Family Focus
"I wish my kids could go there..."
July 12, 2010
(This article first appeared in our July 2010 newsletter (PDF))
Three years ago Steve and Kristen Carlisle realized they could afford Hope for their daughters.
“We thought public school was our only option,” Steve says. “We thought Hope was the sort of school you drive by and say, ‘I wish my kids could go there.’”
Today, two of their daughters Abigail (grade 3) and Makiah (grade 1) are at Hope, with daughter Caleigha (11 months) a few years away.
Steve does sign language interpretation with Hennepin County, and is a food service manager at Target Field.
“I’m still looking for an opportunity to tell the Twins players about Hope,” he says with a smile.
Kristen is home with the kids, but also works part- time in the office at their church. Her income helps cover their fair share tuition.
The financial sacrifice is significant for them—but they make their payments with gratitude.
“Our daughters come home reciting Bible verses, singing praise songs, and have Christian friends at school,” says Kristen, “They even share the gospel with our extended family. You can’t put a price on that.”
For Steve, having his daughters at Hope is mean- ingful for very personal reasons. Steve came to the Lord in a small Christian school, but fell into a bad crowd at his public high school. After some tough years, he went through Teen Challenge, and recommitted his life to Christ.
“I got sober, got married, and God continues to carry us through every step of the way,” he says.
“Knowing that our girls are in a place like Hope— and will be through High School—is a huge blessing,” he says, “We pray that God will use Hope to keep our daughters from making the same mistakes I made.”
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