Hope Mississippi

Josh Woodward from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services explains how ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts allow people with disabilities to save money without losing crucial public benefits like SSI and Medicaid. These revolutionary accounts provide financial freedom for individuals who have previously been restricted by the $2,000 asset limit, giving them independence and control over their financial lives.

• ABLE accounts allow people with disabilities to save up to $19,000 per year.
• Account holders can maintain SSI benefits with a max balance of up to $100,000; for Medicaid, the max is $235,000.
• Disability onset must currently be before...

Former band director David Willson shares the transformative teaching philosophy that changed countless lives over a long career, including 32 years at Ole Miss. From humble beginnings in Jackson, Mississippi, Willson's journey reveals how music education became his pathway out of poverty and into a life of purpose.

He was our host, Dawn Beam's band director, and she proclaims that he was such an incredible leader, she would have followed him off the proverbial cliff!
 
 Willson candidly discusses how he revolutionized his teaching after discovering he was "tired of yelling at students." His turning point came wh...

Reverend Eddie Spencer shares his powerful journey from childhood poverty to ministry, including his recent battle with cancer and sepsis that brought him near death yet deepened his faith and peace in Christ.

• God has a plan to use each of us uniquely—your testimony, whatever it includes, can impact someone who needs exactly your perspective
• Eddie's path included service with Young Life, opening three restaurants in the Mississippi Delta, and eventually pastoring multiple churches
• Despite coming from generational poverty, Eddie's life was transformed by mentors who invested in him, showing how we can be God's ha...

Eddie Spencer's life story reads like a modern parable of redemption. From a childhood marked by humiliation and poverty to a young adulthood filled with violent crime, Spencer's trajectory seemed fixed. But what happens when divine intervention meets a willing heart?

The turning point came in first grade when classmates mocked him for wearing secondhand "girl shoes"—the only footwear his family could provide. This single moment ignited a rage that would fuel years of criminal behavior. By 17, Spencer was facing decades behind bars, with multiple stays at training schools already behind him. 

"I thought tha...

What does it look like when faith moves beyond Sunday services to transform an entire community? Amy Lancaster of We Will Go Ministries shares a powerful story of answering God's unexpected call to serve not overseas, but in downtown Jackson—their "Jerusalem."

The journey began when Amy and her husband David sold their home and prepared for international missions, only to hear God redirect them to Jackson's deepest needs. What started with simply giving neighbors sandwiches has grown into a comprehensive ministry that feeds 30,000 people annually, provides daily children's programming, and engages thousands of volunteers in meaningful se...

What happens when government agencies, churches, and community members break down silos and work together? Lives transform, families reunite, and hope takes root in even the most challenging circumstances.

Dawn Beam and Cindy Cheeks dive deep into the science of hope and its practical application in Mississippi's child welfare system. With startling statistics—one in four Mississippi children living in poverty and one in five experiencing food insecurity—they reveal how economic hardship directly feeds the state's foster care system, with over 70% of removals stemming from poverty-related issues rather than abuse.

Hope science isn't just wish...

Reverend Martha Cherry's life reads like a journey through America's most pivotal moments of the last century. From witnessing the bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church where her friend Carol Robertson died, to studying under Dr. King's sister at Spelman College when he received the Nobel Peace Prize, Cherry's path has intersected with history at remarkable turns.

"I drew from my faith that we were going to have a brighter future," Cherry reflects, describing how hope sustained her through childhood fear amid bombings and civil unrest. That same hope would later carry her through unimaginable personal...

Dawn Beam welcomes Elder Scottie Tyrone for a heartfelt conversation about building hope through faith, community service, and crossing racial divides in Mississippi. Their profound discussion explores how genuine connections and spiritual transformation can bring healing to individuals and communities facing significant challenges.

• Lincoln Park church serves as a "hospital" where people can come as they are for healing and hope
• Miraculous testimonies of cancer patients experiencing unexpected recovery through prayer and faith
• Scottie's powerful ministry to Dawn's family during her mother's end-of-life celebration (the tambourines came out!)
• Breaking racial barriers by focusing...

Nestled on 42 acres in Purvis, Mississippi, Homes of Hope stands as a beacon of possibility for vulnerable children across the state. In this deeply moving conversation, Executive Director Dr. Scott Hanberry reveals how this unique residential ministry is transforming lives by providing much more than shelter – they're cultivating genuine hope.

Unlike traditional institutional settings, Homes of Hope creates actual family environments where children live in single-family homes with dedicated house parents who provide stability, safety, and unconditional love. "We serve at-risk children from all over Mississippi and their families," Hanberry explains, emphasizing that family reunification remains a pr...

Dwight Owens shares a powerful message of hope and resilience, drawing from personal experiences of trauma and loss, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration in building a brighter future for Mississippi. The episode discusses overcoming adversity, the impact of education, the struggles faced by the disability community, and the transformative power of forgiveness.

• Importance of spreading hope in communities facing challenges 
• Personal story of overcoming trauma and finding purpose 
• The role of education in rising above poverty 
• Addressing race relations through dialogue and understanding 
• The need for collaboration and kindness in healing communities 
• Experienc...

HOPE MISSISSIPPI is a bimonthly podcast educating Mississippians about the needs of fellow citizens, encouraging residents to work together to change the trajectory of our families and children, and sharing success stories.

Dawn and Stephen Beam are successful professionals (now retired) seeking to improve conditions in their beloved Mississippi. What started many years ago with the "WHAT IF" meetings evolved into an ambitious non-profit and now an uplifting "feel good" podcast. 

After decades of church-sponsored missions to Central America, the Beams were inspired to channel their energy and efforts to their home state of Mississippi.

Dawn and Stephen Beam are successful professionals (now retired) seeking to improve conditions in their beloved Mississippi. What started many years ago with the "WHAT IF" meetings evolved into an ambitious non-profit and now an uplifting "feel good" podcast. 

After decades of church-sponsored missions to Central America, the Beams were inspired to channel their energy and efforts to their home state of Mississippi.

In this trailer episode, you will learn about how the HOPE MISSISSIPPI pocast came to be and Dawn Beam's hope and prayer for Mississippi.

God bless and enjoy!