What brings me hope

Community champions of hope coming
together to kickoff National Month of Hope

Mothers In Crisis kicked off the National Month of Hope with a bang! It was a very refreshing and impactful event that brought together several organizations and individuals who have served the community for decades bringing hope to those in need. 

My eyes filled with tears as I walked up and down Tharpe Street right before Old Bainbridge Road, on the border of Griffin Heights Neighborhood in Tallahassee, with a bullhorn in my hand shouting, “Hope pass it on and save a life!” 

I became emotional because I remembered how Mothers In Crisis participated in marches up and down the neighborhood several decades ago shouting, “Down with dope and up with hope!” It was as though time stood still and I was that young lady in my late twenties fired up to do as the Rev. Jesse Jackson said years ago, “Keep hope alive!” 

Well hope was resurrected as we began the ceremony with a heartfelt call to action. We heard why this “Hope Pass It On and Save a Life Campaign” is so vitally important because of the rising statistics of suicide. It was as though we were campaigning to elect hope in hearts, homes, and communities. 

We heard from City Commissioner Diane Williams-Cox as she shared a powerful and encouraging word straight from her soul. We also heard from newly licensed and certified Hopeologists Dr. Rebecca Judd of Behavior Inc. and Evangelist Linda Blackshear Smith of DEE Ministries, as they both admonished everyone to pass hope along. 

Nettie Walker Palmore shared a loving and transparent testimony about her attempted suicide that brought her to seek help from Mothers In Crisis decades ago. Finally, we heard from Pastor Minnie Ford of Wings of a Dove Ministries as she eloquently shared how hope came about and how we need to come together like peanut butter and jelly. 

I am hard pressed to express the depth of my gratitude to the Lord and everyone who helped to make this kickoff of April National Month of Hope a historical and blessed endeavor. I will just sum it up by saying what everyone was saying during the event, “As long as there is breath in your body, there is hope.” 

Our sponsors are the wind beneath our wings as we could not do it with you! To see the list of sponsors for 2023 April Month of Hope please visit www.makeahopeconnection.com. 

To see a YouTube video of the April National Month of Hope Kick-off Ceremony please visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/RosalindYTompkins03. 

Rosalind Tompkins, Ph.D. is author of “As Long As There Is Breath In Your Body, There Is Still Hope,” and other inspirational books. Tompkins is also founder of Turning Point International Church, the Chapel of Mothers In Crisis. She’s also founder of Turning Point International Alliance with ministries and churches in Pakistan, Nepal, Eswatini, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and St. Vincent in the West Indies.