Giving the Gift of Hope

Show Hope, a nonprofit orphan care ministry founded by GRAMMY award-winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth, will be celebrating this Christmas season with the "Gift of Hope" campaign. The campaign encourages everyone to do something different this Christmas by ending the year with a life-changing gift.

By committing to the "Gift of Hope" campaign, you can help hundreds of waiting children find their forever families. Each year, thousands of families who want to give an orphan a loving home are unable to do so becasue the costs involved in the adoption process are so tremendously high (averages are from $25,000 to $45,000 per adoption). Approximately 1,000 families apply annually to Show Hope for adoption assistance. Show Hope Adoption Aid grants have made it possible for more than 4,000 children to come into forever families through adoption.

Your gift can also provide urgent medical care through Show Hope's Special Care Centers in China by meeting other immediate needs including food, shelter, surgeries or even diapers. Sponsors help support the care these children receive, and to date more than 1,000 orphans with special needs have received life-giving care through these centers.

"A 'Gift of Hope' can help to lead a vulnerable child into the safety, nurture, and love of a forever family - a family who will teach them why we joyously celebrate this season of Christmas," said Executive Director Scott Hasenbalg in a press release.

Show Hope's Gifts of Hope Gift Catalog is packed with wonderful ideas for every budget. These are gifts that will never be returned to the store or regifted to others because the recipients don't like them; they will still be changing lives around the world long because hope is one gift that never loses its value.

The organization's last big campaign, this past fall's #BrownBag4Hope, has brought in more than 6,000 sponsors and reached over 7 million people after receiving an overwhelming response from supporters and celebrities including Hilary Scott (Lady Antebellum), Mary Sarah, Michael W. Smith, Josh Devine (One Direction) and Sportscaster Ernie Johnson, among others. However, there is still a need for about 3,500 sponsors in order to reach the 10,000-sponsor goal. Committing to brown-bagging it for lunch next year is another marvelous way to give this holiday season.

"It's encouraging to see so many people eager to get involved and learn about the growing needs of orphans." Hasenbalg said. "While we have been able to help restore the hope of a family to thousands of orphans in distress all around the world, there are still so many children waiting and so many we could help if we had more sponsors."

The "Gift of Hope" campaign kicked off on the heels of the successful "Glorious Unfolding Tour," where Steven Curtis Chapman, Laura Story and Jason Gray ministered to 36 cities. Throughout the tour, over 1,200 new sponsors signed up. Their monthly donations which will help 10 more waiting children find their forever families every month.

Tags : Steven Curtis Chapman Show Hope Christmas 2013