Discovering God’s Purpose, One Step at a Time
When 150 high school students walked into the Hope Center in Pavas, every shoe looked exactly the same, bright white, untouched, ordinary. By the end of the day, not a single pair matched.
Each shoe canvas became a reflection of something far greater: the truth that we serve a creative God who made each of us unique, with a purpose only we can fulfill.
The Spark, An Idea to Help Teens See Themselves Differently
The vision for Caminando hacia tu propósito (“Walking Toward Your Purpose”) was simple yet powerful.
Give students a creative space to explore who they are in Christ.
The Hope Center staff wanted every teenager to leave with more than decorated sneakers.
They wanted them to walk out knowing they were created on purpose and for a purpose.
Paula Moore, Director of Hope Costa Rica, said it best:
“Each student is so unique. While all the shoes looked the same as they entered, they all created something beautiful and different in the end.”
A Creative Encounter with God
Local artist and speaker Andrea Granados led the three-day workshop. She didn’t just teach them to paint, she taught them to see.
Through interactive activities, Andrea guided students to recognize the gifts God placed within them. They shared dreams, fears, and stories of faith. They encouraged one another as they worked, discovering that creativity is worship and that their lives can be an expression of God’s image.
As Steven shared in a short message during the event,
“We’ve been creative with the tennis shoes they’ve been able to receive. The motto has been walking with purpose, because God has a great purpose for all the young people of Pavas. We’re being creative because our Father is creative with us.”
A Community Effort. Hope in Action
This wasn’t a project Hope Costa Rica could do alone. A local clothing store, EKONO, partnered with the team to help purchase and organize new white tennis shoes for every student.
Partnership like this is what makes Hope Partners’ mission come alive. It’s local communities investing in their own youth. It’s artists, teachers, and volunteers joining hands to show young people that God’s creativity lives in them too.
Transformation in Motion
What began as an art activity became a spiritual turning point.
Students who once doubted their worth began to see themselves differently.
They painted names of loved ones, Bible verses, and bold colors symbolizing joy and hope.
They laughed together, shared paintbrushes, and prayed for one another.
As they laced up their newly painted shoes, something deeper settled in, the belief that their steps mattered.
Each pair of shoes became a personal reminder:
You are loved.
You are seen.
You are called to walk in the purpose God designed for you.
Walking Forward Together
At Hope Costa Rica, discipleship isn’t limited to Sunday mornings or classroom lessons. It happens through shared moments like this, moments where creativity and faith collide.
In their small groups that week, students talked about what the workshop meant to them. They opened up about dreams for the future, the challenges of living out their faith, and how they could use their talents for good.
The Hope Center became a place of discovery, a place where purpose meets possibility.
A Lasting Impression
As the sun set over Pavas, rows of drying shoes covered the tables.
Each one told a story of transformation.
From blank white to bright color.
From uncertainty to confidence.
From question marks to purpose.
And just like that, a group of 150 young people took one more step toward who God created them to be.
The Bigger Picture and Why It Matters
Across the world, Hope Centers are raising up children and youth who know they are loved and capable. Through education, discipleship, and community projects like this one, they’re learning that faith is active. That purpose isn’t found by looking inward but by walking alongside others.
Because when one young person discovers their God-given potential, it changes everything, their home, their school, their community, their world.
How You Can Join the Journey
This creative day in Pavas is just one glimpse of what Hope Partners is doing every week across our 12 Hope Centers. From Kenya to Costa Rica, children are discovering God’s love in ways that reshape their future.
Your giving makes this possible.
When you give monthly to Hope Partners, you’re not just donating. You’re helping a teenager find purpose, a child find safety, and a community find HOPE.
Partner with us today at www.HopePartners.org/donate
Together, we can help the next generation walk toward their purpose.
