Give your gift
Last update 12 August 2011
Without trying much can make a difference to the poor without even trying?
I have come across a wonderful initiative - GiveYourGift.org. Since my 40th birthday I have decided to give away (part of) the gifts I had a reasonable expectation of receiving from friends and family.
In doing so I ask them - friends and family - who planned to give me a present or gift for my birthday or Christmas to donate the value of their intended gift to someone in greater need. These are organizations I believe are doing a Godly job. I support them.
When you tell someone you know about the organizations listed here you have a good opportunity to help the poor.
Angels of East Africa
Excerpts from "another man's war" by Sam Childers"I, however, had no plans whatsoever for a children's home in Africa. I was busy running a mobile clinic. I was also a pastor with a wife and a daughter back in Pennsylvania and a church to lead. I had no financial support for a children's home, and no idea where to start.God said, Start here." (p. 22)
"I stood over that body, looking down at what had once been a precious child - playing, laughing, full of life and energy and hope, too young to despair, too young to hate." "By the time it was over, the child was already dead and dismemberered." (p. 30)
"Some still say, "I don't believe Jesus would go fight." I agree. He probably wouldn't. He probably wouldn't have to. He could turn water into wine. He'd handle it some other way. I'm no theologian, but I know what I know. The fighting we've done in Uganda and Sudan has produced an oasis of peace and safety in a very dangerous part of the world. If you were to visit there today you could see it for yourself." (p115)
"The LRA continued trying to attack our compound but never succeeded. They also tried more than once to kill me." (p. 139)
This book makes for gripping reading. All the proceeds from "another man's war" goes to rescuing, caring for and raising orphan children in Uganda and Southern Sudan. This initiative gives new meaning to the words of Jesus, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it." (Mark 8:34-35).
Compassion
Compassion is an international Christian child development and child advocacy ministry committed to working in partnership with local churches to foster the spiritual, economic, social, physical and emotional development of children living in extreme poverty in over 25 developing countries.Compassions ministry to children is distinctly Christian. Our child development programs are unique in that they are: Christ-centred, child-focused and church-based.
Vana Childcare Ministries
Situated 140km south of Harare, in the community of Chivhu you will find three Vana houses on 10 acres of beautiful Zimbabwe hillside. With over 30 houses and a medical centre planned, and with each house becoming a home for 8 children and a new mother, Vana Childcare Ministries will be building a future for over 240 children from Zimbabwe.
Derek Prince Ministries
“Our passion is to bring you truths and insights to help you go higher and deeper in God. We have a wealth of resources that will help you do just that.”An excerpt from our most recent update from Derek Prince Ministries - China.
“God always cares for His children,” the church leader said. “Through a Christian brother from far away, He sent food from heaven to our fellowship to nourish us. We had never had such good spiritual books before. “Now we are using some of them as teaching materials at our Bible school and in different classes in our church. We couldn’t keep this good teaching only for ourselves, so we have sent some books to other preachers to bless them also. We’re so thankful! “Although we have just started to study Derek’s teaching, we can see that the church is experiencing a time of revival in the Spirit. Thank You, Jesus! “We also thank you for your hard work in translating and printing these books. We hope you will continue to help us who are poor in spirit.
If you have reached a point where it is more blessed to give than to receive you can do something great about it. If you feel you have received more than enough in the way of material provision, whatever you have in the way of an opportunity to receive a physical gift, think of giving some of it away in the interest of others who have a greater need. You can ask the giver to donate the money they were going to spend to a charity on your behalf instead of buying you a gift. The charities listed here make for worthy recipients. Click on Angels of East Africa, Vana, Compassion or Derek Prince and have money sent to them in support of the work they do. You need not wonder if you will make a difference to someone's life - you will. Most of all you may not only make a difference to someone else's life here on earth, you may very well make a difference to their life into eternity!
Last update: August 2011