Day 3 - The Church...That's You!

In honor of the upcoming Orphan Sunday (November 4^th), we are hosting a Prayer Campaign to prepare our hearts and minds for the day set aside to honor the orphaned, knowing that PRAYER is the best place to start!

If you missed Day 1 & Day 2, check it out here and here. 

We’re thankful that you’ve tuned in for Day 3 of our prayer campaign as we pray for the Church, the body of Christ, and our role we have been given as believers.  Let’s peek again into His Word to see how our Father God has described this role….

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Isaiah 1:17

 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27

 “When you gather the grapes in your vineyard, don’t glean the vines after they are picked. Leave the remaining grapes for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.” Deuteronomy 24:21

Learn. Seek. Help. Defend. Fight. Care. Do some of these words sound familiar from yesterday?  When we love like God loves and our hearts break for what breaks His, we, through His spirit, have the opportunity to be Jesus to a world in need.  Jesus himself prayed in John 17 that God’s love would be in us! Now, what are we going to do with that love? 

Today, please join us in praying for your church, your orphan ministry, and YOUR role in the body of Christ. 

Dear Father, Today I pray for myself as a church member.  I ask that You would lead me, that I might walk in obedience. Show me how to encourage my church family to care for the needs of orphans.

I pray for my church members and leaders.  Provide for our church’s orphan care ministry.  Please provide people, prayers, money, food and supplies to give the orphans all the care they need.

I pray that every member of my church would remember and acknowledge and praise you God because before the world was made, You loved us and chose us, and that Your unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into Your own family by bringing us to Yourself through Jesus Christ and that this gave You great pleasure. (Ephesians 1:3-5) In Jesus’ Name, Amen 

Today we ask that you put YOUR name in the comment so we can join you in prayer!

Tear Down That Tent!! - Lifesong Honduras

It's official! The 'extreme makeover' has begun for Tree of Life/Lifesong Honduras' new Multi-Purpose Building! This new building will be used as the primary assembly space, dining hall as well as gymnasium for our 550 students and staff. Our staff in-country are diligently posting day-by-day updates of the construction progress and we invite you to join in the journey! Simply click here to keep track of Lifesong Honduras' new makeover and look for updates on Lifesong's Facebook Page. We hope that you will join us in prayer for the safety of the workers, wisdom of the staff, and the future impact this project will have on our students!  The progress so far...    Last worship service in the tent  The tent coming down   Old foundation removed New space beginning to form! For more day-to-day updates...click here.

Summit VIII Reflection

Listen in to Summit VIII reflection from Christian Alliance for Orphans' President Jedd Medefind:

Summit VIII was nothing short of amazing.  Even for those of us who spent a lot of time scurrying behind the scenes, the passion and wisdom and experiences brought not only by formal presenters, but by virtually every attendee, left us full-to-the-brim.  Many of the workshop and plenary sessions will be available for download online in the weeks ahead, and we’ll share more stories and reflections as well.  But here’s one window from an article in the Christian Post that accurately captured the theme that pulsed in every aspect of Summit: Justice and Mercy Flow from the Gospel. 

Here's a glimpse into the Lifesong booth displaying the 2300 handprints (2nd picture) representing the number of children Lifesong has help bring into Christian adoptive families. We were so excited to MEET some of these families who have partnered with Lifesong like Dustin & Katie (3rd picture)

We'd love to hear from YOU! Whether you were able to attend Summit in person or through the LIVE Webstream, what was your favorite part or how did God speak to you through this event? We'd love to hear from you!

Also: Register today for Summit IX in May 2013 in Nashville, TN!

Connecting Hearts Conference

When?: February 25, 2012 (8:30 am - 2:30 pm)

Where?: East White Oak Church (11922 E 2000 North Rd, Carlock, IL)

What?: a FREE conference to help educate & equip YOU--a worker in HIS field

Why?: The Connecting Hearts with the Forgotten Conference exists to help people capture the heart of God for the fatherless among us and throughout the world.

Visit The Connecting Hearts with the Forgotten Conference to see sessions, speakers, schedule, exhibitors and how you can register for this special event! 

Lifesong will be there...will you?

Church Fund Update - A Year in Review

What do the great states of Washington, California, Texas, Florida, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Maine have in common?  Many things I'm sure, but one thing is they all have several churches who partner with Lifesong for Orphans to care for orphans and adoptive families. In fact, those 7 States are joined by church fund partners in 25 other states (combined 32 states) in which 166 churches partner with Lifesong for Orphans.  Each Orphan Care / Adoption Ministry is led by wonderful, servant-hearted Christ-followers who are working hard and sacrificially to be the hands and feet of God’s heart for the orphan. 

2011 has been a ‘record’ year for Lifesong in many ways and we praise the Lord for the opportunity He has given us to partner with special people in making an eternal difference in the lives of so many voiceless children.  We have truly seen Proverbs 68:5-6 in action this year!

'Father to the fatherless, defender of widows – this is God, whose dwelling is holy.  God places the lonely in families.'

-Rich Metcalfe, Lifesong for Orphans, Program Director 

See it in the stats...

• Growing number of Church Fund partners -- 166 church funds in 32 states
• 33 'Outside the Wall' adoptions this year
• Over $1.2 million committed grants & loans for adoptive families from Lifesong & Church Fund Partners
• November--record month--$126,000 of the $170,000 committed to adoptive families for grants & loans came from Lifesong Church Funds Partners

 What's all this talk about Lifesong Church Funds? Check out this video to learn more!