When Ross Lokken comes to his hometown of Albert Lea he will be visiting the church he grew up in and served as interim pastor from 1981 to 1982. Lokken will be giving the Sunday morning message at Calvary Baptist Church located at 2016 Bridge Avenue at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Accepting the Lord’s call on his life took Lokken and his wife, Vicki, to California where he began as a pastor of a Baptist church. Several years later, Lokken transitioned into another area of the Lord’s work as executive director of Hope Again Ministries located on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, Calif. Just as its name indicates, hope again is given to those who are trapped in poverty, crime and substance abuse with the essentials of food, clothing, shelter and transitional housing. This faith-based ministry provides to those who come the experience of God’s love in action in finding economic, social and spiritual wholeness.

In carrying out the message of Jesus Christ, Hope Again provides many services to those in need, such as comprehensive case management including job skills development, job placement, housing, development of individual living skills, parenting and budgeting; an opportunity to hear the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, discipleship through individual and group Bible studies and corporate worship; assistance in becoming involved in a local church community.

Functioning primarily as a serving arm of the church Hope Again funding comes mainly by churches and their members. Individuals can offer help through Hand of Hope donations. Support to this ministry offers those who are chronically poor, displaced and disillusioned personal respect, a growing relationship with God through Christ, resources to move to independence, guidance in repairing relationships, and transitional residence in one of the three homes at Hope Again.

Regarding the objective of this ministry, Executive Director Lokken said, “‘A hand up, not just a hand out’ continues to guide our day to day approach to all who come from the streets to Hope Again. Ultimately, we long to place them in partnership with the living God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”