Gaston Hope in Christ

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Romnick and his wife Theresa have both been Gaston Hope in Christ tutors, and we are grateful for their service to our community!

Dozens of international teachers prepare for the school year in Gaston County Gaston County Schools partners with international teacher programs to address the gaps caused by the teacher shortage.

A look at the work Gaston Hope in Christ's World Changers summer camp achieves
Chloe Collins
Gaston Gazette

Gaston Hope in Christ, a Gastonia based organization dedicated to serving the community and uplifting local students, is in the middle of its fourth ever World Changers summer camp.

The camp aims to empower youth to achieve their dreams and connect with the community, according to Joe Bell, executive director of GHIC.

Several years ago, GHIC leaders noticed a summertime gap in pr***en enrichment.

To address that gap, they started World Changers as a three-day per week program in which 15 Gastonia pr***ens could play educational games, develop leadership skills, complete volunteer service projects, and interact with local professionals.

Today, the program is one five-hour session per week that starts the first week of June and ends the first week of August.

Over the last several weeks, this year’s group has helped Keep Gastonia Beautiful, Gardner Park Elementary School, the Salvation Army, the Gaston County Library, and other organizations in the community.

They have interviewed local medical professionals, business leaders, pastors, non-profit leaders and first responders.

“They’re meeting people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they’re meeting people who are telling about how they got to where they are,” he said. “For a lot of the kids who are in our programs historically, they’re people who need homework help, they’re people who need some academic support, and when school is a negative for you, you don’t tend to dream about what you can be.”

Roxann Jimison, the executive director of Dream Center Academy, was invited to GHIC where she spoke to the kids about times in life when she did not succeed.

“These stories … give them a new way to see the possibilities in their own life,” Bell said.

With only a couple of weeks left in the 2024 program, GHIC teens still have some service projects to go and when they are not out in the community, interns and volunteers at GHIC will be working to teach them card games and give them a great summer, Bell said.

A look at the work Gaston Hope in Christ's World Changers summer camp achieves This year's World Changers have completed several community service projects, played cards, and interviewed local professionals.

Mahatma Gandhi named seven deadly sins for humanity.
Gandhi said there should be
- No Wealth without Work
- No Pleasure without Conscience
- No Science without Humanity
- No Knowledge without Character
- No Politics without Principle
- No Commerce without Morality and
- No Worship without sacrifice.

REMEMBER- GO GASTONIA Microtransit starts tomorrow!
$2 per ride anywhere in the city.
$1 door-to-door for disabled & senior citizens!

GoGastonia Microtransit
Book a Ride on the GoGastonia App or call 704-753-7439
Download the app from app stores for Apple & Android.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ridewithvia.ger.gastoniatransit&hl=en_ZA&pli=1

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gogastonia/id6480199522

***10 rides free when you set up your account!***

GoGastonia is Coming July 1, 2024

Starting July 1, 2024, the Gastonia bus system will no longer run. But riders can still get to all the places they’re used to traveling to and more. GoGastonia is the city’s new public transit service that comes when you need it and picks you up/drops you off close to your destination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
⊹ Do I need a smartphone to book a GoGastonia ride?
No, you don’t need a smartphone to use GoGastonia! You can also book a ride by calling (704) 753-7439.

⊹ What are the days and hours of operation?
Monday - Friday, 5:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. & Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

⊹ Does the service operate on holidays?
The service does NOT operate on the following holidays:
New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

The service will operate on a Saturday schedule (8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) on the following holidays:
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve

⊹ Do I have to use a credit or debit card to ride?
No, tickets can be purchased with cash at the Bradley Station for passengers who do not use a credit or debit card. Tickets can be used to book your ride.

⊹ How much does it cost to ride?
Regular Fare is $2.00 one way.
Elderly, Aged 65+, & Fare for Disabled is $1.00 one way.
Children under 5 years old are free with a paying adult.

⊹ Will GoGastonia fares surge like Uber and Lyft?
No way! GoGastonia functions as public transit rather than as a consumer ride-hailing service (though it can feel as luxurious and convenient as an Uber or Lyft). We will not raise fares based on external factors such as weather, time of day, or the cost of gas.

⊹ What is the service area?
Transit passengers in Gastonia no longer have the limitations of the fixed route. GoGastonia can transport you anywhere within the City limits of Gastonia.

⊹ Where will I be picked up?
By using virtual bus stops vs. physical ones, GoGastonia will provide transit coverage to the entire city population of more than 80,000 residents, meaning that no one in Gastonia will be farther than a 1-2-minute walk to the nearest GoGastonia “virtual bus stop”.

⊹ What is the wait time for the driver to pick me up?
The average wait time will be approximately 15 minutes from when you book the ride.

⊹ How many people will be in the vehicle?
GoGastonia vehicles can carry up to five passengers. GoGastonia uses AI-based algorithms from software and operations provider Via to aggregate passengers headed in the same direction into one car, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips.

⊹ Will I be required to bring a car seat for my child?
Due to liability, parents will need to supply their own car seats.

⊹ What age do you have to be to ride alone?
The minimum age for riders to ride solo is 13. Passengers under 13 must ride with an adult.

⊹ Is this going to be safe?
Yes, GoGastonia is dedicated to prioritizing the safety of our riders and drivers, which is why prospective drivers are required to complete extensive screening, onboarding, and training. Riders will be given a specific vehicle identifier when booking a ride, and both riders and drivers have access to live support throughout the duration of the ride. All vehicles are also equipped with security cameras.

Gaston Hope in Christ World Changers continues to make a difference!
This week, we made cards for seniors, read, worked on math, went to the Gaston County Public Library, and played new games.
We also had a special visit from Chief Synthia Kearney of the Gastonia Fire Department and a very short visit from Engine 4 and their crew before a call took them away. Chief Kearney has a wonderful story and testimony of her journey, and we learned more about the men and women who serve us in the fire department.
Thanks so much to our teens for learning, serving and having fun!

Gaston Hope in Christ began our 10th year of summer programming for students this week with our 4th World Changers service & learning group!
We read, played learning games, and visited the Gaston County Public Library to join the summer reading program.
Our interview was with Rev. Dwayne Burks of The Gateway Gaston and First Baptist Church of Gastonia.
Our first service project was partnering with the Richard Sheltra Memorial Foundation to honor our firefighters and share love and cookies in the 8 Gastonia Fire Department stations!
Here are some of our presentations. Some of the firefighters were out helping people, so we left those cookies for them on their return.

The government is not going to solve homelessness alone.
It will take all of us to help those wanting better and those happy without but unsheltered.
Could Gastonia do this? I think so. Who's ready to help it happen?

Millionaire builds 99 homes to reduce homelessness in his town Marcel LeBrun, a millionaire based in eastern Canada, has gone viral for his heroic effort of building 99 "tiny homes" to help the fight against homelessness. The multi-millionaire has put $4 million of his own money to good use.

Gaston Hope in Christ Changes Summer Program to Offer Help for Students in Need
Gaston Hope in Christ, which has offered award-winning tutoring to at-risk students for 24 years, is changing their successful summer program to provide an afternoon each week of tutoring, service, and fun for 4th-8th grade Gaston County Students.
Recognizing the reduction in the Gaston County Schools summer camp and understanding the needs of our students, Gaston Hope in Christ is stepping up. We are offering an afternoon of tutoring and enrichment, with the support and involvement of our community, for our students to continue their learning and growth.
Every Wednesday afternoon, our dedicated staff and enthusiastic volunteers will engage students in a variety of activities. These include interactive learning games, foundational reading and math exercises, and educational experiences aimed at enhancing character, study skills, and academic growth. We will also meet community leaders and help others each week. This tailored approach is specifically designed for a select group of students transitioning into 4th-8th grade, ensuring their academic needs are met in a supportive and engaging environment.
The application is online at https://bit.ly/sum24ghictutor.
Student & Parent Interviews will begin on May 27.
The program starts Wednesday, June 5.
For more information, contact Pastor Joe Bell at Gaston Hope in Christ.
Email [email protected]. Phone 980-785-4442 Tuesday through Thursday, 9 to 6.

Well, it happened. Somone tried to copy my profile ("JoeBellJoeBell"). It's not me. (Thanks Hannah!)
I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF I CHANGE MY PROFILE. THANKS FOR REPORTING ANYONE ELSE, AND HELPING EACH OTHER KEEP FACEBOOK SAFE!

Join us for Mother's Day this Sunday!
Plan your visit ahead of time and we'll have a place for you !
https://bit.ly/Visiteside

I will be taking another step forward as a leader this summer in the PMA Mastermind program. This program for high-capacity nonprofit leaders is an opportunity to improve my personal development, collaboration, leadership, and ministry. Thanks for your prayers, and if you are looking to radically upgrade your nonprofit leadership, consider joining one of the fall sessions!

PMA's Mastermind Program: Coaching & Support for Nonprofit Leadership PMA's 4-month virtual Mastermind Program accelerates your Path to Nonprofit Leadership through coaching, accountability, and growth for driven nonprofit leaders.

THANK YOU to all our wonderful teachers! You give your careers to helping people not related to you, many who do not appreciate you, for much less than your work is worth, in sometimes difficult conditions. We love you, pray for you, and want to honor you!

From my first nurse, my sister Jean Ivey, to my co-workers at CaroMont Health and the children and teens I have watched grow up and become part of this great calling, Happy Nurses' Week! Thanks for all you do!

Thanks so much to everyone for your kind birthday wishes! I received a cake and card from the Eastside Church of the Nazarene & Gaston Hope in Christ Wednesday bunch, nice gifts and cards, and your greetings. Looking forward to God's best in the coming days and years. Thanks again!

World Changers is an opportunity each summer for a select group of students (rising 6th-10th grade). We offer an intensive Tuesday-Thursday summer program of interviews with community leaders, introductions to and service in area nonprofits, teamwork, and leadership development. We also share life, friendship, games, food, and adventures!
Spots are filling up. If you are or know a teen ready to investing others, grow as a person, and change our community, have them apply to be a World Changer today!

https://bit.ly/24hicwc

If you love our work, tell the world! You have an opportunity to help us make an even greater difference in our community. Can you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a review of your experience with us? All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It's easy and only takes a few minutes!
You can post a review on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GastonHiC/reviews
You can post about us on Instagram,
GreatNonprofits-a review site like TripAdvisor- honors highly reviewed nonprofitsas well. Go to https://greatnonprofits.org/org/gaston-hope-in-christ-ministries

Thanks for sharing what we do to help others!

Gaston Hope in Christ A Ministry started in 1999 to "Meet Real Needs for Real People," Gaston Hope in Christ has provided free tutoring to 400+ at-risk students since 2000.

We are excited to celebrate the ordination of two of our favorite ministers this weekend, Stephen and Hannah Bell! Please join us in congratulating them!

May my bumper stickers and Facebook posts, right or wrong, not prevent someone from hearing about and encountering the love of Jesus. I pray that everyone, whatever they think or believe, knows that I love them and that God loves them.