OneHope is a Christian evangelical ministry, formerly known as Book of Hope International, that focuses on reaching children and youth with the Gospel.
The Florida-based ministry claims that since publishing a single Book of Hope in 1987, more than two billion children and youth worldwide have encountered God’s Word through OneHope’s Scripture engagement programs.
It says: “By partnering with churches, ministries, and generous supporters, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to know Jesus, no matter where they are.”
OneHope also has a research division called Global Youth Culture.
It has recently undertaken studies into two of the most challenging issues confronting today’s youth — mental illness and pornography.
THE IMPORTANCE OF RESILIENCE FOR KIDS’ MENTAL HEALTH
It found nearly three-quarters of US teens report feeling lonely while about two-thirds struggle with anxiety or depression.
Its January 2022 survey of teens used the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM), a widely validated tool for measuring resilience.
OneHope explains that resilience represents the reserves a person draws on for stability, in good times and bad.
“It helps young people overcome challenges, grow in a healthy way, and adapt to difficult situations.”
“Resilience is closely connected to how they respond to crises and recover from setbacks.”
“Looking at our research through this lens helped us identify factors that support a young person’s ability to navigate life’s challenges.”
The youth ministry says these are insights that youth pastors, teachers, and family members can use to help build a foundation for resilience.
FAITH, FAMILY AND PURPOSE KEY TO ENSURING HIGH RESILIENCE
By analysing the data from that 2022 survey it concluded that resilient teens experience significantly better mental health.
They exhibit lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts compared to their peers with low resilience.
Significantly, the analysis found Christian teens were twice as likely to have high resilience scores.
OneHope reports this suggests that faith plays a meaningful role in helping young people navigate challenges.
The ministry found that among all influences, family proved to be the most critical factor in building resilience.
“Regardless of family structure, teens who felt known, safe, and cared for at home were more likely to be resilient,” it concluded.
The analysis determined that 74% of teens with high resilience believed they have a purpose in life.
Just 2% of those with low resilience reported feeling a sense of purpose.
MINISTRY SEEKS TO START CONVERSATIONS AND ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS
OneHope says research isn’t just about finding answers, but also about starting conversations and asking better questions.
It wants churches, faith-organisations and families to cultivate a holy curiosity that inspires meaningful action and deeper investment in the well-being of the next generation.
Global Youth Culture doesn’t shy away from investigating sensitive and challenging issues.
Its survey into youth engagement in pornography revealed shocking results.
It found as many as 40% of 13 to 15-year-olds watched it, and this percentage increased with the age of children.
Disturbingly, 42% of kids who go to church regularly were exposed to pornography.
It found both children and parents uncomfortable with discussing sex with each other, so kids initially look to the internet out of curiosity.
OneHope said parents need to get on the front foot with this issue so that their children feel free to ask questions, however challenging they may be.
HOW THE ONEHOPE MINISTRY BEGAN
In 1986, OneHope’s founder Bob Hoskins received a vision from the Lord showing him how Satan was targeting children in horrible ways to destroy the potential of the next generation.
This experience broke Bob’s heart, and he spent many days weeping and asking the Lord what he should do about what he had seen.
He heard God tell him to take His Word to the children and youth of the world, and to do it through leaders.
Bob Hoskins began by sending letters to major leaders in Latin America, asking them for permission to give God’s Word to kids in their country.
He heard back from the Minister of Education in El Salvador, with an invitation to give Scripture to every schoolchild in the nation.
A special Scripture program, El Libro de Vida, or Book of Hope, was created to share with the children.
This 1987 distribution in El Salvador was the beginning of OneHope.
In 2023 the ministry realised its goal to reach more than 142 million children and youth around the world in a single year.
