Bags of Hope — a Compassionate Ministry Center based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been impacting many lives, both in the United States and in Guyana. Founded by David Rambarran, who pastors Dayspring International Church of the Nazarene in Fort Lauderdale, and his wife Diana, the organization connects service groups interested in ministry, helping serve communities and uplift of the marginalized.

The ministry began initially by sending out physical bags, filled with toiletries and other items, hence its name.

But according to Diana, the ministry outgrew the original idea.

Bags of Hope now helps facilitate missions teams serving in both Fort Lauderdale and Guyana. Groups from other countries, including Costa Rica, have also traveled to Fort Lauderdale to serve.

Dayspring International has dorms to host missions teams that stay on property and work and minister in Fort Lauderdale. Through an enrichment center, the ministry provides a safe environment for teens and children after school.

In addition to its operations in Fort Lauderdale, Bags of Hope helps facilitate missions trips in Guyana to aid in the numerous projects there, as well as host the summer youth camp deep in the Amazon Jungle. Through a partnership with Mount Vernon Nazarene University, hundreds of students have served in the villages of Orealla and Siparuta, through community enrichment centers.

The motto of Bags of Hope is “Creating better tomorrows by changing lives today.”

“That’s what we want to do by introducing people to Christ, and giving them a slice of hope.” Diana said.

David and Diana grew up together in Guyana. The two met and fell in love a youth camp in Guyana. David’s uncle was the first district superintendent in Guyana. Diana’s father was the second.

“The heartbeat of the Church of the Nazarene is one in the same with us,” Diana said. “That shaped our worldview and what we do, and drives our passion.”

Dayspring International’s connection with Guyana persisted long before the Rambarrans.

In the early 1980s, a missions team traveled from Florida to Guyana. On that team was the pastor of Fort Lauderdale First Church of the Nazarene (now Dayspring International), Reverend Blue, who spoke at a youth camp David attended. In 2006, Fort Lauderdale First called David to be the lead pastor.

Recently, Bags of Hope acquired 25 acres in partnership with the Guyana District Church of the Nazarene to help redevelop the camp experience that left such an impactful mark on their lives.

“God has put us in a place and in a position to be able to use our pasts, the things we enjoy,” David said. “And now we’re able to flesh that out with modern technology and camping facilities to cater for these young people of today.”

David recalled a team from Mount Vernon that served in Orealla. A young woman studying to be a social worker and a young man who wanted to be a doctor were part of the team. After the trip to Orealla both said, “We know for certain what God is calling us to do.”

“Over the years, we’ve taken hundreds of college students into the raw, untouched jungle, with people who really need their input,” David said. “In return, they get to flesh out their call to ministry and realize that. Those kinds of rewarding experiences continue to motivate us.”