Reaffirming My Passion for Advocacy

I am a Child Ambassador for World Vision, which means that I seek out opportunities to share sponsorship with others, through one-on-one conversations or through speaking engagements. I am a passionate fan of World Vision’s work and that was something I felt called to do back in early 2010.

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to speak at North Middle School in Winchester, TN about World Vision and child sponsorship. They were holding an event called “Wake Up”. It was kind of like a science fair, but instead of science topics they had researched and were presenting on global issues such as child abuse, poverty, homelessness, child & maternal health, genocide, etc. Pretty hefty stuff for a 7th grader. I have never heard of a school doing something like that before. It was really neat. What a great opportunity for a student to learn about things going on in the world and what they can do to help.

As part of the event, they were seeking out speakers from various organizations. That’s where World Vision (& I) came in. I was able to talk for about 20 minutes, including 2 short videos. It was a great experience. Cason & I really had a lot of fun being there with them, educating the students, and talking with them afterwards.

Three children were sponsored at the event! Many more took home the information – either it was a student who didn’t have a parent there to ask or there was a parent there and they needed to think it over. So hopefully a few more will sign up in the days and weeks to come. Even if they don’t sign up through my materials, maybe it will plant a seed and lead to signing up some time in the future. And above all, I think we did help educate them on a couple different issues and about the great work that World Vision does.

Two heartwarming stories:
1) There was a family that genuinely wanted to sign up but said they only get paid once a month and would have to wait for their next check to come in. I was impressed. It reminded me of the story of the widow’s mite. They didn’t seem to have much, but really wanted to help a child.

2) There were a couple of girls who really wanted to sponsor a child and went around rallying up their friends. They ended up getting a group of 6 of them to commit, and convinced their teacher to be their responsible adult. The girls were so excited about all of it. They are planning on holding fundraisers (a car wash, a bake sale, etc) in order to raise the $35 per month required. They couldn’t stop plotting and planning about it, even about how they’d write their child the first letter, with each of them writing one paragraph. The girls even came up & gave us both a hug before leaving at the end.

I loved the excitement of the students! I was really glad to be there with them and be a part of their unique event. More schools should do similar programs.

It also reaffirmed my passion for advocacy and educating others about global issues and the needs in the world. It was fun and exciting! The fact is that we can all do something to make a difference. People just need to be made aware of the need and the ability that they have to help.

If you want to read more about child sponsorship click here. If you want to sign up to sponsor a child, please click here. (This is my personal link to the World Vision site and will ensure that my Child Ambassador account shows up as the referrer.)

If you happen to know of a church or a group that would let me come present (for 5 minutes or for 20 minutes), please let me know. Thanks!

God’s Word in Action: Together We Can Change the World!

This is an article that I wrote for this new campaign that we launched at work this Spring. It’s called “God’s Word in Action” and has been my favorite project by far. I am blessed with being able to run the marketing for it. I wanted to share this with you and let you know what we’re up to in the Thomas Nelson Bible Group.

God’s instruction that we should serve others is unmistakable in Scripture. It’s not a choice that we’re given. It’s a command. God charges us to reach out to those in need – in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces, in our cities and nation, and around the world.

In fact, God issues a specific call that we are to especially look out for “the least, the last, and the lost” – the marginalized and disadvantaged in our society. The widows, the orphans, the sick and the poor.

Did you know that there are over 2,000 verses in the Bible that deal with God’s view on justice & poverty? Verses like this one:

“Stand up for the poor and the orphan; advocate for the rights of the afflicted and those in need.” Psalm 82:3 (The Voice)

Thomas Nelson, Inc., one of the world’s oldest and largest Bible publishers, has selected this verse as the theme of their God’s Word in Action campaign. They are striving to put God’s Word into action by helping others in tangible ways and inspire others to do the same.

Thomas Nelson has partnered with World Vision as part of the campaign. Every Thomas Nelson Bible purchased at Christian retail helps World Vision eradicate poverty & preventable deaths among children.** When you buy a Thomas Nelson Bible, you can know that you are helping save children’s lives in the U.S. and around the world.

According to World Vision, each day more than 24,000 children die from preventable causes. The donation from Thomas Nelson will target the fundamentals of child health, including clean water and nutritious food. Water is one of the world’s most important natural resources, yet every 21 seconds, a child dies from a water-related illness. Worldwide, one in four children doesn’t get the nutrition he or she needs.

The God’s Word in Action campaign will support sustainable solutions for clean water and secure food, including digging and improving wells, teaching good hygiene practices, providing food aid, improving agricultural practices, and monitoring children’s heights and weights.  It will help children like Mariama, 6, who suffered from trachoma, a blinding eye disease from unclean water, until World Vision installed two water pumps in her village in Niger.

For children living in need in the United States, contributions will make available top-quality necessities that disadvantaged families are unable to afford. Donations also will assist community-based medical facilities in providing children with personal care items.

“As a Bible publisher, we’re making a concerted effort to ensure that we’re living out what God calls us to do as people and a company,” says Thomas Nelson’s Senior Vice President & Bible Group Publisher Gary Davidson. “In today’s economy every penny counts, but we felt strongly that this was an important investment. We’re in a business of developing life-changing products, and it’s only fitting that we are actively involved in other life-changing initiatives.”

In addition to the financial donation to World Vision, Thomas Nelson is creating a movement to encourage Christians to put God’s Word into action in tangible ways. We all have different passions for our personal areas of service. Some feel strongly about helping the homeless, while others thrive doing service at nursing homes or working with children. Some feel called to go on mission trips around the world, while others constantly look for service opportunities every day in their own neighborhoods.

It does not matter what you do, as long as you do something. Start somewhere. Buy a cup of coffee for the car behind you and leave a note for them expressing God’s love. Give up buying lunches out for a month and donate that money to an organization that feeds the hungry. Volunteer to tutor at an underserved school in your area. Just start today.

Thomas Nelson’s Bible Group has built a website that is full of ideas on how you can help others. You can sign up to receive weekly Bible verses, action challenges and ideas. You can also share a story of what you or someone you know has done to put God’s Word into action and help others. Get inspired and then take action.

Join the Movement Today! Learn more by visiting www.SeeGodsWordinAction.com.

Buy a Bible, Help a Child

Every Thomas Nelson Bible you purchase at a Christian retail store helps World Vision end poverty & preventable deaths among children in the U.S. and worldwide.** Just look for any Bible with the Thomas Nelson logo. For more details and to join the movement visit www.SeeGodsWordinAction.com.

Together We Can Change the World!

**Applies to sales at U.S. Christian retail stores only from April 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012. Thomas Nelson will donate 10% of its year-over-year net revenue growth achieved during that period to World Vision, with a minimum donation of $75,000. In addition, when World Vision combines our $75,000 minimum donation with grant funds and corporate donations, the donation multiplies 4 times to provide $300,000 in help to improve the health of children. Just look for any Bible with the Thomas Nelson “house” logo. For more information about World Vision, visit www.WorldVision.org.