Beacon of Hope
I love lighthouses and I see them as a representation of Christ: A strong tower whose light shines bright, guiding in the ships at sea, and withstands crashing waves in the midst of storms. I once read that one lighthouse can guide in 100 ships. That raises a question to me, “What does the light of Jesus in us do for others?”
Angie Wheeler, founder of Beacon of Hope, wrote this as part of the ministry the Lord placed on her her heart.
Like Jeff and Caryn Hakes, Angie saw the need for a transition house for young men coming out of centers in
Maputo.
That has now extended into the surrounding communities.
The Lord gave Angie a vision for a house that will help to train youth with life skills, give them a foundation in Jesus, and a place that will raise these youth to be men of integrity.
Men who are going to provide for and stay with their wives.
Men who will learn how to respect their future wives.
As written on Angie’s site ”
Our purpose and goal is to disciple, teach life skills for growth as members of healthy families, help them complete their education and obtain jobs.”
Angie currently has 9 young men from the ages of 15-16 that are in the three year program at Beacon of Hope.
Many of these boys do have families, but are most likely the older of their siblings, therefore the responsibility has fallen upon them to provide for their families.
Angie’s vision is to help them provide for their families by helping them get through the 10th grade and teaching them a trade or providing for the means to learn a trade.
The boys are now learning what it takes to run a business and they learn about bank accounts (they have to make applications to the “bank”, deposits, and withdrawals).
They are learning how to take responsibility and learning what it takes to provide for themselves and a future family.
(Beacon of Hope property)
At the Beacon of Hope they also have a garden that the boys tend as well as a few animals. These are all a means of teaching the boys, providing food for Beacon of Hope, and also as a small business selling food to the community.
Angie’s vision extends into eventually building onto rooms to take in more young men.
To have a small farm that can provide for the needs of the project.
In the future, Beacon of Hope plans
“to reach out to our community by sharing the gospel through sports programs and evangelism, and get involved with families to plant gardens and share Jesus with them, as we want the light of Jesus to shine in us everywhere we go.”
