Today is National Day of Prayer – actually the 60th Annual National Day of Prayer! The early morning prayer breakfast I attended (sponsored by One in Christ ministry) provided a focused time in prayer for our nation and leaders and a stirring message by the keynote speaker, Cynthia Dunbar. As an educator and attorney, Ms. Dunbar’s mission is to return our country to the faith of our founding fathers that our government was established on in the constitution and declaration of independence.
A highlight of the morning for me was a comment made that the Maryland International House of Prayer (MIHOP) staff and prayer warriors pray constantly for Hope Alive! We cannot do what God has called us to do without prayer and God’s presence and power in this ministry and our lives. It’s so encouraging to know we are covered in prayer!
By prayer, God sets the captives free and brings hope and healing to every mother and child we serve! By prayer, our resident moms feel there is the promise of a future and new life! By prayer, our families experience God’s unconditional love and acceptance that leads to peace and new hope!
Thank you to all who pray for this ministry and the families we are called to serve. We are grateful to God for the prayer warriors He raises up on our behalf. May you know the God and Father of our nation - the One who sets us free and gives new life through His Son Jesus Christ! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Peace in the midst of the storm
I tend to panic in storms. The wind, rain, tornado warnings, flash flooding and mud slides over the last two weeks claimed lives and caused wide-spread flooding, damage and debris.
Thankfully Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24-27 have brought me peace in the midst of the storms: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.”
Jesus’ words assure us that if we build our lives on Him, then we can weather any storm no matter how great the wind, rain and floods become. His words remind me of the storms of life our resident moms at Hope Alive have faced. They can choose to rebuild their lives on the Savior and find healing, love, hope, and peace from the storms that have shaken their foundations. As they come to know Christ, their lives change in amazing ways! Or sadly, they can choose to continue to live on shifting sand with no firm foundation.
Please pray that every homeless family – whether at Hope Alive or struggling to survive in our community – will see Jesus reaching out His hands to them in the midst of their storms. Pray that the storms they face in life will move them to build their house upon the rock – Jesus Christ! May you know His peace in the midst of the storm. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thankfully Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24-27 have brought me peace in the midst of the storms: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.”
Jesus’ words assure us that if we build our lives on Him, then we can weather any storm no matter how great the wind, rain and floods become. His words remind me of the storms of life our resident moms at Hope Alive have faced. They can choose to rebuild their lives on the Savior and find healing, love, hope, and peace from the storms that have shaken their foundations. As they come to know Christ, their lives change in amazing ways! Or sadly, they can choose to continue to live on shifting sand with no firm foundation.
Please pray that every homeless family – whether at Hope Alive or struggling to survive in our community – will see Jesus reaching out His hands to them in the midst of their storms. Pray that the storms they face in life will move them to build their house upon the rock – Jesus Christ! May you know His peace in the midst of the storm. Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, April 21, 2011
My Rescuer
Psalm 34:7 reads, The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
King David in the Bible wrote this psalm after he was driven away by Achish king of Gath by feigning madness to protect his life. David knew that it was the Lord who had rescued and delivered him out of the hands of evil. This was part of my scripture reading this past Tuesday morning. Just hours later, this verse would have a whole new meaning for me.
In the pouring down rain, I left a meeting in Frederick about noon and headed north to Hope Alive. A very serious accident on Rt. 15 just north of Seventh Street detoured traffic onto Thomas Johnson Drive and Hayward Road. Just as I was turning right into the merge lane on Rt. 15 from Hayward Road, my car suddenly accelerated. I quickly assured myself that I had my foot on the brake and not on the gas pedal, but the car continued to lurch forward as if someone had stomped on the gas pedal. To avoid hitting the car in front of me in the merge lane and trying to steer my car that was quickly speeding out of control, I swerved into the traffic lanes. For the next few seconds - but what seemed like minutes - I panicked trying to think of what to do to stop it.
But just as quickly as it all started, the accelerator released and I slowed to a crawl with my emergency lights flashing. I pulled off on the shoulder of the road and sat there crying and thanking God for rescuing me and saving my life. If you know Frederick at all, the intersection at Rt. 15 and Hayward Road is famous for serious and sometimes fatal accidents. But at this particular moment, no cars were coming as I veered out onto the highway. God miraculously rescued me from danger!
Since then, I’ve thought of little else and have shared this experience with everyone I’ve talked to giving praise to God for being my Rescuer! But God was not only my rescuer this past Tuesday, but He is my Rescuer from sin and death and has delivered me to new and eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It’s this week that we celebrate the cross where Jesus freely gave His life and took on the punishment for the sin of the world so that we might have eternal life if we believe in Him.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17
Jesus is my Savior and Lord and my Rescuer! I have much to praise God for this Easter - the gift of His Son, His sacrifice for me, and His Resurrection that promises me eternal life! May you receive our Rescuer by faith this Easter and celebrate with me the eternal life that He came to give!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
King David in the Bible wrote this psalm after he was driven away by Achish king of Gath by feigning madness to protect his life. David knew that it was the Lord who had rescued and delivered him out of the hands of evil. This was part of my scripture reading this past Tuesday morning. Just hours later, this verse would have a whole new meaning for me.
In the pouring down rain, I left a meeting in Frederick about noon and headed north to Hope Alive. A very serious accident on Rt. 15 just north of Seventh Street detoured traffic onto Thomas Johnson Drive and Hayward Road. Just as I was turning right into the merge lane on Rt. 15 from Hayward Road, my car suddenly accelerated. I quickly assured myself that I had my foot on the brake and not on the gas pedal, but the car continued to lurch forward as if someone had stomped on the gas pedal. To avoid hitting the car in front of me in the merge lane and trying to steer my car that was quickly speeding out of control, I swerved into the traffic lanes. For the next few seconds - but what seemed like minutes - I panicked trying to think of what to do to stop it.
But just as quickly as it all started, the accelerator released and I slowed to a crawl with my emergency lights flashing. I pulled off on the shoulder of the road and sat there crying and thanking God for rescuing me and saving my life. If you know Frederick at all, the intersection at Rt. 15 and Hayward Road is famous for serious and sometimes fatal accidents. But at this particular moment, no cars were coming as I veered out onto the highway. God miraculously rescued me from danger!
Since then, I’ve thought of little else and have shared this experience with everyone I’ve talked to giving praise to God for being my Rescuer! But God was not only my rescuer this past Tuesday, but He is my Rescuer from sin and death and has delivered me to new and eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. It’s this week that we celebrate the cross where Jesus freely gave His life and took on the punishment for the sin of the world so that we might have eternal life if we believe in Him.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17
Jesus is my Savior and Lord and my Rescuer! I have much to praise God for this Easter - the gift of His Son, His sacrifice for me, and His Resurrection that promises me eternal life! May you receive our Rescuer by faith this Easter and celebrate with me the eternal life that He came to give!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Saying good-bye to a friend
We heard early this week that UpCounty Family Partnership in Emmitsburg, MD will close their doors the end of May. UpCounty has been an important partner to Hope Alive since we received our first family more than four years ago. They’ve provided GED classes and exam preparation as well as the Nurturing Parenting course for our resident mothers. Two of our moms completed this 12-week course already this year. It’s inspiring to watch them apply all the effective and positive skills they’ve learned.
We understand UpCounty Family Partnership lost a significant source of their funding through a state grant. Following Head Start’s closure in Emmitsburg the end of February, this will be another devastating loss to northern Frederick County and Hope Alive families. We want to thank the amazing staff at UpCounty for all their loving support and training for our resident mothers over the years. It’s been a privilege to partner with them to meet the needs of our community’s families. Their closure will leave a tremendous gap in our community and in Hope Alive’s needed services. We wish their staff well as they start this new chapter in their lives. We trust God will provide for their needs as well as ours!
On a happier note, it’s not too late to register for our upcoming Visions for Hope event on Thursday, April 28 at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. The artwork that we’ve received will provide a beautiful selection of special items for bidding. Visit our website at www.hopealiveministries.org or call 301.241.4005 for more information or to purchase tickets. It’s a really fun family-friendly event that you don’t want to miss. Hope to see you there! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
We understand UpCounty Family Partnership lost a significant source of their funding through a state grant. Following Head Start’s closure in Emmitsburg the end of February, this will be another devastating loss to northern Frederick County and Hope Alive families. We want to thank the amazing staff at UpCounty for all their loving support and training for our resident mothers over the years. It’s been a privilege to partner with them to meet the needs of our community’s families. Their closure will leave a tremendous gap in our community and in Hope Alive’s needed services. We wish their staff well as they start this new chapter in their lives. We trust God will provide for their needs as well as ours!
On a happier note, it’s not too late to register for our upcoming Visions for Hope event on Thursday, April 28 at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. The artwork that we’ve received will provide a beautiful selection of special items for bidding. Visit our website at www.hopealiveministries.org or call 301.241.4005 for more information or to purchase tickets. It’s a really fun family-friendly event that you don’t want to miss. Hope to see you there! Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Rekindling the vision
Nine years ago this week, God told me it was time to step out in faith. On Sunday, April 7, 2002, my pastor preached a sermon on “rekindling the vision”. For me, the vision was one of a new women and children's ministry that God had birthed in my heart two years earlier - a ministry that was located outside the city of Frederick in a safe and secure nurturing environment where homeless women and children could find healing, recovery and hope of a future. By the end of the two years leading up to April 7th, I had lost hope that the vision would ever be fulfilled because nothing seemed to be happening to make it a reality.
When I heard my pastor’s message that Sunday morning, I knew God was speaking to me. My pastor challenged each of us in the congregation with this question: “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” God answered the question for me. He told me it was my fear of loosing a paycheck. I knew at that moment that God was asking me to step out in faith, leave my job, and start this new ministry as a full-time volunteer. That’s when Hope Alive, Inc. was born.
I wonder what would have happened if I had not been in church that morning or if I was preoccupied during my pastor's message and didn’t hear God speak to me. Or what if I assumed his message was for someone else thinking God couldn’t possibly be speaking to me! April 7, 2002 changed my life. The nine years since that time has been tremendously challenging, but incredibly rewarding and spiritually life-changing! What a privilege to watch what God can do to make His vision a reality. What a blessing to be used by God to serve His people in need when we say “YES” to His call. And what an honor to serve alongside so many of God’s faithful servants in the kingdom work He has called us to do.
What about you? Is there a vision God has laid on your heart that you’ve lost hope will ever be fulfilled? As my pastor asked me that Sunday morning nine years ago, “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” Believe that with God all things are possible and listen intently for His voice because He is speaking!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
When I heard my pastor’s message that Sunday morning, I knew God was speaking to me. My pastor challenged each of us in the congregation with this question: “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” God answered the question for me. He told me it was my fear of loosing a paycheck. I knew at that moment that God was asking me to step out in faith, leave my job, and start this new ministry as a full-time volunteer. That’s when Hope Alive, Inc. was born.
I wonder what would have happened if I had not been in church that morning or if I was preoccupied during my pastor's message and didn’t hear God speak to me. Or what if I assumed his message was for someone else thinking God couldn’t possibly be speaking to me! April 7, 2002 changed my life. The nine years since that time has been tremendously challenging, but incredibly rewarding and spiritually life-changing! What a privilege to watch what God can do to make His vision a reality. What a blessing to be used by God to serve His people in need when we say “YES” to His call. And what an honor to serve alongside so many of God’s faithful servants in the kingdom work He has called us to do.
What about you? Is there a vision God has laid on your heart that you’ve lost hope will ever be fulfilled? As my pastor asked me that Sunday morning nine years ago, “What’s keeping you from seeing the vision fulfilled?” Believe that with God all things are possible and listen intently for His voice because He is speaking!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Join us for visions
It’s only a few short weeks until one of my favorite special events of the year. Hope Alive’s signature event, Visions for Hope, is scheduled for Thursday, April 28 at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center in downtown Frederick. This fun family-friendly event is an annual art auction of children’s artwork to benefit Hope Alive’s child development programs – even featuring the artwork of our very own resident children! Young artists under the age of 21 are invited to submit up to three pieces of original art. The works are sold by silent auction with bidding beginning at 6:30pm. Last year’s event raised more than $15,000 to support homeless children and help change the lives of our youngest residents.
I’m excited to announce that we have an anonymous donor who will match every dollar bid on artwork (up to $5,000) the evening of the event! Just think – your bid will double and will go twice as far to meet the unique needs of homeless children. We also have some great items for auction on our community table including tickets to Six Flags and Sight & Sound Theatre.
Tickets are only $25 for adults and this year children under 12 are free! Visit our website at http://www.hopealiveministries.org/calendar/event/185 and click on “Call for Submission entry form” to submit artwork or “More Information” to become a patron sponsor of the event or to purchase tickets. I hope to see you there. I can’t wait to see who takes home “Wood Man” this year!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
I’m excited to announce that we have an anonymous donor who will match every dollar bid on artwork (up to $5,000) the evening of the event! Just think – your bid will double and will go twice as far to meet the unique needs of homeless children. We also have some great items for auction on our community table including tickets to Six Flags and Sight & Sound Theatre.
Tickets are only $25 for adults and this year children under 12 are free! Visit our website at http://www.hopealiveministries.org/calendar/event/185 and click on “Call for Submission entry form” to submit artwork or “More Information” to become a patron sponsor of the event or to purchase tickets. I hope to see you there. I can’t wait to see who takes home “Wood Man” this year!
Until next week …
Sue Oehmig
Founder and Executive Director
Friday, March 25, 2011
Looking for that special someone
On my drive to Hope Alive earlier this week, I was listening to radio talk show hosts discuss the importance of children having positive male role models in their lives. They said that children who do not have father figures in their lives are emotionally handicapped. We agree and know this to be true at Hope Alive.
The day after listening to the radio discussion, God reminded me of the importance of this need among our youngest residents. My husband came to Hope Alive after work to address some property repair issues and when he came into the house, several of the children ran to greet him with books in hand wanting his attention. Seldom are female volunteers or staff greeted with such excitement.
Of the 66 children we’ve served since opening our doors, many of them have emotional challenges attributed in part or in whole to the lack of a positive father figure in their lives. I’ll never forget one such child. This youngster’s abandonment by her father was the source of the emotional issues she wrestled with. Her biological father had dropped in and out of her life so often that at her young age she knew she couldn’t depend on him for the security and loving support that she desperately needed. A father figure stepped into her life in a very healthy way to fill this painful void and she‘s now finding healing. But what about the children who are still searching for that special someone to help meet this important emotional need? Every child deserves the chance to experience unconditional love, acceptance and happiness so they don‘t grow up to be emotionally handicapped adults. It's this father-figure - or lack thereof - that gives children (and adults) an understanding of who our Heavenly Father is. I believe we can do and need to do more for our youngest residents in this area. Let me know if you're feeling called to respond. On a similar note, everyone can help meet the needs of our youngest residents by attending our upcoming Visions for Hope annual fundraising event on Thursday, April 28 beginning at 6:30pm at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center in downtown Frederick. This fun family-friendly event benefits Hope Alive’s children’s programs that are designed to meet the unique needs of our resident children. Check out our website at http://www.hopealiveministries.org/ for more information or to register to attend. Until next week ...
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