Lifesong Cup Builds Relationships - Lifesong Ukraine

We invite you to share a word of encouragement to our staff at Lifesong Ukraine. To do so, please comment on this post or on our Facebook wall and it will be forwarded to our staff. Thank you in advance for your kind words of support!   Please enjoy this update from Denis, Lifesong Ukraine Director... "This past weekend we had our fourth LS cup soccer competition where four teams have been qualified and participated in the semi-finals and final game. Sport is a great tool to reach out to the kids who would not typically attend our regular CCP lessons and Bible studies. With some of the kids we have just reinforced our influence and secured our relations.  As we did in previous years we have rented local Football Club Metalist stadium training fields and played four games. It was a two day event where all of the kids competition participants stayed at our camp property. LS cup goes to Zap this year, Sach got silver, Loubetin bronze.  October 11-14 there was a small camp at the Equestrian Sport base "Scope" for children who have already graduated from a boarding school in past years. The camp was attended by both boys and girls, who study in boarding schools, and those who have finished boarding. Some of them are now members of the Kharkov churches, some with spouses and children - they were talking about their faith. We could also see the results of our service."  Please continue to pray for the kids that we serve -- specifically that their hearts would be open and soft to the acceptance the Gospel.

Orphan Sunday: One Day. One Voice. One Purpose.

On November 4th, as well as the surrounding Sundays, thousands of events will echo across America and around the globe, all sharing a single goal: that God's steadfast love for the orphan will also stir in our hearts.  From many sources, one voice.  Orphan Sunday is an opportunity to excite family, community, church and friends to God's call to care for the orphan. As Orphan Sunday approaches, we pray you will dedicate time on one Sunday in honor of the fatherless.  Here are a few helpful and practical recourses for how to spend an Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans' Orphan Sunday.org website: Partnership Packages - Ideas and action points from over 20 different orphan, adoption & foster care organizations so you can find an activity that fits your church. (Be sure to check out Lifesong's Partnership Packages as well!) The Orphan's Table - Experiences impact us more deeply than words. On Orphan Sunday, share a meal eaten by orphans around the world.  Gather with family, small group or church for the meal, discussion and prayer. More Resources - Check out OrphanSunday.org for other church resources such as sermon starters, worship songs, bible studies, bulletin inserts, prayer guides, and much more! We are hopeful you and your church family will honor orphans by participating in Orphan Sunday.

Celebrate Advent, Love Orphans

Ad·vent 

noun \ˈad-ˌvent, chiefly British -vənt\

Definition: the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting; the coming of Christ at the Incarnation; a coming into being or use

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advent)

I'm sure many of you have celebrated "the countdown" in various different ways from eating a candy a day to daily acts of kindness to reading a portions of scripture. 

This year, I invite you to read the letter below from Jenna and Jessica Metcalfe, daughters of our Program Director, Rich Metclafe.  Jenna and Jessica used their creative hearts to come up with this special advent calendar. Listen in...

Over three years ago, our family felt God calling us to adopt.  The process has been long and crazy, but God has opened our eyes to the huge orphan crisis around the world.  We learned of the need for Christians to step up and be God’s hands and feet to reach out to His children.  So often it’s easy for us to think, ‘Oh, I’m just a teenager… I can’t do anything about a big problem like this.  Maybe when I grow up God will call me or show me how to help orphans.’ 

But God has told us as believers to help the fatherless, and there is no good reason why we shouldn’t start now.  First Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”  We have the opportunity and the responsibility to use our time, energy and enthusiasm for God’s kingdom and for His glory.  So let’s do it! 

We’ve put together an advent calendar that counts down to Christmas from December 1st-24th.   Each day there is a little instruction saying something like "Give 2 cents for every pair of shoes in your home".  Also, there are two Bible references each day – one about orphans and one telling the Christmas story. We hope to raise awareness about the plight of orphans and God’s heart for them. And that from an increased awareness, we all would not only realize how blessed we are in America, but also be motivated to share from those blessings to bring physical relief, joy and purpose to orphans. 

Thank you for prayerfully considering this opportunity to show the love of Jesus to so many vulnerable children.

In His love,

Jessica and Jenna

This is where you, your family, church, youth group, college group, office team, and whoever else can come in! How to get your calendar(s):

1. Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org & order the number of calendars you need
2. Lifesong will send you the Advent Calendar Kit which includes letter, instructions & calendars
3. Get your group together to introduce Calendar (feel free to use Lifesong videos) and assemble (1-step process) 
4. On Orphan Sunday, November 4th, present idea to church and pass out calendars
5. After Christmas, collect money and send in to Lifesong for Orphans

100% of the money raised will go straight to the orphans that Lifesong helps care for (that’s more than 3,500 orphans!).

Advent Calendar
 

 

ORDER YOUR CALENDAR TODAY -- info@lifesongfororphans.org

TFI: Foster Care Worker Appreciation

The Forgotten Initiative celebrated National Foster Care Worker Month in June and took it a step further to invite workers in our local community (Bloomington Normal, IL) to an appreciation picnic.  Over 70 workers joined the fun! Check out these pictures!

Thanks TFI for taking the time to honor and appreciate those who work in Foster Care!!

To learn more about The Forgotten Initiative and how YOU can bless your local foster care community, visit the TFI website.

Construction Continues - Lifesong Ethiopia

Please enjoy this update from Gary Ifft, Lifesong Ethiopia...

"Construction progress continues to go well.  Shown below in a picture is part of the 14 room (12 classroom) Primary School building in Ziway.  As you can see, the floor between the first and second floors has been poured and work is under way to lay the blocks for the walls of the second story.  We are still waiting for the floor to cure, thus the "forest" of eucalyptus poles which are holding up the forms are still in place.  Cutting and placing those thousands of poles is an engineering marvel, but it's the way such work is done here in Ethiopia.

Also shown below is the front of the new four classroom building in Adami Tulu.  Being a much smaller project it is further along.  The tile floors are being laid, the ceilings are being painted, and preparations are being made for finishing the windows and doors.    With our projected increase of 150 students this September (from 600 to 750) we will need these buildings finished and ready for use by then." Child Sponsorship Update: We are thankful to have 16 more children sponsored since our last update! If you are interested in supporting one of the remaining 54 students, please visit the Sponsorship Website.