St. Elmo Ave. Baptist Church

Hope for Northwest Georgia recently facilitated a congregational training at St. Elmo Ave. Baptist Church. Check out the pictures below!





Interested in finding out more about St. Elmo Ave. Baptist Church? Click here to visit their website!

Hope Spotlight: Pastor Travis Hutchinson

Name: Travis Hutchinson

Time with Hope: Three and a half years, founding board member

Bio: Travis has been a Pastor at Highlands Presbyterian Church in LaFayette since 2000. Travis is married to Kimberly Hutchinson, his wife of 20 years this November. Travis and his wife live in St. Elmo Tennessee with their two sons. Travis is a graduate of Covenant College, as well as Beeson Divinity School, where he received his Masters of Divinity.

Fun Facts: Travis loves to surf, drink really good coffee, and read. One of his favorites is the Lord of the Rings.

Hope Spotlight: Heather Jones

Name: Heather Jones

Time with Hope: first board meeting was today

Bio: Heather recently joined the Hope for Northwest Georgia advisory board. Heather is a Social Worker with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chattanooga and brings a great deal of professional experience in case management, volunteer
development/management and youth development to Hope for NWGA. She also brings with her experience in educating individuals about factors that influence impoverished communities, specifically in regard to the concept of the Culture of Poverty.

Currently Reading: Adam Bryant's Corner Office column in the NY Times and National Geographic

Interesting Fact: she learned to read/write in Japanese when she was in elementary school


Find out more by stopping by our Hope office! We'll be more than happy to give you a tour and a cup of coffee.

Hope Spotlight: Heather Prettyman, Director

Over the next few months, we will be introducing our Hope staff and volunteers. If you don't already know us, here is your chance!



Name: Heather Prettyman

Time with Hope: three and a half years

Bio: Heather has been Director at Hope since its beginning. She joined Hope while finishing a degree in Community Development at Covenant College in 2008. Heather lives in Northwest Georgia with her husband Thomas and attends East Ridge Presbyterian Church.

Currently Reading: Beyond Charity, by John M. Perkins, and The Lord of the Rings



Find out more by stopping by our Hope office! We'll be more than happy to give you a tour and a cup of coffee.

Good Time for All

If you joined us at the CCDA regional conference in Chattanooga last weekend, then I am sure you will agree- what a great time!

Hope for NWGA joined lots of folks from our region to listen to top Development speakers and professionals, network, fellowship, and eat! The weekend was packed with information and encouragement.

Check out some photos from the event:

Hope to see you this weekend!

Join Hope at the Christian Community Development Association Regional Conference this Friday and Saturday in Chattanooga Tennessee.

Come find our booth, eat a meal or two with our director, Heather Prettyman, or run into us in one of many of the workshops and plenary sessions. This promises to be a time of encouragement, fellowship, and blessing. Will we see you there?

Register at the door for $50. This includes meals for each day. To find out more, click here.

Aftermath

Many of you have asked how we are doing after the storms that passed through our area. I have posted a few pictures above of storm damage. I am excited, however, to report that this difficult time has brought us together as a community in a way that never could have occurred otherwise.
Immediately following the storm, neighbors were checking on neighbors. People opened their homes, pantries, and families to those in the community who had once been strangers. We watched with joy as several churches in the Flintstone community teamed up to provide hot meals and a safe place to those without power. Day after day, we watched as teams of individuals poured into the neighborhoods, cutting down trees, removing debris, and providing much needed support.
One family from one of our Hope partnership churches lost everything. Their home was completely crushed, their possessions scattered. But in a joint service the following Sunday, they gave testimony to God for his protection, wisdom, and power.
As we clean up and set things right, pray with us that God would continue to minister through his people in our community. Pray too for those suffering from loss. Pray that God would not only provide for physical needs, but that He would surround the hurting with those who love Him.
If you are interested in helping in the Northwest Georgia area, please contact the Hope offices. We would be happy to connect you with one of our Hope Partner churches that is already working in their community.