Wonderland inspired

Written By Daniel Ra

It starts with inspiration.


After a year of “courageous conversations” and building awareness, HOPE church leaders were inspired by “So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well.” (John 13:14 AMP https://bible.com/bible/1588/jhn.13.14.AMP). Let’s hear more about this journey to launch Soles of Dignity …


HOPE Church, a multi-ethnic community centered around the Christian faith. HOPE Church is located in Howard County, MD, and has always strived to be a community that excels at serving with joy and compassion.


We gathered regularly and made the commitment to serve our Clarksville with action. And then, 2020 happened, and the world paused for the year.

We watched, witnessed, and grieved over the horrific injustices of George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, and countless others. More recently, we are cut to the heart as we watch Asian-American citizens senselessly attacked without reason. It became too close to home when two Korean American women were attacked in Baltimore (https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/06/07/daryl-doles-charged-baltimore-asian-business-attacks/).

As a nation, we live in a time where racial tensions seem higher than ever. In lieu of the increase of Asian-American hate crimes, we are motivated and compelled by faith to be the solution to racial tension by:
(1) being a bridge to different ethnic groups, and
(2) serving others.

After gathering with our church members, we felt that it is right to serve the community in humility as our faith demonstrates for us. We are partnering with a local church in Baltimore, MD, but we need more help. We also need your partnership to accomplish what we believe is a humble, yet practical beginning to be the solution for the city.

· Our event: Soles of Dignity – we want to serve and wash the feet of the community, and distribute sandals /flip-flops to the community.
· Our vision: We want to be a church that responds in humility during a time of turmoil. We plan to take July 17 to partner with a local Baltimore church and use the streets as grounds for serving the community. We plan to be there at a Church nearby that afternoon.
· Our plan: We will have live Christian worship music, drinks from the sponsor store, and offer to wash the feet of locals. After washing their feet, we will give them a pair of new sandals/flip-flops – no strings attached.
· Our reason: We cannot allow hatred in our communities to persist. We are responsible for being the solution, and we want to be the solution by serving others. This action makes our message clear – we love the "people", the "businesses", and the "servants" of Baltimore regardless of their skin color, and we (people of all color) serve the people of Baltimore out of an overflow of the kindness we have received from our God. This is the message of our faith, and we are the hands and feet that demonstrate this.

What we need from you: We need your support in providing:
(1) connections to the city of Baltimore & Howard County leaders
(2) donations to buy flip-flops/sandals (give solesofdignity.com/donate)
(3) gifts for the community and

(4) time as an event or planning volunteer (signup solesofdignity.com/volunteer)
(5) marketing & promotions.

We want to ensure that at least 100 attendees have a place to hang out and eat & receive gifts. We currently have positive engagement with the Baltimore Ravens.

We would love your partnership and support to serve the community and would not be able to do this without your involvement. The intent is to continue this event for years to come in an effort to heal the diverse & fully inclusive community of "people", "businesses", and "servants" of Baltimore and Howard County. We are starting in Baltimore on the heels of the most recent hate crimes to begin racial reconciliation.

Thank you for your consideration and check out our upcoming …

Please enjoy some early testimonies as we are "planning" and getting ready ...

Daniel Ra
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