Matt Currier

Despite the challenges COVID has presented for normal ministry in our building, Hope for Kids has continued to reach children and their families. 

• Holidays provide us an opportunity for a “special” touch. On Valentine’s Day we were able to distribute bags to many children along with How Great is our God devotional books for each family. The Springfield Rescue Mission blessed us on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas with over 200 meals for families which we were able to bring directly to them! We had hats, mittens and scarves handmade for our kiddos which brought such big smiles to their faces! We had a really special Christmas event that was made possible by Garvey’s Nutrition, Springfield Rescue Mission, Christina’s House, and VOX Church. After reaching out to a local school to find out the neediest children,we invited them and the families to come to the Mission (our building in Indian Orchard) for cookies, hot cocoa, Christmas crafts, and for picking up gifts for the kids provided for them by the above organizations. We were able to pray with many moms who were in tears by the time we were done! We have kept in touch and they are now plugged in to Hope for Kids. 

• Our summer ministry included a weeklong training of teenagers followed by three weeks of Summer Impact Clubs in different neighborhoods in Springfield. We met new families through this outreach! We also had a day camp where we picked up kids and brought them out to Monson to Matt and Erika’s Seed of Hope Farm. Kids had a Bible lesson, lunch, cookie making, nature craft, and time with the animals! 

• Our monthly event is a themed Club Hope which supplies the children with lunch, a Bible lesson, a skill or project lesson, and lots of God’s love being demonstrated to them! 

• We open our building one night a week for a community meal. We have had incredible opportunities to pray with and share the Gospel with the parents on these nights. We have simple activities and Bible stories planned for the kids. 

• Matt has taken every opportunity to study the Word of God during the past two years. His time is divided between ministering to people and learning all he can about the kingdom of God and how we are instructed by Jesus to advance it. In light of that, he has come up with a plan that will begin in February to open our building for prayer and to teach people how Jesus died to set them free in spirit, soul, and body. Because so much of our ministry has been in people’s homes during these times of COVID, we have seen such a great need. As moms and dads opened up to us about their inner struggles, we have never been more sure that they need to be set free! And who the Son sets free is free indeed! Matt is listening carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit as he moves forward to include adults in our ministry and to minister healing and then discipleship. 

• God has allowed us to use our building to host ladies’ events, teen revival services, adult revival services, baptisms, and even a small church plant. We want to take every opportunity God gives us to advance His kingdom. Your kingdom come, Lord, on earth as it is in heaven!