Plea of Hope; Ark of Hope For Children
January 22, 2010
While 2009 brought excitement and anticipation, the end of 2009 brought its level of uncertainty for our nonprofit organization, Ark of Hope For Children, it was a time where I knew my purpose as a husband and father of ten. I was to do everything I could, with sacrificial trust, to keep my wife as healthy as possible after her few near death experiences following surgery last September. More on Verna in another newsletter or blog, but she grows gradually in strength despite ongoing health issues that crop up, and we expect her to be using a walker soon. As the year closed and the realization hit that end of the year, tax deductible giving time in the United States had come, and was now gone, it was a hard time of reflection for me. Ark of Hope had missed that time of receiving donations and support in the end of 2009. Yet when I sought God he urged calm and patience.
As of the end of December 2009 Verna’s critical time had seemingly passed, Christmas was over, the family reunited and our ten children serving her needs like the awesome troopers that they are. I clearly felt God urging me to “go to the mountain” to pray and seek his face, as Jesus himself had done on many occasions. (Mark 6:46  , Luke 6:12 , Luke 9:28 ) In obedience, while completing a book editing project I was committed to, I did so with a few close colleagues to the cold country of Minnesota. We were far from normal distractions and worry, staying with a large group of wonderful friends and family from Ghana, West Africa. We prayed and interceded for up to 7 hours per day. Praying for other and spending very little time focusing on myself, and the ministry, as it turned out.
I went there to seek solutions from God on Ark of Hope for Children’s direction and the provision for $7,500 we  desperately needed to pay property taxes on Ark of Hope For Children’s 80 acres property. On this property we hope to someday build our “Eagles Nest” Sibling care campus. Through a well designed loophole the U.S. government allows the taxation of a tax-exempt organization on property they are not using towards its intended purpose. Our use of this particular property requires the building of at least one single family home that can house children living in the foster care system. We have had to pay those taxes every year end for 6 years since we do not have the funds to build on the property as of yet. Our goals for foster families of children to be able to remain together in single family homes is a lofty one, but oh so needed. They are separated 60-70% of the time.
God gave me no answer for Ark of Hope for children until we were literally driving home after arriving by plane back in Florida. As I was overwhelmed with peace in my tumultuous storm I was listening to Matthew on my car CD player. Matthew 17:20 reads, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” This is followed by Matthew 17:24-26 , where the apostles were facing paying a temple TAX that needed to be paid. Jesus said, “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
I felt that unmistakable, “Pay attention dummy, nudge from God.” I stopped the CD player and asked God, “Ok, I am just returning from my “mountain top” time with you. Now I should go fishing? Come on God, hundreds of these kids need what we have planned here and I have trusted you to provide. So can you be a bit clearer on what I should do now?”
I called my closest friend and we agreed the message was really fairly simple; “Cast out your fishing line.” Share your need with the people and EXPECT a catch. As you share your need, through their shared desire to help my hurting children, I will provide.
I was like Sarah in a sense, “Um, God. Tax deduction season has passed. Who will give?” To which I was reminded the verse before about faith. I felt myself being asked, “Do you have the faith of a mustard seed?”
I replied, “Yes God, you know I do. I have stuck with this vision for abused kids and youth for 10 years without pay for myself or my wife. My family has given more than we had to give and it is all gone. I constantly counsel the hurting children and youth through any means, including the Internet in places thousands of miles away. You know I have faith.”
He didn’t need to reply; “Then cast out your line, have faith and keep about my work.”
 So, people who support Ark of Hope for Children; whether you are in our area of Florida, are you are our dear friends in the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia and many others. We reach to you; all of you. Ten dollars from this one and that one using the Internet donation systems will quickly add up to cover all, perhaps even more of our current needs. Were God to say, let them take the property and your financial investment and trust me, then I would do that as well. But I will not do so without casting out our lines and trusting in His people. You have all been such a blessing. Trust me, the children and youth we are able to counsel thank you dearly.
We at Ark of Hope for Children have greatly enlarged our vision to include how we can inspire and equip other all around the globe to reach orphans; abused and neglected children and youth whether they be homeless or in foster care. Our first vision was for a sibling care campus, inspired by the 5 children we adopted from foster care. So in faith we began purchasing the 80 acres, leaving iut in the name of our nonprofit organization.
Should we let the tax man take that property away now that his time is close at hand? I don’t think so. Whether it was for use as our sibling campus or strictly as an investment for God to use to fund our vision, I know that is not God’s will which is why we have continued making monthly property payments for six years. To that end I request your help. $5, $10, $100 or any amount, you can donate through our websites, Facebook and MySpace pages and more.
www.arkofhopeforchildren.com
www.causes.com/abusedkids
www.causes.com/arkofhope
www.facebook.com/arkofhope
www.change.org/arkofhope
We close in on 1 million people who follow our causes and share our passion for hurting, “homeless” children and youth, thanks to our website and sites like Facebook and MySpace. We plead for you to be the hands and feet of God as he moves this mountain with us. We have the faith, and amongst all of us, we have the funds.
To note; we have listed half or all of the rolling and beautiful 80 acres for sale. If that is God’s will then I will not stand in His way. We have received and continue to receive great direction on how to inspire, equip and mobilize people caring people like yourself no matter where in the world you live.
Why do we look at the whole world instead of our little area of influence? 143 million orphans. Nothing more needs to be said. Thank you ahead of time as you partner with us. You are our ArkAngels! From our website you can even set your donations to be given monthly if you would like to partner with us that way.
Thank you from every side of my heart! “Together we WILL break the chains of past abuse and lead children and youth into lives filled with faith, hope and love.”
Blair Corbett and tribe (growing family of 16)
founders, Ark of Hope For Children
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
6501 NE 32nd Place, High Springs, FL 32643
All donations are 100% tax deductible for US citizens. EIN# 59-3585457
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Ark of Hope For Children umbrella of care. Parents will be licensed through our inter-denominational Christian church programs which will be held in strategic locations through our district in North Central Florida.
