"WEEK OF HOPE" STARTS THURSDAY AT SHS AUDITORIUM
by Eric Elder for the Streator Times-Press

The stage at the Streator High School Auditorium will come alive on Thursday with the music and messages of the "Week of Hope"

Thursday Night kicks-off the “Week of Hope,” a city-wide event to give hope to everyone in Streator.

The main event for the “Week of Hope” starts Thursday night at 7 PM at the Streator High Auditorium. The night will open with several musical numbers featuring some of the best musicians and singers in town. Kent Sanders will lead this time of high-energy worship every night. Thursday night’s program will highlight the life-changing stories of four Streator residents: Raymond Berry, Linda Piszczor, and Jim and Kim Spraggon. JoBeth Gates will perform a special song with multimedia images called “You Are My King.” A short drama and video will underscore the message for the evening “Hope For Your Past” brought by Eric Elder, director of the event. Elder says, “The goal of Thursday night is to help people get past their past so they can get on with their life. Sometimes the past holds people back from doing what God’s called them to do, so it’s important for people to know that their past doesn’t have to define their future.”

Friday night’s program will begin with more outstanding music provided by Kent Sanders and a second team of musicians and vocalists. The featured stories will include Kevin and Vonna McGuire, Kirsten Bender and Eric Elder. Kent Sanders and the band will perform a special number called “Thirsty.” A dramatic video featuring the story of Kevin Valentine will bring reality to Eric Elder’s message “Hope For Today.” “Thursday night is meant to help people see how others have found hope to face their daily lives,” says Elder. “The Bible says that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ When people hear that Christ is still doing incredible works today, they’ll be encouraged that there’s hope for them as well.”

Saturday night’s event is designed for the whole family, featuring a city-wide children’s/youth choir under the direction of Bill Trelease. Worship will be infused with a bit more charge as some youth join Kent Sanders to make up a third worship team. The stories of hope for Saturday night feature Paul Webster and Hannah Wilken, seniors at Streator High School and Woodland, respectively, as well as Ruth Huckins. Tiffany Oliver and the band will sing “So Afraid.” A brand-new short film called “Treasure,” along with a video greeting from Indy Racing League Driver Scott Sharp, will be shown to emphasize the theme for Saturday night that there is “Hope For Your Future On Earth.” “God has a purpose for every life here on earth,” says Elder. “This night features some of the brightest youth in Streator, but is designed for people of all ages. If you know a young person who needs to know their life has purpose, invite them to come with you on Saturday night.” Everyone who comes Saturday will also be given a FREE mini-CD with a message of hope recorded by some of the most popular groups in Contemporary Christian Music.

Sunday night’s program will conclude the “Week of Hope,” featuring a city-wide adult choir, under the direction of Cheryl Cinnamon, singing “Power of Your Love” and “Agnus Dei.” Kent Sanders and the fourth worship team will lead a time of celebrational music for this closing night, including traditional hymns (such as “Amazing Grace” and “Holy Holy Holy,”) as well as some moving contemporary songs (such as “Breath” and “I’m Forever Grateful”). Featured stories of changed lives for Sunday include Nancy Broedlow, Jane Gillum and Rick Jepsen. Denny and Dawn Rockey will set the stage for the evening’s message with the song, “I Can Only Imagine,” which portrays what it might be like to see Jesus in heaven. The message for the night is “Hope For Your Future In Heaven.” About Sunday night, Elder says, “There’s more to this life than what we see all around us. It is the hope of heaven that gives us hope on earth.”

All nights of the “Week of Hope” are FREE and the public is invited and encouraged to attend. A voluntary offering will be taken each night to help offset expenses, with excess donations to be given to New Hope Pregnancy Center. Doors open at 6:30 each night and the programs begin at 7:00. The “Week of Hope” is a project of the Streator Ministerial Association.