Each Spring Break, high school students from Stonecreek Church sacrifice their typical teenage vacations to bring hope to children in poverty.In a world where approximately 40% of people live on less than $2 a day, students want to make an impact, meet a need, and bring hope to the hopeless.Through Hope for Guatemala, a non-profit organization in Guatemala City, Guatemala, high school students have the opportunity to help 200 children who represent 114 families, and as a result positively impact the lives of more than 1,100 people.
As a youth pastor, I hear students say, “I really want to go, I just cannot afford it.” Due to the financial strain, students miss out on the opportunity to not only change someone else’s life but for their own life to be changed. It personally breaks my heart having to turn students away from life change because of a simple financial barrier. My desire was to somehow provide a way for every student interested to participate with no excuses.
So this year I decided to try something different to help. A Golf tournament.
On March 10th, 2010 the student ministry at Stonecreek will be hosting a golf tournament to help raise support for the annual trip to Guatemala. Through each and every donation, students at Stonecreek Church and the children in Guatemala will be impacted.
You can make a difference!
No matter what amount you would like to donate, you will contribute more than your money…you will be helping us release children from poverty in Guatemala.
To donate money to this incredible cause please donate HERE.
Everyone on the face of the planet is somewhat judgmental, right?
We look at people and make judgements about them, their friends, their families, and even their situation in life. The truth is we have no earthly idea who they are and the story behind their life.
Imagine if we looked at people the way Jesus looked at people.
The prostitute.
The leper.
The paraplegic.
Do you need Jesus’ eyes?
Ask Him to see people with them. To see people differently.
Why is it that at times when we help others, partake in a random act of kindness, or serve someone we expect something in return? Why is our giving with strings attached?
We do something for someone and stick around waiting for a “thank you”.
We buy something for someone as small as a few dollars we expect them to pay us back.
Some people tithe to the church just to get a huge deduction on their year end taxes.
People serve on short term mission trips in 3rd world countries so they can check it off their “to do” list.
We sponsor Compassion International children so we can brag that we are helping others out.
So here is my question: “Why do we serve with strings attached?”
Helping others and truly serving other should be an expression of our lives. It’s not something to be compartmentalized as only a “feel good” experience, mission trip, or a charity event we hold for our community. We should have a servant attitude in our heart in everything we do, everywhere we go. It isn’t just something we should do expecting something in return or wanting from the other person. Serving others is hard-work. It is inconvenient. It’s tiring to serve those in need. It’s emotionally training to pour your heart into the needs of people. In return it is so incredible easy to turn a blind eye or act like we didn’t see the need, to not get involved, or even to just send a check.
What would happen if we served others the way Jesus served others? Jesus saw people differently. When He served, hurting people were healed, sick people were cured, confused people found answers, accused people were forgiven.
It is about real people; people that matter to God, no matter where they are and what they look like, they matter.
When we engage our hearts and serve from a place of honesty and love, with no strings attached, we will have the opportunity to display the love of Christ to every person on the planet. His honest approach to helping others points the attention away from our ego and pride expecting something in return and starts pointing to the One that really matter, God.
So I wanted to give a little shout out to a friend of mine. For all the women out there, my friend Amber Hill, has written a 12 day study on Ruth that is a must have! Ruth: the Reality of Redemption explores the characters, circumstances, and lessons contained within the pages of the Old Testament book of Ruth. The study goes deeper by examining how Ruth correlates with the New Testament and our lives today. Check it out!
Purchase Ruth: the Reality of Redemption HERE. Only $11!
I am now Lance Armstrong’s greatest fan! Sign me up for his fan page. I love it!
I am not saying that we shouldn’t forgive people because the Bible is clear that we are suppose to forgive. I didn’t like his comment of saying that the man is “not worth the chair he sits on” but I was glad that Lance was cool and collective. How would you stinkin’ respond if someone called you “cancer” after your LIVESTRONG Campaign and fighting it yourself?
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