Bekah Hamrick Martin
Abbie Miller
From Raleigh to Russia: With Love
by Lynn Cowell, RTF Guest Writer
Sunday morning church can be predictable in many churches in American.
Music. Announcements. Sermon.
But on one Sunday, the announcements caught the ear and heart of Jordan Water’s mom. Their church was hosting children from countries with extreme poverty and they were looking for one more family to step up. Jordan’s mom, Pam, knew they were that family.
That summer with Artem was just the beginning of a new passion for Jordan and her family. After weeks of loving on this little boy and experiencing the heart break of sending him back home, Jordan and her father, Keith, decided to visit Russia on Jordan’s Christmas break.
She spent two weeks in Belarus visiting four orphanages that were so cold inside she never took her coat off!
“The children were dressed in rags; the boys often in girl’s clothes and vice versa. The smells of the orphanage were overpowering; the children smelled so untaken care of,” says Jordan, “but they were desperate to be touched, to be hugged, to be kissed, to be loved that it brought me to my knees in tears as I hugged them 10 at a time.” (more…)
What can one teen do?
Kendall Ciesemier is 14 years old. In 2004, she began working to raise money to help AIDS orphans in Africa through World Vision, an international relief and development organization working to promote the well being of all people – especially children. Kendall’s first goal was to raise $60,000 and she recently raised her goal to $1 million!
She created an organization called Kids Caring 4Kids. Read Kendall’s story and donate some bucks to help save a child.
Mission helps teen ‘do my part’
September 11, 2008
By Denise M. Baran-Unland Special to the Herald News
EXCERPT OF NEWS ARTICLE: Tattooed on the top of Cailin Rooney’s right foot are the words “To the ends of the earth,” an 18th birthday present she gave to herself last year — words that summarize her life’s mission.
“One of the most important things we can do is to help each other out, and I always want to do my part,” said Rooney, of Plainfield. “I’ve always loved traveling and I want to go to the ends of the earth to help people out. This (the tattoo) is a reminder to me because feet are what carry you.”
Cailin Rooney (above) in South Africa at an orphange/school called Bothsabelo with a boy named Hoopalong. Her life’s mission (right) is tattooed on her right foot: To The Ends of the Earth.
Ever since Rooney became a Christian nearly five years ago, she has lent that helping hand in more ways and places than have many other young women her age. She recently returned from her second South African mission trip, where she ministered to HIV victims in several orphanages ”
Click here to read the rest of this great article… To the ends of the earth … ”
Real Quote: I met seven orphans — the youngest was 16, the oldest was 21 — that had been living on their own for seven years. They said the only reason they survived was by faith alone. Every single day they pray for a place to sleep and food for tomorrow and they said it always happens. It makes you want to cry when you see a child here throwing a tantrum because he can’t have ice cream. The children there have never had ice cream and will never even know what ice cream is.”
I Felt Useless
On my youth group service trip, I wanted to be used by God. But I couldn’t help but feel a little left out. by Becky Visser as told to Amy Adair
EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE: I dropped the heavy concrete block and brushed the sweat from my forehead. I glanced around the corner of the house and saw my youth group friends, Erin* and Sarah, talking to the house’s owner. I could tell they were talking about something important.
I was on my youth group’s service trip to help build and repair houses. I was looking for an opportunity to share my faith and impact someone’s life. But so far, all I’d done was move a bunch of junk from a rundown house.
At the end of the day, I listened as Erin and Sarah talked about John, the homeowner. He’d told them he was a Christian, but his wife, Susan, hadn’t been to church
in a long time. We prayed together that night for God to give us a chance to share our faith with Susan.
I hoped I’d get the perfect opportunity to talk with her.
But it never happened. (more…)
A force for justice: Teen says his heart and faith drives him to end modern slavery
By Elizabeth Miller
EXCERPT: Zach Hunter, 16, says he’s just a regular teenager who enjoys playing the piano, winning tennis matches and hanging out with friends.
In his spare time, though, the 16-year-old Atlanta resident also has founded one nonprofit, written two books and spoken at the White House and on national television news shows, hoping to end modern-day slavery and injustice. (more…)
Hey Suzanne,
I am a 21 year old girl, with a huge calling. A couple years ago I came across my calling from God. Here is a link to my story: http://www.lifechurch.tv/message-archive/my-secret/5
I am the last 16 minutes of the video. My goal is to start a home for girls in my community, for post abortion, addictions, and abuse, After I get out of school, but right now, I’m trying to establish a charity organization. One that is faith based and for the community. To get some experience and my foot in the door. I’m doing it on my own and need some advice. You are an amazing woman with many accomplishments. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you could just give me a little advice for a girl doing this from scratch, that would be great. Thanks again. JY
What Can One Teen Do?
Erica Savage and her mom just returned home from a trip to El Salvador where she got to meet a very special little girl, 3-year-old Yessennia. This is the child that Erica sponsored through Compassion International, a ministry that feeds and educates children all over the world through small monthly donations from sponsors. She and 35 others traveled on a Compassion Intl. trip.
Erica is 17 and works at a part-time job and several weeks ago she decided that she would sacrifice some things to sponsor a child for $32 a month.
Check out the pics of Erica meeting Yessennia, and of her reading a children’s book in Spanish.
Erica arrived home yesterday. According to a blog about the trip, it was amazing how different the care was for a Compassion International sponsored child versus many of the other children in the community.
From Suzie: I’ve been to San Salvador, El Salvador. I love traveling on missions trips, but this was one of the hardest because I saw many children in the streets begging, or worse. . .
I’ve been a guest in the homes and seen the poverty and hunger. Thank you, Erica, for making a difference in the life of one little girl. You are awesome. What can one teen do? Change the life of a little girl.
Your Opportunity: If you are interested in sponsoring a child, click here to find out more about Compassion International.
Every other week RTF will highlight a teen who is changing the world. Do you know of someone? Do you have a great idea on what teens can do in their community, school, world? E-mail us!
“The LORD alone is God! The LORD alone is God! We have not built the altar in rebellion against the LORD. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day.
But the LORD knows, and let all Israel know, too, that we have not built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the LORD. Nor will we use it for our burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings. If we have built it for this purpose, may the LORD himself punish us. ”We have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, ‘What right do you have to worship the LORD, the God of Israel? Joshua 22:22-24 New Living
Can you imagine building an altar to let the whole world know that you are serving God, only to see an army of angry warriors coming over the hill to crash the party?
That’s what happened to the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manassah. Talk about misunderstood! But did you know this is still going on today? (more…)