Youth at Forsyth
Central High School take action for Life For Children Ministry
In the Spring of 2006, some students at Forsyth Central High School wanted to help
make a difference in the world. From World Geography and Literature they learned of the struggles that others in the
world face daily. This is how the idea for the H.O.P.E. Club came to life. H.O.P.E. stands for Helping Overseas
Poverty and Environments. The first meeting of H.O.P.E. had an amazing turnout, proving that teenagers want to make
a difference; they just need a way to do so.
After raising money for various organizations and causes, as well as sponsoring
a young child in Ethiopia, the club met Michael Agwanda and Dick Weber in the Fall of 2006. They saw the Ministry's
DVD and heard the story of horrific suffering plaguing the orphans of the millions dying of HIV/AIDS. They immediately
decided to partner with the Life For Children Ministry. That December, the H.O.P.E. Club organized and participated
in a charity walk to raise money for the orphans. Six hundred dollars was raised during the 4-hour event. Then,
hearing of another way to help the HIV/AIDS orphans supported by the Life For Children Ministry, the H.O.P.E. Club organized
a shoe drive (slightly used or new) at Forsyth Central High School with some 30 class rooms participating.
During the next two months, they were able to collect close to five hundred
pairs of shoes that will make their way to the orphans and local kids in Kenya. Once again, club members were shocked at their
ability to raise such support and awareness simply within their own school and community. Now, LCM has learned that the H.O.P.E. Club has other plans. After experiencing the support and
desire demonstrated by the teens at Forsyth Central, the club looks forward to starting branches of the H.O.P.E. Club in other
local schools. Some members are even talking of participating in one of the LCM's short term mission tours.
But for now, the club members are glad to help the Life for Children Ministry in any way that they can because they believe
that this is one way to make a positive difference in the lives of people so very much less fortunate.
