Hope Lutheran Evangelical Church

Beyond the walls of Hope Lutheran Evangelical Church are many opportunities to be hands and feet on the ground. Many times there are cell groups that are in out of the way remote locations that would normally have no access to many things offered in the city, lest that any of these persons would have the financial ability to pay for such a luxury…example: to have a pair of glasses to see. A luxury…how can anyone think that having the ability to see clearly is a luxury? “We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright. We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as He knows us!”1 Corinthians 13:12 Out of this ministry is born a community project to bring much needed eyeglasses into those remote areas. Giving persons the ability to see clearly opens up so much of daily life to them.

Those who sew are able to thread that needle once again, applying their talents to provide for their families. For those who are in school, seeing clearly one in the pursuit of learning with eagerness and a grateful heart. For those who cannot see the world around them at a distance, once again the sights of God’s creation stands in front of them in a testimony of His sovereignty and glory. With all of this comes the ability to read their bibles and learn more about God. It oft times can’t get any better than this in a day. This ministry arm is not about just setting a box of various glasses on the table for those in a community to choose. It is about making connections, one by one, spending time on multiple levels with each person sent on those eyeglass clinic days, showing God’s love in a tangible way. So often, in these clinics, clients get to ‘see more clearly’ in ways that those of us who cannot understand their plight do. It’s about seeing the world day by day and focusing on the activities nested in it. And perhaps either finding or renewing the greatness of God in His book, the Bible. Each community visited for these clinics is different. Just like each one in each community is unique in God’s eyes. No two are the same, and yet loves that we love Him back too. A glimpse of God’s glory and what He sees when someone can see more clearly.

There is a system in place to provide professional style continuity to each clinic, paving the way for the greatness of our Father to shine all throughout the day. There are stations in place in which testing is done for both distance and reading concerns. From there a client would proceed to the area where rows of measured glasses await new owners. Sometimes the process of glass fitting is a challenge and may take longer. Other times it is a simple choice between a couple of different styles to get the best fit. It is not often that there is simply no option for an individual, and mainly that is because more extensive testing and evaluation is needed, which is not possible at that moment. Recommendations are made, and the cell group leader and/or pastor are also made aware of the need. Volunteers are trained for each area. From sign in, filling out the form (to get to know that person), testing in both areas, and the final glasses choosing. We send each of them to the prayer table to be prayed over as they depart with the pastor, elder, or church leader. Follow up thereafter is in the hands of the community leaders as the intake sheets are returned into the community to be used at a later date if/when the clinic staff returns for another clinic day. First eyeglass clinic on January 6, 2024 at Hope Church compound. We served over 50 clients that day.