Recent E-Newsletters

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting Charles Moses Hello, Hospitality House Youth Development (HHYD) family! My name is Charles Moses, and I am the new Executive Director for HHYD. I’ve enjoyed meeting many of you and hope to meet you all shortly. Thank you for your warm welcome! Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a husband to my lovely wife, Keonna, and we have been married for 12 years. I am also a father to a fantastic son, Charles Jr., who is 4. My wife Keonna has a huge passion for education and equipping young minds, and our son Charles Jr. loves to learn! I love time with my family and enjoy our ventures together. My interests include sports, barbecuing, mentoring, fellowship, and golfing. My wife and I both share a background and desire in youth ministry. I came from Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, where I worked for 14 years and most recently served as Program Manager for their Men’s Long-Term Program in Minneapolis. I am also a graduate of their program, which is a longer story. I can say that God met me there and has brought me into a new life with Him. We are

“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 Wait What, He Was a Child!?! Do you know who Michael Luther King Jr. is? Yes, I said Michael Luther King Jr. Michael was born January 15, 1929. At the age of six his father decided that the two should switch out their first names for Martin, in honor of Martin Luther, the priest who brought about the Protestant Reformation. But many people don’t know he was named Michael Luther King Jr. at birth. Did you know? Many of us have heard the great stories of the Civil Rights movement, but who was he as a child? Hated doing dishes, loved ice cream and the board game Monopoly, and sometimes popped off the heads of his sister’s dolls to use them as baseballs. “He was an ordinary kid” said Marty Smith, a park ranger at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, where he leads tours of the six-bedroom home where King grew up. “Just later on in life he did extraordinary things.” – The Washington Post As a

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”James 1:17 Christmas With Dignity Our annual Christmas With Dignity event took place on Friday, December 8. We served 437 families and 1,207 children. We are so grateful for the generosity of those who donated the funds, toys, or gift cards that enabled us to provide over 2400 gifts for these families. We also had 250 volunteers covering the prep part of the week and Market Day to make this event happen. Seeing smiles on the faces of the shoppers as they departed with their gifts assures us that their holiday season will be a bit brighter as they see evidence of God’s love and receive the support of their community. Thanks to all the Gift Donors and Volunteers for supporting this ministry! ChurchesEagle Brook Church – DowntownEmanuel Lutheran Church of Inver Grove HeightsHosanna ChurchPrairie Community ChurchSt. Joan of Arc ChurchTrinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha FallsTrue Vine New Bethel Mission Baptist Church BusinessesAnimal AdventureBridal Aisles BoutiqueCushman and WakefieldExcelsior ChiropracticExecutive Connections Network GroupForte Real Estate PartnersHealthsource Chiropractic MinnetonkaHighland Path of

“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”Joel 2:23 Super Students of the Month Each month during the school year the HHYD teachers select SUPER STUDENTS of the month. To qualify for this celebration, the students must successfully complete their homework and spiritual journals. This month on November 8th the staff served the Super Students of the month Chick-Fil-A. CONGRATULATION TO ALL THE SUPER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH! Hallelujah Night an alternative for the children on Oct 31st HHYD hosted HALLELUJAH NIGHT, it’s an alternative for the children to keep them off the streets and safe. The parents were grateful they did not have to walk the children around the neighborhood. We played Christian music and feed the children hotdogs, chips and juice which they enjoyed of course. We had a variety of costumes and played games in the gym. We ended the evening by giving them a huge bag of candy. Life on Purpose: Car Care Unit LOP is a way for HHYD to coach the children through some of the everyday

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”Ecclesiastes 3:1 HHYD Banquet Hospitality House Youth Development had our Annual Fall Banquet on Sunday October 22, at the Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom. The theme was, “There is a time for everything”. We had a wonderful time celebrating HHYD’s successes with 277 guests. Thank you to our keynote speaker Brett McNeal, District Assistant Director of Athletics (MPS), emcee Mike Max (WCCO), and all our guests. The event was a success all around with great food and fellowship. The funds raised will go towards our much needed academic, athletic, community outreach programs. We would like to offer our heartfelt THANK YOU, to all our sponsors, Cornwell Companies LLC, Bremer Bank, KTIS, Liberty Packing Twin Cities an LDI Company, National Christian Foundation – Twin Cities and HealthEZ. We are thankful to all those that could not attend but contributed financially and prayed for the event. If you were unable to attend and want to donate, we are still excepting donations toward our $190,000 goal. We are close, and you could be the one to help us make it! Gym Re-opening THANK YOU to the MN Timberwolves, MN Lynx,

The Kids are Back!Our After-School program started on September 5th and is going strong again. The children are learning the Lord’s prayer this Fall season. The following are some of the scriptures they are studying in hope that it will carry through every season of life: This, then, is how you should pray:“‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,10 your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Matthew 6:9-10 Back to School Activities September 5th was the first day of school, the children returned to HHYD and we have been learning and having fun ever since. JE Dunn and the Minneapolis 4th Precinct donated backpacks and school supplies to ease the financial burdens our parents face when preparing their children to go back to school. Thank you JE Dunn and 4th Precinct for impacting the parents and students of the Northside. The children were excited to receive the gifts. One child even thought she was given the backpack just to take a picture and started to hand it back to the staff member. The staff said, it’s yours, she looked at her mom in disbelief and ran over to her old backpack and immediately started moving what

This summer the children studied Romans 12:17-21: “Do not repay anyone with evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “it is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Women’s Luncheon Recap On Thursday, July 27th, 2023 HHYD held the Women’s Luncheon at the lovely Minikahda Club. Our theme was “Blessed to be a blessing”, The Lord bless you and keep you… Numbers 6:24. The young girls greeted the women and 3 served as our official photographers. The Emcee for the event was Dominique White, Program Supervisor. Our guest speaker was our new Development Director, Missie Mothershed, who also came through HHYD as a young girl. A most fun and enjoyable event. We loved having the women

Dear Friends of Hospitality House Youth Development, On behalf of the Board of Directors of Hospitality House Youth Development (HHYD), I want to announce the retirement of our Executive Director Rev. Johnny Hunter effective December 31st, 2023. Rev. Hunter has served at HHYD for over 17 years and looks forward to the next season of family focus and ongoing ministry. Rev. Hunter attended HHYD as a youth beginning in 1967 and has always said that HHYD changed his life forever. He credits the staff’s genuine care and constant availability for drawing him back to HHYD and the North Minneapolis community. Rev. Hunter started as a volunteer in HHYD’s gang intervention program called Midnight Basketball and ended up running the program for two years. He joined the Board in 2007 and served as our interim Executive Director until becoming our full-time Executive Director about a year later. While taking on these leadership responsibilities, Rev. Hunter also continued to work directly with our youth. Their spiritual development has always been his top priority and the impact can be seen in the faces of those returning to HHYD after graduation to catch up with Rev. Hunter and sometimes to join our staff. Hospitality

“The Lord bless youand keep you;The Lord make His face shine on youand be gracious to you;the Lord turn His face toward youAnd give you peace.”Numbers 6:24-26 See how churches, individuals and companies are being a Blessing. Are you doing all you can to join HHYD in being a Blessing to the children and families of North Minneapolis? Summer Spot Photos HHYD attended CREATE A MEMORY, “I Played Ball At Target Field” 2023 and had a great time, children and staff alike. We ran the bases, played softball, wiffleball, kickball, radar toss, and did a home run derby. In addition to all the fun there was a baseball clinic with Steve Winfield, autograph tables with celebrities and topped if off with a behind the scenes tour of Target Field. 3rd picture: The children professing their love for Jesus by being creative and doing street art in front of HHYD.4th picture: HHYD children enjoying a cool dip in the lake.5th picture: Children testing their agility at a local park. Each afternoon our classes engage in a cooking activity. Today the 5th and 6th graders finished a session of Pickleball then went directly to making Avalanche cookies. They had much fun adding