December 2025: A Thrill of Hope

Many Christians around the world celebrate Advent in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It's a season of longing and hope as we enter the story of the world before Christ's birth: a time when the promise of a Savior had been made, but not yet fulfilled. 

In Advent, the "thrill of hope" begins to ring with increasing strength as each day passes. We know that Christmas is coming! Advent, just like its sister season Lent, is a season of preparing to receive Good News and it reminds us that those who hope in the Lord will not be disappointed. 

The Youth on the Ravens Uganda Waitlist live in a sort of perpetual Advent—there is a promise of a new future, a promise that hope will not disappoint them—they can see it happening in the lives of their friends in the Ravens Program... And yet, they're not sure when their own "new and glorious morn" will dawn.

Allan’s Story from the Waitlist

Allan is a bright, ambitious, and serious young man with a passion for education and a dream of pursuing a career in the medical field. His interest in medicine began at the age of 10 and has only grown stronger with time.

Allan's academic performance has consistently been outstanding, but his education is currently on hold. Allan lives with his parents and three siblings. His parents' limited income makes it difficult to cover the family's basic needs, let alone the increasing cost of tuition.

Allan and his brother have worked alongside their father to contribute to the household income and save for their education, but it hasn’t been enough and Allan’s education stalled.

At the point of despair, Allan learned about Ravens through a youth event at Pastor Abel's church and saw a chance to revive his educational pursuits, so he applied. He is now on the Ravens Waitlist, learning to hope again, and eager to pursue his dreams of becoming a Neurologist.

Why We Have Hope

The Youth Empowerment Program works because these youth want this! And Ravens is in it for the long-haul to get each one to the "finish line" of a complete education, sustaining employment, and independent adulthood. 

God is at work, the resources will be there if we give them, and these young people are willing to work hard with this gift of opportunity.