Core Value 1 | God’s Word - The Bible

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” 

Psalm 119:105

The principles of our home and program are based on the person of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. While faith in Jesus is not a requirement to enter this program or receive services on a continuing basis, through your time living here, you will learn about Jesus, who He is, and how He changes our lives for the better. You will receive loving guidance toward reconciliation with God, yourself, and others as we all have the opportunity to understand and apply the work of Jesus Christ in our lives. The team is excited to teach you about who God is because when you know who God is, it helps you understand who He has designed you to be! We study the Bible each day and go to church each week on Sunday.

Core Value 2 | Community

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up …”

 1 Thessalonians 5:11

We live in community at Expect Hope. That means that we experience life together. This includes eating dinner together at the table daily and enjoying other group activities such as crafts, painting, cooking, games and Girls Night Out. This core value is designed to set an atmosphere of joy, togetherness and create opportunities to develop healthy relationships within the home. Community reminds us that we are not alone and encourages a culture of peace, love, hope and friendship. We share our difficulties and our celebrations with each other as we feel comfortable to do so. The Bible calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to honor one another above ourselves. This will not always be easy, however, through the ups and downs of community, we will learn, we will be strengthened and we will persevere together.

Core Value 3 | Respect

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” 

Matthew 7:12

We treat each other and ourselves with fairness, dignity and respect. We demonstrate consideration and respect to all people in words and in action. We respect other people’s bodies and personal space in the manner that we would like to be treated and the way that they have expressed they want to be treated. We respect who God is by speaking appropriately and only using the name of God or the Lord Jesus Christ when we are talking about Him or to Him in prayer.

Core Value 4 | Safety

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” - Psalm 4:8

The safety of our residents is a high priority for our program. Many residents come to our home in need of a place of peace and refuge from difficult situations. We strive to create an atmosphere of physical, emotional and mental safety for all residents by building trust, using wisdom and relying on God’s grace and protection. 

Core Value 5 | Boundaries

 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” 

 - Jeremiah 29:13

 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matthew 6:33

Our time in the Expect Hope program is a season to focus on God, ourselves and our babies. We are supported as strong, single mothers who engage with the people in our lives who are positive, encouraging and push us to be the best versions of ourselves we can be. We distance ourselves from those who are toxic, abusive, and negative, wishing them well and forgiving them, but knowing that that negativity has no place in our lives or the lives of our children. We put aside the distraction and uncertainty of a romantic relationship until we have completed or transitioned out of the program.

Core Value 6 | Responsibility

 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” - Colossians 3:23

As responsible adults, we care for ourselves and our children to the best of our abilities. We put forth our best efforts to develop healthy habits. We cultivate responsibility by demonstrating honesty, punctuality, fairness, respect and dependability to do what we say we are going to do. Our objective is to achieve discipline and develop the necessary character that will enable us to meet goals and achieve our hopes and dreams when we are ready to leave Expect Hope. 

Core Value 7 | Accountability

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” - Hebrews 12:1-2a

Accountability will help us strive toward becoming strong, self-sufficient mothers as we take responsibility for our actions and make a conscious decision to allow God and others help us in accomplishing what is right. This core value ensures that we are actively pursuing and accomplishing our goals. We will become strong, competent, independent mothers that are full of creativity that leads to success. We do not make excuses. Instead, we admit mistakes, ask for forgiveness, implement solutions and persevere. We learn, we build, we mature and we advance.