Imagine a night of community enjoying spiritual comfort, comfort foods, and live music under a canopy of twinkle lights and the backdrop of the historic Green-Evans-Hudgens house in Lynchburg. That’s the vision of Reason for Hope’s Jacob Haywood and Promise Manor’s Kayla White for the first annual Night of Hope event to be held on October 17 at 5 p.m.

Sister’s death inspires Reason For Hope

Six years ago, Reason For Hope founder Jacob Haywood, a native of Tullahoma, unexpectedly lost his twin sister, Jaimie Haywood Dornon – a wife, mother of two, sister, and daughter.

At the time of his sister’s death, Haywood served as youth pastor in White House and a seminary student pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. His sister’s sudden death sparked in him a need to understand and that search led to the launch of Reason for Hope in 2018, a Christian organization that seeks to promote faith and hope in the face of suffering.

“The more I studied, the more I found that God is still good and there is still hope even though my circumstances screamed the opposite,” Haywood says. “Hope was the single factor that kept me going. And if that is what helped me in my darkest moments, I knew I had to proclaim that hope to fellow sufferers as well.”

A night of comfort food, inspiration, and live music

October marks the one year anniversary of that inspiration. Since then, Haywood’s moved back to his hometown of Tullahoma to serve as the youth pastor at Grace Baptist Church. He is also now enrolled in the PhD program at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary studying Christian Apologetics with a focus on the problem of evil and suffering.

“I love teaching students how to defend their faith and give a reason for their hope in Jesus. But having suffered the loss of my sister, I also have a burning desire to give hope to the hurting,” Haywood says. “Reason For Hope incorporates both avenues.”

The October event at Promise Manor fulfills Haywood’s dream of a live, in-person event that combines his loves of food, live music, and hospitality in a way that injects hope into the community.

Promise Manor founder Kayla White says when Haywood approached her with the idea for the event in her historic Lynchburg venue it filled her with both gratitude and excitement because the three share a childhood connection. White, Haywood, and his twin sister all grew up on the same street in Tullahoma.

“Jaimie’s life and death played a significant role in my journey to Christ and ultimately Promise Manor, and her legacy continues to bring light in darkness and hope in the midst of chaos,” White said. “Night of Hope is about celebrating the fact that although our world around us is crumbling, the loss of loved ones is unbearable at times, and the uncertainty of the unknown haunts us, there is hope and His name is Jesus.”

Tickets to the event are $45 and include a catered meal of comfort foods and a presentation by Haywood entitled, How to Trust God Amidst Evil and Suffering. The night will culminate with a concert by Nashville singer/songwriters Channing Gillespie, Arthur Alligood, and Justin Tweito, who will share original songs of hardship and hope and the stories behind them.

“The night is designed to fill your belly, educate your mind, and inspire your heart,” Haywood said. “We hope this is just the start of an uplifting event the community will look forward to every year.”

Promise Manor is located at 686 Motlow Barn Road in Lynchburg. To purchase tickets, visit the Promise Manor or Reason for Hope websites. For more information, email Haywood at [email protected]. •

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