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Jesus Creed Sponsors Orphan Community in Swaziland

You can too!

Community to community sponsorship is one of the most powerful tools available to redeem orphans. It's a program that allows anyone's community, (blog, family, church, small group, school, etc.), to sponsor a group of orphans on the other side of the world. 

I'm happy to announce that Scot McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University, and Author, is sponsoring the Mabanteneni Orphan community in Swaziland through his blog, Jesus Creed. To read more about it, click here.

The good news is that your community can do the exact same thing! We want to make it easy for you to connect with orphans in need. Children's HopeChest can help you pick a community of orphans that's just the right size to fit the number of people in your group. We can also customize a webpage for your community, where you can invite friends and family to participate in the project with you. To see the Jesus Creed page click here. You can sponsor a community of orphans this Christmas that saves lives and provides the means for a future. Interested? Email me at tdavis@hopechest.org and I'll get you going. 

 

The Best Christmas Reflection I've Read in 2009

Chuck Smith Jr. and I have been around the world together. I've always appreciated his depth and insight into the scriptures and into life. He is truly an amazing man. 

A little know fact is that Chuck also mentored and coached me through the writing of my first book, Fields of the Fatherless, and I will be forever grateful.  When I read this reflection he posted on his blog, it touched me deep in my soul. I needed these truths, I needed this Light, and I needed to be reminded of the reality of the Christmas message.

Reflexion #153: For some reason, after the Sun went down last Saturday, the world seemed especially dark. This was not lost on five year old Emily as we stepped outside to drive her home. “Ooh, it’s da-a-rk!” she said. Then she began telling us how she does not like “monsters.” (Unfortunately, her older brother, Noah, enjoys inventing stories of floating luminous orbs, sharp-fanged man-beasts, and other creatures that “go bump in the night.”)

Wishing to promote reason over superstition, my less than thoughtful response was, “Sweetheart, don’t pay any attention to that nonsense.” Grandma, however, knowing that it was not the mind of the little one that needed reassurance but the heart, said, “Emily, look at the Christmas lights on that house. What do you see?” Pointing to bright figures grazing in a neighbor’s yard, Emily said, “Reindeer.” “Yes,” Barbara said. And look over there; icicles.” Through her gentle prompting, Barbara calmed Emily’s dread of the dark and diverted her attention to the illumination of festive decorations.

As we drove along city streets and through neighborhoods, a voice from the car seat behind us sporadically shouted, “Lights!” Not a discovery or observation, but a jarring command. Emily found her Christmas joy.

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overpower it. John 1:4-5

Christmas Lights

It was Luke who noticed the Christmas lights. There was the light of the angel who appeared to shepherds “and the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Lk. 2:9). The even greater light was Jesus, “A light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of [God’s] people Israel” (Lk. 2:32). Both Matthew and Luke viewed Jesus as the light the prophet foretold, “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, / And those who were sitting in the shadow of death, / Upon them a light dawned” (Mt. 4:16; Lk. 1:79).

I pause at the words, “sit in darkness.” If you have ever been deep inside a cave or cavern and doused the lights, then you know it is best to sit in one place. Otherwise you will likely bump your head or stumble and fall. To sit in darkness is to settle into despair. For “the Gentiles,” it was religious despair. Paul said we were “strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ep. 2:12). There is also emotional despair, and I’ve spent a large part of my life sitting in that darkness, waiting for day to dawn and the morning star to arise in my heart (2 Pe. 1:19).

The dot of light in the sky that the magi followed from the east to Bethlehem was the dim light of a lamp compared to the greater Light. The arrival of Christ broke through the gloom and dispelled the darkness.

In the high church tradition, four candles are set out the first Sunday of Advent, but only one is lit. Then, each consecutive Sunday, another candle is lit until on Christmas Sunday all four flames shimmer in the front of the church. This is to remember and celebrate the dawning light of Jesus when he entered our world. Continue reading by clicking here.

If On a Winter's Night

Winter is my favorite time of the year. I love how the snow transforms the landscape into a Winter Wonderland. A Narnia of sorts. Turns out, winter is Sting's favorite season too. His new album, If On a Winter's Night is fantastic. Celtic, Folk, and Christmas music rolled into one. This short video on the album is inspiring. 

Why Christmas Should be About Orphans Like Hiatt

This little girl absolutely melted my heart. Her orphanage, Kolmbocha, is far from the capital city in Ethiopia. I asked the director, "When was the last time you had any visitors?" His answer? Eight years. My hope this Christmas is that sweet little girls like Hiatt won't be forgotten by my friends and family here in the US. This orphanage is available for sponsorship by your community. There's 100 kids waiting. Email me if you're interested: tdavis@hopechest.org.

Also, you can give a gift of hope this Christmas at HopeChestPartners.org. Make a gift in honor of someone special this Christmas--a gift that brings hope to orphans like Hiatt.

Meet Hiatt from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

This Will Change Everything in the Publishing Industry

This is one of the coolest inventions I've seen in a long time. Not only is it cool, it will revolutionize the way we read and absorb digital content. Michael Hyatt posted this on his blog today, and he believes it will make the traditional, published book obsolete. I would encourage you to jump over to his blog and read what he says. Watch this video, then tell me what you think. One this is for sure, the developments of technology will bring us to the shores of worlds we've never experienced.

Ethiopian Cultural Dance

I dare you to try and dance like this!

Ethiopian Cultural Dance from Tom Davis on Vimeo.

HopeChestPartners.org LIVE Today!

This Christmas, we've set the goal of raising $500,000 to help 5,000 orphans in 2010. To do this, we've launched a new Web site: HopeChest Partners

A HopeChest Partner is someone who gives $25/month or more toward establishing new orphan ministry through HopeChest.

Your gifts will help feed orphans trapped in extreme poverty and support programs to reduce sex trafficking among orphan girls in Russia.

Become a HopeChest Partner today!

These are CRITICAL gifts that form the foundation of our programs. Without that foundation, we could never have grown to reach 10,000 orphans, and sit poised to reach another 5,000 next year. It is those gifts, your gifts, that make the difference.

Go to HopeChest Partners today for more information and to sign up. 

Download badges for your blog here.

Ethiopia Pictures Day 4 and 5

Being in Ethiopia is a life-changing experience for all of us. So wish those of you reading this could be here! Here are some more pictures to share with you. Thanks for your love and prayers!

Click here to see the pictures on Facebook

Orphans Singing in Woliso from Tom Davis on Vimeo.

We Were an Answer to Prayer

We went to an orphanage today that helps get kids off of the street. We were all moved to tears as we heard their stories from the director. They didn't have any food to feed the kids, so we responded with a gift from the group. Here's what happened and what the director said:

Hope for the Hopeless Orphanage from Tom Davis on Vimeo.

This is an orphanage that takes kids in off the streets of Addis Ababa. We were overwhelmed by the love and commitment the staff had for the kids. The team took up an offering to cover food because there wasn't any. Literally. This is what happened and what the orphanage director said:

Hope for the Hopeless Orphanage from Tom Davis on Vimeo.