Hope For The Home

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March 14 2024

Sunrise to Sunset

Hope For The Home Devotional, Ministry News 0

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

Sunrise. Sunset. May you day be the best.

Saturday night we had a wonderful service ministering at the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission. We minister there the first Saturday of each month.

Sunday morning we ministered at the Native church here in Anchorage. We left there and went to Hope Church for our 2 PM service.

We dashed home for a dash of dinner, then back to the Native church to minister in the 6 PM service.

Sunrise. Sunset. May your day be the best.

~Tricia Hight Martin~

March 9 2024

Snow, snow and more snow

Hope For The Home Devotional, Ministry News 0

Winter Update

Some news reporters called this winter a “Pandemic of Snow” as Anchorage sat a record for the earliest arrival of 100 inches of snow. By January 30th, this record was reached making it possible to break its all-time record of 134.5 inches of snow this winter. Shoveling driveways, scraping off cars, and bundling up in warm gear has been normal protocol since Bro. James & Sis. Tricia’s arrival back in Alaska on February 2nd. Last week there was a “winter advisory” of -20F to -30F degree temperatures. Alaskans welcome the snow as it usually “warms” up a bit.

It has been a blessing and also a challenge to continue ministering to these precious homeless people on a daily basis. Bro. Martin has begun bringing the Hope Mobile (bus) for the people to have somewhere to warm up as well as coffee. He strives to always be ‘there’ to share a devotion, to pray, have tracts & bibles available and to visit with the people during this lunch hour.

Hope Church still meets on Sunday afternoon at 2pm in this upstairs classroom of the Downtown Hope Center.

We are very thankful for all that have given so that we have been able to have extra supplies on hand. The count has reached 25 ‘unhoused’ people that have perished this winter. Our hearts are broken by this fact and continue to pray to be God’s hand extended with love and compassion. Please pray with us!

September 7 2023

“Termination Dust”

Hope For The Home Ministry News 0

“Termination Dust” on the mountains indicates that winter is coming soon. We are hoping to stay outside under the canopies for the next few weeks, but definitely seeing our end in sight. Bittersweet it is: as seasons change, there are both challenges and opportunities. We do miss some sweet faces, as some don’t come to church inside making our crowds much smaller.

In March of 2023, Tricia Hight Martin shared a “peek” into a Hope Church Sunday on Facebook before they were scheduled to leave to fulfill some obligations in the Lower 48. I thought it would be good to share it here for you that wonder what it’s like.

“Sunday morning we left the house at 12:30 PM for Hope church, after James packed the Yukon with around 3 totes, several bags and our church sign.”

“Arriving at Hope church, which is on the second floor of Hope Center in downtown Anchorage, James set out our church sign and unloaded all the totes.”

“Inside, we loaded everything on the elevator, then wheeled it into a classroom, which is our Sunday church sanctuary.”

“We take down the classroom’s tables and set up around 40 chairs, of which I place a wrapped Lifesaver mint in each chair. Just a little “welcome treat” on their seats when they come in.”

“Then, set up the keyboard and podium.”

“James sets up a podium for his laptop and Bible.
For the past month, he has been putting the songs, his sermon scriptures, and easy-to-follow notes on his laptop, then “jumping them” to the classroom monitor so everyone can follow along. They loveeee this!! However, that’s way too much hi tech for Tricia to translate properly – so … jumping along here.”

“James goes to the kitchen on the 1st floor, gets the lunch bags and brings them upstairs. He then puts them on a cart with the bottled water and ice cream sandwiches.”

“Tricia sets up the COFFEE bar!!
And I certainly know how to do that in fine fashion. Plentyyyyy of creamer and sugar. Coffee cups and stirrers. Hand sanitizer and paper towel.”

“Typically we use a 100 pot coffee urn, but due to us flying out immediately after the service, we used 3 pump pots of coffee, which hardly lasted until service started.”

“When Pastor James was ready to start service at 2PM, I went to the keyboard at the front. After singing, I went to the back of the congregation to stand, so I would be ready to pass out lunch.”

“This Sunday we had at least 30 in attendance. Pastor James preached outstanding from the book of Ephesians. Several raised their hands for salvation, healing and personal prayer.”

~Tricia Hight Martin

Thank you for your continued prayers for Hope Church and the ministry to the Homeless community of Anchorage, Alaska.

August 11 2023

Hope Church Under Canopy

Hope For The Home Ministry News 0

While we were setting up our canopy tents (9), one of the guys helping me said, “Wow! This makes me think of Moses.” Later, Sis. Vicki Myrick led us in worship with the songs “Our God Reigns” and “How Great is Our God”.

The thought of Moses setting up a tent of worship made me strongly desire that the glory of God would fill these tents. I challenged the people to worship and welcome the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Then Bro. Jared Myrick preached an anointed and powerful message about Zacchaeus’ wonderful transformation.

I want to express the deep gratefulness I have in my heart for the Myrick’s faithfulness to the Lord and usefulness to His work in Anchorage. Praise God for their dedicated and fruitful lives!

The Lord affirmed His pleasure and blessing upon them today with at least 15 souls who stood in prayer, affirming their desire to trust Jesus for a full transformation like Zacchaeus.

I shouted and rejoiced, and many others rejoiced with us as well. (We expect to have a celebration every Sunday — that’s why we bring the ice cream!)

We gave at least 12 Bibles to those hungry for the Word!

April 1 2016

Alaskan News

Hope For The Home Ministry News 2

Much has happened since we first stepped foot onto Alaskan soil (or snow!) on January 13^th. Upon our arrival here, we quickly began to get our home ready to live in. With cleaning supplies, paintbrushes, rollers, and tools in hand, the rooms started taking on a better look. It was a joy to set up house together, picking out everything from mattresses to couches, dishes, towels, and much more. Our closeness deepened as we sought to make frugal decisions together.

After around 2 weeks of daily progress, we began to see a break from the painting and working. We were excitedly anticipating getting to a place where we could begin the ministry opportunities we felt that God had led us here for. During his personal devotions one morning, Dad felt a distinct commission from Lord to begin the ministry that very day. (Deut. 2:31) He visited with the homeless at the Soup Kitchen and then went on to the Native Hospital. This day was the first of almost every day since that he has had the opportunity of ministering to the hopeless and hurting.

We have enjoyed our time around the dinner table and family devotions where he has shared the experiences God has given him in ministry to the people.

One of the stories that stood out to me was a girl in her early twenties. She burst into tears when she saw Dad come into the room. She then proceeded to tell him that she had been praying that God would send someone to pray for her. He was the answer to her prayers. There are many more stories of God’s intervention in lives. To God be all the Glory!

Julie and I have greatly enjoyed our involvement at the Women’s Shelter. We usually go twice a week from 9pm- 12am. Our main job description during that time is to organize the showers and do the laundry. Our favorite thing about being there is the interaction with the ladies. The longer we have been there, the more they have opened up to us and shared the depth of their needs. It has been a joy to point them to Jesus Christ as our only Hope!

One of the ladies we met at the Shelter said to me, “I got to the place I would isolate myself from people because I thought all people was icky. And then I met you, and your love has helped increase my faith in God. I now want to love other people because we are all God’s children.” By her testimony and others, God’s love is what is making the difference in our outreach endeavors.

We are seeing the need more everyday to do as Momma would say almost everyday, “We must seek for God’s love!” We greatly desire to be a representation of God’s love to these precious people.

We look forward to sharing in the future more of what God has done during this time of being here in Anchorage, Alaska.

— Joanna Martin

March 24 2016

A Promise is in your Inbox

Hope For The Home Inspirational 2

What promise has God given you that you have not claimed as your own?

The claiming of a promise does not come without a distinct battle with human reasoning.

We can look at Abraham and Sarah and the promise God gave them concerning their descendants. The human possibilities were non-existent. Yet, God chose to use a powerful question to dispel the doubt, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14)

God is the creator of all things. How could we ever think that any promise is beyond His power to fulfill? Acts 2:39 says, “The promise is unto you, and to your children…” The empowerment of the Holy Ghost is for us personally and for our descendants. It’s that clear. We must lay hold of that promise by faith in God’s eternal Word, his unchanging nature, and the power of the Holy Ghost.

A revival of faith will come by refreshing your memory with the truth of who He is. Our God is faithful! Hebrews 13:5 says, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. Another scripture in Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I change not:…” God will always be true to His promises. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. “

So, when we see a promise such as the one mentioned earlier in Acts 2:39, claim it as if it has your own name, family, or descendant’s name attached to it. God has been and will always be faithful to His promises.

Now, we will look into the how-to of claiming God’s promises. The most foundational and essential element of claiming God’s promises is faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6)

In cultivating our faith, we must dig deep into the Word of God and thereby, into the nature of who God is. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17)

Another element of building faith is to look for evidence of God’s promises being fulfilled in other’s lives. This is why the stories in the Bible are so essential to read and meditate upon. Acts 2:17 records the prophecy of Joel in chapter 2:28 “ your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” We see a vivid example of God performing this promise in the home of Phillip. Acts 21:9 says of Phillip, “the same man had 4 daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.”

I encourage you to seek after God’s promises for you personally, for your family and your descendants. Claim the promises of God by faith, and watch God fulfill His promises to you!

A Promise is in Your Inbox, will you open it?