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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrew 11:1) There are so many struggles that we face everyday; like family problems, single parent families, too high expectations from parents, loss of loved ones as we get older, uncertainty about the future, the balance between dreams and reality, fitting in with friends, dealing with different relationships, crushes, rejections, fear, pain, and loneliness. We seem to be bounded and boxed in by so many different problems…is there a way out of all this? What can young Christians tell the world about hope, besides the fact that we have eternal life? When the world is facing crises such as poverty, AIDS, global warming, war and social injustice, how do we live out the love, hope and gospel that He gave us? We still need to face hardships just like any other, and although religion does not solve our problems right away, it does give us the direction and hope that we need to go on. The stories in the Face Hope concert were all inspired by true incidents happening around us everyday, and which may resonate with you. I hope that after tonight’s concert, we can look back at our own experiences and see that they do not make us who we are today; we should not curse them, but should rethink why they happened and use them instead to bless others through them. Face Hope is a night where we gather together and share about our lives. With songs written by local young Christians, this concert helps us to relate to and reflect on what it means when we are are challenged by isolation and conflict. Hope is often developed when we go through different experiences in life, that is why the concert is divided into four stages: Growing Up, Learning, Relationships, and Challenges. The concert follows several young people’s lives as they grow up. Isaac had to move from his home in Hong Kong when he was young, leaving behind his friends, and coming to a foreign place: how can he adapt and deal with a different culture? Then we have Jessica, who is an artist with dreams of teaching art to children in the developing world, but can she balance her dreams with the reality of life? Danny was born in Canada and had to deal with bullies at school, all without his dad by his side as he is growing up. How will Danny cope with his parents’ divorce? Finally, Justin’s relationship with his mom is growing more tense as she always puts pressure on his future and career choices. Each character is trapped by different dilemmas…what will happen when they are all mixed together? | ||
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