Hope Torchlighters

07/20/2025

This is why Hope Torchlighters & Hope International Church Buddy Break exist because parents and caregivers MATTER!

To the Church: If You Want to Welcome Us, Start Here

A message from a Rett Syndrome parent who’s still standing and still believing

Let’s get one thing straight—
the Holy Spirit doesn’t care if my kid can walk into your sanctuary
or if she rolls in with a feeding pump, splints, and a tired parent behind her.

The Spirit doesn’t check for perfect behavior, noise control, or clean church clothes.
He doesn’t care if I show up in tears,
with meds in my pocket
and exhaustion in my eyes.

He just wants us here.

We’re not looking for a polished welcome.
We’re looking for a place that sees our daughter
not as a disruption,
but as part of the body of Christ.
Whole. Beautiful. Worthy.

You say everyone’s welcome—
but sometimes that gets complicated when “everyone” looks like a child with Rett Syndrome.
Who might make noises during worship.
Who might need space to stretch.
Who might have a seizure in the middle of the sermon.

We’re not asking you to be perfect.
But please don’t be silent.
Don't stare. Don't whisper. Don't move away.
Move closer. Ask our names. Ask how she communicates.
Ask how to help.

Because for families like ours, just getting to church is a spiritual battle.
Between oxygen tanks and seizure logs, between mobility and medication—
we’ve fought to show up.

And sometimes?
The hardest part isn’t the diagnosis.
It’s walking into a room full of people who don't know what to say
and choose to say nothing at all.

Jesus never did that.
He saw the hurting.
He moved toward them.

He didn’t make the blind man prove his worth.
He didn’t ask the paralyzed man to wait outside.
He didn’t tell the bleeding woman to come back when she was clean.
He touched them.
He welcomed them.
He restored their dignity.

That’s the gospel.
That’s church.
That’s what I hope we can be.

So please—stop trying to “fix” us.
Stop worrying if my daughter will ever speak.
Or if I’ll ever look “put together.”
That’s not your job.

Let God do the healing.
You?
Just be the welcome mat.

Open arms. Soft heart.
That’s the assignment.

Because the Rett journey is sacred and hard.
And sometimes, we just need a pew to cry in,
a hand on our shoulder,
and a church family that doesn’t flinch at feeding tubes or meltdowns.

We’re not asking for pity.
We’re asking for space.

Because my daughter may never say “Amen” with her mouth—
but she says it with her life.
And if you listen closely,
you’ll hear the voice of God through her silence.

So if you're a church who means it when you say “All are welcome”—
prove it.
Make room for the wheelchairs.
Make room for the noise.
Make room for the parents who are just trying to survive Sunday morning.
And then love us like Jesus would.

Because sometimes the most anointed worship
comes from the family in the back row
with trembling hands, tearful eyes, and
a faith that’s held together by grace and sheer will.

And that, Church, is holy ground.

07/13/2025

06/27/2025

・・・
📰 Press Release: https://www.noticiasnewswire.com/telemundos-mujeres-imparables   
📺 , the leading Spanish-language television network, is home to (Unstoppable Women), an initiative that profiles Latinas who defy stereotypes, contribute to their communities, and serve as a source of inspiration for others.    
📺 “I am honored to be featured as part of Telemundo’s remarkable initiative. I believe that every woman has a story to tell and a unique purpose. Growing up in a political and media household and dedicating over 20 years of my life to multimedia, ministry, and public service, I have always believed that our talents and experiences can be utilized to help empower others to break down barriers and defy expectations. My connection as a mother of a child with special needs, along with my own experiences as a woman with a disability, gives me a profound understanding of the challenges that families face. & ’s website continue to raise awareness & advocate for improved resources and support for families with disabilities, senior citizens, and those in need from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our ultimate purpose can be found through all our experiences; even what may seem like tests can become our testimony. Let us remember to amplify the voices of those who are making a meaningful impact in our communities.”   
🙌 THANK YOU to , Sr. Pastors, Dr. & . Since 2018, we have been proud to be the first & only organization in South Lake County to offer respite care, create a Special Needs Pastor position, & help establish Hope Torchlighters.   
🙌 A special Advisory Committee (RAC). As the Chairperson of the RAC, I am thankful that the RAC committee supports events for individuals with special needs & those who are neurodiverse each year. Incredibly appreciative to the for officially recognizing the National Day with a proclamation.    

06/16/2025

Happy Father’s Day Pastor Tony McCoy! Thank you for saying YES to Special Needs Pastor, Dr. Joscelyn Ramos Campbell. Thank you for saying YES to Hope Torchlighters and Hope Buddy Break. Thank you for saying YES to all special needs and neurodiverse families with love, faith, acceptance, empowerment, and hope!

06/14/2025

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
🎤 “I believe in the importance of Latina women and leaders coming together and recognizing our collective strength,” affirms Dr. Joscelyn Ramos Campbell, mother and reference to inclusion, with over 20 years of experience in media, ministry, public relations and community engagement.
🎤Her recipe for building a real support network? Share knowledge and experiences, be authentic, invest in connections and know our own needs.
🎤”Supportive networks are built when we help, listen and celebrate others,” she assures.
“Therefore, it inspires to build bridges that promote mutual understanding, respect and solidarity.” Because, as she says: “By aligning our goals and amplifying our impact, we can more effectively influence policies, community development and cultural change.”


・・・
“Creo en la importancia de que las mujeres y líderes latinas nos unamos y reconozcamos nuestra fuerza colectiva”, afirma Joscelyn Ramos Campbell, madre y referente en inclusión, con más de 20 años de experiencia en medios, ministerios, relaciones públicas y participación comunitaria.

¿Su receta para construir una red de apoyo real? Compartir saberes y experiencias, ser auténticas, invertir en los vínculos y conocer nuestras propias necesidades. 

“Las redes de apoyo se construyen cuando ayudamos, escuchamos y celebramos a otras”, asegura. 

Por eso, inspira a tender puentes que promuevan la comprensión mutua, el respeto y la solidaridad. Porque, como dice: “Al alinear nuestros objetivos y amplificar nuestro impacto, podemos influir de manera más efectiva en las políticas, el desarrollo comunitario y el cambio cultural”.

06/10/2025

🎤ENGLISH TRANSLATION
“I’m a Brooklyn-raised ‘CubaRican’ mother of four and a tireless advocate for inclusion.” This is how Joscelyn Ramos Campbell is defined, Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities and awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, for her commitment and service to the community.
🎤With over 20 years of background in media, public relations and community engagement, she is today an undisputed leader in advocacy for people with disabilities.
🎤She is the creator of the Mami of Multiples platform and founder of the nonprofit Hope Torchlighters, which provides support to families with neurodiverse children.
🎤“When my son was diagnosed with autism, it was a shock. But we decided to make a difference,” she recounts. And she assures: “Knowledge gives strength.”
🎤That’s why, today she shares resources in Spanish and English, so that “families can transition this journey with hope and resilience.”


・・・
“Soy una ‘CubaRican’ criada en Brooklyn, madre de cuatro y defensora incansable de la inclusión”. Así se define Joscelyn Ramos Campbell, doctora honoraria en Filosofía en Humanidades y galardonada con el Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, por su compromiso y servicio a la comunidad. 

Con más de 20 años de trayectoria en medios, relaciones públicas y participación comunitaria, es hoy una líder indiscutida en la defensa de las personas con discapacidad. Es creadora de la plataforma Mami of Multiples y fundadora de la organización sin fines de lucro Hope Torchlighters, que brinda apoyo a las familias con niños neurodiversos. 

“Cuando diagnosticaron a mi hijo con autismo, fue un shock. Pero decidimos marcar una diferencia”, relata. Y asegura: “El conocimiento da fuerza”.

Por eso, hoy comparte recursos en español y en inglés, para que “las familias puedan transitar este viaje con esperanza y resiliencia”. 

05/10/2025

💐Proverbs 31:28 “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her.”
💐 Mother’s Day was first established as a day to recognize and honor mothers in 1908. Since then, it has become a tradition to pamper moms with all manner of goodies, from chocolates and breakfast in bed to a Sunday brunch at a fancy restaurant or even a spa day. However, mothers of children with special needs have a different kind of day.
💐 For some, we wake up on a cot in a hospital room with a sick child. It might be the first time or the hundredth time, but it’s never easy. You dutifully attend to your child while trying to remember the last time you got a shower. Sometimes the hospital does something to recognize you, which is lovely, but in your exhaustion, you can hardly enjoy it. Yet you faithfully do what it takes to care for your child, doing so with only a passing thought of the holiday that everyone else you know seems to be enjoying. But when your child wraps those sweet arms around you and says, “I love you, Mommy,” your celebration is complete.
💐 For some, the day is dedicated to attending to the daily care of a child who needs adult assistance for everything, from eating to dressing and all hygiene. These parenting duties pay no heed to holidays or events; they’re there no matter what. On these special days, you’re a little more melancholy about the care your child needs, but you pour love into every step, grateful for your ability to attend to these needs with tender touch and soothing voice.
💐 For some, we remember a child we have lost, one whose demeanor and face we strain to remember, whose stories we share, and whose bright light is missed acutely on these holidays. There’s no way to fill the void; our grief escalates on special days, our heart a weeping wound.
💐 Some are just wondering if those things they’re noticing that are different about their child are going to add up to something, and some have initiated testing for a child based on that hunch that is looking more and more like a diagnosis. Some are reeling from an unexpected diagnosis or from going through test after test with no diagnosis and no end in sight.
💐 If you are a mom who is facing a different kind of Mother’s Day, a day where the celebration is not like most of your friends, a day when you’re just as needed or just as hurting as every other day of the year, take heart. My heart is with you; my love goes to you. You are not alone. On this day, when you should bask in unbridled glory, your constant outpouring of love and goodness does not go unnoticed. You are the backbone of your family, and you are worthy.
💻 “Parents of Children with Special Needs: A Different Kind of Mother’s Day”

05/10/2025

We were grateful for an evening of collaboration and fellowship with our fellow community pastors. Together, we are stronger and more united in our mission to serve our community.

04/11/2025

🚔 💙

The Wildwood Police Department recognizes April as Autism Awareness Month. There are growing resources available for individuals with Autism, as well as their family members.
Wildwood Police Department offers the iD-1 Program so stop by to get one today.
Call for more info: (352) 931-0357.

02/28/2025

We had wonderful time with Linda and learning about My Rest Quest. Its so important for all of us to take time to rest and have breathing spaces.

If you missed last night’s virtual support group click the link and the video will open so you can watch and listen to this important topic ⏩ https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/YfIw4zPBx6mj6OrCjueL53orvgiAA5nivK-o11Bxd8tZeIfeLzHT8V0tCXB0qx9c.kJIOzEuQQVnaC0-d

Our next meeting with be on Thursday, March 27 at 6:30 P.M. with Cara Carlson from ADP!

02/14/2025

New Dates for Hope International Church Buddy Break.
New Dates for February-April Beacon of Hope Support Group (presented by Hope Torchlighters and Master Care-Givers).

01/31/2025

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