How YOU can help orphan children . . .

Loving the Lord, the lost . . . and orphans.


It’s such a joy to love orphan children . . . for God’s kingdom and for His GLORY!

At Harvest Ministry, our primary calling is missions evangelism and soul-winning; but we have found that rescuing orphans is a spiritual battle-zone for the next generation. Currently, we are excited and honored to be caring for over 700 orphan children — physically, educationally, emotionally, and spiritually — and we wanted to share how YOU can be a part.

From God’s Word, we definitely know that orphans are on God’s heart . . . and they’re also on our heart!

The Bible says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)


How YOU can help . . .

Before we share more details, we wanted to give you the “bottom-line” — with two specific ways that you could help some very special orphan children.

1. You can PRAY!
James 5:16 tells us, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Prayer takes time and it is a huge gift. We know that prayer makes a difference and we would greatly appreciate your prayers for this area of Harvest Ministry orphan outreach (especially for God’s wisdom and direction).

2. You can become an ORPHAN SPONSOR.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Harvest Ministry orphan sponsor (through a monthly orphan-child-sponsorship — of any amount — or through a one-time or special orphan gift), just CONTACT US with your name and mailing address. We would be happy to send you an info brochure and Harvest Ministry’s monthly mission update.


Each “number” is a real little child . . . with a heart and a soul and a potential to love Jesus!

Our call to the lost . . .

In world missions, Harvest Ministry’s focus is evangelism. Specifically, we’re called to preach the Gospel to a lost and hurting world, especially to “unreached” people who have never heard of Jesus Christ, and especially in areas that are currently “most-ripe” for harvest.

Over the years, we have often found that some of the world’s most spiritually-hungry areas are also physically-needy areas. Often Harvest Ministry is called to preach the Gospel in current war-zones, or in places that are facing tremendous political and economic challenges. And as we’ve been preaching the Gospel and winning souls for Jesus . . . the Lord has shown us His love for orphan children.

The need to help orphans is HUGE and it’s a strategic point of “battle” against the enemy.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 1:9,

“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

We just hate the devil and his deplorable acts. Not only does he “kick” people when they’re down and condemn people when they’ve fallen into his sinful traps; but he has no qualms about taking the most innocent victims of his violence, diseases and sin — precious orphan children — and abusing them to further his evil agenda.

The statistics are horrific.

Worldwide, over 143,000,000 children are orphans. To survive, many of these children are forced to beg or to steal food . . . or worse. Many are sold or “tricked” into slavery. Little boys are forced to become child soldiers. Little girls are forced into the sex trade. Every 15 seconds, another African child becomes an AIDS orphan; in Africa alone, at the end of every year, over two million children will become orphans.

To us, these numbers are not just stats and heart-tugging-manipulators. To us, each number is a real child, with a heart and a soul and a potential to love Jesus.

In many areas where Harvest Ministry has led evangelistic outreaches and where new churches have been planted, local believers often face huge practical challenges. In many villages, national pastors are dealing with a crisis of SO MANY orphan children — due to AIDS, civil war, disease, or incoming refugees — that is way-beyond the capability of their poor congregations. Many church families are trying to help the orphans of their relatives and friends, but sometimes these small churches need help, even for temporary relief.

Since the launching of our orphan outreach in 2006 — by God’s grace and through the generosity and prayers of our wonderful partners — Harvest Ministry has helped to rescue over 885 orphan children.

Building projects have included schools, chapels, kitchens, and children’s homes. Special projects have included “underwear-drives” and truckloads-of-mattresses. Over the years, hundreds of children have been fed three meals a day. And most importantly, these children have come to love Jesus Christ. Orphans have saved by God’s grace, water baptized, filled with God’s Holy Spirit and trained in His Word. Many are now involved in worship and dance outreaches, mission evangelism in villages, and church ministry.

Some of these “little missionaries” had been sleeping under trees or wandering the streets. Some were starving or being abused by relatives. Some had nothing but old ripped-up garbage sacks for blankets.

To see these kids now happy and worshiping Jesus is such a JOY.


Prayer and Worship is a vital part of the ministry at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center

“You have been the helper of the orphan.”

(Psalm 10:14)

Harvest Ministry is called to help children who are not being helped by others. We especially feel a burden to help the orphan needs in the village churches that Harvest Ministry helped to establish. Sometimes our current situations are not as “pretty” and “perfect” as other more established orphan homes; but the needs we have found are real; and the leaders are loving, godly, and genuine people of integrity.

Our calling is to help orphan children in great need . . . for the Glory of our GREAT GOD.


Our daughter Caela with a few children from the Village Family Zone Centers in SW Uganda


Josh & Anna Dunagan – with the children from Aasha (Hope) Children’s Home in SE India


Jon Dunagan – with precious children we helped to rescue – Bussi Island, Uganda

The need . . .

Currently Harvest Ministry is fully supporting over 700 orphan children in East Africa: including 500 children at Guma Na Yesu “Keep With Jesus” Children’s Center (in Mbarara, Uganda) and 200 children living with Christian families in remote areas and being helped by church-based Village Family Zone Centers (located throughout Western Uganda). Also, our son and daughter-in-law Josh & Anna Dunagan are fully supporting 23 orphan children at Aasha (Hope) Children’s Home in S.E. India through a brand-new mission, Gospel Projects International, recently launched-out from Harvest Ministry.

The on-going support for the 500 children at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center includes spiritual care and Bible training (with daily chapels, prayer time, fervent worship, and opportunities for ministry outreach); provision for a safe place to live; Christian education (including nationally required school subjects, plus music, cultural dance, and sports); three simple meals each day; clothing (including school uniforms and play clothes); and loving care from the Christian teachers, church leaders, and mommas.

The on-going support through the Village Family Zone Centers includes provision for supervising tutors who travel to the villages to check-up on 200 orphan children and to help encourage the children’s school work, and assistance through local churches for families who have adopted children.


Ann Dunagan – having fun with kids from Guma Na Yesu (Keep With Jesus) Children’s Center – Uganda


School buildings at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center – Uganda

How YOU can help these children . . .

The need is great and any help (through prayer or support) is very appreciated.

Right now, all of the needs for these children (spiritually, educationally, emotionally, and physically) are being met with an average of only 50 cents per child per day. The physical needs are great, especially for food and living conditions, but we don’t see the situation as desperate. The kids are happy, safe, and doing very well. They are receiving good education, clothing, and basic needs. We’re continually praising God for His provision and rejoice in His daily “manna.” The spiritual situation is strong and the on-sight atmosphere is full of God-glorifying life and JOY!!!

As you can imagine, there are many ongoing needs — for food, water, clothing, shoes, school supplies, beds/bedding, primary health needs, and continued construction.

Because there are so many orphan children we need to help, Harvest Ministry is no longer doing one-on-one child sponsorships. Some of our orphan projects are short-term relief efforts, or in the process of becoming self-supporting; because of this, we need the flexibility to transfer Harvest Ministry’s orphan funds to the greatest areas of current orphan need. Also, coordinating individual communication between 700 children and individual sponsors is too time-and-labor-demanding for our man-power. We realize it’s a “fun” family project to receive a child packet with an individualized picture and regularly updated information on “your” chosen child; however, as we’ve prayed and sought the Lord about how to move forward to help many more needy children — along with how to focus on all the other mission work and our own family balance — we believe we are not to go this route.


Primary school children at Guma Na Yesu (Keep With Jesus) Children’s Center in Uganda

We have been encouraged by testimony of George Müller (1805-1898) , a well-known missionary who believed God for the provision of thousands of orphans in Bristol, England without sharing his need with anyone (and we can safely assume, without any one-on-one sponsorships).

The logistical administration for this “fun” element of one-on-one sponsorship is extremely time-consuming (way-more than we realized). Harvest Ministry went this route for five years, when we first launched our orphan ministry, but the Lord has clearly shown us to make a change. Now, we are simply trusting God for all these children. We’re believing for His provision, even without the personal benefit of one-on-one communication. All of these kids need our help. Instead on one-on-one update packs and individual sponsor letters, Harvest Ministry will highlight an individual child each month and a specific area for prayer.


If your family is considering sponsoring an orphan as a project to encourage your children for missions, here’s our plan. Lord willing, each sponsor will receive our monthly HARVEST REPORT mission letter, along with an orphan POSTCARD with a NEW orphan child photo & bio each month, a specific prayer focus, and an orphan-focused memory verse.

At Harvest Ministry, 100% of all mission gifts designated for ORPHAN needs are used for these needy orphan children. Nothing is taken out for any administrative/office needs.


Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center


Ugandan Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center Directors, Naboth & Alice Tumuhairwe

A few ideas . . .

As we live simply, God can help us to give generously . . . and a little bit can make a BIG difference.

Right now, $15/month is fully supporting each orphan child — in spirit, soul, and body. (As God provides, we are hoping and praying to greatly increase this per-child provision; but please know that every dollar is stretched very-VERY-far to help many needy orphans).

Just think of what a dollar a day could do!

Could you imagine providing for 2 children with just $30 a month, or for 5 children with just $75 a month, or (for those of you with big families) for 10 children with just $150 a month.

We praise God for His continued provision and know that He will direct those who are called to join with us to help meet each need. In addition to monthly sponsorships (which primarily meet our daily food and educational needs), you might be interested in a special project for orphans . . . such as clothing or underwear or mattresses (each about $10/child), bunk beds ($25/child) or blankets ($5/child).

Right now, we’re believing for beds and blankets for all of the children. We’re also working to complete a much-needed building project (12 rooms for our primary school teachers – at a cost of about $500/each), and we’re preparing to launch a brand-new Christian vocational and secondary school for the older children.

How YOU can help . . .

Once again, here are two ways you can help Harvest Ministry’s orphan children:

1. You can PRAY!

2. You can become an ORPHAN SPONSOR.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Harvest Ministry orphan sponsor (through a monthly orphan-child-sponsorship — of any amount — or with a one-time or special orphan gift), just CONTACT US with your name and mailing address. We would be happy to send you an info brochure and Harvest Ministry’s monthly mission update.

Here’s a bit more here on our website . . .

More about how we’re LOVING ORPHANS . . .
More about Guma Na Yesu (Keep With Jesus) Children’s Center in Mbarara, Uganda . . .
More about Aasha (Hope) Children’s Home in S.E. India (led by our newlywed kids, Josh & Anna)

God bless you!!!

Rescuing One of God’s Girls . . . in Uganda!

Welcome to our new Daring Daughters blog!

Over the years, we’ve featured numerous posts along this theme, but now we’re specifically going to focus some regular articles for teenage girls, to encourage interaction and a heart for missions. Today’s post features a heart-moving orphan essay Christi wrote several years ago, about the needs of one precious abused girl, named Jennifer. This essay was only the beginning of God stirring His compassion in Christi’s heart; it eventually led to the founding of Harvest Ministry’s orphan outreach . . .

For more about the vision for Daring Daughters — including the new facebook page, twitter page, upcoming events, and blogtalk radio show, see our VISION page . . .

Rescuing one of God’s girls . . . in Uganda

A true story of one precious orphan girl from Harvest Ministry’s Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center, in Uganda, East Africa. –By Christi Dunagan (originally written at age 15)


Eight-year-old Jennifer huddled in the dark corner of her grandmother’s hut. Once again, she was locked in this repulsive room with no food, and no hope . . .

Sometimes Jennifer was left alone for days while her grandmother wasted what little money they had. Most likely, the old woman would return home — drunk — and beat the girl until she could barely stand.

Jennifer knew nothing of happiness.

When she was very young, her parents were victims of Uganda’s number one killer: AIDS; and now, she was yet another victim: of poverty, hunger, and abuse.

Hearing footsteps outside her door, Jennifer looked up. Maybe she would finally be released from this small damp prison she was forced to call home . . . but no.

Read the entire essay (on a PDF file) here.

588-jennifer

Here’s a picture of this rescued orphan girl, Jennifer, today (now six years after Christi wrote the article). This precious young woman is still living with our dear friends, Naboth & Alice, and she continues to be a vital testimony about God’s hand on these beautiful orphan children. The most recent report is so beautiful. Our friend Naboth wrote:

Jennifer is now in primary four. She sleeps and “feeds” at Pastor Naboth & Alice’s home, and she is very bright and hard working. She “leads praising” in Sunday school. Her hope and happiness is restored, as God has healed her wounds.

Join the conversation . . .

Okay Daring Daughters . . . let’s hear your thoughts.
What “struck” you about Jennifer’s story? Did anything in particular hit your heart? And have any of you girls ever had a heart for orphans, or for Africa? . . .

GUMA NA YESU Children “Keep with Jesus!”

The need and the vision . . .

In Southern Uganda – our dear longtime friends, Naboth and Alice, have been helping over 700 needy orphan children. This African couple haven’t had much to work with, but they’ve been doing everything possible to extend the love of Jesus. Because of this need, and our long-time ministry relationship with Naboth and Alice, Harvest Ministry has decided to focus orphan efforts towards these precious kids at GUMA NA YESU Children’s Center.

guma1

A few Guma Na Yesu children:

DID YOU KNOW?

1 Startling Orphan Statistic:
Every 2.2 seconds, another orphan ages out of an international orphan facility, with no family and no home. Older orphans are vulnerable . . . to abuse, suicide, prostitution, slavery, becoming child soldiers, and immorality (and as a result, they become most vulnerable to AIDS and disease). Yet, as orphans are rescued, saved by Jesus Christ, and brought into God’s Kingdom, the enemy’s plans are thwarted: instead, these older orphans can live happy, productive, lives and help to advance God’s cause and mission purposes.

1 Special Highlight @ GUMA NA YESU Children’s Center:
At Guma, each of the children and teenagers are connected with a caring Christian family and a local church (who they live with during holidays). The children are educated in academics, and they are trained in the Word of God, with daily worship, fervent prayer, and opportunities for ministry (including dance performance, special music, preaching, and prayer for others). Over the years, we have had opportunities to spend time with Jennifer, and she growing into a beautiful young woman with such a heart of service to the Lord. Please do keep her and all the children at Guma in your prayers.

gumTo remember this African word (from the Runyankole language), just think of the word “GUM” . . . and imagine chewing a sweet, delicious, sticky wad of GUM . . . and to keep chewing it for a long, long time. The name of this new orphanage project is Guma Na Yesu (pronounced “Goom-uh nuh Yay-soo”) – which means “Keep with Jesus!”

The long-term vision is to care for hundreds of orphan children through the support network of a strong Christian church and caring Ugandan families.

The vision is to build a Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center – with a free orphan school, basic provisions (of food, clothing, and educational supplies), and a family support base – to enable hundreds of orphans to be adopted into Christian families. Our prayer is for each of these orphan children to “keep” with Jesus for their entire lives! The heart of this orphan project is to train children to be mighty in God’s Word and to experience a life of knowing God personally – so they can fulfill God’s purpose. These children experience the presence of God daily – through prayer, child-led preaching, and through fervent worship and dancing. These children love Jesus, and their heavenly Father loves them.

Who we are . . .

naboth1N.E.T.S. Ministers, Naboth & Alice
Directors of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center

The Lord is just begining to give a new vision for Guma Na Yesu and through His wisdom and direction, He’s showing us how the needs of these children can be met. This orphan ministry is founded and directed by African ministers, Naboth and Alice of Southern Uganda, and now supported and overseen by Jon & Ann Dunagan of Harvest Ministry. The vision for Guma Na Yesu is for it to be nationally-led by Ugandan ministers, teachers, and church families — under the blessing and direction of JESUS and the authority of God’s Word.

Where we’re located . . .

600ugandamapThis African orphan ministry is being built in Mbarara, Uganda. It’s a needy area, with many orphans. Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center is currently under construction – on a hilltop property near one of Naboth’s new church facilities – directly above a Ugandan military base.

Prayer Focus: Please pray with us for God’s abundant provision for the orphan children of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center. And if you want to help, do let us know. Also, we would really appreciate your prayers for God’s wisdom concerning the future of this orphan project, and what Harvest Ministry’s long-term involvement should be.

Startling Orphan Statistics

These startling orphan statistics are more than mere facts; remember that each number is a precious child . . . a real little kid. Every one is precious in the eyes of God, and He has an extra-special place in His heart for those children who are orphans (see verses here). But whatever you do, don’t let these overwhelming statistics discourage you. Instead, allow God to take these needs . . . and move your heart . . . to do something.

Anything.

Even something small.

Maybe you could help . . . even one.

143,000,000 ORPHANS:

It is estimated that between 143,000,000 and 210,000,000 children are orphans. That’s at least 143 MILLION children in the world today. (Recent UNICEF report.)

To give you an idea of the enormity of this need, keep in mind that the approximate population of the US is 300,000,000; and the population of Russia is 141,800,000.)

ORPHANS in Africa:

Every 15 seconds, another child in AFRICA becomes an AIDS orphan. (At the end of every year, 2,102,400 more children will become orphans, in Africa alone.)

Think: “D-I-N-C-S”: There are more orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa than ALL of the children
in Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Canada, and Sweden – combined!

Every day . . .

EVERY DAY, 5,760 more children in the world become orphans.

EVERY 2.2 SECONDS another orphan ages out, with no family and no home.

Older orphans . . .

Older orphans are vulnerable . . . to abuse, suicide, prostitution, slavery, becoming child soldiers, immorality (and as a result, vulnerable to AIDS and disease).

Yet, as orphans are rescued and saved by God, and brought into His Kingdom, the enemy’s plans are thwarted; instead, these older orphans can live happy, productive lives and help to advance God’s cause and mission purposes!

“Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; Maintain the rights of the poor and
oppressed. Deliver the weak and needy from the hand of the wicked.”
Ps 82:3-4

More ORPHAN verses:

Ex.22:22-23 NIV, Is.1:17 NASB, Ps.10:17-18 NASB, Hos. 14:3c NASB, Pr. 31:8-9 NKJV

There are so many wonderful ministries helping and loving orphans. At Harvest Ministry, our passion is to not only feed, educate, and provide for the physical needs of these children, but to raise them to LOVE GOD and to glorify Him through their lives!!!

  • For ideas about how to pray and to help orphans, click here.
  • Listen to a short motivation audio with Ann Dunagan: COMPASSION for ORPHANS
  • AASHA Children’s Home: Loving Orphans in India

    Josh & Anna’s adventures in INDIA . . .

    Learn more about Aasha Children’s Home — led by newlyweds Josh & Anna Dunagan. It’s now a new mission called GOSPEL PROJECTS INTERNATIONAL!!! The focus of the ministry is remote village evangelism and orphan care. Come take a look . . . (and keep Josh & Anna in your prayer as they launch out in full-time ministry).


    God’s Heart for Orphans

    We appreciate all of our friends who help us to care for hundreds of precious children through Harvest Ministry’s orphan outreaches in East Africa and in India.

    The Lord has such a heart for orphan children . . . and so do we!

    God calls us to care for orphans…

    • Learn to do good; Seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17, NASB)
    • Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27, NIV)
    • When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. (Deuteronomy 24:21, NASB)
    God’s justice will cover the orphans…
    • Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. (Exodus 22:22-23, NIV)
    • He executes justice for the or phan and the widow.(Deuteronomy 10:18a, NASB)
    • Woe to those who…rob the poor of My people of their rights, so that widows may be their spoil and that they may plunder the orphans. (Isaiah 10:1a-2b, NASB)
    • Do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow. (Jeremiah 22:3b, NASB)
    • Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against…those who oppress…the widow and the orphan. (Malachi 3:5a, NASB)
    The Bible says evil men take advantage of orphans…
    • They drive away the orphan’s donkey and take the widow’s ox in pledge. (Job 24:3, NIV)
    • They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the orphans. (Psalm 94:6, NASB)
    • Others snatch the orphan from the breast, and against the poor they take a pledge. (Job 24:9, NASB)
    littleo31God promises His love and protection for orphans…
    • Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives. (Jeremiah 49:11a, NIV)
    • I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18, NIV)
    • You have been the helper of the orphan. (Psalm 10:14b, NASB)
    • You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror. (Psalm 10:17b-18, NASB)
    • For in You the orphan finds mercy. (Hosea 14:2c, NASB)

    God blesses those who are obedient to care for the needs of orphans…

    • When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19, NASB)

    For when the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it gave witness of me, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. (Job 29:11-13, NASB)

      pure11





      These verses were compiled from the facebook group, “A Heart for Orphans.” Photos from Harvest Ministry’s orphan work in Uganda and S.E. India.

      Kid Orphan Sponsor Featured on TV News


      KELOLife Television in Aberdeen, South Dakota ran a feature about one of Harvest Ministry’s sponsors, an energetic 10-year-old, named Ethan, who’s been selling lemonade (for three years!!!) to support his orphan friend, Allan, in Uganda. Ethan really takes his sponsorship commitment seriously!

      It’s a sweet news clip . . . and a blessing!

      You can view the TV station’s video file right here. And if any of you could take a moment to log in to view the article on the TV station’s website, it would be wonderful to add some positive comments about the feature. Please keep Harvest Ministry and all of our orphan children (currently over 700 kids!) in your thoughts and prayers.

      P.S. Ethan was inwardly “moved with compassion” with a specific burden on his heart; he felt that if he didn’t raise that last $4, his orphan friend would “die.” We’re all so inspired by Ethan’s commitment; but be assured that if any of our sponsors are unable to meet their commitment (of $1/day), we’ll simply trust God together for His provision!!! Amen???

      500 New Mattresses for Orphan Kids!!!

      4orphanswphotoCould you imagine putting your child to “bed” each night, on a dirt or cement floor, with no mattress or even a decent warm blanket? For many precious children, orphaned, and/or in poverty, this is daily reality.

      At Harvest Ministry’s GUMA NA YESU (“Keep With Jesus”) Children’s Center in Mbarara, Uganda, there was a HUGE need for bedding for all of the children . . . and God abundantly provided with designated mission gifts for 500 new mattresses.

      Our prayer and focus for our GUMA NA YESU children is that they will “keep with Jesus” all the days of their lives, and now as they sleep, they will be reminded (in this small way) of God’s GREAT love for them.

      GUMA Directors (and NETS Ministers) Naboth & Alice, were absolutely delighted with what they called the “MIRACLE at GUMA.” Now we are believing God for blankets (at $5/each) for all of the children, and possibly sheets and pillows.

      (And one little preschool girl in Oregon, named Olivia, has added her own precious prayer, that God will also help to provide “teddy bears” for these kids!!!)

      BEFORE:

      need2 need1

      AFTER:

      mattress2

      mattress1

      mattress3

      mattress6

      mattress7

      mattress91

      mattress94

      mattress-joy

      We thank everyone who GAVE and who PRAYED for this need.
      May God bless you for your heart for these children.

      Keep it PURE!

      water1There are 143 million orphans in the world today.
      But why should you CARE?

       

       

      ’cause it’s PURE!  

      We all know that it’s physically healthy to drink a lot of pure fresh water. And how many glasses-a-day are recommended? Isn’t it about eight? Well, how much of God’s PURE and undefiled religion are we getting into our spiritual system on a regular basis?

      Let’s drink more.
      Let’s keep it pure.

      588-vh

      A note from my journal:

      I’m feeling so blessed to know that God is hearing our prayers for all of the 700+ orphan children in our care. It’s so wonderful to know that when God  gives us a responsibility — when HE puts a specific need on our hearts to follow Him in obedience — He always provides.

      Just a while back (randomly “out of the blue” — on a day when Harvest Ministry had some huge pressing orphanage needs), two people “just so happened” to sneak generous handshakes (with mission checks), both because they said the “Lord told them” to help the orphans in Africa (what a BLESSING!!!). One man drove across town to present us with a special missions gift . . . and he said he had never given an offering like this in his entire life. He was struggling to conquer a “fear of lack” in his own life, yet he felt “compelled” that he was supposed to help these orphans with their needs. And right now, others are also seeking God’s direction regarding what they should do to help.

      God is SOOO good. I’m feeling the Lord’s focus for me is simply to not worry and to not fear. He simply wants us to obey . . . with a pure heart.

      Yep.
      Hand me another glass.

      “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness sake, for they shall be filled” (JESUS – from Matthew 5).

       

      Related audio: COMPASSION

       

      Closets, Clutter, & God’s Great Commission

      Amid twisted hangers, bulging drawers, and way too many clothes, the kids and I began our major closet-cleaning attack. It took days–with sacks for the dumpster and sacks to give away…


      We’re Blessed to be a Blessing!

       

      This is one of several devotionals by Ann Dunagan, published in A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers – Daily Inspiration for Christian Moms, edited by James Stuart Bell and Jeanette Gardner Littleton.

       

      “I was naked, and you gave me clothing…” Matthew 25:36  

       
       
      Amid twisted hangers, bulging drawers, and way too many clothes, the kids and I began our major closet-cleaning attack. It took days–with sacks for the dumpster and sacks to give away. Best of all, we finished just in time before I left on a short-term missions trip to Uganda.
       

      Soon I was surrounded by orphans adorned in only rags and ripped-up shirts, and often with bare bottoms. I thought of these precious children and my family’s ridiculous “conquered” closets.

       Then I felt the Lord whisper, “I am the One naked on these streets!”

      Immediately, I went and bought armloads of children’s clothing, but the situation turned pathetic. Mothers came from everywhere, holding up naked babies and begging for help. The need was beyond me.

      Back home, our family raised funds to clothe that whole village, but that was only the beginning. In that year, the Lord put in our heart for Harvest Ministry to establish a new orphan ministry, now reaching hundreds of precious children.

      The world’s needs are huge, but they’re not beyond God!

       

      Let’s show our kids that we’re blessed so we can be a blessing to others!

       

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