In 2011 an historic drought struck East Africa. The cattle that are the people’s livelihood were in danger. World Vision responded in an effort to save these vital animals. To read about the project and how it helped the people in the region, check this out.
World Vision Wednesday
As winter deepens across the country, there are many who face long, cold days and nights without adequate utilities, clothing, or shelter. Check this out to find out how World Vision is helping and how you can be a part.
World Vision Wednesday
Around the world, there are over 20 million people trapped in slavery, more than at any other time in history. Many of these individuals are children. World Vision is engaged in efforts to fight this evil. To find out how you can help, check this out.
World Vision Wednesday
If you are wondering what to get that person who has everything, you might want to consider giving to a charitable organization in their name. For some ideas, check this out.
World Vision Wednesday
October 16 was World Food Day. Check this page out to see how World Vision is helping to combat child hunger and malnutrition, and how you can help.
World Vision Wednesday
“Mabvuto was forced to drop out of school because he had nothing to wear but tattered clothes and routinely suffered from preventable illness. Access to basic clothing and medication could make a world of difference for children like him.”
Check this out to find out more.
World Vision Wednesday
On September 29, the Global Festival will be held in Central Park in New York City. A number of artists will be performing, including Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters, the Black Keys, and Band of Horses. World Vision is partnering with globalcitizen.org to increase awareness of the issues of global poverty and things that can be done to help the least of these.
The Larger Story
This past summer, when the wildfires hit Colorado, John Eldredge and a friend were having a meal together. They were discussing the fires and the possibility of being directly affected. They talked about what they thought Jesus was saying through everything. They both said, “Trust the Larger Story.”
This is a good thing to do throughout life in general. We live in a world that is broken, and we deal with broken people. Not only that, we are broken ourselves. Stuff happens in our day-to-day lives and all around the world. Not a day goes by that we don’t hear or read about tragedy and death. Sometimes we are the ones experiencing those things. We get sick, jobs are lost, friends disappoint. Sometimes we just struggle with living. But, that is not the whole story.
The story is not about us. We are not the heroes. We are living in God’s story, the story of a Kingdom and the restoration of all creation. It is a much larger story that spans eternity. We are in that story, and we all have a part to play, whether big or small. It is that story that gives us hope and encouragement.. The thing we need to do is take our eyes off ourselves and focus on Jesus and what he is doing. That’s the hard part. We tend to be so wrapped up in what is happening to us in that moment that we forget that there is more going on than what we can see with our limited vision.
A few weeks ago, Dan Edelen at Cerulean Sanctum wrote a good post about Romans 8:28. In this post he spoke of the good for which God works all things, and the fact that the things that happen to us don’t always seem to fit into this verse. Dan asks,
“What if the Creator’s intention for ‘those who love God’ isn’t primarily for the individual crushed by circumstance? What if the ‘those’ consists of the greater mass of Christendom?”
What if the intention is for the overall good of the Kingdom? The early church believed that the Kingdom spread through their suffering, just as it had been inaugurated in Jesus’ suffering on the cross and his resurrection. Believers who have suffered for Christ through the centuries have understood this. Here in the West we have a hard time grasping this concept. Our vision of our faith is extremely personal.
Remember that the Larger Story began long before any of us arrived, and it will continue to be played out long after this life is over. It is a story that is about the Creator and the love he has for his creation. That story will come to its climax. Perhaps then, we will look back at our part in the play and say, “Now I understand.”
World Vision Wednesday
Many times, public school teachers have to spend their own money on supplies and instructional materials. In the 2009-2010 school year, teachers spent more than $1.33 billion dollars out of there own pockets. World Vision has teacher resource centers across the United States that help teachers lower their costs as they provide supplies for students who can’t afford them. To find out more check out this link.
World Vision Wednesday
Many American families are struggling in the midst of the nation’s economic troubles. It is difficult, and in some cases impossible for parents to provide the materials necessary for their children to be successful in school. World Vision is working to provide children in need with basic school supplies. For more information see this.