Rallying an Industry behind the cause of the orphan

Retail Orphan Initiative  - Rallying an Industry behind the cause of the orphan    

It started as a chance meeting between two retail technology executives. Paul Singer was a huge adoption advocate working with JCICS and CCAI. Greg Buzek had recently launched an orphan care ministry and church adoption fund at Grace Chapel in Leipers Fork, TN. They met in the midst of a gathering of over 40,000 technologists in San Francisco to talk about how they might work together and learn from each other.

In their discussions they bemused, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could get the $12 trillion retail industry excited about the cause of the orphan?”  Then it was just as if the Lord dropped the name right out there…Retail Orphan Initiative or RetailROI. It’s a term that resonates with the technology side of the business. 

2 weeks later interested parties were invited to a conference call and 6 weeks later the Retail Orphan Initiative was created.  The charity has three primary goals:

1. To raise awareness to the needs of the over 400 million orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide.

2. To help companies create internal programs to help in their communities and supply chain.

3. To help collect funds and distribute those funds to charities who are on the front-lines of working in orphan care and adoption.

RetailROI held its first major fundraiser in January 2010 in conjunction with the National Retail Federation Show and raised $115,000. In attendance were retailers representing more than 107,000 retail stores. People are starting to catch the vision! Vendors are now making donations in lieu of giving away coffee mugs and other branded items. 

RetailROI has given over $90,000 in grants to LifeSong, Bethany Christian Services, 4Kids of South Florida, Lydia Home, Free for Life Ministries, and FulaaLifeline.

The charity is now working with retailers to take donations from consumers at the cash register where they can round up their transaction to the nearest $1 or make a fixed dollar contribution at the register. 

God has a big plan for orphan care through His church and through you... He has no backup plan!

THE BIG BUILD!

The Big Build from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Both Hands, in partnership with Lifesong for Orphans is excited to give you a glimpse into the 1st Annual Big Build project!

The Project took place on 3/20/10 is the first annual fundraiser by Both Hands Foundation. Our goal is to raise $50,000.  That money will be used in three ways –

1. Adoption funding (grants and loans)
2. Orphan Care projects
3. We have a generous philanthropist who has agreed to match whatever we raise, dollar for dollar. In other words, all the money raised will go towards adoptions and orphan care and the operating expenses of Both Hands will be covered by the matching funds.

We are currently at $45,668.19 and invite you to be a part of this awesome opportunity. You get two for the price of one!!  Think big!!

Changing a Nation!

Edmund Gives Back from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

In a valley surrounded by mountains, on the outer edges of the jungle, Lifesong Honduras was birthed in the hearts of its founding fathers 22 years ago. The dream was, that poverty stricken youth of Honduras would find a haven from the outside forces of the world, in which to continue their education past elementary school, something the Honduras government was unable to sustain. Since then many of the country’s youth have been impacted, touched not only for their good, but the good of their country.

Today, the vision continues to grow as Director Guy Henry and his staff advance its mission statement, “Finding a need, meeting a need, changing the nation”. This year another dimension has been added to this statement, that of “causing a revolution”. It is their desire to “revolutionize” the country, affecting neighboring regions and impacting future generations to come.

Click here to read more. Lifesong Honduras. Changed Lives.

Reflections from Summit VI

Well bloggy friends... we've been wanting to post a Summit follow up, but have been utterly speechless at what we experienced! In the midst of processing all the emotions the weekend entailed, we've come across some INCREDIBLE postings from others which sum up our thoughts quite well.

One of the special apsects of Summit is to see the Body of Christ (church, gov't, non-profits, individuals) working together in unity - it's all too rare.  It was thrilling to see the high quality "equipping" that was going on in the breakout sessions." - Andy Lehman, Lifesong for Orphans

What just a few years ago was essentially a small, disconnected and often isolated hodgepodge of orphan and adoption advocates…has grown into an increasingly intertwined, unified, mutually-nourishing movement that grows daily.  Clearly, there’s something more at work here than human hands." - Jedd Medefind, Christian Alliance for Orphans

Summit VI stirred so many emotions in my soul and helped reaffirm the knowledge of God’s loving, persistent and personal invitation to join Him in His mighty fight for His children.  I pray that each of us that were blessed to be there would take the words and images that we heard and saw and let them sink deep into our mind and hearts and ultimately produce fruit with our hands and feet as we together seek to bring glory to our Heavenly Father." - Leah Gerber, Lifesong for Orphans

What blew me away was thinking about just how many children each of those hands will come to represent in the months and years ahead as they go out and “vindicate the weak and fatherless . . . ” (Psalm 82:3). - Jason Weber, Hope for Orphans

A countless number of churches, that up until this conference did not have an orphans ministry, were represented by lay people impassioned to get involved. That means, churches from coast to coast, who did not have orphans ministries, will now have the ability to be mobilized. I am truly excited to see how many of these local champions will have success stories to tell at next year’s Summit VII!!" - Shane McBride, Hope for Orphans

YES... you HAVE to go next year!

Lifesong Ukraine update

Please enjoy these updates from Denis, director for Lifesong Ukraine orphan care -

Recently we had a special church gathering where 3 of our kids were baptized!  It has taken many years of labor, prayer and encouragement for them to be where they are right now. We are thankful for His mercy in their lives. Please be prayerful as they go through the school and mature in Christ.”

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“Tanya and I were able to take the new 9 passenger van to Volodya and Lilya, who are raising 10 kids (5 biological and 5 adopted, 1 with HIV).  Before they drove a compact size car.  I know it is hard to imagine how they all fit into that vehicle but every Sunday they would pack in and go to church together as well as make daily trips to school! 

Needless to say how happy they all were to see us coming in two vehicles and leaving in one. It is a longterm prayer need which God has answered through our joint efforts.”

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“It has been great to see the Zap team grow and we now have a group of 15 older kids consistently visiting church!  However we still need 1)more staff on sports, one-on-one, and job skills 2)more families for adoption and foster care, and 3)a new transition home!

Among those who have been changed, Vova, 17, recently repented! He wanted to be a professional boxer but now desires to be a preacher. It’s hard to believe but it’s a true story. Vova came from bad company, was beaten many times, and took part in major street fights. But God changes lives. Now he wants to be in our transitional program for graduates!”

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Testimonials from our special needs program:

Lena, teacher & speech therapist: I have worked with these kids for almost 2 years. I want to be a tool in God’s hands so He can touch those kids through everything we do while at the orphanage. I see change in their lives little by little.  Also, the hearts of non-Christian staff members are changing because of our CCP efforts!

Vitalik, photography teacher: The boys we work with have a big heart and a huge desire to learn new things. It is a great joy to work on photography with them.

Pasha, 24, future orphanage graduate: I believe that God is my Saviour and that He is now living in my heart. I am looking forward to the time when I can leave the orphanage and function well in the society and church. Thanks to the LS team for the great support they provided and that they led me to God.