missions

YouTube Videos from Rex’Quix

23 Mar ’13 by Christopher Hopper 11 Comments

Today we had the incredible privilege of heading up into the mountains over 5,000 feet and visiting a home which is used weekly for church. The husband and wife, Reginaldo “Canche” and Luky, clear out the few possessions they have and preach the Gospel to those that live in the Mayan village of Rex’quix. Despite their dirt floors and sparse furnishings, the selflessness of this couple is overwhelming, and extremely convicting.

Apart from hearing their story, and experiencing their infectious love for Jesus, Jennifer and I were both captivated by their children. We were there for less than three minutes when I look over and see Jenny holding a little girl. Rebekah clung to Jenny’s neck tightly as my wife wept. It was a precious few minutes that eventually turned into laughter as an impromptu fashion show started.

Shortly after, I jumped in with my senior pastor, Kirk Gilchrist, as he started playing with a small group of little girls that clung to the side of the house, spying on us. His son Joseph ended up filming me as we played, a memory which I won’t soon forget.

My life has already been changed in so many ways, I can’t imagine being challenged even more. But I was today, simply by playing with children in a mountain village I never even knew existed. Such is the Kingdom.

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus of Nazareth
Matthew 18:3

ch:

Exterior view of Canche and Luky’s house.

Wide angle view of the house and surrounding hillside.

Interior of their home; room used for church meetings.

Canche and Luky’s kitchen.

Filed Under: culture, perspective, travel Tagged With: children, fun, Guatemala, missions, mountains, play, Rex'quix, travel, trips, videos, youtube

Guat.Hop

21 Mar ’13 by Christopher Hopper 2 Comments

Our hop over to Guatemala has been eye-opening, heart-breaking and awe-inspiring.

Beautiful people.

Breathtaking country.

Rich history.

Gut-wrenching abuse.

Life-long Christ-commitment.

Sacrificial love.

Today, Pastor Joseph Gilchrist and I had the unprecedented honor of sharing Biblical truths on sex with one-thousand public high school students. The Superintendant of Schools allowed 3 grades to fill a local church in San Cristobel 3 times.

Jennifer sang over them, and Joseph and I presented God’s life-altering perspectives on sexuality and purity. It was a rare privilege, when we get to do one more time tomorrow!

Here are some pics from today, as well as from our time in Antigua and Guatemala City.

Enjoy!

ch:

Filed Under: culture, leadership, perspective, theology, travel Tagged With: Antigua, Guatemala, jungle, missions, pictures, San Cristobel, The Inn, travel

The Heroic 100

11 May ’12 by Christopher Hopper 9 Comments

The Sykes Super Send-Off

UPDATE 05.22.2012: I will honor the free music incentive for anyone who contributes through the end of the Indigo Eligibility Period of this campaign, dated Thursday, June 14th 2012.

I’m not sure the last time I asked my readers to give money to something.

Perhaps never.

Unless the shameless plugging of my books counts. Then I’m über guilty.

This week I’m asking 100 of my readers to contribute to the future of one of the most amazing families I know: Ron & Val Sykes.

When I say one of the most amazing, I mean most amazing. I’m probably not permitted to share everything I know about their insanely selfless actions, as they’d be frustrated with the limelight. But it’s true.

From sacrificially purchasing and giving up real-estate for the benefit of others, to being constantly on-call to teens in need, to having children of their own who beautifully require unusually high amounts of love and attention, to wearing more than one full-time hat in a church with part-time pay, Ron & Val exude the selflessness of Christ in a way I’ve rarely witnessed.

And I’m honored to call them friends.

Almost ten years ago I was in need of a bass player. When asked, Denis Johnson Jr. replied, “Well, he’s actually a concert pianist, but he can play a mean bass, too. Give Ron a call.” Within a few gigs, he’d endeared himself to me and became my go-to man for all things low end. (Meant in the basst of ways). Little did I know Val would also travel with CHB to put music in motion with her worship dancing.

Where’s the plea for money you ask?

Ron and Val are taking a much needed hiatus from the demands of life in Rochester, NY to spend 1 year at IHOP in Kansas City. I believe it will be an incredible time to invest in their children, distance themselves from a city that constantly gets their best, and spend time ministering to the Lord and his people in a truly artistic way – Ron as the consumate musician, Val as the ever-elegant dancer, and both as pro-family heroes of the faith.

So I’m asking you, one of my heroic 100, to pick one of their smart Perks Packages and invest in this Godly family. Watch their video. Read about what they’re doing. If you’re a young person, ask your parents to come over to the computer right now and pray about what your family can contribute. I know Jennifer and I are.

Be one of my Heroic 100. Invest in real people affecting real change for the Kingdom in the earth today. Heaven is watching, and God doesn’t blink at what you sow.

As a special gift to the first 100 people that give to the Sykes at any level, I’ll send a personal mix of acoustic worship songs performed by Jennifer and me that we’ve never released. In fact, they’ll be recorded just for The Heroic 100. You’ll need to email me here once you’ve purchased your Perk Package on their website.

Thanks for reading. Thanks more for investing.

ch:

Filed Under: the family, travel Tagged With: funding, IHOP, Kansas City, missions, Ron Sykes, the heroic 100, The Sykes Family, Val Sykes

Make Friday Blue.

26 Nov ’10 by Christopher Hopper 24 Comments

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Jesus (Matthew 6:19-21)

So what’s our family’s big news?

Today, Black Friday, millions of people are buying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of items that will not likely last more than a few years. Some more than a few hours.

While I’m all in to buying gifts for the ones I love, I also long to make scripture practical.

So we’re asking for your help.

Buy something that you can store up in heaven.

Buy someone’s life.

The Hopper Family has partnered with Gifts Of Water (Water Missions International) to create our own team, and we’d like you and your family to join us in purchasing pure water for communities in Uganda. $10. That’s it.

We get nothing for this. No disclaimers needed. Except maybe the recognition we get from heaven for doing a very small act of kindness that results in keeping people we will never meet alive and healthy.

Let us know if you’re “in” via comment below, then go donate on our team page here. Then please tell your FaceBook and Twitter friends that you joined Team Hopper and ask them to do the same. We’re trying to raise $2,000 by Christmas! ch:

UPDATE: 11.29.2010 – Over $1,400 raised for our first community! Check out our new team page here.