Okay, I'll Play: 23 Ministry Blessings

Throughout the month of November, several of my Facebook friends have posted daily things for which they are thankful.  Some are simple, like coffee or bacon.  Some are sentimental, and others are thought-provoking.  On this Thanksgiving Day 2012, I thought I would play catch-up and list 22 blessings (plus 1)  in the 4theVoiceless ministry.  This is by no means a comprehensive list, just a list off the top of my head (which would explain anything important that was forgotten!).

22 Blessings

1.  That look in Tobie's eyes that led to my  My Taco Bell Moment
2.  The Pillstroms and and the Satchers and many conversations about caring for orphans
3.  The Pinnows, the Beesons, and the Basingers who all helped get 4theVoiceless named and off the ground before moving on.  Baby dedication for Annie Faith Basinger.
4.  Great friends to our ministry like Lauren Johnson, Jay Atkins, Russell Moore, Rick Morton, Tony Merida, Jan Biddick, Andrea Gehrett, Wayne Sneed, Mark Ottinger, Dusty Cooper, and many more.  (Please don't be mad at me if I left you off...)
5.  Paracord bracelets and paper bead jewelry
6.  A March mission trip to Haiti by a group of ladies from CHC, along with our missions pastor
7.  A May mission trip to Russia by a group of CHC young adults to minister to orphans alongside Russian college students.  Several nights of worship in our small groups telling their story and leading in worship.
8.  The powerful, transformative Word of God that compels us to care for orphans
9.  The opportunity this summer to preach in my home church in Star, Mississippi, about God's call to His people to care for the orphan
10.  The Hope for Haiti campaign that has sparked more conversations about caring for orphans that anything else we have done this year. 
11.  How caring for orphans in Haiti has transformed my friends Stephanie and Jacob
12.  Over $7,000 given in one day toward building the House of Abraham children's home in Jacmel, Haiti.  As many of you already know, construction on the new HoA has stopped due to a lack of funds, but we are grateful for what has already been given and what has already been done.
13.  An August mission trip to the Baptist Children's Village home in Star
14.  Beginning of construction on the new House of Abraham
15.  Together for Adoption conference in Nashville this past September
16.  The tremendous Orphanology class that we just completed at CHC Southaven and the action steps that people in the class have taken
17.  Two CHC families who have completed training to be foster parents.  Others anxious to begin that training.
18.  All the quarters and dollars that have gone into jars all over DeSoto County through our CHC small groups' Change It Now campaign.  This "power of everybody" campaign has served orphans near and far this year.
19.  A life-changing mission trip to Haiti in late October and early November this year.  What a team the Lord put together from Illinois, Florida, and Mississippi!
20.  Fenel and Mimi Bruna
21.  Our first Orphan Sunday at CHC on November 4
22.  All the recipes and adoption stories we have received for the 4theVoiceless cookbook, the profits of which will help fund adoptions for CHC families

Plus One

23.  The opportunity to express myself on Tuesdays and Fridays (and occasionally other days)  through this blog about what God is teaching me about Himself and about His most valuable creation: people.  Thank you for showing up here from time to time to read my thoughts and to engage in conversations that move the Kingdom of Jesus Christ forward, especially on behalf of the orphan.

4theVoiceless,
Al

Sound the Trumpet

One of the greatest blessings over the last year-and-a-half or so that God has been stirring in several of us at CHC to begin an orphan care ministry now known as 4theVoiceless is how many new relationships God has given us.  We have met many people in our area as we have raised awareness about God's call to Christ-followers to help the orphan.  We have met others from outside our area via various technology.  Just a few weeks ago, I was able to connect two potential ministry partners, neither of whom I knew when God began to stir in our hearts to care for the orphan.

As some of the point people who helped start 4theVoiceless began to move away throughout this year, one of our greatest needs and greatest prayers was for God to send us new people who had a passion for orphans.  He has begun to answer that prayer through a number of people.

One of these people is Shannon Shaw, who began attending our Orphanology study just a few weeks ago.  You can see the fire in her eyes as she shares what God is moving her toward (though, like most of us, she can't really tell you what that looks like right now!).  We noticed this fire when we first began to talk about dignity bags and what we could do for children taken into foster care.

Shannon recently wrote a testimony about what God has done in her life over the last year or so in preparation for the CHC SHE ministry's Christmas party.  The theme was "Sound the Trumpet."

Shannon's Story

Over the past year I can honestly say, "I've grown"!  Why?  I chose to move.  I stepped out in faith and quit teaching middle school to be home with my family.  HE has provided!

I began my first Bible study and have learned so much while being surrounded with Christian women who love, encourage, and pray for me.  HE has delivered!  I spoke at a women's conference and realized I can do ALL things through him.  HE gave me courage and strength!

I'm now participating in the Orphanology class here at CHC.  I'm amazed at the opportunity I have to serve in this area of ministry!  HE reassures!

God doesn't promise a bump-free road along the way when we decide to move and follow his call.  However, I can now say from my experience, the blessings far outweigh the bumps.  I'm looking forward to continued growth in and through Him!  And one day when I hear the final trumpet call, I hope to hear well done, good and faithful servant.

What is HE calling you to do today?  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain living a life that glorifies Him!  God Bless!

Shannon Shaw

While You Are Giving Thanks This Week

During this week when we focus (or at least, should focus) on what we have to be thankful for, I'm thankful for the people God is raising up both in our church family at Colonials Hills and in churches and organizations throughout the world to care for orphans.  I'm thankful that more and more Christ-followers are stepping up  in some way to answer God's call to reflect His character to orphans.

As Thursday approaches and many of you sit down with your family to enjoy a meal and God's blessings in your life, consider the orphan.  Maybe that orphan is nameless and faceless to you (and maybe not), but that longing that he feels deep in his heart -- the longing for a forever family that most of us will enjoy and perhaps even take for granted on Thanksgiving Day -- is very real.  As you thank God for His blessings in your life, pray for His blessings on the world's orphans today, too.

God blesses us, that the ends of the earth my fear Him.  --Psalm 67:7 (HCSB)

Thanks for reading.  Happy Thanksgiving.

4theVoiceless,
Al