ENCOURAGEMENT NOTES : WRITING GUIDE
GREET AND CLOSE WITH FRIENDSHIP
- The first note: Please introduce yourself, and share that you want to pray for her as she embarks on her Reestablishment Program journey with HopeHouse.
- Approach her with the warmth and care you would offer a dear friend.
- Acknowledge her pain and loss with compassion and sincerity.
Goal: She will feel seen.
ENCOURAGE WITH PRAYER
- Be specific in describing exactly what you are praying for.
- We will provide specific prayer requests from your widow as we receive them.
Goal: She will feel understood.
ENCOURAGE WITH EXPECTATION
“Let us boast in the Name of the Lord.”
- Anchor your encouragement in Scripture, declaring the promises God has made.
- Speak life-giving words that reflect confident hope in what God can do.
Goal: She will learn who God is.
ENCOURAGE WITH AN INVITATION
- Gently invite an action from Scripture that involves a step of faith.
Goal: She will discover God’s presence in her life.
Encourage with Friendship (Include a first-time introduction)
My name is Deneen, and I live in the mountains of North Georgia, the southeastern part of the United States. Though we haven’t met, I’ve been thinking of you and praying for you. I trust that your time at Hope Ranch this week brought moments of rest, encouragement, and renewal. As you return home, I pray you carry a sense of peace and hope with you.
I’ve joined with HopeHouse International to support, encourage, and pray for those who are a part of HopeHouse’s Reestablishment Program. If you’re willing, it would be an honor to walk alongside you during this season — offering encouragement and praying for you and your children throughout your six-month reestablishment journey with HopeHouse.
Encourage with Prayer & Expectation
Natasha, I can only imagine how heavy life must feel right now — managing your home, caring for your children, and (if KIA: grieving the loss) or (if MIA or POW: not knowing where your brave husband is at this time) or (Other). It may feel too much to bear. I have also known grief, and during those seasons, I’ve discovered that God is tender, near, and trustworthy. He invites us to lean on Him for strength, wisdom, and peace — and He gives it. I’m praying this Scripture over you: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6
Encourage with an Invitation
When difficult moments come, I invite you to speak this promise out loud: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13. Please let that truth steady your heart, again and again.
Closing: Encourage with Friendship
Please know that you have a friend across the ocean who is praying for you and your three precious children. It is a privilege to lift your family before our Almighty God, and I do so with joy — knowing He hears and answers.
