Abound in Hope

Today marks the third anniversary of the launching of the Baltimore-Washington Conference's Initiative to Address Violence in Baltimore and of Hope for the City, the Conference's strategic plan for ministry in Baltimore. In 2007, over 300 United Methodists and others from across the Baltimore region gathered to pray for the city and for those who had been victimized by violence during that year. In that year, there were 278 people murdered in Baltimore. This year, the number of people murdered in Baltimore has again exceeded 200, with 10 of those persons being children. Let us recommit ourselves to doing all that we can to being the change that we want for the city. In the book of Romans (15:13), the apostle Paul offers a prayer of encouragement for those in that city who were facing the adversity of their day: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." In the days ahead, let us abound in the hope that God will continue to work through the church to bring forth healing and transformation.