Mindy Lee Hopman

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’

Jeremiah 29:11 NASB

Heart cultivation and seed preparation exist in your soul even when you are distant from God. In hindsight, I can see God’s fingerprints on my life in so many places, especially when I wasn’t paying any attention to Him. My sophomore year in high school, I was listening to a guest speaker who was presenting an encouraging message to the student body in a packed high school gym, and my 16-year old self clearly saw where I would be one day. Her words reached deep into my soul. The gentle yet firm delivery of her message moved the hearts of the entire audience. She lifted us from where we were, to seeing where He wanted us to be. I was not the same when I left that auditorium. I had sensed God’s calling on my life. God used her to shine His light on me. While I was leaning in and listening, I heard God say, “You will speak to many.” As the speaker delivered her message, I unmistakably heard my calling, and from that day I knew I would eventually have the opportunity to speak and encourage others like she did. I had no clue how it would happen. One does not exactly wake up and become a well-versed, motivational teacher or preacher. There is a process one goes through by serving to get to the point of leading, which is actually the pinnacle of serving. At that time, I was a tiny, shy, young Jewish girl, raised in a single-parent home, who possessed no self-confidence. God was continuing to cultivate my heart. His work of soul-seed preparation raced back to the beginning of time. He had initiated the loving process of drawing my husband and me, and eventually our children, to Himself. God calls each one of us to Himself in His perfect timing and helps us to recognize ourselves in Him.
~Exerpt from Beautiful Legacy: Our Roots Run Deep

I tucked that promise away and forgot about it for years. When Jon and I got married, we became believers, and we built our marriage on the Rock. I learned how to teach and gained years of experience in the classroom. I taught second grade, middle and high school English, and every level English-as-a-Second-Language class, but my favorite courses were Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Perspectives, and World Religions. I poured into local students and students from around the world in both the classroom the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) campus and sport-specific huddles. FCA huddles are not only for athletes. Campus huddles are for any student who wants to learn about his or her identity in Christ and how that affects every aspect of his or her life.

I continued to pray about moving into ministry, and in the meantime, I took every opportunity to pour into women through the local church so that they could pour into their children. And God gave me many opportunities to share His word through speaking in the local churches and up and down the East Coast with Encouragement Cafe.

Two children, two Master’s Degrees, two books, and twenty-two years into our marriage, God finally said to me, “Let’s Go!”

“Let’s Go!” I’m taking you deeper into the trenches.

While I saw myself transitioning into full-time ministry when Jon and I first moved to South Carolina, God had a different plan. He knew I needed to help my husband establish his school to be one of the best educational options for students in our area.

Jon still needs my assistance in a few areas at school, however, I am transitioning out of the classroom. This upcoming school year I will continue to work at Prep on a part-time basis as well as serve on mission as a part-time Field Representative with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in our area. 

My heart is in educational ministry and the field of FCA allows for me to continue to share God’s Word with students, athletes, and coaches to help them understand their identity in Christ and how that affects every aspect of their lives. As students navigate these difficult times, standing on the foundation of God’s Word has made a world of difference. One of my greatest joys is teaching students how to read the Word, understand the Word, grow in the Word, and then share the Word. Over the years, I have watched God change the trajectory of the lives of many people and it has been awesome! 

God turned my “wait” into “Let’s Go!” this summer and I am jumping in to answer the call! While I spent a good amount of time over the past two weeks at FCA camps, I witnessed hearts transformed and lives changed, and I couldn’t be more excited for “such a time as this!”

My hope is that you will join me in prayer over this transition.
My hope is that you volunteer and join me at a huddle!
My hope is you will consider financially partnering with me through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes!

Your partnership will allow for the Gospel to go into schools to reach students on both public and private school campuses, local college campuses, as well as in sports academies.

Will you join me? The exciting part is that we are not alone on this mission. Our Heavenly Father promises to be with us, “even to the end of the age.” And He certainly keeps his promises!

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’

Matthew 28:18-20 NASB

If you subscribe here, I will keep you updated. God is at work in a mighty way and I have so much to share! Let’s Go!!

Many Blessings,