Tag Archive - HopeChest

The Final Chapter of the 2010 Storybook

December 28, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Swaziland with 0 Comments

There are 4 days left of 2010. Many chapters have been written.

If your story has been like mine,  it’s been filled with some extreme highs & some shocking lows. But that’s what makes a good story, isn’t it? Intrigue. Seemingly insurmountable circumstances. Then at the last possible moment a hero rides in to save the damsel & her dying city from sure defeat?

Jesus has been my hero this year. And He’s saved me from losing my mind in the midst of the darkest days. And truth be told, it’s been during those difficult times that I’ve felt closest to Him.

Here’s how I want the last four pages of my 2010 storybook fulfilled. I want to be found…

  • Loving – my family, my friends & my enemies with Christ’s unconditional love
  • Laughing – finding joy in the simple things
  • Giving – giving my time, my resources, myself like never before
  • Advocating – being a voice for the ‘least of these’

    • Truth be told, I’m not so concerned about my 2010 Storybook ending on a high note. I want to Change the Storybooks for some kids I met back in September in Swaziland, Africa. I saw first hand what a difference an education can make. Education is often the deciding factor of a life filled with hope or a life left to chance. And in Swaziland, the chances are not in a child’s favor.

    Because of the impact of extreme poverty, many children in Swaziland, Africa do not have the opportunity to go to school. They must work, search for food, or walk long distances to get water. However, even with these obstacles removed, many children cannot afford the minimal costs of school attendance.

    Help keep a child in school–where they belong–learning how to read and write and study. Education is the key to independence and the gateway to making dreams come true. Sometimes, those fees are less than $100/year. Your funds will support our Bheveni CarePoint (and other carepoints) in Africa that work with children to develop their educational opportunities AND their Christian character.

    So how will you spend your last 4 days of 2010?

    Will you send it out with a BANG?

    Give more than you ever have?

    Dream bigger than you thought you could?

    Change the story of children who need an education?

    Just say YES! You’ve got just 4 days to change not only your story, but to change the life story of a child in Swaziland. Be the hero. Be the hands & feet of Jesus, who rides in to change the story & bring hope to a dying nation!

    Change Their Story by providing Education Opportunities

    My sons have been raising funds to help children in Swaziland, specifically at our Bheveni Carepoint, to have a chance at an education. They have raised nearly $800 towards their goal of $1,000. That $1,000 could provide a year of education for up to TEN kids! For many, money is the only thing stopping them from attending school. Please visit Andy & Jonny’s webpage at the link above, for more info & be sure to click that big SUPPORT ME button!

    I pray that as your 2010 Storybook comes to a close, you are able to open the first chapter of 2011 with hope & joy & an outward focus on changing the Storybooks of children all over the world! Adventure awaits!

    Happy New Year from Moms4Change!



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    A THRIVING Bheveni Community

    October 4, 2010 in Across Our World, Swaziland with 0 Comments

    One of the many ways that God blessed our missions trip to Swaziland was to show us how the ministry between Children’s HopeChest, AIM, and the carepoints actually work. Obviously our chief concern is how these relationships & ministries effect our children who attend Bheveni Carepoint.

    It’s about the Kids!!!!

    I can say unequivocally that those who are ministering to our Bheveni kids have the kids needs at the center of everything they do. From the leaders of HopeChest here in America, to Jumbo & Kriek Gerber who are AIM’s Swaziland leaders, to the Discipleship Team who know the children and teach them about Jesus every week. IT IS ABOUT THE KIDS!!!!

    What a relief it was to see for myself that yes, it is about the children – it’s not about making a name for their ministry, or having all the best technologies or vehicles to transport teams & staff. No. Let me be clear – it is most definitely about making sure our kids are cared for body, soul, and spirit.

    Gratitude to Deb Gangemi

    Deb Gangemi

    I want to take a moment to thank a very special person. Deb Gangemi. Deb was Bheveni’s sponsorship coordinator from the beginning of the carepoint’s existence. Through God’s grace and her passion for the Swaziland kids, she led hundreds of people to pray for & give to our Bheveni kids for over a year & a half. The building, the outhouse, the fence, the garden, the water tower, the well – all these things you see in the pictures are a result of her efforts to seek funding and support. Deb I hope you know how thankful I am for the foundation you laid, for all the time you gave. We are reaping the rewards for the seed you’ve sown and so are the children of Bheveni. Thank you!

    Let’s THRIVE together!

    A solid foundation has been built at Bheveni. Kids are being fed and have access to clean water. Kids are learning. Bheveni has become what the vision was nearly two years ago – to provide a safe haven for the area children to not only be fed, but also to hear about Jesus & grow in Him. This is happening. To God be the glory!

    The goal of CHC & AIM and our FB Community is to see to it that the children who come to carepoints are not only surviving now, but also thriving & succeeding. This definitely happens because of a strong partnership community. Our goal is to raise up a strong Bheveni Carepoint and surrounding community, one that is NOT solely dependent on provision by us, but one that thrives & is able to rise up and grow beyond what they thought possible. We want our helping to actually help – not hurt or cause dependency on anyone but Jesus.

    One Striking Difference

    I think this is one of the main ways that HopeChest and AIM differ from other large ministry organizations – they seek not only to give the kids a meal or clean water, but to genuinely help them to help themselves beyond mere survival by creating ways for them to thrive in areas such as:

    (While some of these services may be supported by child sponsorship, additional sources of support are required)

    • Education – each child must have the opportunity to go to school.  School fees are costly and must be paid each year in order for a child to graduate to the next grade level. Many families, especially with multiple children find this very difficult. Soon I will be sharing with you a plan to help each of our Bheveni kids thrive in this area.

    • Enhanced medical care through cross Carepoint initiatives

    • Initiate activities through the community that increases ability to earn a living wage (micro-enterprise, occupational training)

    • Engage in developing or building up an indigenous led local church. Each child should be able to have access to a local church & body of believers.

    Partnering & Sponsorship

    You and I are partnering with this vision. By sending in $34 a month, you are not just supporting one child. You are supporting & helping to fund an entire community at Bheveni. It helped me to view sponsorship this way:

    With my $34 a month, I am SPONSORING a community and I am MENTORING a child within that community.

    Siphiwe & I at Bheveni

    I love this approach – it gives me greater hope for my sponsored child that she will grow up in a safe environment with all the opportunities before her to be the best she can be. I know that Siphiwe (my special friend) is fed & cared for at Bheveni & has access to discipleship & medical attention if necessary. But my money also goes to support the greater Bheveni community needs that Siphiwe has full access to. And I have an opportunity to write letters & pray for her as she grows up in Bheveni Community.

    Perhaps you currently do not sponsor a child, but still want to make a difference at Bheveni. I’ll be presenting opportunities soon whereby you can be involved in being a positive influence on children across our world without being a specific child’s sponsor. We are moving forward & growing along with the needs of our carepoint kids & community! I am thrilled to be a part of the plan!

    God bless each of you!

    Danielle

    P.S. You’ve been receiving daily emails from Moms4Change due to our missions trip. But starting this week, Moms4Change will be publishing only two post per week on Tuesdays & Fridays, through the end of the year.  On my next post I’ll be announcing the winner of the Timbali purse – so get to commenting! :)

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    Let the Praying BEGIN!!!

    September 3, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Swaziland with 5 Comments

    T minus 14 days til 7 people known as The B-Team (Beveni Team) board a plane headed to the small country of Swaziland, Africa!

    We are going as representatives of Childrens HopeChest, The Beveni Carepoint Sponsorship Group, and YOU! But above all, we go as representatives of Jesus. We are privileged to be part of the Body of Christ who gets to go & share the Good News by serving and blessing His children who need so much.

    Today, as our first official prayer request, I want to introduce you to the B-Team! Please pray for them by name as you go about your day.

    • Pray that God blesses each of us with His strength & His wisdom ~ James 1:5
    • Ask God to protect us from any plan of the enemy to stop God’s plan ~ Ps. 91
    • Trust God with us that we can prepare for the ministry times at Beveni over the course of the next two weeks; that the message God wants the kids to see & hear, will flow through us. ~ Prov. 3:5,6
    • Pray that our team would be united in purpose & in peace, even though we’ve never met! ~ Eph. 4:1-16

    The B-Team

    Beveni Carepoint ~ Swaziland, Africa

    September 18th-29th, 2010

    Anna from Mississippi

    Elysa & Jim while in Hollywood

    Elysa & Jim back home in Mississippi

    Erica from Colorado

    Kelly from Colorado

    Mike from Minnesota

    Danielle from Minnesota

    I thought I’d share a link (shared with me by team member Elysa) that you’ll like – it contains some Swaziland Slang That We’ll Be Learning. It’s totally Kiff, Y’all!

    Thank you for joining the Beveni Prayer Team! Remember, I’ll be sending daily prayer requests & updates here at Moms4Change  from now til our trip begins, on September 18th. Hopefully we will have both time & internet access to send daily updates & praise reports for all God will be doing during the trip!

    One last thing ~ You’ll want to leave LOTS of comments on our daily prayer posts! I’ll tell you why tomorrow! :)

    Related Posts:

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    Confessions of a Fundraiser

    July 24, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Swaziland with 2 Comments

    I confess. Tonight I Googled, “How to get people to give to online charity”

    I’m ashamed.  I really was trying to avoid resorting to guilt & pressure (as you’ll read below). And that’s why I did it.

    Partly.

    I genuinely DO want to see people open their hearts & pocket books –

    Wait back this blog train up – did I just say pocket books? I must have suddenly warped to 1953 when women called purses pocket books. Let me start that thought again!

    I genuinely DO want to see people open their hearts and purses so that our 132 Beveni kids in Swaziland can have basic medicines, first aid supplies, clothes & paper for school! In fact, it’s been nearly all I can think about since last Tuesday. How can we get the kids the items they have need of?

    God opened the doors through connecting us with Kids Against Hunger who is sending a shipment of food to Swaziland very soon. One of our sponsors is working diligently on our behalf to also ship medicines & other supplies to our Beveni kids, on that same container. It should arrive just before we do, in mid-September.

    Then God sparked the idea for Beveni Outpouring 72. $7200 in 72 hours for Beveni kids’ supplies. And the needs are being fulfilled! Our Beveni Team (you’re on the team, too) is raising the money to buy the supplies….

    Just not as fast as I’d hoped.
    At some point today I got worried… (just before I googled) What if we don’t get enough money to send the supplies? And I began to formulate all kinds of cockamamie ideas (can I say that on a Christian blog?) anyhow…


  • Maybe God said 1072 – $1072 in ONE THOUSAND  SEVENTY-TWO hours.
  • All my friends clicked “HIDE” when they saw I was doing an online fundraising campaign.
  • And the worst – It can’t be done. Who can raise $7200 online in 72 hours? I asked God, “What am I missing?”

    • God Googles, right?

    So what did Google say?

    I found out that people give for several reasons.

    • Guilt – not gonna go there.
    • Pressure – here either.
    • Happiness – happy people give more. It’s a fact. Trust me. I don’t know what site I read it on, but a study was conducted sighting that happy people are 40% more likely to give than those who aren’t happy. Duh.
    If you feel guilt-ed or pressured into giving to the Beveni Outpouring 72, don’t do it. Did you read that right? Yep. Don’t give if you feel a measure of guilt or pressure.

    I know, I can’t believe I said it either. I may regret it later.

    Give Because
    • It’s there is a need that you can fill – money goes FAR in Africa!
    • You have a happy heart!
    • You want to spread that joy to others!
    If you haven’t read the specifics of the Outpouring 72, please do so Beveni Outpouring 72 Announcement Post

    Otherwise, if you want to GIVE from your happy heart, GIVE HERE! THANK YOU! That’s the link to Children’s HopeChest Ministry’s online giving form.  In the notes section, be sure to write BEVENI SUPPLIES. Then drop me an email & tell me how much you gave, so I can add it to the grand total. danielle.moms4change@gmail.com

    The truth is I believe (now that I got through the worry) we will hit the mark of $7200 by 8a.m. Monday morning. But even if we don’t, God will use the money that has been given and multiply it in the lives of the givers & the Beveni kids. I know that for certain…

    …without Google’s help!

    Shine On Sisters!

    Danielle
    Ps. I hope this doesn’t take away from those who have given during our first 48 hours of the Beveni Outpouring 72. I’m so thankful that you stepped up to the plate! I just had a few discouraged hours and decided to blog about how God got me through it! :)
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    Beveni Outpouring 72

    July 22, 2010 in Across Our World, Swaziland, VIsion with 2 Comments


    $7200 in 72 hours for Beveni

    Finally! I can announce what I’ve been so excited about! I teased on a Facebook post two days ago that my excitement was almost palpable & I still have people waiting to hear!

    As of tomorrow morning we begin Beveni Outpouring 72.


    But first… I have to tell some quick background for those who aren’t yet familiar with Beveni.



    What’s a Beveni, you ask?

    I’m the sponsorship coordinator for the Beveni Carepoint in Swaziland, where we have sponsored a young lady for over a year now. In fact, at the Beveni Carepoint 132 children receive care including food, education, emotional support, and medical attention if necessary.

    There are over 20 carepoints like Beveni in Swaziland – all begun by Children’s HopeChest Ministry. The Carepoints are funded through churches & people desiring to see these kids find hope & safety & love where they live. Beveni is the only Carepoint that is not funded by a specific church, but simply through a group of online, like-minded individuals who have taken up the cause to help the kids find love & hope.

    Most of the 132 kids are orphaned due the AIDS pandemic, but all are vulnerable & deal with issues children should never have to deal with. In fact, the life expectancy in Swaziland is only 32 years old.


    A 15 year old is considered middle-aged.


    ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~


    Beveni Outpouring 72 is simple 72 hours set aside to raise $7200 for Beveni kids!

    We are part of a team who is going to serve at the Beveni Carepoint in Swaziland September 18th-29th. We have a huge opportunity to get the kid & the caregivers some much needed supplies – things you & I take for granted.

    ° Basic medical supplies – Tylenol, cold, allergy meds, first aid needs

    ° School supplies – pencils, crayons, paper, rulers, mathematical drawing sets, flashcards, music cd’s & a carepoint boom box, etc.

    ° Personal items – soaps, deodorants, toothbrushes/paste, shirts, socks, shoes

    ° Fun! – soccer balls, jump ropes, dolls, card games, candy

    There is a potential for us to ship the medicines & first aid supplies through a great humanitarian organization. The shipment leaves the US very soon. Thus the need for a 72-hour campaign. For the rest of the supplies, we will buy them in Swaziland and hand-deliver them to the kids & the Carepoint leaders! This will also help the local businesses & economy.

    So Friday morning (this morning!) the Beveni Outpouring 72 begins. And by Monday 8a.m. Monday morning, I expect that we will have EXCEEDED our goal!

    We WILL raise $7200 in 72 hours for the Beveni Carepoint. Do you want to help create hope? Of course you do! Give what you can, but give from your heart!

    It’s simple. Here’s how…

    READY… SET… CLICK! SHARE! PRAY!

    1. CLICK on this link to HopeChest.

    CLICK HERE TO GIVE TOWARDS BEVENI SUPPLIES

    2. Indicate the $$$ you wish to give  Your gift will be tax deductible.

    3. **VERY Important** in the NOTES section write: BEVENI SUPPLIES

    4. SHARE this information on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, with your church, your friends, and your kids…  ALL WEEKEND LONG!

    5. PRAY that God blesses this event of outpouring. Pray that He also provides an outpouring of hope to our kids at Beveni, their families & all those involved in serving the kids in Swaziland. And pray that He blesses those that give!

    HopeChest won’t have the totals processed until mid-next week. So do me solid & email me at danielle.moms4change@gmail.com to let me know how much you were able to give towards Beveni Outpouring 72. Names will not be shared, only dollar amounts.

    I will keep a running total on Moms4Change Facebook Page as well as my personal FB page. So stay tuned, cuz we’re about to be a part of something BIGGER THAN YOU & I!!!!


    Shine On Sisters!

    Danielle Brower

    ps. Shout out to ZekeDesigns for the graphics & logos! Holla! You can find them on facebook HERE!

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    Hope Is FOUND!!!!

    June 25, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Swaziland with 2 Comments

    We have sponsored a young girl, Siphiwe, for over a year now through Children’s HopeChest. HopeChest along with Adventures in Missions has 19 Carepoint Sites through Swaziland, Africa. Siphiwe comes daily to the Beveni Carepoint along with 131 other orphaned and vulnerable children.

    The Beveni Carepoint is where the children receive food (usually their only meal of the day), clothing & medical treatment if needed, education & love because of the committed workers who run the Carepoint, but also because they have sponsors who give $34 a month to Children’s HopeChest that sees to it these individual children are cared for body, soul & spirit.

    Sponsorship is a $34 a month commitment, with the opportunity to communicate with a sweet, but needy child via letters & translation of emails by Children’s HopeChest. Please contact me, Danielle, to begin to change a life & be their HOPE!  danielle.moms4change@gmail.com Thank you!!! You won’t regret it.

    These six children were in need of new sponsors, but in a few short weeks, families stepped up & stepped in to support them both financially & with love. Thank you sponsors for being HOPE!

    Won’t you be the change 4 a child’s life?

    SPONSORED on 07.21.2010 Thokozani, age 13, lives about 15 minutes from our carepoint with nine other children. He enjoys sports, singing, agriculture, and reading to name a few. If you can support Thokozani, please message or email me. I have more details about him & how sponsorship works. danielle.moms4change@gmail.com THX

    ~~~~~~~

    SPONSORED on 06.29.2010 Little Bukiwe is about 6 years old. Her personality is best described as active, composed, introverted, and competitive. Know any other little girls like this!? :)

    ~~~~~~~

    SPONSORED on 07.01.2010 Nomcebo is a beautiful 16 year old girl who lives a 20 minute walk from our carepoint. She likes singing, dancing, cooking and reading, among other things. She is described as good-natured, introverted and sensitive.

    ~~~~~~~

    SPONSORED on 07.12.2010 Zandile is about 8 years old. Her current home is about one hour’s walk from Beveni each day. She is described as composed, friendly, and curious. If you can support Zandile, please message or email me. I have more details about her & how sponsorship works. danielle.moms4change@gmail.com THX

    ~~~~~~~

    SPONSORED on 07.12.2010 Mhlengi is 19 years old and in the 11th grade. He lives with his aunt and 6 other children. He is described as an extrovert and competitive. If you can support Mhlengi, please message or email me. I have more details about him & how sponsorship works. danielle.moms4change@gmail.com THX

    ~~~~~~~

    SPONSORED on 07.12.2010 Mduduzi is about 14 years old. He lives about 20 minutes from the Beveni Carepoint. He lives with his parents & eight other children. He is in the 5th or 6th grade now.  If you can support Mduduzi, please message or email me. I have more details about him & how sponsorship works. danielle.moms4change@gmail.com THX

    Moms – here’s your chance to become HOPE to another child, who needs love & care just as your own do.

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    Seizing the Opportunity!

    June 7, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Swaziland, VIsion with 6 Comments

    I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. ~Helen Keller

    My husband said it’s a test. A test to see if I’ll live out what I’m preachin’ about here on my blog.

    Well, I think he’s somewhat right. {By the way, he’s right 90% of the time, which can be annoying}! :) Love you, Honey!

    Instead I choose to look at this as an opportunity presented to me that I can decide if I’ll live it out or see the opportunity passed to someone else. I’m seizing the opportunity.

    What on earth am I talking about?

    Siphiwe is being cared for body, soul & spirit through the Beveni Carepoint in Swaziland

    Many of you know that we sponsor a young Swazi girl, Siphiwe, through Childrens HopeChest. Swaziland’s population is approximately 900,000 and HopeChest has 19  Carepoints throughout the country. HopeChest along with Adventures in Missions ~ Swaziland ministers to the spiritual, educational & physical needs of children in the area, many of whom have been orphaned by one or both parents chiefly due to the spread of the AIDS virus.

    Siphiwe is helped at Beveni Carepoint along with 131 other vulnerable and orphaned children in Swaziland and is the gathering place where many of them get the only meal they eat for the day.

    Each Carepoint in Swaziland has a Sponsorship Coordinator in the States that oversees sponsorships by sharing the needs & updates of the Carepoint & HopeChest ministry. Beveni Carepoint Sponsorship Group is an online community that stays connected to each other and the needs of the children via Facebook. Beveni Carepoint FaceBook Community Group

    {Stay with me, I have a point! :) I want to make sure we’re all on the same page!}

    Beveni’s current Sponsorship Coordinator is a vibrant woman named Deb Gangemi who resides in Florida with her husband and two boys whom she homeschools. She has been the coordinator for about a year and a half. She has done an amazing job at keeping the needs & heart of Beveni Carepoint at the forefront. She has lived & served out of her humble heart & desire to see all the children cared for. And God has shown Himself strong & generous, hasn’t He?

    Deb asked if I would prayerfully consider wearing her shoes as Beveni’s Sponsorship Coordinator. These are big shoes to fill. I did not make this decision lightly or quickly, but at my core know this is the next step God is taking us through.

    I am so honored & humbled & horrified! :) That’s right, scared.

    Honestly, everyone, I am not qualified. I have no idea what I’m doing or what I’m committing to. Granted both Deb & HopeChest are organized & extremely helpful, but I’ve got a steep learning curve ahead of me.

    Thank God my story doesn’t end there!

    If there was ever an opportunity for God’s strength to be made perfect in my weakness, it is NOW! I can’t rely on my wit or charm or experience to do this task set before me. Therefore, it forces me to rely on Jesus and humbly come before Him (and you) to seek His heart & direction for Beveni’s children & volunteers who work with them.

    Deb & Family ~ thank you for your service to Children’s HopeChest, Beveni & the children, the sponsors. But above all else, thank you for serving our Jesus from your heart. In doing that, you have served us all as His hands & feet. I know you will continue to do the great things He has called you to do for this hour! Thank you!

    Sponsors & Beveni Facebook Community – I’m one of you. We have a heart to love on the children who need it most. We have a deep desire to spread the love of Jesus to the ends of the Earth. We long to be a voice for those who on their own have absolutely no platform to make their voice heard.

    The vision of the Beveni Carepoint Online Community remains the same – to love, bless & pray for these 132 children as if they were our own, and to give them a hope for the future. You’ll be hearing from me shortly with information about the Swaziland/Beveni Missions Trip coming up in September. Prayerfully consider your part in it.

    I am here to serve the children and you, the sponsorship community how ever the Lord directs.

    This is an opportunity of a lifetime that my family & I look forward to with excitement & humility. I’ll warn you now…

    get ready for a wild, miraculous, joy-filled ride folks! God’s dream for Beveni is bigger than we can imagine!!!!

    Please drop a note and say hi, if you can! I’m looking forward to meeting you all!

    Keep Lovin’!

    Danielle Brower

    danielle.moms4change@gmail.com

    Moms4Change Blog


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    Priceless Contest

    May 10, 2010 in Across Our World, Contest, Russia with 8 Comments

    Wanna win something?

    Who doesn’t, right?

    Tom Davis, founder of Childrens HopeChest, has written a new book that arrives June 1st, 2010. I’ve read the first chapter online. It drew me in right away. And that’s sayin’ a lot. For those of you who know me, you know it usually takes me at least 60-70 pages before I’m hooked.

    Here’s a video clip that goes along with the book.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjWWZRG14XE&feature=player_embedded]

    As a way to promote this incredible book and a way to broaden Moms4Change readership, I’m holding a drawing to WIN Priceless! My first ever contest! 

    Usually I end up winning these things, but I promise not to include my own name in the drawing.

    Here’s how it works:

    • Go to www.Moms4Change.net
    • On the right toolbar, simply type in your email under “Email Subscription”

    You will begin to receive automatic emails every time a new post gets published. FYI – this is usually on a daily basis. I will not spam you or sell your name or beg for your credit card. :)

    So your name gets entered once for subscribing to Moms4Change.

    • Now for the juicy part:

    For every comment that you leave between now & June 1st, your name will be entered again. So if you make a daily comment, your name will be entered everyday!

    Sweet, huh?

    I will draw the winner and let you know the results by June 4th.

    Now, why not score TWICE today by subscribing & by telling me how cool you think this contest is?… :)

    SOS (Shine On Sisters!)

    p.s. if you make a new comment about an older post, that counts in the drawing too!

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    How to Pray

    May 6, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World with 0 Comments

    Today is the National Day of Prayer. That means we take the time to pray for more than just our food. I think we’ll all admit we feel as though we don’t know how to pray on certain issues. I, for one, need all the help I can get. Today on his blog, Tom Davis of  Children’s HopeChest shared some great, pointed ways to pray for the victims of sex trafficking. Here is a portion of that post.

    Print this out, stick it on your fridge or in your Bible.

    Seal it in your heart and proclaim it with your lips.

    Do you want to see change? Do you want to see victims that enslaved be set free? Of course you do. Start to pray. It’s become cliché, but is still true: prayer changes things.

    For the entire article, Praying for the Victims of Sex Trafficking

    Scriptures to study:

    • Isaiah 1:17: Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
    • Psalm 25:20: Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
    • Psalm 18:48 : Who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me.

    Prayer Focus:

    Pray for the eyes of the rescue organizations to be opened to see girls who need rescuing. Pray that the rescuers who are strategizing how to rescue will have discernment Pray for safety during rescue efforts

    Thanks to the Salvation Army for the following:

    Rescue and Restoration
    Pray for the rescue and restoration of the countless number of children who have become victims of sexual trafficking, including the following:

    • for an end to their captivity and sexual abuse,
    • for as many safe and secure shelters as are needed to provide for their material needs,
    • for loving care takers to provide comfort, solace, and a sense of family,
    • for training and education to provide these children with meaningful and productive livelihoods,
    • for medical treatment to meet their many health concerns;
    • for the Gospel message to reach their ears and be received in their hearts

    Breakdown of the Sex Industry
    Pray for the breakdown of the sex industry, which fuels the sexual trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, including the following:

    • the demise of pornographic magazines;
    • a ban on internet pornography and sex tourism sites;
    • for the closure of clubs with nude dancing and stripping;
    • strong law enforcement efforts the world over to enforce obscenity laws, fight corruption, and to arrest/convict the pimps, traffickers and “customers”;
    • permanently close all brothels.
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