Our Journey Home: Lifesong for Orphans

Showing posts with label Lifesong for Orphans. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Lifesong for Orphans: Gifts of Purpose

Every year giving gifts with purpose becomes more and more important. Last year I featured different organizations and companies that featured products that empowered people, saved lives and gave back. My friend Leigh has featured companies for your little ones, the men in your life and the women too (or yourself!) this year on her blog. She has some awesome picks!
There are even more great picks to gift the people in your life from Lifesong for Orphans. They're gifts have purpose and meaning. Eradicating poverty, feeding the hungry and helping the sick... these gifts are less tangible but just as meaningful. For the person who has everything or the person who wants nothing, these are perfect gifts.

Gifts of Purpose Catalog

The Christmas season is just around the corner! As you make and exchange Christmas lists, we invite you to rethink Christmas.

To give a gift that doesn't fit under the Christmas tree.

To give a gift that gives joy and purpose to a vulnerable child.

With Lifesong's 2013 Gifts of Purpose Catalog, you can do just that! The catalog is full of a variety of creative gifts that can match any calling or price range. Gifts that impact ONE child. A child like...

Andrei, an orphan graduate who is developing agriculture and business skills through Lifesong Farms-Ukraine (Give Employment) or

Isaac, who was brought home from Uganda into a permanent, loving family (Give Forever Families).

This year, join Lifesong for Orphans in giving a Gift of Purpose. Until December 31st, your gift will be MATCHED up to $300,000! A gift that will show Jesus, the reason of the season, to a child in need.

To give a Gift of Purpose, please visit www.lifesongfororphans.org/gifts.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Life Song for Orphans: Church Adoption Funds

This months Life Song for Orphan's topic instantly sparked my interest. Since moving back to Ohio I've been helping my friend Mari with our church's Orphan and Adoption Ministry. Our Foster and Adoption support group (Westside Family Connections) is ready with a full schedule for fall, Orphan Sunday is coming and a community of adoption and foster care is growing. What I'd love next is for our church to start an adoption fund. It's easy, free and can help families adopting overcome one of the scariest parts of starting the adoption process - the seemingly insurmountable cost of adoption.

Read on to see what a blessing a church adoption fund can be and how your church (or ours) can start an adoption fund.

Life Song for Orphan's Monthly Update:

Adoption Funds: Helping the church financially support couples as they bring home children into their forever families through adoption.

MEETING THE NEEDS - Adoption Funds

We see Adoption Funds as a "Win-Win-Win" solution: the local church is actively involved on behalf of orphans, the financial roadblock for families is removed, the orphan child is adopted into a permanent Christian family...all with minimal administrative burden for the church.

Using the adoption matching grant and interest-free loan processes already established by Lifesong, churches can easily navigate through the details of adoption funding....all with no cost to the church.

Learn more about Adoption Funds

ALWAYS WITH YOU - Adoption Fund Story Cameron and Sarah experienced the love of their church family through their adoption journey. His Kids Our Homes Adoption Fund, at North County Christ the King Church have blessed this family and others as children are brought into forever families. Listen in on their journey...

See how your church can benefit from establishing an Adoption Fund by visiting our website.

Bringing Churches Around Adoptive Families - Dave and Carrie, directors of His Kids - Our Homes (Lynden, WA) share how they have experienced the blessing of having a Lifesong Adoption Fund. Watch Video

"God Worked to Bring Them Home" - Scott and Kathy bring two more children into their home through adoption with the help from TAMBA adoption fund. Read more

God's Revealing Love - Sam and Maria share how God continued to reveal His love for them and their 7 children, through their local church, North County Christ the King. Watch Video

Adoption Fund Testimonials - Hear what Adoption Fund partners have to say about their experience with Lifesong Adoption Funds. Watch Video

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Life Song for Orphans: An Update and Child Sponsorship.

Thankfulness. We honored to stand beside so many of you in your faithful service to God and His call to love and care for the orphan. Join us in praising God for the work that He continues to do through the Church!

Listen in on HIS provision in Honduras and the opportunity to join the work through sponsorship...

Centro Vida Construction Complete - HONDURAS

Please enjoy this video featuring Honduras' brand new multi-purpose building, Centro Vida, which includes assembly space as well as a large kitchen. This building is just part of the incredible work going on in Honduras to equip over 575 vulnerable children & young adults with not only the Gospel, but hope for a future!
It's exciting to see Centro Vida's completion on Plan Escalon's 25th anniversary of serving orphans and vulnerable children.

Want to see more updates at Plan Escalon? Check out the kitchen renovation video thanks to the amazing help from our partners at Retail Orphan Initiative.

Learn more about Lifesong Honduras >>

You Matter to Me... CHILD SPONSORSHIP

When choosing a sponsor child, Vicki noticed that Lesly was an older student, but in a younger grade. Vicki intentionally chose to sponsor Lesly, understanding that something had happened in her life to cause her to fall behind. She wanted Lesly to know she cared and believed in her.
Listen in as Vicki, member of Retail Orphan Initiative, meets the students she sponsors at Plan Escalon and the impact that it is making not only in her heart, but in the heart of her sponsored children...

Become part of the IMPACT...Sponsor a child like Lesly today >>

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Lifesong for Orphans: Farming!

Every month when my Life Song for Orphan's blog subject hits my inbox I get excited. I used to love Lifesong for all of the work they do to help orphans find their way into forever families. I love them even more now; the work they do for family preservation is remarkable and the way they are working alongside orphanages and orphan graduates is inspiring. Read on...

Lifesong Farms. Through the partnership and expertise from our friends at Plant Sciences, Inc., jobs have been created for in-county orphan caregivers and orphan graduates who are transitioning into adulthood. The goal of Lifesong Farms is to not only benefit these individuals with employment, but also to establish sustainable businesses to help fund on-going orphan care.
Enjoy these updates from Lifesong Farms in Zambia and Ukraine...

"OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED..." // Zambia

Because of the faithful work of our 16 farm ladies, we have been able to grow and sell berries to local grocery stores. More important than the berries sales, it is exciting to provide employment opportunities for these women, many of them widows, who care for multiple children.

Learn more about Lifesong Farms-Zambia>>

BERRIES SOLD IN GROCERIES // Ukraine

Strawberries from Lifesong Farms-Ukraine are now in 5 different grocery stores in the Kharkov area. Sergei (pictured) and Andrei, both Lifesong graduates, have done an excellent job heading up this project. It's been amazing to watch these two young men, once behind orphanage walls, grow in their relationship with Christ and develop the skills to become successful businessmen. We are thankful to give opportunities to not only these two young men, but over 100 graduates who are employed through Lifesong Farms and other opportunities.

Learn more about Lifesong Farms-Ukraine

READ MORE...
First Harvest is In! - Lifesong Farms-Ukraine share pictures and thoughts from their first harvest this year. Read More

Brush to Berries - Listen in to how Lifesong Farms got started in Zambia. Watch Video

A Growing Potential - Orphan graduates, Andrei and Sergei, receive intentional and godly mentorship through Lifesong Farms. Read more

Sustainable Business - Learn more about Lifesong's sustainable business efforts in Ukraine, Zambia and Honduras. Read More

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Adoption & Life Song for Orphans

This months moment from Life Song for Orphans is about adoption. Nothing gets my heart beating faster than a way to help orphans find their way into forever families. Read on to hear more about what Life Song for Orphans is doing to help orphans and their adoptive families:

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

Adoption. One of the most beautiful pieces of the Gospel. An all-powerful and loving Father God chose us, in our sinfulness, to be His sons and daughters. Does it get any better than that? The fact that we, as Christians, can replicate this relationship in our own families to tell the Gospel through our lives is an complete honor and joy.

"WE SAID YES TO ADOPTION" Andy & Laura's Story

(video by Andy Watson)

Andy and Laura, adoptive parents of Eli from Ethiopia shared how God provided every step of the way, crushing fears and showing that HE is faithful to finish what He starts.

Part of God's provision came from Lifesong and its partner, Legacy 685 Adoption Fund, helping this family financially with a matching grant and funding support.

Learn more about Lifesong Adoption Funding>>

INDIGENOUS ADOPTION - Ukraine

Meet Volodya and Lyliya, one of the many Ukrainian families blessed by Adoption without Borders, an initiative that intentionally links like-minded families and churches in the USA with Christian families in Ukraine who are seeking to adopt.

"(Adoption is) the deepest evangelism we can provide, to dedicate our lives to bringing children to the Lord. Our biggest dream is that all of our children would commit their lives to God." --Volodya & Lyliya, adoptive parents of five Ukrainian children

Learn more about Adoption without Borders>>

HOW CAN I HELP?

Because of your support, the families above have been able to give a forever family to a child in need. Are you looking for ways to join the cause? What you could do:

Start a Church Adoption Fund
Encourage these families by commenting on the blog or on Facebook, offering prayers and words of encouragement
Support families through Adoption Grant Fund

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Education and Lifesong for Orphans

Education is important. In the US we have the opportunity (if we choose) to send our children to school to get an education for free. In many other countries that is not the case, this is especially true in developing countries. Read on to see how sponsoring a child through Lifesong for Orphans provides them not only with an education but hope for their future.

From Lifesong for Orphans:

The commitment to provide a quality education to every child we serve is just one of our four pledges we make to "our" kids. We believe that education is a foundation for the future and is the start to change nations and peoples from the inside out as they fight against cycles of poverty and unemployment.

YOUR SPONSORSHIP MATTERS...

Mesaye's story of hope in the midst of tragedy is just one of many. Thankfully, she is receiving an education and hope for the future because of her sponsor. But the impact goes even beyond Mesaye! Her grandmother, who has no means of providing for her schooling, is now able to witness Mesaye's growth and trust in her future legacy.

Sponsors support a child like Mesaye with quality education, 2 meals a day and exposure to the Gospel of Jesus Christ for only $19/month! When you sponsor a child, you impact a family!

To sponsor a child, click here.

(100% of sponsorship received goes directly to the need -- helping children! No administrative fees deducted.)

EDUCATION & THE GOSPEL

While providing vulnerable children with an education, we also have the opportunity to share with them the good news of the Gospel of Christ. Watch Teja, student at Lifesong India, explain the impact of not only education, but also spiritual discipleship he received.

Learn more about Lifesong India>>

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Lifesong for Orphans

Have I mentioned that I've joined Lifesong for Orphans blogger network? No. Well, I've kind of slacked since I first joined but received this email and just knew that I had to share.

From Lifesong:

What would the world look like if each of us made it our responsibility to see one less orphan without an education...one less orphan without a growling hunger... or one less orphan without a bleak future of poverty?

In the next 45 days, our goal is to find a sponsor for every single child who has yet to be sponsored at our school in Lifesong Ethiopia. (Gulp! That's a tall order! See below how YOU can help.) We are asking for an investment of just $19/month that will result in a future leader for the renewal of Africa from the inside out.

Invest in a life of a child. Invest in self-sufficiency. Invest in bringing hope to one more orphan.

Together we can get EVERY child sponsored! Will you help us?

How can YOU help each child find a sponsor:

PRAY: Join us in praying for the 587 children who are unsponsored in Ethiopia. Pray for the thousands that will be given the opportunity to sponsor--that hearts would be open to helping a child in need. Pray that God will raise advocates to help spread the word!
ADVOCATE: Maybe sponsoring a child isn't an option for you at this time but you have a platform and a voice to let the need be known! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and share the One Less campaign with your friends & followers.
SPONSOR: Commit to sponsor a students at Lifesong Ethiopia School long-term for $19/month to help ensure that they get the incredible education, spiritual mentoring and food that they need to break the cycle of poverty. To see the children yet to be sponsored, please visit: www.zatproject.com/oneless

To learn more about the Ziway + Adami Tulu Project and details of sponsorship visit www.zatproject.com.

From me:

Growing up here in the "land of opportunity" we don't think about how access to education makes all of the difference in the lives of our children because in America education is free. Of course parents have the choice to pay to send their children to a private school, but for most children, K-12 education is provided free of cause. That is not the case in most developing countries. Not only do most parents worry about how they are going to provide for their children's intrinsic needs of food, water and shelter they also have to figure out how they are going to pay for them to go to school. Going to school will provide their children with better opportunities than they have and honestly, isn't that what all parents want? For their children to have a better life than they do?

Please consider the different ways you can help 587 Ethiopian children find a sponsor and find hope.

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