Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Judy Capps, Founder and President of the Board, along with Regina Glass, Executive Director of Hope Ministries of Northeast Texas, who both highlight the Mt. Pleasant, Texas-based nonprofit organization focused on empowering single mothers through a holistic, multi-generational approach to poverty alleviation. The organization serves 32 families at a time, providing comprehensive support that addresses financial needs, personal healing, and spiritual growth over a 4-5 year period. Through education, mentorship, and practical assistance, Hope Ministries has helped transform lives, with graduates achieving success in various fields including law enforcement, social work, and business. The ministry has expanded its impact by training other cities to implement its Hope model, including locations in New York, Tennessee, and Brazil, while also maintaining sustainability through facility rentals and community partnerships. The program’s success is demonstrated by its ability to transform not just individual lives but entire communities, with each graduate potentially saving taxpayers $60,000 annually by moving from welfare to self-sufficiency.
Summary
Hope Ministries: Transforming Lives –Â Hope Ministries of Northeast Texas, founded by Judy Capps and her husband Steve, has been helping single mothers and their children for 16 years, expanding from serving one family to 32 families. The organization takes a holistic approach to addressing poverty, focusing on financial stability, healing, and spiritual growth. Judy explains that they work with women facing various challenges, including financial struggles, trauma, and lack of housing, aiming to transform their lives and those of their children through a comprehensive program.
Multi-Generational Community Support Program –Â Judy and Regina discuss their multi-generational community program that serves mothers, children, and seniors. The program aims to provide holistic support through mentorship, discipleship, and community service. They explain that success is measured by resilience, career achievement, credit improvement, inner healing, and positive community interaction. They highlight diverse success stories, including graduates who became police officers, social workers, nurses, teachers, and business professionals, as well as homeowners.
Extended Family Support Program Model –Â Judy and Regina explain that their program supports families for 4-5 years, allowing participants to pursue full-time education while working part-time. They discuss the balance between depth of impact and breadth of service, using the analogy of a snowflake to highlight the unique challenges and goals of each participant. Judy shares that their organization has become a training center, hosting visitors from cities like Rochester, Memphis, and Abilene to learn and adapt their model to various contexts, including safety shelters and feeding programs.
Holistic Healing Training Expansion –Â They discuss expanding access to holistic healing by sharing training and resources globally, including in-person and virtual options. Judy explains that they offer periodic training sessions at their facility in Mt. Pleasant, with the option for groups to attend in-person or participate in Zoom trainings via a video series. They also discuss their event facility, which is used to generate sustainable income for Hope Ministries through rentals and community events.
Empowering Women Through Ministry –Â They discuss ways the community can support Hope’s efforts, including volunteering, partnering with local childcare programs, and offering scholarships. They discuss opportunities for supporting practical needs in Mt. Pleasant and other cities. They highlight a unique program in Brazil that teaches women with limited education skills like beautician, jewelry making, sewing, and professional cookie making. Regina shares her personal transformation through the ministry, emphasizing how it has allowed her to help others and build trust with mothers who have faced similar challenges. Judy explains the financial impact of the ministry’s work, noting that it saves taxpayers $60,000 annually per family by helping individuals transition from Section 8 dependency to self-sufficiency, resulting in significant cost savings over time.
Community Empowerment Through Holistic Support –Â They discuss the importance of empowering rather than enabling communities through holistic approaches that focus on feeding and housing, while encouraging other cities to adopt similar strategies. Judy emphasizes the significance of building relationships with individuals and understanding their stories, highlighting the need for long-term support and change. They conclude by sharing resources for further engagement with Hope Ministries of Northeast Texas, including their website and social media platforms.
Visit https://www.hopeministriesofnet.org to connect with Hope Ministries of Northeast Texas.
