Hope Shows presents the surrounding hope of Christian music where it’s most needed.
Hope Shows (www.hopeshows.com) produces Christian music events in dark places and on behalf of people in difficult circumstances, including prison concerts and benefit events on behalf of prison ministry. Hope Shows also creates resources and campaigns designed to encourage, educate and equip people in ministry to inmates, former inmates and families of inmates.
Our two primary prison ministry campaigns are:
- “Hope Rocks” Campaign providing in-prison Christian music and film events
- “Out & About” Campaign supporting former inmates as they re-enter society and re-start productive lives (in-development)
Christian music radio serves as a key partner in the production of the “Hope Rocks” benefit events and the in-prison events. They assist in the promotion of benefit events, prison concerts, Bible and book drives and other prison ministry support needs. They also participate in the in-prison events, visiting with inmates before and after the show as the inmates enter and exit the concert, and they provide one option for followup through a Christian radio community that inmates can access from prison.
Our primary online resource under development at this time, Present Hope for Prison Ministry (http://www.hopeshows.com/present-hope), provides practical, educational and engaging opportunities for ministry to inmates, former inmates and their families. This resource also connects visitors to Prison Fellowship Operation Starting Line collaborating organizations and other prison ministries.
Our first book, But By Grace, will address the back stories of our nation’s inmates with the intention of building compassion for their pasts – and the unhealthy systems that played a part in their road to incarceration – as well as presenting educated opportunities that promote healing and future growth. The title comes from a phrase I often repeat to myself when I am inside a prison facility, “But by grace is this not me.” The book will address the need for healthy systems that facilitate healthy futures, and the vital role of the church in championing these systems.
Hope Shows is a member of Prison Fellowship‘s Operation Starting Line, an association of collaborating prison ministries. We partner with their “Forgive, Don’t Forget Campaign” to engage the next generation of young adults through college visit days that combine coffeehouse music events and prison ministry workshops, and through an increasing presence at Christian music festivals. Hope Shows also belongs to the Coalition of Prison Evangelists (COPE).
Sara Groves and her band performed at a Hope Shows prison concert held December 12, 2009, at Lincoln Correctional Center in Lincoln, IL, a women’s medium-security facility. They performed two, one-hour concerts for a total of 500 women in the 1018-capacity prison. Sara and her bands’ hearts for the ladies of LCC made a lasting impact on that community. The release of – and resulting publicity from – Sara’s “O Holy Night” Tour Live: The Prison Show CD, brought the prison ministry conversation to a national level through Christian music radio and other Christian media outlets’ interviews and stories.
Exclusive "HopeRocks" VIP T-Shirt
Hope Rocks Campaign (www.hoperockscampaign.com)
The total cost of a Hope Shows prison concert ranges between $4,000-6,000, inclusive of artist guarantees, sound and light production, travel and lodging (as needed), meals and event administration.
The goal of the in-prison events are three-fold:
- to visit those in prison with hope of the Gospel as presented through Christian music, film and other media,
- to equip prison facilities with Bibles and other Christian literature, art and music supplies and instruction and new volunteers,
- to connect inmates with supportive communities, including Christian music radio in their region, and existing ministry opportunities available through their chaplain and religious services programs.
The benefit events seek:
- to tell the story of prison ministry, through testimonies, stories and music, reminding the public of the need to love inmates, former inmates and their families,
- to build support for Hope Shows initiatives designed to encourage inmates toward a healthier identity in Christ by providing in-prison Hope Shows events (through donations of “tickets” for inmates to attend a concert or movie in their facility), Christ-centered literature (through Bible and Christian book donation drives) and access to art and music (though donations of supplies, financial support and time/instruction),
- to equip attendees with practical steps toward prison ministry, including connections to in-prison ministry volunteer opportunities and organizations, after-care ministry options and the needs of families of inmates.
We are driven by Jesus’ concern for prisoners (Matthew 25:36, Isaiah 61:1, Hebrews 13:3) and the transforming, redeeming work of Jesus through the Gospel message.
In addition, statistics show that 95% of inmates will be released back into our communities. We seek to facilitate their productive re-entry in to their families, careers and communities AND reduce the over 50% recidivism rate of former inmates who return to prison within three years.
Hope Shows also partners with other hurting communities to produce benefit events and ministry concerts. Life Rocks, a benefit event in support of crisis pregnancy centers and maternity homes, raises awareness and support for those choosing to deliver life in the midst of unplanned pregnancies.
It’s takes an industry …
These shows don’t happen in a vacuum. Hope Shows partners with booking agents, managers, artists, record labels, sponsors and Christian radio in the effort to advance hope in these communities through music.
Hope Shows “stands beside the broken,” a cross-cultural experience of grief, loss, sin, pain, shame and other emotions found in so many hurting individuals and communities. We welcome you to stand with us.
GOALS
- Produce Christian concerts in prison facilities.
- Partner with the church to produce Christian music benefit events in support of prison ministry.
- Engage the youth and young adult generation in prison ministry.
- Facilitate church development of in-prison and after-care prison ministries.
- Conduct an annual “Hope Rocks Christmas Collection” initiative, collecting new CDs to gift CD libraries to rehabilitation facilities, including Mercy Ministries, and possibly military bases overseas.
- Create related resources in support of the Hope Shows mission.
- Produce concerts and benefit events on behalf of other hurting communities.
