The Need For this Ministry

The people of Littleton Colorado, along with those in Springfield Oregon, West Paducah Kentucky, Jonesboro Arkansas, Pearl Mississippi, and Edinboro Pennsylvania, are acutely aware of the need to reach all the young people in their communities. Each of these communities has recently experienced school yard killings perpetrated by boys as young as eleven years old. What has turned kids into killers?

There is be no simple answer, but there are definitely some clues. Investigators found evidence in the boys' homes that apparently was out in the open for their parents to see. Were the parents oblivious to their sons' activities or were they physically and/or emotionally absent; very naïve or just uncaring?

Some parents allow their children to do anything they want in the misguided belief that their children should have no limitations or restrictions placed on them. Plus, there are some fathers who grew up as sons of single moms and have had no fathering role model in their lives upon which they can base their own parenting. There is a tremendous need for teaching parenting skills in our society today.

Family therapist Michael Gurian concludes in his books, The Wonder of Boys and A Fine Young Man that our society has collectively turned its back on boys and, consequently, they do not have the direction they need to grow up into stable, secure and motivated men. He believes that young boys and adolescents need three "families": 1) the nuclear family, 2) the extended family, including blood relatives, close friends, male mentors, teachers & peers, plus 3) a cultural or community family that may exist in religious groups, Scouts, and other activities.

It is commonly accepted that the belief system upon which each person operates through life is formed very early on. When a child has been impacted by negative events or relationships, it can negatively influence their belief system for life. Crime and violence spring from individuals' thoughts, as formulated around and allowed by their belief system. Many television shows also reinforce the idea that the way to solve a problem is through violence. Mrs. Linda Kondracki Sibley founder of Confident Kids Support Groups has demonstrated that children's belief systems can be modified by replacing negative beliefs with the truths of the Bible, thus giving them the hope they need to build toward a positive future.

There are many fine youth agencies and religious institutions that are positively impacting our children. Unfortunately, "business as usual" still allows children to "drop through the cracks." It is Encouraging Hope Ministries’ desire to meet families where they are hurting and provide them with the resources they need to help their children. When problems arise, even parents who are seemingly uncaring can be reached. Encouraging Hope Ministries interacts with children with negative belief systems, provides parents with the skills they lack, offers mentoring services to the kids of single-parent homes and gives children avocational skills in a Christian community environment that will lead them to bright futures in the new millennium. It is our sincere hope that by offering new approaches we will close some of the cracks and catch at-risk children before they turn violent.

To request more information about our ministry, please go to our contact section.