Background Notes

In the face of such seemingly insurmountable problems – the ongoing pandemic, climate change, a divided citizenry, and racial intolerance – many people feel overwhelmed and despondent. The verses of “Captives of Hope” name this feeling, but moving through the four versus describe a gradual awakening and increasingly greater sense of hope as we recall the promise of Scripture. The refrain draws on Zechariah 9:11-12, a verse which reminds us that we are “prisoners'' or “captives to hope,” held in God’s promise to be with us, alongside others who share in this journey.