World Hope was pleased once again this year to sponsor the KLOVE Friends and Family Music Cruise along with our partners, Premier Christian Cruises. On board the Norwegian Sky, we set sail from Miami for the Bahamas with an entire ship full of believers ready to experience the best in Christian music and teaching. For five days, great Christian music filled the decks with over twenty concerts and workshops happening in every corner of the ship. Every morning there was a great teaching and devotion time for all on board as well as family entertainment and exciting ports of call throughout the week.

     At midnight on Wednesday, we were able to have a worship service and concert put on especially for the crew of the ship. The crew, from scores of countries throughout the world, came and listened to Christian music and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of the service, we distributed Bibles in several different languages that they could take home with them. It was so awesome to be able to minister to people from around the world in one place, even in the middle of the ocean. We are excited that a lady who was employed with the cruise line is coming with us to Kenya in June where she will be involved in our children’s ministry work!

     In addition to all of this, we shared the ministry of World Hope with over 2,200 passengers from across the country, and over the course of the week, we were able to raise $50,000 to help continue to spread the good news of Christ to the most hopeless among us. We praise the Lord for his continued blessings. If you are interested in being on the next KLOVE cruise with us, we invite you to visit their website at www.klovecruise.com

Last month we had the incredible privilege, in partnership with the Premiere Foundation, to represent World Hope again on the Music Boat. The Music Boat is a chartered cruise ship that sets sail for a week with some of today’s top Christian artists on board. Artist such as Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, and the Newsboys performed each night and mingled with passengers. It’s been such a blessing to have already been on three of these cruises because the connections that are made impact the ministry in a grand way, and the offerings that have been raised on these trips have helped Hope advance the work for Hope Academy more than we could have ever done on our own. The offering that was raised this year exceeded $20,000! The Music Boat 2010 passengers raised the money to build the exterior structure for Hope Academy high school, and this year’s passengers raised the money that will help outfit and “dress up” the classrooms and necessities for the new 9th and 10th grade classes at the Academy beginning in January.

Another blessing was the presence we are able to have on board. Every day, at our exhibition table on board, we had our team speaking with passengers about Hope and giving them information as to how they could partner with us. There was also a running announcement about World Hope on the ship’s overhead players anda pop up piece that was on every dining table on board, everyone heard and read about us more than once a day. Dr. David Janney was given numerous opportunities to speak to the crowds that came to the concerts before their designated dinner times. He shared with those in attendance the vision for Hope Academy Senior School in the upcoming phases, and how “just a little goes a long way” in Kenya. On Thursday morning, we had an hour-long segment to speak more in detail, with a smaller group of passengers about Hope and about the upcoming trips.

The new promotional video for World Hope was also unveiled the last night on board. It is a beautiful piece, one that we look forward to you viewing. Be sure to watch it HERE.

Part of the offering was proceeds that came from a live auction held on the final night of cruising during the concert. An artist from South Carolina painted, with his bare hands, two incredible portraits of Jesus. It was quite the sight to see this artist dip his hands into numerous paint cans and splattered the colors onto the canvas to create these masterpieces. The first sold for $4,000 and the second for $6,000. What a blessing! We feel so blessed and honored to have been the chosen ministry to be represented on these ships. We look forward to seeing how these connections develop into friendships and partnerships for World Hope. We’re thrilled to see how doors are opening up for the ministry to continue to expand around the world!

Right before the Thanksgiving holiday Orlando Christian Prep, our longtime partners, stepped up again to help World Hope. This time the Warriors Athletic department put on an amazing golf tournament, featuring, community members, celebrities, members of the staff and student athletes playing along side each other to raise money for some of the secondary buildings at Hope Academy. The tournament was a lot of fun, and quite a success. We got to share about Hope Academy with a couple hundred people who may never have known about us and the work we are doing in Kawagware slum. President of World Hope, Dr. David Janney lead the morning off in prayer, members of our staff and families played in the tournament and our Executive Vice President Derek Janney shared about Hope at the afternoon banquet. We are so grateful to Orlando Christian Prep and their continuing partnership to bring Hope to the students of Hope Academy.

Many first time travelers spend a lot of time preparing for their trips to Kenya. Few have been supporters of World Hope long enough to remember our very first campaign for Hope Academy. However Julie Thomas, a high school teacher with Orlando Christian Prep, can say she is one of the few. Ten years ago when Hope Academy was a vision of Dr. Janney’s, Julie’s then Elementary class, sponsored a chair at Hope Academy, affording one student the ability to attend school. Ten years later on a mission’s trip with World Hope, she got to meet a student that her classroom helped educate, and who is now attending medical school. This student not only met Julie, but also was a vital part in helping in the Medical clinic for the same trip. To see the circle of blessing in person was nothing short of God’s glory.

 This story is just one of many coming from a very unique partnership forming within World Hope. This year Orlando Christian Prep has taken it’s role as Hope Academy’s sister school to new heights. In June of 2011 nearly a dozen members of the school’s faculty, support staff, and administrators visited Hope Academy, many for the first time. Initially their objective was to see the school, and assist the teachers in any way they could, offering advice in the classrooms, and support in the office. However this plan was quickly overshadowed by a much larger plan God had orchestrated. The teachers soon found themselves learning from the faculty of Hope Academy. Just a few days in intense bonds were being made and many teachers taught lessons side by side with their Kenyan counterparts. It was truly overwhelming.

 As the trip closed another miracle soon emerged. Teacher’s, who in the states live on a notoriously small salary, felt the overwhelming need to bless their new friends, and mentors. A quick trip to the store, and a gathering of prayer and funds, lead to quite an awesome display of love. On the final day at Hope Academy, the outpouring materialized in the form of enough books, materials, supplies, toys, games, cloths and gifts to fill the courtyard. The only thing more awesome than the blessings was the celebration that ensued. Students and teachers, faculty and trip goers all joined together in dancing and singing of praise to the Lord. This is a bond that will not soon be broken, and a partnership that is now cemented in stone.