“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
~1 Thessalonians 5:11 {Theme verse}
“God loves you!” “I will be praying for you.” “I look forward to being your new friend and hope to hear back from you!”
As I’ve been settling into my new role as the Deaconess/Spiritual Life Coordinator at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, I’ve had the blessing of coordinating the Hope Notes Pen Pal Program—and I love it! Hope Notes pairs our amazing youth with kind and supportive people from all over the United States. They send cards and letters to their Ranch pen pal once a month. The quotes above are just a few of the characteristic comments that are found within these pen pal letters.
Think about how much fun it is to receive hand-written letters from someone who cares about you! It is by far the best kind of mail! It’s even more special because some of our kids don’t have families that are present in their lives. A hand-written note from an encouraging friend reminds our kids that your lives matter and that they are not forgotten. I’ve seen the impact in the faces of our kids when I ask them about their pen pal letters—smiles brighten their faces.
Just like the Thessalonians, we are called to encourage and build one another up. Here is one seemingly simple, but surprisingly meaningful way in which the body of Christ can build one another up—to share encouragement to keep on persevering, to heal, and to have hope in God’s true promises. I love that I get to play a tiny role in making those connections and showing our kids in as many ways as possible that they MATTER, they are LOVED, and they are NOT FORGOTTEN. How awesome is that?!
All three of our Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch campuses are blessed to have a Hope Notes Pen Pal Program. If you would like to participate in this special and meaningful program, please contact me at k.jacob@dakotaranch.org.
Thank you! You are loved! Keep on encouraging one another in Christ’s love!