“We lift one another up.”

Free booklets offered by Message of Hope

These words from the Diocese of St. Petersburg in Florida came in response to the news that Unity’s Message of Hope program would be sending free literature to the diocese’s prison ministry. “We lift one another up” sums up the purpose of Message of Hope – to serve as a bridge of faith between those who want to provide encouragement to others and those seeking a closer walk with God during difficult circumstances. 

Currently 14,155 copies of Daily Word are sent to correctional facilities

A spiritual lifeline for nearly 100 years

Since 1910 Unity has provided a free literature program for people who want Unity materials but are unable to pay for them. Originally known as “Silent 70,” the program was temporarily discontinued in August of 2000 due to declining donations and rising publication costs but re-emerged in June of 2003 as Message of Hope.

Hospitals, health-care centers, nursing homes, hospice facilities and shelters are eligible to receive two booklets: "Healing Thoughts"

One of the many Unity books printed in braille

and "Message of Hope from DAILY WORD" in English or Spanish. In addition, prisons, correctional facilities and individuals who are unable to pay and are accepted into the program can receive one-year subscriptions to Daily Word® magazine. The program also serves the vision-impaired by providing material in braille and on audiocassette.

Currently, Message of Hope serves 156 correctional institutions and 513 health care facilities.

Message of Hope volunteers help assemble braille calendars

Hearts and hands behind the scenes

Message of Hope operates solely on donations, and its staff consists of two paid workers and five volunteers. Together, they prepare letters of prayer support on audiocassette, organize mailings, and make telephone calls. Each year they also make and assemble the Unity Braille Calendar for free distribution. (Read one employee’s story here.)

 

Recording letters of prayer support for the vision-impaired

Future plans

This year Message of Hope will be incorporating new ways of reaching out to those in need of Truth, encouragement and hope. Plans include converting Daily Word on cassette into a new CD format. The Braille Lending Library will be providing more titles in braille, including required books and CDs for vision-impaired students taking Unity classes through Unity Institute or a Unity church.

Future goals include expansion of the Braille Lending Library

These plans and all that Message of Hope has accomplished are made possible through the continued support of donors—caring people making a difference in the lives of others.

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Hear from those who have been blessed through Message of Hope:

Please accept our profound thank you for your generous gift of Daily Word inspirational booklets that arrived today. It is your abundant generosity (and that of all our benefactors), which continues to encourage and inspire me!

—John, Florida

I received the most wonderful and unexpected gesture anyone has ever made to me. It was your letter telling me that you were happy to send Daily Word to me for one year as a gift. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it and thank you with all my heart.

—Emily, Virginia

I wanted to thank you for the inspirational prayer booklets for our hospice patients. These booklets bring both solace and comfort to our patients.

—Debbie, New York

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Read Message of Hope worker Kimberly Morrow’s story "I See God Clearly."


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