During the 2017 My Hope Conference at Hixson First Baptist Church, attendees participate in a "cardboard test," in which they wrote on pieces of cardboard how God had helped in their lives.Following the success of Hixson First Baptist Church's inaugural My Hope Conference, which 400 people attended last year over the course of three sessions, the church is holding the conference again this year.
Everyone in the community is invited to attend the free conference, to be held at the church Sunday, Oct. 7 through Tuesday, Oct. 9.
"We want to offer hope to our community," said the church's Rev. Steven Granger. "People are looking for and in need of hope these days. As Christians, we feel we have the hope that people need, which is Jesus Christ."
The theme for this year's conference is "Unchanging Hope," in reference to a Bible verse found in Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Through inspirational music, relevant messages from conference speakers, and personal testimonies from people who have found hope for their lives, the aim is to provide real hope and help to the people who attend and the people they know, Granger said.
The goal of the conference is not only to offer spiritual hope, but to provide hope in very practical ways as well. Dozens of nonprofits - for example, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise Money School, a financial literacy education program; 1N3, focused on drunk-driving awareness; and Welcome Home, providing end-of-life care for people who have nowhere else to go - will have representatives on-site to talk directly with attendees about the services they provide in the community.
People are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions, which feature topics that are interrelated but can stand alone, said Granger. The conference will kick off with the routine 10:45 a.m. Sunday worship service, which will also serve as the church's 95th anniversary celebration. The speaker is former church staff member Ken Lewis, who will talk about sharing hope with a new generation.
The second session, Sunday at 5:30 p.m., focuses on hope for people who have given up on life, such as those struggling with depression or drug and alcohol addiction. The session to be held Monday at 5:30 p.m. concentrates on hope for people who've experienced broken promises, whether between husbands and wives, parents and children, or other relationships. The final session, to be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m., focuses on hope in the face of life's uncertainties.
The Kids Hope Rally for kindergartners through fifth-graders focuses on the same theme as the My Hope Conference, sharing the message in a way that's interesting to children, Granger said. It will be held in the church's children's worship area, the WOW Factory, Sunday, Oct. 7 at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; and Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 8 and 9 at 6:30 p.m. both days.
Hixson First Baptist Church is at 5800 Grubb Road. No registration is required, and free child care is available during the conference to children in pre-kindergarten and younger. For more information, call 877-2467, email myhopeconference@gmail.com or visit myhopeconference.com.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com