H.O.P.E. Farm, Inc. holds an annual Christmas Party and Open House to give thanks to all those who are involved in the success of the program. The event this year had wonderful food, special entertainment and a surprise guest!

First and foremost, we would like to thank Grady Spears, Owner and Executive Chef of Grady’s Line-Camp Steakhouse, for his generosity in providing the food for the event. Between tenderloin sliders and Pesto Bruschetta, the spread was certainly impressive! Thank you again to Grady and his staff for a fantastic evening!

Arlington Jones, a pianist from Arlington, TX, was so generous in playing an impromptu performance. “Arlington designs a musical canvas with strokes of creativity and beauty. Arlington has the gift to take listeners of all ages on an unforgettable journey because of his high-spirited, unpredictable melodies and arrangements.” His rendition of “Joy to the World” had everyone smiling, and his quick key strokes had all the boys giggling and dancing along.

The boys of H.O.P.E. Farm listening to Arlington Jones

The few boys who are enrolled in Christian Life Preparatory School (a private Christian Academy in Fort Worth) take piano lessons once a week with Mrs. Becky Ringer. They all have amazing talent and show great promise in the art of music. One of our boys, Elijah, has acquired the nick-name “Beethoven” for his musical abilities on the piano. He is truly amazing and only eight-years-old. When Jones began playing, Elijah’s face lit up. Jones finished and made a point to tell Elijah how impressed he was by such a young boy being so talented. Elijah has been talking about that moment for the last week! (click the picture to visit Arlington Jones’ website)

Arlington Jones sharing words of encouragement with Elijah

It’s that time of year for HOPE Farm! Our annual summer camp will began June 6th and ends on July 1st. The summer camp is filled with endless experiences that most boys in our program and outside of our program for that matter would never have the opportunity to experience. The event calendar this year is filled with swimming, piano lessons, bible study, overnight camping, horseback riding and to top it off a trip to Six Flags.

Da’Vion vists the Fort Worth Fire Department’s Station #2

Dr. Robert Bunata is a recent addition to the incredible team of volunteers at H.O.P.E. Farm.  After retiring from his position as a hand surgeon, he was recruited by Dr. Larry Messer (another faithful volunteer.)  He was quickly put to work helping students to complete a project for science covering ten body systems as well as a case study based on a medical disease.  His expertise in the medical field and desire to help others has made him an asset to H.O.P.E. Farm.  We continue to be grateful for the volunteers, like Dr. Bunata,  that use their time and talents to serve others.

Prior to coming to H.O.P.E. Farm, Charles Jackson, better known as C.J. experienced school days that were dismal at best.  H.O.P.E. Farm staff, upon a visit to the school to monitor his behavior, found that before arriving at the Principal’s office, everyone that we spoke to knew Charles by name.  A very bright kid with a personality that will light up any room, five year old Charles just wanted to do things his way.  Unfortunately, his plans involved poor choices and did not work out, so he pouted and cried to get his way.  He refused to listen to his teachers at school and was not having good days at school.

Since entering H.O.P.E. Farm, Charles has been provided the boundaries and structure he so desperately needed.  He is held accountable for his actions and he understands there are consequences for the choices he makes.  Charles has made tremendous strides in Bible Study class.  I believe that his favorable progress came through shared prayers, repetition in the study of the Ten Commandments and the Romans road, as well as through his personal application of the Word of God.  Charles is learning that God loves him and wants the best for him.  He is learning character traits such as honor, obedience, self-control, and responsibility. Charles is growing spiritually by learning to connect how the word of God applies to his choices in what happens at school.  He is motivated to have good days because he knows that’s the expectation from the adults in his life but more importantly from God in his life.  Charles is learning that we are to “be doers of the Word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22), and that has made quite the difference.

Cary Conklin and Dr. Larry Messer are two very busy men who could be spending their time doing other things at other places.  Cary Conklin started Catapult Adventures, a Christian organization whose ministry is to provide outdoor adventures and strategic learning opportunities for middle school boys who don’t have fathers in the home.  Dr. Larry Messer is an orthopedic surgeon with Cook Children’s Physician Network who has trained and served in Texas, California and Africa.  Instead of only working for themselves, both choose to come to H.O. P.E. Farm every Tuesday from 5:30 – 6:30 pm to volunteer their services to young men during the power hour segment of the program.  They consistently arrive ready to serve.  These two men really have a heart for these youth.  They eagerly report to their stations as assigned or they go wherever they see a need.  It is so encouraging to walk through the Great Room, one of the classrooms, or the computer lab, and observe these two guys interacting with the boys.

Whether they are explaining, teaching, helping with a homework project, or simply encouraging the young men, these two volunteers are always ready to work heartily.  Dr. Messer is the math guy and has even brought his grandson along to help with the volunteer process.

That’s discipleship in the making!  What a special treat that was to see granddad and grandson working together as a team.  Mr. Conklin is the science/engineer- type guy, taking on all challenges related to science without blinking.  Cary Conklin and Dr. Larry Messer are two men of God who have established a great rapport with the young men of H.O.P.E. Farm and are well respected by the staff.  The ministry of H.O.P.E. Farm is blessed beyond measure to have two fine upstanding men involved in what the Lord has called each of us to do here at H.O.P.E. Farm:  “whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23).

The positive impact that Cary Conklin and Dr. Larry Messer are making on the boys will last a lifetime. Thanks for all you do. You are loved at H.O.P.E. Farm.

This time of the year never ceases to amaze me. My wife Debra and I have what may be the beginnings of a tradition. Because of the somewhat hilly terrain of our neighborhood, we can stand in our living room peering out of the picture windows and see and hear the sounds of youngster playing in the park. This view is obstructed much of the year by the fullness of leaves on the post oak trees in our yard, surrounding yards, and even the park. The last three spring times, I have remarked to Debra, “in just over a week, we won’t be able to see the park.” So far my prediction has never failed. Like clockwork, the small buds on the trees put out shoots, which turn in to leaves, filling the trees, and blocking our view. Recently this cycle and view reminded me of the faithfulness of God.

While the unfolding of the scenery seems routine and the normal cycle of nature, it is far from it. Our great Creator has orchestrated it all, creating a partnership between the sun, the rain, the climate, and various nutrients in the earth. Take away any of these elements and the beauty of new spring foliage would not appear.

At H.O.P.E. Farm we get to see something greater than the beauty of transformed landscape as winter gives way to spring, we are privilege to see the gradual transformation of the lives of our boys as harden hearts are transformed into malleable young men conforming to the image of Christ. Just as the Lord orchestrates the elements of nature to facilitate new growth, He has synthesized volunteers, financial supporters, intercessors, teachers, pastors, our staff, and the moms’ of our boys to facilitate new growth in the lives of the H.O.P.E. Farm boys. It takes all of these partners for the beauty of transformed lives to appear.