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

SLANT is coming to H.O.P.E. Farm (HF)! Saturday, September 17th the SLANT team and trusted volunteers will reveal the project they are working on for H.O.P.E. Farm. “SLANT is a service-learning program designed to inspire youth to take up the challenge of improving their neighborhoods and communities in unique and creative ways.”

Leaders of SLANT have chosen H.O.P.E. Farm as a service project! The delivery truck carrying all the equipment arrived this morning (Friday) at 9:00 a.m. We, at HF, are excited to welcome the members of SLANT and all their volunteers. The project will impact the lives of the HF boys for years to come.

Equipment Arrives!

SLANT kindly included H.O.P.E. Farm in a commercial for their organization. LeDarian, a student at HF, had the opportunity to take part in a Public Service Announcement for SLANT on FOX 4!

Filming a PSA for SLANT

He was excited to meet Daryl “Moose” Johnston and Clarice Tinsley on set.

LeDarian and Daryl "Moose" Johnston

The SLANT event will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17th at the HF South-side location. (865 E. Ramsey Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76104)

Well the month of June has moved on and the HOPE Farm Summer Camp has come to a close. This summer we had over 41 boys that attended our camp with the help of a host of volunteers. The first week of the camp the boys had the opportunity to go paintballing, Amon Carter Museum and the week was brought to a close with spending the night under the stars in Hico Texas. During this summer camp we had the opportunity to teach the boys how to evangelize and shared our faith several times throughout the Fort Worth area. The boys also performed service projects in our First Fruits Program.

Week 2 consisted of a visit to the Biblical Arts Museum and a visit to the Cason’s Lake House on Lake Weatherford.

The third week of camp started with the boys taking part in service projects, Whirly ball, Six Flags and a trip to Lee Clay’s Ranch in Stephenville.

During the last week the older boys went off to Kids Across America which is a Christian Camp located in Missouri. The younger boys stayed behind and were treated to a trip to the movies, a train ride through Trinity Park, mini soccer camp and we ended the week off with a trip to Wynne Ranch.

The month of June was full of activity and we thank God for His provision for us and the safety he provided for us during our time together. We look forward to summer camp 2012!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Click here to go to our online pledge and payment page.

The concept is simple: Charitable Organizations solicit pledges from individuals and corporations for every birdie made during the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. In 2010, 1,517 birdies were recorded during the tournament. As a bonus, charities have the opportunity to earn additional contributions from our Matching Fund. The Matching Fund is distributed based on a pro-rata basis of total pledges collected. In the 2011, the total Matching Fund is at least $160,000 thanks to the generous support of our Lead Sponsors Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Colonial Country Club.   Joining our ‘Friends of Birdies’ corporate partners program in 2011 are  Leuthold Weeden Capital Management, Robert W. Baird & Co., and Nicholson/Metz/Davis Group. We are challenging the Tarrant County corporate community as supporting sponsors to assist us in growing our Matching Fund in 2011. 100% of our Lead and Friends of Birdies contributions is distributed to the charities.<