Together for Hope (TFH), Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's (CBF) rural poverty initiative, works with local communities in the 20 poorest counties in the U.S. to help bring about long-term transformation initiated and implemented by local resources with help from state and national resources. TFH supports grassroots leadership development and the empowerment of full communities in their identification of their priorities and resources to accomplish those priorities.
TFH of Arkansas (AR) is a two county initiative that helps Phillips and Lee counties in the Delta area of Arkansas.
TFH of AR work is directed by Ben and Leonora Newell, career missionaries with the CBF (from North Carolina). The Newells live and work in Helena/West Helena, AR along with their three children: Lucas, Nate, and Gabriela.
TFH of AR and the Newells facilitate work in their focus counties that touches ministry areas of education (literacy, tutoring, creativity and computer labs), health, community development, sports and leadership development, as well as economic development. The Newells' ministry is based at the Helena Community Center where they host the Stories on Wheels toy and book lending library, the mobile Stories on Wheels bus library, sports ministries, after school tutor programs, nutritional programs, health programs and a community laundry program.
Come be a part of CBF's Rural Poverty Initiative as we reach out to this community. Teams, families and individuals are encouraged to come each summer, to be a part of the swimming instruction team, or to participate in the ACC (All Church Challenge) that will include a kids camp, building renovations, and a community garden.
Contact: Ben Newell, 870-995-3518, Office location: 622 Pecan St., Helena, AR 72342, bn@worldmail.org.
For more information, contact Linda Jones, Ljones@cbfnc.org or (888) 822-1944.
Other Together For Hope sites include:
South Dakota: Cheyenne River Indian Reservation: Children's Bible and Sports Camp, home repairs, Lakota Training and Leadership Institute. Website: http://www.pineridgegospel.org/.
Nebraska: Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: construction and clean up; White Clay Ministry Center
Kentucky: Sports and Music camps, home building and repair, social ministry - Information for Churches
For more information on these additional sites and other TFH ministries, visit the CBF National website.
For more detailed information, visit these links:
Together for Hope AR Objectives
Together for Hope AR Brochure
Pool House Opens - Arkansas
In a ribbon cutting ceremony the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship presented a new swimming pool house to the city of Helena-West Helena on June 22. Ben Newell, CBF/Together for Hope missionary to the Delta explained to Mayor James Valley that the gift was a result of a year of volunteer efforts by many CBF supporters and several monetary gifts from CBF churches and individuals.
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