Happy New Year!


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Hope House Community Redefining social justice through gospel-centered living.

Happy New Year!

Simple Obedience By: Keliy Grobbelaar

It was a simple vision that got us here. A small still voice that spoke to me while sitting in my dorm room. When the Lord asked me if I would be willing to live among the people I had been pursuing for over a year, I answered with a simple, “yes.” It didn’t take long for me to grab onto the vision the Lord had shown me and start to believe that it belonged to me. I made business cards and big plans, but I heard the Lord say, “Why do you feel like you need business cards to do my work? Why do you need programs to justify what I have called you to? Isn’t simple obedience enough?” From then on, Vickilyn, Michelle and I began a journey of simply learning how to live intentionally with the people around us. We began learning what it means to open your



home and your heart. We began learning how to work as a team and how to allow our “ministry” and our “lives” to naturally blend together until all you can see is Jesus. With everything going on around us, and all the struggles our people face on a day to day basis, it is easy to be led by need. Need is our worst enemy. It screams for our attention, beckons us to try and be God to everyone around us. However, we have learned, through many failings, that we cannot be led by anything but obedience to the Father. Most of the time, a simple meal doesn’t feel like enough, a listening ear feels unproductive, and as we watch broken people leave our home and walk down the street, never knowing if we will see them again…. it is easy to feel so defeated. Absent fathers, addiction, violence, death...it is all around us. I am convinced that the only way to live with a victorious faith in the midst of such brokenness- is to abide in the Father- to listen to what He is askingto remember that you can do nothing without Him and to remind yourself of His goodness every single day. Here at the Hope House, we believe in​ simple obedience. Through simple obedience and a whole lot of grace, we have been able to begin to see God’s vision for reconciliation unfold. Daily we get to see the Gospel lived out. Where nothing, and I mean nothing, not drugs, not murder, nothing... can ever keep us from the love of Christ. We plead with people to make peace with God through the blood of Jesus- to forgive their friends and family who have betrayed their trust- and to look past the stereotypes of race in order to build deep relationships with people who are different from them. We are thankful for the incredible privilege to be a part of what God is doing in Raleigh, in North Carolina, and in the earth.

Gangsters Love Cookies too By: Keliy Grobbelaar

One true test of obedience came right before Christmas. The Lord had laid it on our hearts to make cookies and deliver them to the local gang members in our neighborhood. Our hearts pounded with nervous excitement as we packaged the cookies into festive Christmas bags, slipped our Santa hats on, and made our way over to the store where we knew a lot of the local gang members hang out. We drove in my car because I often drive past the store on my way to pick up kids and knew they would recognize it. When we first pulled up and headed toward the store instead of the kids, we were greeted with looks of surprise, skepticism, and even irritation. However, none of these could stop the joy and compassion that flooded our hearts. We introduced ourselves and offered cookies to everyone who would meet our glance...we even followed some of those who wouldn’t. There was a large range of responses. Questions about what the cookies contained. If we were with the police...if we would go out with them...naturally lots of laughter ensued, love was spread, and joy abound. One man looked down at his bag of cookies and said to Vickilyn and Michelle, “This is the only Christmas present I will get this year.” We were so moved by how such a simple gesture could invoke such a strong response. This experience redefined gang members for us. Usually, a lot of fear gets associated with these young men and it is easy to let what the world says about them

determine how we treat them. But when you stop for a moment- and truly think about it- God is not afraid of them. In fact, He created them. He may not approve of most of the decisions they are making in life right now. But He has not given up on them and neither should we. If God is not afraid of them and I am with God- what reason is there for me to afraid of them? We are not concerned with what society says about people- we only care about what God thinks.

Beginning in 2017…. ●

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A new theme for our Bible Study:​ In this next season here at the Hope House, we will be taking our Bible Study (a group of young people who gather here once a week for time in the Word and a home cooked meal) through the life of Jesus. Our theme is John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Michelle’s trip​: Michelle will be traveling to South Africa to intern at a leather making business to better prepare herself for when she starts her business. Music lessons​: We will also be kicking off a new music class that will meet one evening a week. The kids in the neighborhood will be given the opportunity to learn drums, guitar, and vocals. Prayer meetings:​ Every Friday morning at 6:30 am we will be praying in the Hope House. Anyone is welcome to join! Building a Hope House team​: As we continue to grow, we are sensing a need to expand our team. We are meeting with a few people who are really committed to our vision and would like to be a part of what God is doing here.

WAYS TO PARTNER WITH US: FOOD SIGN-UP: Every Sunday night we feed anywhere between 15-30 people. The preparation and cost of the meals is a lot, so we are asking people to sign up to cook or buy a meal. We can meet somewhere to get the meal before Sunday evening, or you can deliver it to the house on Sunday. We would love to see you and show you around. Our goal is to get at least one meal covered a month. (Live out of town? We also love gift cards to Trader Joe’s & Food Lion) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yWbJINezGe-ENRA-8zsHpkWE9wlLElX0mv _rcaKT4KU/edit?usp=sharing

FINANCIALLY: If you would like to partner with us financially click the link below. In the drop down menu please select ​Hope House Raleigh​. Our church Freeway has agreed to set up a link for donations that way you may get a tax deductible slip if you would like. https://www.e360giving.com/g3/h/ PRAYER: ● ●

Pray for the people who attend our Bible Study to radically encounter Jesus and to be transformed by the Gospel. Pray for direction for our team and wisdom as we work together as leaders.

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Pray for the homeless as the cold weather approaches; that their every need would be met. Pray that gang members would radically encounter the love of Jesus. Pray that God would give us the wisdom to steward prayer.

Hope House [email protected] 1001 S. Person Street Raleigh, NC 27601