“Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up to the foundations of many generations, you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.” Focusing on Isaiah 58:12 as a guide, and incorporating messages of hope, peace, love, and joy, First United Methodist Church of Evanston designated its special Advent and Christmas offering to the Repair the Harm to Children Fund. While many other churches in the Northern Illinois Conference already have given toward the Boy Scouts of America Survivor Trust via the NIC’s Repair the Harm to Children campaign, Evanston First made a pledge this past November.

When you read this story, it may be the season after Epiphany. We just celebrated Christmas Day and before that we lit the candles of Advent.  

I really appreciate Advent. I like the lights, reminiscent of stars in the sky, and I enjoy the decorating of trees, gathering of friends, and the special music. But what hits my heart the most are the undertones of acknowledgement that we live in a broken world. My favorite hymn from this time of year is written in a minor key: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” It is haunting, and I find that it captures the mood of so much that is going on—divisive politics, displacement, war, and suffering. Even the prophet Isaiah talks about people walking in darkness.  

But he also talks about how a baby will come unto us and be called  Wonderful and Prince of Peace. We hear from Isaiah before we hear the birth story from Luke. Isaiah prophetically shares hope. Isaiah tells us that no matter how dark the day gets, hope breaks through. Now, the baby is born!  

We are people of hope, called to share that hope with the world. One way we can do that is to be—as Isaiah calls us to be—repairers of the breach. Children’s trust was broken by those into whose care they were entrusted. There was a breach. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t our specific church involved or if it happened before you were born or to people you don’t know. If we can help repair the breach by acknowledging those brave men who brought their abuse to light and by supporting the Survivors’  Trust Fund, it seems like a good way to share the hope of the Christ Child.   

Information about the Repair the Harm to Children campaign can be found here. Individual and church gifts can be made directly to the campaign at the web page, or your church can collect donations and remit them to the annual conference office. Perhaps a Lenten or special Easter offering could be designated to Repair the Harm.  It’s not too late! It is never too late to share hope.  

Martha Rudy was formerly the chair of the NIC Board of Trustees. She was a signer of the official document acknowledging the NIC’s participation in the Boy Scouts of America Survivors’ Trust.