Voice of Hope's primary ministry is to the students of our community, but we also realize how important it is to reach out to their families and community. This is the raison-d'etre for the Family and Community Services portion of the ministry. We host a couple Bible studies through this ministry for families and communities in West Dallas, and the largest and llongest-running of these is the Seniors' Bible Study, held every Thursday at 10am and open to the senior citizens of the community, many of whom are also parents and guardians of children in our programs.

There are many exciting things about this program, but perhaps the most exciting aspect is how it brings people together. Marilyn Miles, who is a regular attender of the Bible study, says it this way: "It's a comeraderie. It's something you don't normally see." She describes how it used to be in West Dallas, how the African-Americans and the Hispanics hardly ever spoke with each other. But this Bible study is different - it has created an environment where people are comfortable across cultural barriers. Ms. Miles tells this story of a sewing class she joined because of the Bible study: "I was the only non-Hispanic in the sewing class. One night I was trying to do something [with my quilt], and I couldn't do it. I found that I wanted to call Debbie, a Hispanic person, to learn how to do it."

"[The Seniors' Bible study] is a place where I can tell her [Debbie] that I love her - and I'm really telling the truth!"

Out of this comeraderie has developed a real passion among these ladies for the proper care of the West Dallas community. The Crime Watch meeting hosted at Vocie of Hope Family and Community Services, which is primarily attended by Seniors' Bible Study members, always has the best turn out of any of the Crime Watches in the area, according to the police officers who come to the Crime Watch meetings.

It is a blessing to see these ladies from a variety of backgrounds coming together around the common bond of faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to the study of His Word!