Two of this year’s biggest buzzwords have been “change” and “hope” – words bandied about by political parties and talking heads for all these months leading up to next Tuesday’s presidential election. The real evidence for true change and hope will only be seen when lives are impacted for the better, in a very real and lasting manner.
This past Saturday, change and hope were on display in Wylie, TX. “Change” because over four hundred volunteers from eleven different churches of various denominations came together to give to their common community, and “hope” because we all saw many lives touched by the power of selfless love.
Convoy of Hope is a first-responder relief organization run by the Assemblies of God – CoH was first on the ground after Hurricane Katrina – throughout our nation, CoH works with local churches to host what are basically carnivals of giving.
What made this particular event truly remarkable was that there was no way it ever should have happened in the first place – these events have costs, and the costs for the grounds, tents, fencing, food, entertainment, amenities, and all the other things that go into an event like this one hosting thousands of guests can run well over $20,000. The vision for hosting the event began with my pastor, and our church is very small. The costs were well beyond our own means, and beyond that of the churches who joined with us.
But we pressed on with the planning, knowing that this event needed to happen, and knowing that we serve a big God – as we moved closer and closer to the big day, donation after donation began pouring in from individuals and businesses.
Free medical screening. Haircuts. 15,000 hot dogs and buns. Thousands of bottles of water. The city donated a $700/day trash bin. Lighting. Tents. Bounce houses. Nearly everything we needed – free. All told, the event that should have cost tens of thousands came together for only a few.
And what an event it was!
Our church’s worship team kicked off the event at a volunteers rally held on the site the night before – hundreds of people coming together to worship God under a beautiful, starry Texas night. The following morning dawned clear and cool, and the weather was absolutely perfect for the carnival.
Volunteers bagged free groceries unloaded off CoH’s semi. Hot dogs were grilled, music groups from four churches played all day, and kids had a blast playing on the massive bounce houses. And everywhere you looked, there were smiles on faces, and connections being made – face to face, heart to heart.
Over 2400 people came to the event – all of them went home with free groceries, some with new haircuts, some with information about their health, and over 1900 of them were able to sit down with our volunteers who talked and prayed with them personally over their lives and their circumstances.
Without that personal connection, without a real expression of concern, caring and yes, love, change and hope are just words. When people come together to simply show the love of God, Change and Hope can become real in the hearts of those who experience it.
