Single parents are in a desperate situation. They’re trying to raise a child or children while working all sorts of hours to provide food, clothing, and shelter. I’ve heard very few single parents praise this type of lifestyle, especially from the lower middle class. It is difficult. And no one should be alone while doing it!

James wrote in James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” This is exactly what the intent of Hope Canyon - to provide an “unpolluted” place (as much as practical) to take care of those who are this century’s widows: single parents.

The Big Idea is to have a multi-faceted facility. It starts with a nuclear family made of up a Dad, a Mom, some kids, and miscellaneous pets. This family is a “host” family. They will be put in charge of nurturing two to four single parent families. Physically, they will be close, with the host family in a main house surrounded by four apartment-style but free-standing homes. This host family and its associated single-parent families will be in charge of working a given section of the facility. Thus, housing, work, and childcare will not only be in one place, but with trustworthy people that are also working with you in the same job.

That’s the fun part. The plan is to have:

1. A man-made tropical mountain with resort inside
   

2. Water park around the mountain (it IS Texas we’re talking about)
   

3. Working animal farm
   

4. Working food farm where visitors can pick their own vegetables
   

5. Blooming garden with gorgeous trees and flowers

1. Trail rides
   

2. Resale shop
   

3. Paint Ball
   

4. Indoor/Outdoor concert facilities
   

5. A small airport, with on-demand air service

The short answer is always, “In the Lord’s time”. But we are confident that within five years we will break ground and start building our first house. We have all those wonderful timing things to think about like moving our kids away from their friends at critical ages, and making sure that Bartigé Mann is running well and can be moved, since it is the primary source of income for Hope Canyon before it actually starts making money on its own. The Lord has always motivated and provided for us in the right time, and we know He will do so again.

This is going to be a life-long work, and we’re looking forward to turning over the first shovel of dirt. There are so many people in need, I wish I could already be up and running! But God’s timing is perfect, and we are looking to join Him in what He’s doing on the earth to take care of hurting people.

-Brad Stanford

http://www.bradstanford.com

February 2008