Stories & News

Be a Part of The HOPE Community

Posted: 2014-04-16

The photo above shows the Mars Hill conference room where for more than 15 years our staff has met regularly with each other, and with God, for prayer and Bible study. It is in a sense a birthing room, a place where vision for ministry is born. This is the place where The HOPE first took shape.

This image also appears at the top of our new blog site, www.devosfromthehill.org, where we publish our weekly staff devotionals. Years ago, it would have been impossible for someone not present to experience what goes on in this room. But now, you can be a part of it every week. We would be so blessed to have you join us!

If used properly, social media can be a powerful tool to build community by facilitating immediate and relevant communication and conversation. For example, the Mars Hill staff is constantly being blessed by news of the amazing things God is doing with The HOPE around the world. But it takes a lot of time to organize, compose and send out email or snail mail updates that capture this activity in a way that will bless you. Consequently, it may not happen and then you miss the blessing of hearing what God is doing. With social media on the other hand, a story can be posted on Facebook or a quick bit of news or praise can be posted on Twitter with little effort. That means you can get news while it is still news. You can experience a bit of what we experience when God does something or shows us something that amazes us.

Our goal with social media is that God will be magnified and you will be encouraged. If you’d like to be a part of The HOPE community (and the action) then please connect with us! If you have a question, email us at hopeinfo@mars-hill.org.

Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/TheHOPEforAll
WordPress Devotional Blog Site - www.devosfromthehill.org
Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheHOPEforAll
Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/marshillproductions
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/thehopevideo
Linkedin - http://www.linkedin.com/company/mars-hill-productions

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The New & Improved HOPE Website

Posted: 2014-04-16

In our 2012 Mid-Year Ministry Update, we wrote about our work on a new HOPE website, available in 8 languages with video, study guide and a means for worldwide follow-up with those who request it. In his poem, To a Mouse (1785), Robert Burns wrote, “the best-laid plans of Mice and Men oft go awry.” The Bible puts it like this, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

To make a long story short, The HOPE website project was marked by complications and delays. In the early spring of 2013, we launched a desktop version of the site, but it had lots of issues and we were still a long way from having tablet and mobile versions. By late spring, we made a very hard decision to start over. By June, we contracted a new developer and in about 3 months we recovered our lost ground and more! Praise God for His provision and the power to persevere!

The new site, www.thehopeproject.com was launched in September of 2013, is viewable on desktop and most mobile devices, and provides access to The HOPE video and study guide in 7 major languages! An additional 4 languages have been added to the video options. Study guides will be added as they are completed.

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The HOPE in Honduras – A Week Long Christian Outreach

Posted: 2014-04-15

In 1900 over 80% of all Christians lived in Europe and North America. By 2005 this number had fallen to under 40%, and will likely fall below 30% before 2050. With the marked decline of Christianity in the Northern Hemisphere, there is a meteoric rise in the Southern. The southern fields are ripe for harvest, and through The HOPE, we are blessed to have a part. In support of a week long Christian outreach in his nation, Honduran President Lobo Sosa signed a bill making July 20, 2013 a national holiday so that his people could take off work to attend evangelistic events held in 18 stadiums across the country. The day before, 2,000 pastors, Christian workers and government leaders gathered in the heart of the Honduran capital to mobilize. Each of them received a copy of The HOPE in Spanish. As ministry born from that gathering unfolds throughout the years, these copies have the potential of being seen by 8 million people!

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The HOPE ESL – In it’s 6th year of distribution

Posted: 2014-04-15

People around the world want to learn English as a second language. Now in its 6th year of distribution, thousands of missionaries have discovered the value of using The HOPE ESL software curriculum to teach English and share the Gospel. Now in partnership with Campus Crusade / Australia, The HOPE ESL may be downloaded for free at http://hopedownload.com.

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Bridges International Gave 3,000 HOPE DVDs To Students

Posted: 2014-04-15

The nations have come to our doorstep. There are now over 750,000 International students in the U.S. The HOPE continues to be a primary tool for Bridges (the International student ministry of “Cru”, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) to reach international students for Christ. In 2013, Bridges gave The HOPE to 3,000 students as part of an initiative called “Loving Internationals.” Using The HOPE in evangelistic Bible Studies, Bridges says that the metanarrative presentation of the Gospel in The HOPE is ideal for students who lack the underpinnings of a Biblical worldview.

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