4th Annual Hope Sunday is Sunday, August 29
On Sunday, August 29, 2021, numerous churches will come together to recognize the fourth annual Hope Sunday. Every year on Hope Sunday, churches throughout Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties show a locally made video to inspire Christ followers to address local issues and needs in our communities. The previous three Hope Sundays were focused on addiction education and encouraging churches and people of faith to reach out to those who are struggling. Although we have seen some incredibly positive examples of church engagement, social problems have been exacerbated due to Covid-19. Our hearts break for the record number of overdose deaths in Tuscarawas County in 2020.
Hope Sunday 2021 will focus on inspiring and activating churches to work together. As part of the countywide event, The Ezekiel Project has created a short film, “One A-Chord.” This video was created to challenge and inspire churches to come together as One Church, the body of Jesus Christ, to be the hope and light in our broken world. We know that when we come together in one accord with a common passion, a common prayer and a deep shared love for one another, the transforming power of Jesus Christ can change and heal our hurting and broken communities.
Participating churches will receive a short video and are asked to share it with their congregations. Churches will be provided a brief script that can be used before or after the video, bulletin inserts that include prayer requests around community needs, and information on local resources. Churches will be given all the resources to share the event. Last year’s event included participation from over 100 churches across Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties. This year we hope that all churches will participate. This year’s Hope Sunday will then not only challenge churches to work together, but will also invite churches to take action. This challenge will be set in motion by the opportunity to participate in a multi-county rally/revival called Field of Freedom, which will be September 17-19 in Tuscarawas County. We are excited to see the mighty things God will do as our community churches come together as one body to be the light in the valley. Let us come together to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.
