Hope Has A Name
Often, if not always, when God asks us to do something it is not only a stretch of our faith, it’s above our pay grade, talent, and ability. In the natural, it seems impossible. And without God – it is! Fortunately for us, hope has a name.
In the summer of 2016, we received one of those challenges. We felt the Lord asking us to step out in faith, with very little money, a camera, and a couple of contacts to film a documentary movie about ordinary women around the world making hope come alive.
The idea of it – the dream of making the film – wasn’t a new idea. It was something we’d carried in our hearts since 2012 – from the time when we met Mrs. Mary Lanier at the drug recovery program our son, Brandon was in. The ministry this 80 plus year-old woman was doing with hardened addicts, gang members, and criminals left us speechless. It was incredibly inspiring. And, it took away excuses of age and gender.
Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible. ~ Mary McLeod Bethune
The encounter with her, coupled with ministering in an impoverished housing project in Bartow, FL with Jessica Goodman, sparked the idea for the movie.
There are women around the world, who are unknown, without big platforms or budgets who are bringing hope in hopeless situations. The idea of women working and ministering to people around the world without notoriety and often without resources was the motivating story we were compelled to share. We knew it should be called Hope.
Armed with the desire to motivate average people to action, with the purpose of sharing the love of Christ, the journey began… at least in our hearts. And that’s where it stayed for four years.
Wake-Up call – Hope Has A Name
However, in 2016, during a time of prayer, the Lord spoke, “I gave this to you, but if you don’t do it, I’m giving it to someone else.” This was a wake-up call. A reminder of other lost opportunities.
Our response was, “Lord, we will do this!” But how? As pastors of a small church in Florida, this venture exceeded our budget…it would take more time, money and ability than we had. The Lord wasn’t concerned with any of that!
“You know the money you have in your account,” He pointed out, “Start there. You step…I step. I’ll lead you to the women.”
He knows how much is in your bank account, folks! He knew how much was in ours and He wasn’t intimidated by it at all!
As Pastor Jentezen Franklin says, “We serve a motion-sensitive God.” He is moved by our faith. And when we move in obedience and faith, He moves in response.
Obedience
As we stepped in obedience, God did lead us to the women He wanted in this film (literally taking us around the world to film them) – Heidi Baker, Cassandra Lee, Amy Lancaster, Deena Vant’Hul, Jessica Goodman, Mary Lanier, Shara Chalmers, and a woman in a closed nation so dangerous we couldn’t show her face. The stories of hope and the ripple effect of their ministries is beyond inspiring.
Ken and Lesa Henderson with Heidi Baker
There were many hardships and much resistance…including, but not limited to, two hurricanes, the fire of TN where the condo where we were staying burned to the ground and we lost film equipment and a lot of footage. We were also hit with a tornado and a flood (x2)… but God.
Hope Has A Name has won multiple awards, is being seen around the world and on GOD TV and has been endorsed by Dr Tim Hill, Perry Stone, Jentezen Franklin, and Lisa Bevere.
We don’t boast in this but in God’s ability to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
What we learned from making this film and the women we featured in it is:
- Age nor gender exempts you from being used of God.
- If you step out in faith and use what’s in your hand, He will multiply it.
- Never give up! Don’t quit just because things are hard. (More on this later)
- Never give up on your dreams.
“…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.” (Philippians 1:6)
What has God been calling you to do? As you step out to do what He has called you to, He will not only meet you, He will enable you!
https://youtu.be/wDD7mazytd8
