Will you “plead” for orphans and souls?
Completely surrendering to God is more than merely asking Jesus to “come into our heart.” Instead, it’s coming into “HIS LIFE” and allowing the heart and passions of Jesus to flow through us.
iPlead [i-pleed]
VERB: to allow GOD Himself to make an earnest and urgent entreaty through me, perhaps in emotional terms, on behalf of another person or a specific need, and to willingly argue for His justice in support of someone or something, especially for SOULS.
In our hightech world of ipods, itunes, and iphones — in a world that needs God more deperately that ever — comes a new mission word we recently combined.
The word is “iPlead” and this fresh yet timeless theme sums up so much of our heart . . . for reaching SOULS with the Gospel, for helping orphans and people in need, and most importantly, for loving GOD.
Just think of the word “I.” Have you ever wondered, “What difference could “I” ever make?” or “How could “I make an impact for God, when the needs are so huge?
But the exciting point and focus of this new word is that the “I” in “iPlead” doesn’t represent us. The only “I” we should care about is the Great “I AM” . . . not ourselves or our personal lives and selfish ambitions (me, myself, and I).
When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, He declared, “I am that I am” was sending him. It was God Himself who spoke to Pharoah and to the children of Israel. (Remember the words, “Thus sayeth the LORD…”?) And today, God wants to speak through you, and through us, and through all Christians. To literally “plead” through us for His purposes.
II Cor. 5:20 says, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Prov. 31:8-9 tells us to “plead” the cause of the poor and the needy. And Esther was challenged to “plead” for her people before the king.
Wow.
Those words “plead” and “implore” are passionate and intense, and how much more-so when I realize that God wants them to refer to pleading for HIS purposes, on HIS behalf.
God is giving me a bigger passion to plead for precious orphan children, and to plead for the lost.
In the world today, there are over 143,000,000 orphans in the world (which is more people than the entire population of Russia, now at 141,800,000), and too many of these precious children are in desperate need. They need the basic necessities of life . . . something for their tummies, somewhere for them to live, and something for their nakedness; yet more importantly, these little ones are “people” who need love . . . specifically to know their Heavenly Father’s love, and to be shown the eternal life God has provided for them through the only way of salvation: JESUS CHRIST.
In the world today, literally billions of people are so lost, and they’re totally oblivious to the forever-punishment they deserve. Because of sin, there’s a guilty charge against them, that’s completely impossible for them to pay . . . without God.
So this is the question I’m asking myself? “Who will plead on their behalf?”
“ipead” is about being God’s ambassador and submitting to His purposes. Following God is more than simply “asking Jesus to come into our lives.” Instead, it’s surrendering into “HIS LIFE” and allowing God’s heart to flow through us.
There’s a lot stirring in my heart along these lines. For now, I’m simply responding to what I believe the Lord (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is asking of me:
He’s asking, “Who will plead for Us?”
And I’m responding, “I will.”
iPlead.
Ann
So, here’s a question to consider: What about you? Will you allow God to plead through YOU . . . for the specific assignment that’s from His heart, through yours?
Feel free to share your comments . . .
A Safe Place for Girls in Uganda
LOVING ORPHANS – in UGANDA:
Here’s an exciting mission update from the progress of our new girls dorm at Guma Na Yesu (Keep With Jesus) Children’s Center in Uganda, East Africa.
Learn more about the vision . . . <<<
- A Glimpse of the New Girls Dorm!
- Unloading the Blessings!!!
- New Mattresses!!!
- More Mattresses!
- Pillows for the Girls!
- Excited for God’s Provision!
- Construction Progress!
- Bunk Beds Arriving!!!
- Sturdy Bunk Beds!
Learn to do good; Seek justice, reprove the ruthless,
defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:17, NASB)
Learn about one of our teenage girls:
Meet Ronitah — Click here < < <
We’re so thankful for God’s provision for a safe place for 150 teenage girls and appreciate everyone who has given and prayed for this huge need. GOD IS GREAT!!!
Please continue to keep this orphan ministry in your prayers.
Learn more about:
Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center in Uganda
Secondary School at Guma Na Yesu
Loving Orphans with Harvest Ministry
Orphan Statistics
What God’s Word Says about Loving Orphans
ORPHAN NEWS: God’s Provision for WATER!!!
An Urgent Need for Water . . .
We are thrilled to share an exciting report of God’s provision!
Recently, Harvest Ministry had an urgent need for a large water tank at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center. The cost for this orphan need was nearly $3,000 (above and beyond Harvest Ministry’s monthly orphanage commitment). This was a heavy burden on our hearts and a matter for specific prayer.
When we were recently in Uganda, we (Jon & Ann) saw this need for water in person,
but the situation had become much more desperate . . .
There are 143 million orphans in the world today. Why should you CARE?
’cause it’s PURE!
We all know that it’s physically healthy to drink a lot of pure fresh water. Well, how much of God’s PURE and undefiled religion are we getting into our spiritual system on a regular basis?
The connection to the city water was too undependable and was often completely shut off. The workers were needing to haul plastic buckets (“jerry cans”) of water from a very dirty nearby stream that was covered with scum. It was horrible.
An urgent email just last week (on February 8th) highlighted this need once again. It was a real need . . . and very important. But beyond our capability.
And so WE PRAYED to our very REAL GOD!!!
Keep it Pure!
“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 5:12)
God’s Provision . . .
A few hours after receiving this email about the urgent need for water, Ann spoke at a local Christian school about world missions, orphans, and George Muller (a famous missionary from the 1800s who cared for thousands of orphans in Bristol, England). Together, the students and teachers agreed together in prayer for God to meet this need.
There was an excitement among the kids (and a faith in our hearts) that God would meet this need, just like He provided bread and milk for George Muller so long ago.
The very next day, we received a phone call from a lady who we had never met (she had read a mission article online and came to see Harvest Ministry’s website). On the phone, this woman shared how she and her husband felt in prayer that God was directing them to give a specific missions gift — of $6,000!!! — for Harvest Ministry’s urgent orphan needs!!!
WooHoo!!! The need was answered, with more than enough!
We were (and are) absolutely thrilled for this specific and abundant answer to prayer.
As with all designated missions donations (given directly to Harvest Ministry), 100% of this gift will be used overseas for the needs of these orphan children. For this need, $3,000 will be designated for the need for water for the orphans, and $3,000 to complete the construction of 10 greatly needed teacher’s rooms at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center.
To God be the GLORY!!!!
We’re so thankful for God’s provision and for the obedience and trust of this family (who we’ve never met). We’re so thankful for the hard work of all the teachers and leaders at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center. We’re so thankful for the prayers of the kids and teenagers at the Christian school . . . and for everyone who has been faithfully praying for Harvest Ministry’s orphan needs.
May God bless you all!!!
Click here to see more exciting pictures of the praise report!!!
Let’s drink more.
Let’s keep it pure.
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!
Hardcover – Available from Amazon.com
LOVING ORPHANS: Home Sweet Home in Uganda
Praising God for His Provision
We’re so thankful to be able to share an AWESOME report of God’s provision for much needed renovations (building maintenance, painting, roof repairs) along with a retaining wall to keep flood waters away from the school buildings and living areas.
Thank you for caring for these precious children!
ORPHAN NEWS: Group pictures & Answered prayers!
Group Pictures: Primary Kids @ “Guma Na Yesu”
We just received some new group photos from the primary school at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center. It’s challenging to get a picture with so many kids at once. These are the younger children. The older children are at the Secondary School (a few miles away).
Non-teaching staff
With the teachers & directors
Answered Prayers!
At Harvest Ministry’s Guma Na Yesu (Keep With Jesus) Children’s Center, in Uganda, East Africa, we had an urgent need for a new water tank and for teacher’s rooms at the school. Through a generous gift from a brand-new friend, God provided . . . and answered this need.
Recently, we shared about the testimony of answered prayer, and now we’re excited to share a few praise-report photos. This answer to prayer brings a HUGE RELIEF to the children and workers. We’re so thankful to the Lord.
From all of us and on behalf of every child at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center . . .“Thank You!!!”
We’re so appreciative for every friend
and for every gift of love . . . and for every prayer!God bless you!
God bless you . . . and please keep praying!!!
Learn more about how Harvest Ministry is LOVING ORPHANS.
Learn more about how you can SPONSOR ORPHAN CHILDREN.
Learn more about what GOD’S WORD says about ORPHANS.
Learn more about a few STARTLING ORPHAN STATISTICS.Pillows for Kiddos!
Goal Progress for Pillows & Power: 100%
Exciting News:
PHASE 1 of this GOAL is COMPLETE!!!
PHASE 2 of this GOAL is COMPLETE!!!
We now have POWER at Guma-Na-Yesu!WooHoo!!! Glory to God!
Thank you to everyone who gave and prayed!
PHASE 1: We are excited to report that Harvest Ministry has received enough special mission support to completely pay for the POWER (electricity hook-up to benefit all the younger children at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center) plus pillows for all of the older kids who are living at the secondary school.
PHASE 2: Praise God! The PILLOW-PROVISION for all of the younger children has now come in. The provision has been wired to Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center . . . and as soon as this support is processed, the blessings of pillows will be distributed to all the children.
What’s next . . . BEDS!!!
PHASE 3: Once all this POWER & PILLOW goal is met . . . will be believing God for hundreds of BUNK BEDS. This next project will be a HUGE need (at $40/child and over 500 children) . . . but we’re excited about the blessing it will be and the difference this will make!
Please keep praying!!! (And we’re not just saying that. We know that PRAYER SUPPORT makes a powerful difference. If you can PRAY for us, specifically, we would be so grateful.)
Can you Pray with us for Pillows & Power?
There are needs at Guma Na Yesu . . . that are on our hearts.The kids at Guma Na Yesu “Keep with Jesus” Children’s Center, such as brother and sister, David and Mackline (those cute little kiddos who are singing in the video above), are in a good, safe place. They have their basic needs met, unlike the sad and desperate situations where many of these kids (nearly all who are orphans) were before.
God is really doing so many GOOD things . . .
Good reports . . .
The children at Guma Na Yesu now have food to eat, blankets to keep them warm, and mattresses to sleep on (on the ground). They have clothing (uniforms, play clothes, pajamas, and church clothes), loving care, Christian education, and excellent spiritual training with real-life kingdom-advancing discipleship — including daily prayer, worship, Bible training, and even opportunities to participate in local (African) mission outreaches.
But our heart longs to do more . . .
Goal: A Pillow for Every Kiddo . . . & Power!
Specifically, the children at Guma Na Yesu do not have any pillows or beds, and there is no power. We have a goal to make some improvements, beginning with bringing in electricity, and then providing a personal PILLOW for every child. We want these kids to to know that Jesus loves them, cares for them, and wants them to have a sweet sleep.
With so many children, even simple improvements can be a huge need, but we know it’s not a big deal for God. Could you please pray with us, specifically, for God to help us to provide a pillow for every child and youth living at at the Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center — including all the primary school children and youth — which is a total of 700 children (and pillows!!!)
TOTAL PILLOW GOAL —700 pillows–remaining need: $0Praise Report of God’s Provision!
An additional GOAL is to bring in electricity to Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center. Recently, electricity was brought-in to a nearby property, so the cost of “hooking-in” is now only $2,000. This will greatly improve life at Guma Na Yesu.
TOTAL ELECTRICITY GOAL — $2,000
(PRAISE GOD! — This need has just been sponsored!!!)
Goal Progress . . .
TOTAL for our current Guma Na Yesu ORPHAN GOALS
(for 700 pillows and electricity) = $7/pillow
Remaining need: $0
Please pray with us!
This is an exciting and worthwhile goal!
WooHoo!!! Our PILLOW & POWER goal has been met!
(To help with future improvements for LOVING ORPHANS just click on the ADD TO CART button and/or PRAY!!! Our next exciting goal is for strong BEDS — at $40/child.)
Please let us know if you would like to become
a PARTNER with Harvest Ministry — just click here.(Or if you would prefer to send a mission gift in the mail, you can send a mission gift — designated for PILLOWS FOR KIDDOS — to Harvest Ministry.)
HARVEST MINISTRY
Jon & Ann Dunagan
P.O. Box 727
Hood River, OR 97040
Would you like to help share this need?
Here’s a “Pillows for Kiddos” button, along with a grab-code! You can also use the social media links at the bottom of this page. Here’s the button for your blog:
Thanks for being a friend . . .
“You have been the helper of the orphan.”
(Psalm 10:14b, NASB)
Future goals . . .
Other orphan needs we will work on, Lord willing, in the near future:
bringing in electricity($2000)— NEED SPONSORED!!! PRAISE JESUS!!!- purchasing triple metal bunk beds ($40 per child)
- plus continued daily provision for our ongoing orphan needs
Learn more about how we’re LOVING ORPHANS
Learn more about our ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP
Learn more about GUMA NA YESU Children’s Center
Learn about our new SECONDARY (high) SCHOOL
N.E.T.S. News – from Naboth & Alice
January – February – March, 2009
N.E.T.S. Minister Naboth, and his wife Alice (from Mbarara, Uganda – in East Africa) have had some exciting mission reports to share. Recently, they held village evangelistic outreaches in two locations (including a mission crusade in Keisho, Tanzania where approximately 1000 people heard the Gospel and hundreds prayed to surrender their lives to Jesus). As they prayed for the sick, several people testified of healing, including one woman who had been blind.
At Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center in Mbarara, Uganda (where over 700 orphan children are being trained and cared for, supported by Harvest Ministry), workers are currently plastering the new Guma Na Yesu school building, and soon the children will be settled in that location.
Prayer Request: Please pray for the brand-new believers who came to the Lord during Naboth’s recent mission outreaches, and also for the leaders and orphan children at Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center, during this school construction and transition time.
Praising God for Pillows!
We are excited about how God is answering our prayers and bringing greatly-needed improvement at Harvest Ministry’s Guma Na Yesu “Keep With Jesus” Children’s Center.
Thank you so much for LOVING ORPHANS with us. We are so grateful for every prayer and every gift that has been helping with this mission goal. Here are a few pictures showing a bit of the blessings from this month’s project: –PILLOWS FOR KIDDOS!
The pillow blessings begin . . .
Going to pick up the first batch of pillows . . .
a truck-full of love . . .
What a blessing!
Presenting pillows at Guma Na Yesu’s Kingdom Vocational Secondary School
Look at all the smiles. . .
Even the teachers got a pillow. May God bless them all for their ministry!
These kids are special and chosen!
HARVEST MINISTRY: Hallelujaaaaaaaah!!!! How exciting and wonderful. As each of these precious and awesome young people (and teachers) lay down their heads at night, may they each know that GOD cares for them so much, that they are LOVED, and that they are each CHOSEN one-by-one to be a blessing in the kingdom of God. Step-by-Step we’re moving forward. WE LOVE YOU ALL!!! — Harvest Ministry, Jon & Ann
GUMA NA YESU CHILDREN’S CENTER: Amen! Thanks Jon and Ann [and to everyone who gave to Harvest Ministry for these pillows]. All the children [the youth at GumaNaYesu’s Secondary School] were very happy to receive these, knowing they are loved and cared for. God is great. Blessings to you all. We love you so much !!! –Naboth & Alice
Thank you so much!
Thank you for your continued love and prayers for these children. This is just the first step. We’re continuing to work on PILLOWS for all the younger children.
Please keep praying!
More and more pillows!!!
We’re so THANKFUL to God (and to everyone who helped) for providing PILLOWS for all of the children at Guma-Na-Yesu “Keep With Jesus” Children’s Center. Just look at the faces of the kids and the JOY this gift brought to their hearts.
What a blessing!
Jesus loves the little children . . .
Each one . . .
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
God is so good! Thanks for bringing smiles to these kids.
