Here’s a true story of hope that begins with a newborn girl found abandoned in a trashcan in China. With this nearly hopeless beginning would she have a future?

The infant was found by a family who provided care for five years until she was passed on to a different family. In their “care” for the next six years she took care of herself mostly on the streets of China. Had she gone from little hope to no hope? Surely there was no future for her!

Then at age 11 she was placed in an orphanage. How much hope could be in this situation now? What about her future?

Just prior to turning 14 she was adopted and brought to America, which seemed like heaven to her. Her life’s vastly different situation brought changes where hope could be found and dreams of a positive future finally could be realized.

Speaking no English and barely literate, she was now homeschooled by her “forever” family who provided not just an education but love and care. She earned an Associate’s degree at a community college, dreamed of a Christian education, and applied for College of the Ozarks, where she was placed on a waiting list.

Although it didn’t appear hopeful that she would be accepted right away, she was. It wasn’t easy, but she faced the struggles, which already had been so much a part of her life.

“While at College of the Ozarks there were a couple of times I felt like giving up, but I gained a lot of perseverance…. I learned to ask for help even when I didn’t want others to see me struggling,” she expressed and acknowledged the support and prayers of others that helped her succeed.

She studied. She learned. She worked. She became stronger. She experienced growing hope and enjoyed planning for her future.

She graduated from College of the Ozarks with honors in May 2018. It was a worthy accomplishment but even more importantly, she had learned to trust God who spoke these words found in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… plans to give you hope and a future.”

Congratulations, Katelynn Corkern!

(Did you know that C of O students participate in a Work Education Program to pay for their education and an opportunity to graduate with a 4-year degree without student debt? For more info about College of the Ozarks — called “Hard Work U” by Wall Street Journal — go to www.cofo.edu.)

I briefly met Josh McDowell in the early 1970’s after he had just spoken to a large gathering of college students. He won’t remember meeting me, one of the many students in the crowd, but I remember that time as an important point in my spiritual journey. Josh offered logical, reasonable, fact-based reasons for my faith.

Josh didn’t determine what I believed, but he did help me to better make sense of my beliefs. I believed what he said, because he said what I believed. I considered it a blessing to learn from Josh and have since read many books he has authored.

I remember one topic Josh spoke about then was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The message he shared hasn’t changed nearly a half-century later. He continues to share because of its truth and its meaning to the world and to each individual’s heart. It is an event he calls “the great hope… to a hopeless world.”

“Christ’s resurrection is the great hope that Christianity offers to a hopeless world — forgiveness of sin and an afterlife with God, free of pain and suffering, and filled with boundless joy!” (Josh McDowell)

I invite you to go to josh.org to find more about the historic fact of the Resurrection. It could lead you to the hope you need but didn’t know where to find.

Tag: college

COLLEGE of OZARKS GRAD: HOPE and a FUTURE

Here’s a true story of hope that begins with a newborn girl found abandoned in a trashcan in China. With this nearly hopeless beginning would she have a future?

The infant was found by a family who provided care for five years until she was passed on to a different family. In their “care” for the next six years she took care of herself mostly on the streets of China. Had she gone from little hope to no hope? Surely there was no future for her!

Then at age 11 she was placed in an orphanage. How much hope could be in this situation now? What about her future?

Just prior to turning 14 she was adopted and brought to America, which seemed like heaven to her. Her life’s vastly different situation brought changes where hope could be found and dreams of a positive future finally could be realized.

Although it didn’t appear hopeful that she would be accepted right away, she was. It wasn’t easy, but she faced the struggles, which already had been so much a part of her life.

“While at College of the Ozarks there were a couple of times I felt like giving up, but I gained a lot of perseverance…. I learned to ask for help even when I didn’t want others to see me struggling,” she expressed and acknowledged the support and prayers of others that helped her succeed.

She studied. She learned. She worked. She became stronger. She experienced growing hope and enjoyed planning for her future.

She graduated from College of the Ozarks with honors in May 2018. It was a worthy accomplishment but even more importantly, she had learned to trust God who spoke these words found in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… plans to give you hope and a future.”

Congratulations, Katelynn Corkern!

JOSH McDOWELL: The GREAT HOPE to a HOPELESS WORLD

Josh didn’t determine what I believed, but he did help me to better make sense of my beliefs. I believed what he said, because he said what I believed. I considered it a blessing to learn from Josh and have since read many books he has authored.

“Christ’s resurrection is the great hope that Christianity offers to a hopeless world — forgiveness of sin and an afterlife with God, free of pain and suffering, and filled with boundless joy!” (Josh McDowell)

I invite you to go to josh.org to find more about the historic fact of the Resurrection. It could lead you to the hope you need but didn’t know where to find.