Now, how does that relate to you? I suspect most of us know someone struggling with mental health illness and/or addictions. We might not know of resources to help them. The Festival of Hope is assembling what may be the biggest one time gathering of helping ministries in the Charleston area. The list includes what I call all the heavy hitters: The Charleston Center, National Alliance of Mental Illness, Steadfast Recovery Ministries, Charleston Teen and Family EMPOWER, Charleston HOPE, Connie Maxwell Children Ministries, Lowcountry Biblical Counseling Center, Barrier Island Free Clinic, Wake Up Carolina, Warrior Surf Foundation, The Navigation Center, and on and on. Our goal is to have 40 of these Vendors of Hope who are all on board with our mission.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness shares the following: 1 out of 5 adults experience mental illness each year; 706,000 adults in South Carolina have a mental health condition; 1 in 6 youth experience a mental health disorder each year; over 200,000 adults in South Carolia did not receive needed mental health care. The numbers can go on and on. I think we get the point. Perhaps many of us have been there or at least know someone we love who has been there. We are gathering 40 of our city’s best resources to be available at no charge. Talk to a counselor, stop by a find out what that agency does, connect with people who are making a difference.
Now, let’s say your life is free from anything described above. Why is the Festival of Hope for you? We want you to come and volunteer. Be a greeter, help park cars, serve food, rub shoulders, encourage the Vendors of Hope, etc. Invite, invite, and invite. Our goal is 1,000 people. We are ready for 2,000! Pray that we continue to find favor with God and man!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Tom
