Agape Children's Ministry

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.

Child Mutilated for Profit

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?

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.

The Truth About Adoption

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.

The Boy Without a Name

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

Eric Ludy - Depraved Indifference

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

Great Book

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.

My Heart

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.