Beverley Knight has been on multiple World Hope trips, along with many hours of serving locally for World Hope here in Orlando and praying for us. Join us in getting to know her a little bit better.
Who is Beverley Knight?
I have been married for 18 years to a wonderful man, Patrick Knight. I have 2 amazing children, Anna who is 13 years old and Bradley who is 10 years old. I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. Currently I am working in the office at Orlando Christian Prep where my children attend school. I am a member at Orlando Baptist Church where I have grown up and learned to love the Lord and to serve others. I love to sing and am a part of the choir and worship team at OBC. I also love to bake! It is my favorite way to show my friends and family. Everyone loves cake, right??
Do you have a verse that is significant for this point in your life? Why is it significant?
Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. In this day I feel like we are surrounded with so many hardships and so much sickness that it’s easy to live in fear and worry; but I know that is not what God wants for me…for us. I hold on to that and when I feel myself getting weighed down with fear, I give it to Him because I know He is the one in control and I know He will remind me that He has given me the power to overcome.
Why World Hope? How did you get involved?
Growing up at Orlando Baptist Church, I have been a part of World Hope since it first started. I was there when we heard Pastor Dave’s visions and I gave when there was a new opportunity. I watched all the videos of missions trips and crusades that were going on. I listened as Pastor Dave would tell us stories of his travels and how he prayed over land and how people were coming to Christ and how God was doing BIG things around the world. I wanted to experience it for myself. I wanted to see the slums in Kenya and I wanted to be there when the pieces were fitting together in Detroit. I love World Hope and am so proud of all that it has done and is doing all over the world. I have to be a part of it!
What is your experience with Missions?
In 1996 I went to South Africa with a group of teens with T.I.M.E International.
In 2011 I went to Kenya with World Hope.
In 2014 I went to Detroit 3 times with World Hope.
What unique quality did you bring to your trip? Or what did you hope to bring?
I love to spread happiness and I love to encourage. I do my best to help out the Hope staff while I am there and make the trip fun for the travelers. I believe that smiling and being kind to people is sometimes the little bit of help they need to face their day. I always hope to bring a bright spot to people’s days and my desire is to always be a person that can be counted on to do the job and to do it with the right spirit.
What has been your most meaningful moment on a missions trip or with World Hope in general?
I love Kenya. I love the people of Kenya. When I went to Kenya I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how I would feel about it. Early on in the trip we take a “slum tour” with the group and on that tour a sweet little came up to me, took my hand and walked with me the whole time. She was so precious and I just loved how she held on so tight to my hand. When the tour was over, she let go and ran home. I have no idea what that little girl has going on in her life today; but I will never forget the walk we took together.
How did your ideas of what a missions trip would be like differ from the reality of going on one?
For me, the trips made all those pictures and videos and stories come to life. I already knew what Hope Center in Kenya looked like…then I got to go and walk around the Center and it was so amazing to be there and meet the Hope staff and experience church in Kenya. After all the times I’ve been on trips, I always come home feeling fulfilled and blessed and ministered to. You expect to go and help others; but never expect to be helped yourself. World Hope knows how to do trips right and I always come home a better person.
Describe a memorable relationship formed on a trip or with World Hope.
I have a friend named Courtney in Detroit. Courtney leads worship at The Hope Church there at Hope Center in Detroit. We met on my first trip. We instantly clicked. Courtney is beautiful and friendly and she’s crazy talented. I knew sitting there in church that first Sunday that we shared a lot in common and that we would be friends. Every time I am in Detroit, she is the first person I am looking for and we hug and jump up and down and maybe even scream a little. When we are apart we keep in touch and thanks to social media, we get to stay a part of our each others lives on a daily basis.
What are your next steps? How has your life changed since traveling with World Hope?
There’s this special person in my life, Lisa Cooper. Lisa has been a part of my life for over 20 years now. When I was in youth she was my youth leader. We have done a lot of growing up together. She is my mentor. She is also the trip leader for World Hope. On my trip to Kenya and my trips to Detroit, she was there. It was always a special time for us to be able to do ministry together. Our relationship has grown and changed through missions. I have watched her with her children on trips. I plan on going to Detroit again in the near future and this time I am planning on taking my daughter with me. Missions trips are always life changing and life-enriching. I want to pass that on to my kids as well as continue to experience it for myself. I am excited about all World Hope is doing and am so honored that I get to be a part of it.
