HOPE 30 october 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition God’s Call to Defend the Vulnerable A while back during my devotion time on Psalm 146, I was struck by verses six and seven. Psalm 146:6–7 declares that our God “made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them — He remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.” If that is what is true of God, it should be true of His people. If God defends the vulnerable, so must we. If He feeds the hungry, we cannot turn away. One man’s “yes” sparked a movement Three decades ago, Dr. Fred Scarbrough chose to put his faith into action. He saw the growing number of families in Broward County facing homelessness and refused to simply pray from a distance. His “yes” to God’s call became HOPE South Florida, a ministry that has been a refuge, a pathway forward, and a source of dignity for thousands of families and individuals over the last 30 years. In just a month, communities across the country will observe Homeless Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the reality of homelessness and to rally around solutions that bring people from crisis to stability. Here in Broward County, we will also commemorate HOPE South Florida’s 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of walking with families through some of their darkest moments and helping them rebuild toward a future filled with promise. But milestones are not just about remembering the past. They call us to examine the present and step with courage into the future. Our family’s “yes” When my family arrived in South Florida 11 months ago, we prayed a simple but bold prayer: “God, what do You want to do through us?” Our decision to say “yes” was an act of surrender, trusting that God had something bigger in mind than what we could see at the time. Our “yes” was not only to leading HOPE South Florida but to believing that this model of collaboration with churches, businesses, nonprofits and government linking arms can transform how we respond to families in crisis. Now, we are inviting you to prayerfully consider: What is your “yes” in this season? Meeting urgent needs with innovative solutions Your “yes” may not look like Dr. Fred’s, but it matters just as much. As we step into a season of thanksgiving and generosity, we are preparing to launch a Safe Overnight Parking program for families sleeping in their cars, approximately three hundred right here in Broward County. This initiative is not just a practical solution; it is an innovative and tangible expression of God’s heart for families who need safety, stability and hope. The numbers are staggering. On any given night, we have hundreds of families in Broward County sleeping in cars, staying on friends’ couches or struggling to find space in shelters. Children wake up unsure where they will sleep tomorrow or where they will eat their next meal. This is not someone else’s problem. This is our community. HOPE South Florida exists to help rewrite these stories, but we cannot do it alone. Your “yes” can change a life We need churches willing to open their doors, businesses willing to invest in solutions and neighbors willing to roll up their sleeves. We need people of faith and goodwill to see these families not as statistics but as image-bearers of God who deserve a chance to flourish. Your “yes” might take the form of mentoring a child who needs stability and encouragement. It might look like cooking and serving meals to families in our program. It might mean making a financial commitment so that HOPE South Florida can reach more than the 15% of homeless families we currently serve - and double or triple that impact in the year ahead. Or it could be using your influence to raise awareness about the hundreds of families living on the edge, hidden in plain sight, who long for someone to believe in them. However it looks, your “yes” matters. Your “yes” has the power to shift the trajectory of a family’s future. As Homeless Awareness Month approaches, I invite you to pause and ask yourself: What will you say “yes” to? Will you say “yes” to standing with the vulnerable? Will you say “yes” to giving your time, your prayers, your resources and your voice so that no family is left without a place to call home? When Dr. Scarbrough said “yes” three decades ago, he could not have foreseen the ripple effect that decision would create. I think of the thousands of lives touched, children restored to stability and families given the chance to thrive. Imagine what might happen if you said “yes” today. Psalm 146 reminds us that God’s faithfulness is unshakable. He continues to uphold the oppressed and feed the hungry. And He invites us to join Him in that work. HOPE South Florida stands as a living testimony of what can happen when ordinary people respond to God’s call. So again, I leave you with this question: What is your “yes” to God’s call in this moment? Celebrating 30 years of impact, HOPE South Florida exists to be a HOPE-filled community—keeping families together, offering compassionate care, and guiding them toward holistic life change. Under the leadership of President Joseph D. Kenner, we remain committed to ending family homelessness in Broward County by building communities that empower families to become resilient and independent. For more information visit HOPESouthFlorida.org - Joseph D. Kenner - President, HOPE South Florida Your “Yes” Can Change Everything: 30 Years of HOPE in Action
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2MjU=