This week's "must watch" and "must read"!

My goal is to regularly post a video to watch and an article to read that I have found beneficial. Hope you find them beneficial too!

This short video perfectly describes the reality of family life in America:

Click to Watch

This article is certainly relevant too:

Click to Read

Isn't it funny how easily we all can get so busy? I found these resources to be helpful in thinking through life from a biblical perspective.

Stories behind Fair Trade Friday (from Heather)

I love, love, love Fair Trade Friday boxes.  At the beginning of each month, I can't wait to get the box in the mail.  Our girls love opening the box with me and looking through each item.  We love learning more about the women who make each item and being able to pray for each one by name.  What a blessing to be able to teach our girls about using our resources to help others!

I thought you might like to learn more about some of the stories behind these boxes...

Pauline (Kenya)
Pauline was only 15 years old when she became pregnant through force.  When she moved into the Rehema House in Kenya, the maternity home funded by Mercy House, she was desperate and hopeless.  In just a few short years, her life has been transformed by the Gospel.  Her son, Melvin, is thriving.  Recently, Pauline graduated from the residence program and moved back home.  She attends vocational beauty school 5 days a week, while Melvin is in school because of sponsorship.  Every Saturday, she goes into the heart of her slum and teachers more than 20 mothers how to make beautiful products that are then sent back to the USA to be mailed out in Fair Trade Friday boxes.  The women in this community outreach make about $50 a month from the product that will pay for rent and provide food and school fees for children.  What a beautiful example of what God can do!

Maureen (Zambia)
Maureen, who is pictured with her daughter Regina above, works with Clothed with Hope.  She is the brains behind much of the jewelry line.  There is even a necklace name after her daughter, Regina.  Maureen graduated from a life-skills training program in September 2014 after completing a 12-month sewing and business curriculum with her daughter on her back.  Maureen is showing her children that work is good, and no obstacle is big enough to keep her from pursuing her dreams for her family.

I would love to invite you to join me in helping change lives.  There are many more women and many more stories.  You will love learning each story!  With each purchase, these women will know that their lives matter.  You will not only empower them but allow the Gospel to be shared!   As a mom with lots of littles, joining the Fair Trade Friday Club as allowed us to make a difference from our home.  For under $35 a month, I am humbled that God allows our family to play a part in the story of others!  Please consider joining either the Earring of the Month Club or the Fair Trade Friday Box.

Fair Trade Friday (from my wife)

My husband, Scott, leads mission trips quite frequently to the Dominican Republic. He has actually been there 7 times in the last 18 months. I had the privilege of going to the Dominican Republic on one trip during the summer of 2012. The teams spend most of their time in a community that is literally a trash dump. They have started working in villages called "bateys" which are Haitian communities located in sugarcane fields. The poverty is overwhelming! The people are beautiful and amazing!

I came home with a list of things that needed to change in our lives. No more throwing away food after seeing so many who have next to nothing to eat, using more coupons to save and help others, researching more about each purchase I made, and the list goes on and on.  In the past few years, learning who makes our products has become more and more important to me.

About four months ago, I heard of Fair Trade Friday. I immediately fell in love with this organization. If you know me, you know I love surprises! Each month, I receive a box in the mail. It is filled with three to four fun surprises such as jewelry, accessories, totes, soap, etc. The artisans who make item are paid a fair wage. Better yet, I can actually know the name of each artisan and can pray for them specifically! Even better, 100% of the proceeds from each product go toward the empowerment of impoverished women as an avenue to introduce them to the Gospel.

What do I do with the items in the box? I use some of them right away. It is amazing how many chances I have had to share about this organization by wearing a necklace. Some items have been given as gifts. For example, I have a friend who is praying about adoption from India. When I received a journal made in India, I knew it was perfect for her as her family journals and seeks God's will in determining if He is calling them to adopt or help orphans in a different way.

My dream would be to teach the women in Dominican Republic how to make a product that you can receive in a Fair Trade Friday box. It may just be a dream for the DR in the future, but you can currently help support women in 18 different countries now. I would love for you to consider partnering with Fair Trade Friday and helping to redeem consumerism. You can learn more about how to receive a monthly box or how to order from their store at http://fairtradefriday.club.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Heather Prentice

Getting in the Trenches

It is an honor and privilege to get in the trenches of life with people who regularly sacrifice for the sake of Jesus and His gospel.

A few weeks ago, a small team of ministry friends went to the Dominican Republic to work with a group of village pastors. These pastors aren't rich, do not lead large churches, lack formal education, and are often overlooked. However, God is using them to advance the gospel among the poorest of the poor in Haitian villages of the Dominican Republic.

I spent five days with three other pastors from the States training these amazing people. Our theme was "More than a Preacher". In other words, we focused on the Great Commission of Jesus regarding "making disciples". The mission of Christ was not primarily centered on conversions; rather it was rooted in the idea of "teaching people to observe all that [Jesus] commanded" while "equip[ping] the saints for the work of ministry" (Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:1-16). All this is for the glory of Christ, love of God, and love of people.

The Gospel Coalition has made great theological resources available in Spanish for free (plus shipping). Such resources are very difficult to come by in the D.R. As pictured above, they were happy to receive these beneficial books!

I am grateful the church I pastor, Advance Community Church, tangibly supports mission work in the Dominican Republic. We are also blessed to be serving (directly and indirectly) alongside the ministries of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Meeting God in Missions, Del Rey Ministries, The Christian & Missionary Alliance, Surgeons for Sight, Lancaster Christian Academy, and many others.

If you would like to help us better serve the pastors and people of the Dominican Republic, please consider supporting this missions ministry as we bring teams, supply clean water, build bathrooms, provide medical services, serve in the public and private schools, develop empowering relationships, and advance the gospel.     

Sometimes the Truth Stings

    The past two Sundays have been the most difficult sermons to preach this year. We have been going through the book of James since April. His teachings are blunt and often counter-cultural. Last Sunday, we explored the end of chapter 4 where James rebukes man's pride. Last night, we studied the beginning of James 5 where he rebukes the rich for their self-indulgence while poor are still suffering.

Today, I want to share a few helpful thoughts as I continue to process these texts:
     As a pastor, I have had people confess a multitude of sins - adultery, addictions, anger, lust, etc. Yet, I can only recall one person who ever confessed that he was struggling with greed and self-indulgence. Why is that? Greed tends to be a silent assassin. We tend to be victims of greed and don't even know it. I usually know when I sin in thought and action. But greed is far more stealth-like.

     "Why can't we see it? Once we move to a particular home/area, we find ourselves surrounded by a number of people who have more money than us. We tend to compare ourselves to them and not the rest of the world. We want to justify ourselves and can always find someone else who seems more excessive than us. But the rest of the world is not fooled. When people come here from other countries, they are shocked at the level of comfort is viewed as necessity" (Timothy Keller - Counterfeit Gods).

     This illustration is helping me process the reality of the Gospel in a world where millions live in desperate poverty and billions live without Christ.

     "If I am walking by a lake and I see a child drowning, I don’t stop and ponder what I should do.  Nor do I just stand there praying about what action to take. I do something. Immediately, without hesitation, I jump into the lake and save the drowning child. The parallel is not perfect, but consider the realities we have. At this moment, millions upon millions of men, women, and children, are starving and dying without food and water. Orphanages, foster homes, and city streets and slums are overflowing with boys and girls who need a mom and dad. Ultimately, while we contemplate this gospel, over two billion people in world have never even hear it. They are waiting to hear the good news of how God’s love for them in Christ can satisfy them on earth or save them for eternity. But God loves us too much to allow us to live with indifference or inaction. Clearly, Jesus has put before us a choice: we can spend our resources on short term pleasures that we cannot keep, or we can sacrifice our resources for long-term treasure that we’ll never lose" (David Platt - Counter Culture).

     "In the end, radical stewardship will look different from person to person, from church to church - but we are all called to be good stewards, to prioritize rightly, to sacrifice for the King out of gospel-soaked generous hearts. Radical sacrifice must always overflow from a heart that is gripped by the gospel; otherwise, it becomes a joyless and fruitless effort of self-righteousness" (Trevin Wax).

Sometimes the truth stings. However, the Scriptures are clear. May God continue to refine us all as we seek to honor Him with our time, talents, and treasures. 

Pictures - "Party with a Purpose"

Last night, more than twenty women came to our home for a great cause. We hosted an event called Party with a Purpose which highlighted two amazing organizations - "Sole Hope" and "Noonday". The women had a wonderful time together!

Much of the world's population lives in great poverty. As a result, they lack food, water, jobs, shelter, clothing, shoes, etc. Party with a Purpose was a fun and effective way to raise awareness and make a tangible difference in lives around the world.

47 pairs of shoes will be sown together in Uganda as a direct result of last night's party. Artisans will be compensated for their creative work with the Noonday. We can wait to host another party like this!

You can see some pictures here.

"Not on My Watch"

Yesterday, I read an impactful blog that's tough to get out of my mind. Many of you have read Ann Voskamp's blog and you want to help. If you have not read it yet, PLEASE read her blog. It is a must read! As a parent of five girls, this was difficult to read. I literally felt sick reading it. All I could think of is our soon-to-be 9 year old and her two older sisters, my niece, my friend's daughters, etc. as I read Ann's post. I can't wrap my thoughts around the horrors facing young girls in Iraq.

I spent the day trying to figure out how much money we can give to help. As Lauren Chandler wrote, "We can do this! We can help! 2k of us -- only $25 -- the cost of a trip to the movies for 2!" As Christians, we want to be defined by the way we love. This is especially true for those who are suffering.

Tomorrow at Noon, you can watch a lifestream conversation with Ann and Jeremy Courtney (Founder of Preemptive Love Coalition). Jennie Allen will be the host.

Take a stand with others and say, "Not on my watch!"