in Gratitude

Hope House recently received a gift and separate grant that allowed us to imagine how we might continue this ministry into the near future. After much prayer and discernment, it became apparent that Hope needed to use these gifts as an investment into our ministry and hire a part-time Director of Marketing and Development. Over the last few years our board has transformed from a programmatic to a working board where duties have shifted away from managing programs to raising awareness and money about a ministry that serves over 250 Chattanooga area college students. But we needed to develop a diversified funding base and long range plans for how to get there. 
 
In late November the board hired Josiah Vacheresse to fill that position. Josiah comes to us directly from Swaziland, a country within the country of South Africa, where he worked in development and marketing for a Catholic charity, and previous to that served in development and director positions with Habitat for Humanity and CASA in Cleveland, TN. Josiah has a heart for ministry in general and Hope House’s mission in particular, and I am so grateful for provided funding that allows us to bring Josiah in to help direct and guide our ministry towards growth in programming, outreach, and funding.
 
The diversity of students at Hope House and our “at home feel” lends itself to a space of welcome and an atmosphere of love where students feel encouraged to build relationships and hear from those who might be very different from them theologically, politically, and socially. We have dreamed of how we might share and encourage those relationships and understandings beyond our walls. The diversity of our student population, however, begs us to step back and ask of ourselves, “Are we a space and institution of equity?” Such questions have led our board to form an anti-racism committee. We have reached out to experts and begun to be informed by readings, webinars, and conversations around how we might promote a more multi-cultural anti-racist ministry. While this work will never be completed, I am grateful for staff, students, board and community members, and especially for Josiah who take this work seriously, knowing it will ultimately lead to space of even greater welcome. 
 
We, as always, covet your prayers.
 
Blessings, peace, and grace,
 
Tricia Dillon Thomas