Heart for the Fatherless

Newsletter #1

2012-01-18T15:28:00.000-05:00

So my newsletter is done and I am sending them out this week. Most of the information in it has been posted to this blog. There are two sections that have not been posted on here, so here they are:

2 Month Internship with Agape Children’s Ministry

I have been given the amazing opportunity to spend two months in Kisumu, Kenya. I will be interning with Agape Children’s Ministry (for a full explanation of Agape please read the next page). I learned about Agape while at a conference put on by the Christian Alliance for Orphans. As I talked with the ladies at Agape’s booth and heard them explain the work they were doing, I realized this ministry is doing everything I want to do someday. I filled out an application, got some information and began praying. When I got back to Liberty University this past fall, I made sure that this could count for my psychology internship because in order to graduate May 2013 it must be completed. I talked to my professor and she said that it would meet the requirements. I then contacted Agape and tried to get the process moving quickly, so I could have time to raise support and get the internship squared away between Liberty and Agape. I did a Skype interview with the director in Kenya and he explained some of the day-to-day ministry in Kenya. He also gave me a picture of some of the things I would be able to be involved in. We talked about what dates would be best and some other logistical things. After that interview, I was more excited than ever to go to Kenya and serve with this ministry. It was a couple weeks later I received the official acceptance letter.

If you feel God leading you to partner with me financially in this ministry, here is some important information.

There are two ways to give. You can either send a check to Agape, with my name in the subject line, and including a printed and filled out form (see below) or you can give with PayPal on the Agape website. There will be a spot to put the reason for the gift and you can put my name there. Agape is a non-profit ministry and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt from them. You may also send your gift to me directly but you will not receive a tax-deductible gift receipt.

Lastly, if nay one would like me to email you a copy of the whole newsletter or would like to receive any future newsletters via email, please let me know.

Agape Children's Ministry

2011-12-07T16:03:00.002-05:00

Here is an overview of Agape Children's Ministry, the organization I will be working with this summer.

One-hundred fifty million abused and abandoned children, many orphaned by AIDS, live desperate lives trying to survive on the streets of virtually every city in the developing world. They are alone...hungry...without hope. They are society's outcasts, begging and stealing to make it through each new day. Agape Children's Ministry is a non-profit, Christian mission organization dedicated to bringing help and hope to these children.

Agape’s mission may be summed up in four words: rescue, redeem, rehabilitate, and reintegrate. We must first rescue the child from the life-threatening dangers of the streets. On the street they are victims of violence, physical abuse, malnutrition, and disease. Malaria and illnesses caused by eating rotten food from garbage bins and drinking contaminated water are common among street children. Many boys turn to sniffing glue in order to numb their minds and escape their loneliness and fear. Sadly, continued use of glue can cause irreversible brain damage.

As part of their rescue, Agape addresses their physical needs by providing a safe place to live, clothes, nutritious meals, and necessary medical care. The ministry also seeks to deal with their emotional and psychological needs. Agape provides an atmosphere of love and acceptance, where every boy is taught he is God’s unique and valued child. Most importantly, Agape shares the life-changing message of the Gospel with them. As they come to know and experience Christ’s love and forgiveness (redeem), emotional wounds heal—hope and purpose are restored.

The next step is to seek to rehabilitate the boys through academic and vocational training, equipping them to be independent and to live productive, contributive, Christ-centered lives when they leave Agape. Finally, Agape endeavors whenever possible to reintegrate the boy back into his family and community, re-connecting him with his roots and culture.

I am going to Kenya!!!

2011-12-01T11:41:00.003-05:00

I just received the official acceptance to do my internship in Kenya over the summer. I am looking at going during the months of June and July. It is probably going to cost somewhere from $3000-$3500. I am going to be ministering with Agape Children's Ministries. I will be finalizing dates, plane tickets, and all the logistics over the next month or so. I will try to write a post soon explaining the ministry a little more and what I will be doing. For now please pray as we make final decisions and as I start to raise support. I will be writing a support letter soon. I will post it to the blog for you all to see. Also, pray as I am finishing up the fall semester at Liberty and have 4 final test next week!

Update On Life

2011-10-24T16:43:00.002-04:00

It has been awhile since my last post. School started and my life became very busy. I wanted to give some updates on my life right now.

1. Christian Alliance for Orphans Conference: This is the conference I went to in May. It was really good and I would highly recommend making plans to be at the next one in California. I unfortunately will probably not make it to this one. At the one in May I came in contact with an organization called Agape Children’s Ministry. They work in Kenya with mainly street boys. After talking to the lady running the booth, I decided to try an intern with them next summer. I am currently in the process of working out details with them about next summer. I plan is to spend two month in Kenya working with the organization. Please pray that if this is God’s will it will work out and be great preparation for the future.

2. Liberty University: I am currently live on campus and getting a degree in Psychology at Liberty. I recently found out if I switch to online I could graduate a semester early and much, much cheaper. I am figuring out the details of switching right now. This would allow me to start looking for future placement on the mission field sooner that expected. Please pray as I figure out where I would live while finishing up online and if that is what I should do.

3. Relationship: I am currently dating one of the godliest girls I know. She also has a heart for missions and orphans. Please pray for us as we grow closer together and seek God’s will for our lives.

I will try to update these prayer requests as they happen. Also, I will try to start posting resources and news reports again as I come across them. Thank you for your prayers.

Poverty Cure

2011-09-21T16:07:00.002-04:00

We need a shift in our mindset as westerners. We need to stop allowing people to become dependent on us and help them become independent.

Child Mutilated for Profit

2011-05-05T17:05:00.004-04:00

This story makes me sick to my stomach. The thought of a 7 year old boy being maimed in such a grotesque way is almost unthinkable. The things man will do to make money. One of the saddest things about this story is that it is come place in some of these countries. It is not always quit so violent but some times it is. Pray for these little ones who have no one to protect them from greedy men. A think what would God have you do to help them?

Here is the full story.

Why do we talk instead of act?

2011-05-02T00:35:00.003-04:00

This past week I have been thinking about why we do not act on our words as Christian. We say that we care about the lost but how many times do we stop and talk to someone about spiritual things? We say that we stand for life but there are children waiting for homes and we say we are to busy or give some other lame excuse to justify not taking them in. I mean if we expect a lost young girl to not abort a baby that will possibly ruin her plans but we will not sacrifice our comfort and finances to help those children already born with no home, what kind of hypocrites are we? We complain about the financial crisis in our country but instead of complaining about how to much money goes into welfare programs why doesn't the church stand up and care for these people with Christ's love and make the government programs obsolete. There are so many examples that I could make but it all comes back to the original question. Why do we talk, complain, and judge instead of acting with Christ's love by sacrificing our time, money, and lives? Here is a song that kind speaks to this issue.

Foxes Have Foxholes - Whistle Blower [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

2011-04-18T12:54:00.002-04:00

This is a great song on the feelings of a child solders. Many people have heard of the whistle blowers. This song is about them specifically. For those who have not heard about them they are young children who are forced to be on the front lines and blow whistles in order to distract the opposing army.

The Truth About Adoption

2011-03-14T13:57:00.002-04:00

This a great music video by Third Day. They put adoption in a right perspective. Adoption is not just charity to a less fortunate child. An adopted child is just as much a part of a family as a birth child. In the same way we that have been adopted by God are his children just like Christ.

Rom. 8:15-17
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

If you would like to explore this top more thoroughly I would suggest reading Adopted For Life by Russell Moore.

Does Immigration Help World Poverty?

2011-01-19T23:25:00.003-05:00

I was made aware of this video clip though an email. It talks about how immigration is hurting the impoverished people of the world and how if we really want to make a difference we need to infest in local leaders, who are willing to stay in their countries and change them. It is only 6 min and it will be well worth your time.

Life and Justice Conference

2011-01-18T15:56:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to let everyone know about a conference this weekend (Jan 22). It is the Life and Justice Conference put on by Focus on the Family, New Life Church, Children's HopeChest, and iEmpathize. I found out about this conference on Tom Davis' blog and am going to try tp be listening in on the web. I hope you will be listening as well.

The Boy Without a Name

2011-01-13T16:39:00.001-05:00

This is an amazing testimony and a story of success. The Boy Without a Name

A New Year

2011-01-03T19:52:00.002-05:00

Another year has come and gone. Looking back it was a year filled with change and taking steps toward the fulfillment of my hearts desire, aka caring for the fatherless. Those steps include getting connected with the Christian Alliance For Orphans and it’s member organizations, reading several books on caring for the fatherless, and changing my major at Liberty Univ. to Family and child development. Also I have meet many families that have adopted or are in the process. I became the vice-president of the International Justice Mission chapter at Liberty as well.
I am very excited about this upcoming year. There are many opportunities on the horizon. One of which is a possible missions trip to a Ugandan orphanage. Also, I am going to try to go to the Summit VII put on by the Christian Alliance For Orphans. I am going to try to be updating this blog more with what I am doing as well as the usual news stories. Please pray that God would continue to provide the finances for school and other things he calls me to do. Have a great beginning to the year.

Eric Ludy - Depraved Indifference

2010-12-13T19:56:00.001-05:00

There is nothing I can really add. This is a very powerful and moving message.

Change Their Story

2010-11-16T09:54:00.004-05:00

I am trying to raise $500 by Christmas! This money will go to Children's Hopechest to help provide care for Russian girls who have been trafficked for sex. I would like you to consider helping me by donating $5 or $10. Click on the "Change Their Story" button. Then click on the "Find Participant" button and type in my name, Zachariah Canfield. Then make your donation.

3 1/2 Hours Away

2010-10-12T14:29:00.002-04:00

Just 3 1/2 hrs from Liberty University, where I am studying, a major sex trafficking ring was busted. Charlotte, NC is a major city for sex trafficking because it is in between Atlanta and D.C. Major highways also run through the city. There is a large Hispanic population, allowing girls from Central America to go unnoticed. Here is the full story.

A Seventh Grade Girl Is Trafficked for Sex in the United States

2010-09-28T13:22:00.002-04:00

A Seventh Grade Girl Is Trafficked for Sex in the United States

Child witches?

2010-08-29T18:42:00.005-04:00

In Niger local pastors are tell parents that there children are witches. When something bad happens the children are blamed. The pastors say they can help these children for a price. This is a horrible tragedy. Then the parents that don't have money will either abandon there children or torture them in some way. Here is a 7 min video to help explain.

Child Slavery

2010-08-27T17:30:00.003-04:00

Here is video on sex trafficking in Afghanistan. It was done my Frontline. It is long but very well done. I encourage you all to watch it. http://video.pbs.org/video/1474778660/

Great Book

2010-08-02T14:09:00.003-04:00

I just finished a book called Adopted For Life by Russell D Moore. I first picked up the book because I had heard about it at the Summit 6 conference. I figured it was for those who were thinking about adoption. I am planning to adopt someday so I thought I might enjoy it. God used that book to open my eyes to my adoption as a child of God and what that truly means. Also he show how adoption is fulfilling the great commission and that we all should have a part in it.

Living Freely: Meet Vishal and Rakeesh

2010-06-29T22:10:00.000-04:00

Living Freely: Meet Vishal and Rakeesh

Eternity

2010-06-27T17:25:00.001-04:00

I have been thinking about eternity recently. The question that comes to my head is “What am I doing today that matters for eternity?” Sadly, I think most days the answer is nothing. But how would it look if everyday I did something for eternity? Does that I mean I don’t do anything but witness. What else matters for eternity? The Bible talks about storing up treasures in Heaven. So giving lasts for eternity. Jesus also says whatever you do for the least of these you have done for me. So loving the poor, the widow and the orphan matters for eternity. What about prayer, having a relationship with God? That would have to matter. I know this is just a starting place but I want to get us thinking about why we are here. What are we doing to make our life count and when we get to heaven here God say “Well done my good and faithful servant”?

If you have more thing that matter please leave a commit and lets help one another on our journey.

Contentment in Ministry

2010-05-21T10:05:00.003-04:00

So I kinda feel like an outsider right now. I am in a whole different ministry, with a whole different focus. I know God has em here but every day it gets harder to stay content. I love what I am doing right now. I mean getting to teach kids about God every night is great but I can feel my heart being torn away to those who physical are fatherless. I need to keep my prospective though. God has put me in a ministry and I need to be faithful to the end. God has given me a ministry to a boy hundreds of miles away, who is going through some hard times. If you think about it pray for wisdom for me. he is asking a lot of hard questions and I don't have all the answers. Thankfully I have a God who does.

Mondern Day Slavery is Real!

2010-05-18T23:25:00.003-04:00

http://vimeo.com/10908340
This video show the statistics but what are you going to do to stop it? I know I have not been aware of the issue. I am just learning but I know God is growing in me a passion for those in physical bondage. If you have any info for me as I start this journey I would love to hear.

causelife 60 second promo

2010-05-14T16:22:00.001-04:00

What is the answer to poverty? Water!?

2010-05-14T15:28:00.003-04:00

I just read a book called CauseLife. It was eye opening about how water can change so many lives. i have traveled to several countries and you always hear the "don't drink the water" warnings. I always thought that was because my stomach could not handle it. What I did not realize is that the natives' stomach cannot handle it either, it is killing them. The reason is the water is contaminated with worms, parasites, bacteria, and diseases! "Unclean water, together with the poor sanitation it creates, is the number one killer in the World. Combine war, malaria, HIV/aids, and even traffic accidents ... dirty water still kills more people." That is a quot from the book CauseLife. Many of those are children and almost all those are living in sever poverty. One of the best ways to prevent this is to provide clean water. So check out what causelife.org to see how to combat this problem and if you want this book you can get it for free there as well.

How to End the Crises

2010-05-13T22:47:00.004-04:00

It is amazing to think that if only 7% of professing Christians adopted one child, there would be no orphan crises. So why aren't people adopting? Well i see a couple reasons. First most people don't realize God heart for orphans, so they do nothing. Secondly people are scared. they are afraid to do anything that might bring trial (which make us more like Christ by the way). Lastly they can't. Whether it is because of age or other restrictions, they just physical or legally can not do it. What catagory do you find yourself in?

"A Father to the Fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families." Psalm 68:5,6

My Heart

2010-05-11T22:03:00.009-04:00

Well as my first post I think I will share my heart with you. I have a burden for the Fatherless. Now when I say fatherless I do not just mean those without a father. I believe that anyone who does not know the love of a father or mother could fit into that category and in a spiritual sense that would be anyone who is not a Christ follower. I however use that term more for those who physically do not have that kind of love. So by God's power I want to live my life to show those children love, Christ's love.