To honor another – especially one who has been oppressed, overlooked, or undervalued – is to acknowledge that this person bears the divine imprint of God.
“When we demonstrate esteem and value for others, we don’t just make them feel good – we participate in their emotional and spiritual restoration because we are responding to their true identity; we are aligning ourselves with God and His perspective.
The beauty of honor-driven healing is that it benefits both the giver and receiver. As we commit to honoring others, we often find our own wounds healing too. It’s a divine cycle – the more we recognize and celebrate the value in others, the more we all experience restoration, wholeness, and most importantly a closer connection with Jesus.” – Brian Mowrey, Sr. Pastor
During the month of February and all year long, we want to acknowledge the history and contributions of our Black brothers and sisters.
Love Your Neighbor: A Black History Month Devotional Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.: a 7-day devotional
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson chronicles his work defending the poor, the wrongly condemned, and the marginalized within the U.S. justice system. Anchored in the case of Walter McMillian, the book exposes deep racial and economic injustices and calls readers toward mercy, equity, and meaningful reform.
The World Needs More Purple People is a fun, thoughtful children’s book that invites us to listen first, love boldly, and find common ground in a divided world.
How Far To The Promised Land by Esau McCaulley. After his estranged father’s sudden death, Esau McCaulley reevaluates the belief that his success came solely from personal perseverance, and sees that his family’s history holds a deeper story of community, struggle and resilience.
Selma: One Dream Can Change The World. Centered on the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, this film captures how ordinary citizens and faith leaders together helped secure the passage of the Voting Rights Act – a turning point in the fight for civil rights in the United States.
As Christians, honoring Native American Heritage Month reflects our call to see and celebrate the image of God in every culture and people. It’s an opportunity to listen humbly, acknowledge past injustices, and learn from the wisdom and stewardship of indigenous traditions. By doing this, we practice repentance, reconciliation, and gratitude — values at the heart of the gospel’s call to love our neighbors.
It’s not just awareness days or the news, but primarily our faith that compels us to compassionate concern for our refugee and immigrant neighbor. Matthew 25 says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me … Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
Previous
Next
Juneteenth is a day celebrating the freedom of 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation two and a half years prior, but it had not been implemented in every state. This is a complicated holiday – joyful yet tinged with the memory of great injustice – but we’re brought closer to God’s heart for all people when we lean in to learn. And, we want to celebrate every step toward freedom, remembering our own freedom in Jesus!
On The Kensington Blog: Understanding Juneteenth by multiple authors (all humans in our community, not AI)
Documentary: Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom from Our Daily Bread Ministries | Watch here
10-Day Devotional: Juneteenth on YouVersion Bible App
Royal Oak Juneteenth Event | June 19: see you there! | Info here
https://youtu.be/rjLMQuwMSoQ?si=WuNZGBnbiC7riHsn
In honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Justin Warns invited Andrew Kim and Brian Mowrey to one of his favorite childhood restaurants to sample dim sum and discuss the role of the Church in bringing honor, healing, and unity. We recommend the following resources as you explore the religious and cultural contributions and the national experiences of our AAPI brothers and sisters.
On The Kensington Blog: No Longer Clueless by Kensington Co-Founder, Steve Andrews
5-day Devotional: Experiencing Friendship with God by Faith Eury Cho; need the YouVersion Bible App? Download it here.
The Shape of My Eyes by Kensington friend, pastor, and author, Dave Gibbons
During Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate that – regardless of cultural obstacles – women have the birthright to follow Jesus, understand scripture, and lead His people. Check out these resources to learn more:
Check out this conversation between Sr. Pastor Brian Mowrey and Birmingham campus-attender, Walter Elliott Jr., who marched with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Detroit as an 11-year-old! Walter personally experienced the important changes brought about by the message of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.
https://youtu.be/jj9yP8-PPqU?si=EnO5CtLZWt-G2HLB
We are grateful for you and your decision to be a part of the Hope Water Project community! Together, we can change lives!
We are here to support you and encourage you through the process; whether you are a walker, a runner, a cyclist, a volunteer or “outside the box” fundraiser – you are moving out and we appreciate
you!
YOU are changing lives! As a team, we come together to train, to volunteer and to support and encourage one another. We participate in events through the year and we raise awareness of the need for clean water. Your fundraising helps to build wells that impact the lives of the Pokot.
So your next step depends on what you want to do and how you want to step out!
A great first step is to join our mailing list to stay up to date on all our events and opportunities to jump in!
Next, visit our events page for upcoming opportunities to jump in. Sign up’s will be made available as we get closer to event dates and will be posted on the event page and emailed to our community.
And most important, setup your fundraising page! Whether you walk, run, cycle or volunteer – everyone can participate in fundraising.
And last, connect with us. Follow us on social media and join us on our mission to provide clean water!
We use email as a main communication tool and encourage you to sign up for our emails if you haven’t already. If you’re not receiving emails from Hope Water Project, complete the online form here.
We are always here to answer questions, please email [email protected] at any time!
We view social media as a great way to stay connected and reach out! We will post to the main Hope Water Project pages with updates and event information throughout the year so be sure to follow us!
• Facebook: Hope Water Project
• Instagram: Hope Water Project
• Website: Hope Water Project
Training plans are used to provide structure to your training and guide you through the process. The training plans we follow are available here and are created based on our annual event timelines.