A Safe Place to Dream: Christopher's Story and Hope Center Philly's Vision

My deepest Hope: Hope isn’t just a feeling, it’s a confident expectation that God’s goodness will show up, even in the darkest situations. Psalm 27:13 says, “I would have lost heart unless I had believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” That’s how I define “hope”. It is the expectation of God’s light breaking into places of deep struggle. My greatest hope is that a revival of God, which includes total transformation, would come to Philadelphia and the Tri-state region. My personal “why” for joining the Board: My yes to participating on this board is because I believe in revival through justice, mercy, and love. The Hope Center Philly was exciting to me because their vision was not just meeting needs. The goal involved a cultivating a lasting transformation spiritually, emotionally, and economically. I believe The Hope Center Philly is called to be the hope and light that pierces darkness in a community. Like the Good Samaritan, we’re choosing to stop, to see, and to respond with compassion to an underserved community facing poverty, violence, mental health challenges, and more. An interesting fact about myself: I’ve loved bowling since I was a kid. In fact there was one particular time that I bowled nine strikes in a league game. It’s more than a hobby for me, it’s taught me focus, rhythm, and how to get back up after every miss. Just like in ministry. Terry Davis, Board Member

Big win in SW today. Peace Walk as part of “Hope Tour” 12 or so City Lifers joined in. Beautifully led by Deni, Joel, and Vinny. Prayed up and down the block where 2 recent homicides occurred (including Zaphir) and the surrounding neighborhood. God seemed to be showing us something in the Spirit. It was sunny when we started. But as we began walking, thick dark clouds began to build. When we approached that 2200 block of Felton the heavens opened and rain was pounding down in sheets with gale-force winds. First we began to take cover. But then the police chaplain said: “we need to be on that block.” So we pushed out into the storm, crossed the street and kept praying in the name of Jesus and greeting people. And then as fast as it came, the storm stopped. Then we proceeded as planned serving water ice to the community at the 12th District HQ. Joel kept repeating: “Prepare for Rain.” Bob Briggs, Board Chair

A young 1st grade teacher recognized that a disruptive student named Zaphir couldn’t read. She invested extra time for tutoring sessions. He read his first book that year. But that wouldn’t be enough. Fast forward 10 years to June 2025: he died—along with his hopes and dreams--on the streets of Southwest Philadelphia from multiple gunshot wounds. Later that June, the Hope Center Philly team joined the 12 th Police District on a Peace Walk in Southwest Philly. On the block where Zaphir and others had died, we prayed for God to protect the next generation. We also doubled down on our determination to develop a safe place for Zaphir’s generation to protect their hidden hopes and dreams. We’re too late for Zaphir but we are reporting for duty to help shepherd these dreams, making sure these kids can read, stay in school, learn critical life skills. Along the way these kids can make friends, build community, and hear God’s invitations. Most of my years have been focused on war zones around the world where trauma strips away futures. But experts say the trauma on the streets of U.S. cities is comparable to trauma effects in places like the eastern Congo, Darfur, or Gaza. Kids are struggling to survive and find a way to their future. Joining the Hope Center Philly team was an easy “Yes” for me. We will remember Zaphir. We pledge to help his peers push through adolescence and into adulthood with their hopes intact, ready to pursue their dreams. May God bless the Hope Center Philly! - Robert Briggs

In the volatile world in which we live, it can be difficult to find any kind of stability or an internal sense of safety and peace. News stories come across our feeds every day detailing tragedies and trauma of so many who have been impacted by violence, food scarcity, housing crises, and abuse. These swirling storms of injustice have the potential to knock us down with its hurricane force winds and set us adrift in a sea of doubt, anxiety, and self-preservation. The Bible gives us a picture of hope in Hebrews 6.18-19. It describes hope not as a passing wish, or a fleeting desire, but rather an “unshakeable hope,” one that is a “strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” The weight of the world doesn’t have to weigh us down when we anchor our hope in God and His promises and dreams for our lives. It’s my deepest hope that the Hope Center is a representation of this anchor in the community, a safe place for so many to find a haven of peace and life as well as a birthplace for new discoveries and dreams. By building partnerships with other organizations who are pursuing transformative work in the community, it can have a generational impact, creating new patterns and ways of thinking that can bring redemptive beauty out of brokenness. Ultimately, my deepest hope is to see Hope Centers replicated throughout our city, becoming an anchor in communities that so desperately need the oxygen hope provides. When I was presented with an opportunity to join the board of the Hope Center, it resonated deep in my heart and spirit to see so many of these dreams become a tangible reality. I am grateful and hopeful to see how the vision will continue to develop and come to fruition in the seasons ahead. My husband, Brad, and I live in South Philadelphia and pastor City Life Church, a church we had the privilege of planting along with our launch team in 2011. We are so grateful to raise our 4 kids in Philly and love cheering on the Phillies, Sixers, and Eagles. I actually grew up in Pittsburgh, however, so I’m also a Steelers fan, something that usually doesn’t cause too much conflict in a NFL Season. In the years since, I happily identify myself as an avid Steagles fan. 🙂 By Leah Leach, Board Member