimate Megaparties, Bargain Books & Larry Austin, Arlene McCool, Elsie Duncan, Donna McClure, and David Burnette. I sincerely appreciate all of those who went with me on this trip and for making the commitment to go. The Principal and several other Beckham Bates staff members thanked us over and over again for making the end of the year special. Many of them told us that they were just so drained and discouraged from the decision to close the school; that they just didn’t seem to be able to muster the energy to do something like we did. And that made it even more special for both the students and the staff. It has been an honor to serve this very special School and Community…And we will cherish forever the memories that were made there.

Thanks for your friendship and support and for all you do to help us extend True Hope.

Sincerest Regards,
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission of Hope

They are just your typical High School Awards Programs. That is until the names of the Scholarship Winners are announced. Then it becomes more than just a Program. They become incredible moments of accomplishments recognized; of hard work rewarded; and the moment that dreams come true for many.

We have now started awarding our 14 Mission of Hope Scholarships. And even though the drives are long and the evenings are late when we return to our homes; it’s an inspiring and encouraging wonder to behold as students walk across the stage with big broad smiles and say thank you, as you hand them their Scholarship Certificate. And on occasion there’s the “Joyful Gasp of Relief” like I watched and heard the other evening as our scholar recipient realizes that this will help them really get there!

We would welcome and be grateful for your financial donations as we strive to award more scholarships to students who dare to dream. And we implore them to DREAM BIG and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER let anyone steal their dreams!!!

Thanks for your friendship and support and for all you do to help us extend TrueHope.

Sincerest Regards,
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission Of Hope

Most of you know the Mission of Hope Story. And you also know how God richly blessed this humble ministry with our own “Home For The Hope” back in 2008. That’s when we finally got our own warehouse & office and every penny was donated to purchase it. And that meant we had no debt when we moved in. Since that time, we have been immensely blessed and grateful that almost every repair and or renovation we needed has been donated and or done by dear and special Mission of Hope Friends.

One of our “Dreams” was that we would one day be able to have our parking lot paved; since it had never been repaved since the building was built. Well that “Dream” came true this week. What a tremendous blessing to have dear Mission of Hope Friends at Rogers Group, Inc. come and pave our parking lot. And they DONATED all of it! I want to thank Brother Gary Seepe and all of those fellow Rogers Group, Inc. employees who helped make this amazing Gift To The Hope possible. I tell MOH Friends all of the time that we may be in a 34 year old building, but to all of our Mission of Hope Friends it’s called “A Home That HOPE Fulfilled”.

Thank you for your friendship and support and for all you do to help us extend The Hope.

Sincerest Regards,
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission Of Hope

We have been blessed with an AWESOME Volunteer sign up response for our Bell County, KY Repair Fair which is tomorrow, Saturday, April 28th. And we even have a MOH Team from NorthEast Christian Church in Lexington, KY meeting us there as well. Our Knoxville MOH Team will be leaving the Mission of Hope office at 6 AM. Everyone who has signed up has been contacted and knows the details for the day. A special and hearty THANK YOU, to our MOH Friend Cliff Overby for leading this wonderful event this year. We have been assigned a very good project task and the family we are assisting is grateful for us coming to help them. Please remember and uplift in prayer, all of our Mission of Hope Volunteers and the many other Volunteer Teams that will take part in this very special outreach ministry effort.

Also, I regret to inform you that I just learned from our dear friend, Bother Sheldon Livesay, that Brother Ike Gibson, who help start and lead Of One Accord Ministries in Rogersville, TN and The Shepherd’s Corner Ministry in Sneedville, TN has passed away after a brave battle with cancer and pneumonia. As such, the Family and the Ministry Centers have decided to cancel the Spring Fest Event which we were going to this weekend in Sneedville, TN, as they honor their loved one this weekend with his funeral. I responded to Brother Sheldon already that we certainly understand and will keep them uplifted in our prayers. May I humbly appeal for you to do the same? I will contact each of those who had previously signed up to go either tonight or tomorrow morning by phone just to make sure everyone that was going is aware of this news.

Thanks for your friendship and support and for all you do to help us extend The Hope.

Sincerest Regards,
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission Of Hope

WOW…It’s going to be a BUSY Week at The Hope!!!!!

In recent weeks I have previously sent our e-mail’s regarding several very exciting and special events for us at The Hope.  And it’s now time for us TO GO…And uplift others we are so privileged to serve.  Tomorrow will be our last day for Volunteer sign ups, for the following Mission Of Hope Events:

• Bell County, KY Repair Fair (Saturday, April 28th – Leave MOH @ 6 AM & Return Late Afternoon)
• Hancock County, TN Spring Fest (Saturday, April 28th – Leave MOH @ 6:30 AM & Return Late Afternoon)
• Beckham Bates School, KY Party (Wednesday, May 2nd – Leave MOH @ 7 AM & Return Late Afternoon)

Please call the Mission of Hope office at 865-584-7571 by 5 PM tomorrow (Monday, April 23rd to confirm you participation.

Thanks for your friendship and support and for all you do to help us extend The Hope.

Sincerest Regards;
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission Of Hope

One of the most special Summer Mission Trips that we have been blessed to help support over the past several years is the Hope Academy Mission Trip that is led by Ginger Forbes. It is a week filled with all types of activities and events and it benefits both children and adults that come to participate. It is held at Black Mountain School in Black Mountain, KY. This is one of the 27 rural Elementary Schools that we are so privileged to serve. This year’s Hope Academy will be held June 11th thru 15th. There is a need for Volunteers, Helpers/Teachers, and various other tasks doers.There is also an Informational & Organizational meeting on Wednesday, April 25th at 7 PM at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church at 12915 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, TN.  This trip can truly change your life…And it has already for many who have gone in previous years.

Thank you for your friendship and support and for all you do to help us extend The Hope in Appalachia.

Sincerest Regards;
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission of Hope

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS CHANGE AND ALSO FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.

Its now time…
Its time for us to award NEW Scholarship Winners…
And help make Dreams Come True…For those who dare to Dream.

Today begins a very exciting time for all us here at the Mission of Hope.  We will begin awarding our 2012 Mission Of Hope Scholarships and we start at Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) in Harrogate, TN.  We will also award a Student at Alice Lloyd College (ALC) in Pippa Passes, KY in upcoming days.  And then we will award 12 High School Seniors at the rural High Schools we serve in Tennessee and Kentucky.  That’s a total of 14 NEW Scholars that we will add to our Mission of Hope Scholarship Program.

Could we humbly appeal for your prayerful support for each of these wonderful events and for each of these amazing Scholarship Winners.  And if you deem us worthy, we would be immensely grateful for your financial support.  We believe without hesitation, that getting an Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.  And although we realize and acknowledge that not everyone may be able or need to go to college; for those who dare to dream about getting a College Degree…We are determined to help them achieve it.

Thank you for your friendship and support and for all you do to help us to keep extending True Hope.

Sincerest Regards;
Emmette Thompson, Executive Director – Mission Of Hope