Lifesong "Mission Moment"

Faith. Family. Home.In caring for orphans, our hope is to instil faith, family and a sense of home deep into the hearts of every child we are blessed to serve. Please enjoy this month's Mission Moment highlighting the fruit of God's work through us.

Baptized in the Name of the ONE True God...

In a country where the worship of many gods is commonplace, lives of children are being changed and transformed by the working of Jesus Christ, the ONE true God. Lifesong India provides homes for almost 600 children who are all being exposed to the gospel of our loving, merciful and kind Father God.
Baptism has always been a powerful symbol of Christianity. This symbol is especially notable in this culture because through this outward testimony of faith, children are publicly turning away from false gods to rely only on Jesus! Witness the baptism of the girls from one of our homes below. Learn more about Lifesong India >>

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38 

Building Children's Home in Guatemala

It's exciting to see the progress of our new orphan care initiative in Guatemala. Construction has started on the family homes that will one day invite orphans with special needs into their doors to give faith, family and a future to children in need. Thanks to many of you for your support in this exciting new project!

Please continue to pray for safety and wisdom as construction continues. Learn more about Lifesong Guatemala: Village of Hope >>

Read more about Faith, Family & Home...

Orphans in Ukraine Find Forever Families -- Through Adoption with Borders, like-minded families and churches in the USA connect with Christian families in Ukraine who are seeking to adopt.  Read Full Story

Planting Spiritual Seeds in Liberia -- Our aim is to help children develop a personal relationship with the Lord and to keep that relationship growing.  Read Full Story

Mehesh, A Life Changed -- "I don't want to think about what my life would be like if I didn't have the opportunity to live at that home (Chitty Memorial Home in Lifesong India)..." Read full story

Help Reece's Rainbow win $50,000

We have two children with Down Syndrome through adoption. We are so grateful to Reece's Rainbow and their ministry to help orphans with Down Syndrome.

This beautiful young lady has written a song about her siblings with Down Syndrome. She wants to donate $50,000 to help more children with Down Syndrome to find families.  If she gets 700,000 hits on her video she wins $50,000 for Reece's Rainbow. You can read more about her quest to win $50,000 for Reece's Rainbow HERE.

New ShowHope Video

Church Adoption Funds Through Lifesong

"The blessings go way beyond any financial support because the family is just knowing that the church cares."

--Dave Blaske, His Kids-Our Homes Adoption Fund Director

Listen in as His Kids-Our Homes Adoption Fund share about their partnership with Lifesong for Orphans...

It has been exciting for us as a ministry to have a front-row view in what God is doing through our 210 active and intentional Church Fund Partners.  In the past six months alone, we have seen the generosity of these churches provide over $627,650 to 193 adoptive families in the form of grants and loans.

The refreshing joy of serving families, blessing orphans, and ultimately glorifying God is at the core of each church fund that we partner with.  We celebrate the work that God is doing through each of them as He places the lonely into families (Psalm 68:6). 

For more stories about how a church fund can bless adoptive families, we invite you to watch the Quine & Stewart family adoption videos.

To learn more about Lifesong Church Funds, please visit our website or contact Rich Metcalfe (309.747.4528, rich@lifesongfororphans.org)

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works." Hebrews 10:24  

More on Lifesong for Orphans in Zambia

***Impact Zambia Update: 30 commitments...4 days to go. Needing 70 more Impacters!

Impact children like Bwalya Bwayla & have your gift MATCHED!!

As you saw in the video, Bwalya Bwalya became a double orphan because of HIV/Aids when he was only five years and now he, too, is HIV+.  Thankfully, Bwalya Bwalya lives with his grandparents and is able to attend the Lifesong Zambia School. Despite his uncertain past, he has a hopeful future because of the presence of Christ in his life and the opportunity to receive an education.

We have launched an Impact Zambia 100 campaign that will help build a high school for Bwalya Bwayla and other children in similar life situations.  We are nearly 1/3 of the way there and have only 4 days left.  

We are looking for 100 people to make a monthly commitment of $20 for one year to help complete this building project.

MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITY! 
(that's right--gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to a generous donor!)


Sixty-seven cents a day from 100 people for a year can make this vision a reality for children like Bwalya Bwalya.

4 days left 70 people to go...Will you join us?

To join Impact Zambia 100, email info@lifesongfororphans.org

To learn more about Impact Zambia 100, click here. 

For every person who joins the Impact Zambia 100 team and mentions my name, Rebecca Maas, I will be entered into a drawing to win a trip to Orphan Summit VIII. 

Lifesong for Orphans - Zambia 100 Team

 Join us to IMPACT lives in Zambia...   

    

"Hi.  My name is Richard.  I am in grade 7.  I stay with my sister, Josephine.  I have three brothers and two sisters.  My other sister attends Lifesong and is in grade 5.  Her name is Emelia.  My mother stays in a village far away.  My father died in 2006.  Thank you for supporting me and may God bless you and add more days to your life.  My favorite subject is art."

Richard is just ONE of the 253 students that we are blessed to serve at Lifesong Zambia.  He is also one of the students that will be moving on to grade 8 this fall.  

Without the construction of new classrooms, Richard may join the 95% of Zambian children that are not able to attend High School. 

Will you join us in impacting the lives of children like Richard?

To add to the excitement--thanks to a generous donor, all donations will be matched up to $225,000!!

  

To join the Impact Zambia 100 team, email info@lifesongfororphans.org!

For every person who joins the Impact Zambia 100 team and mentions my name, Rebecca Maas, I will be entered into a drawing to win a trip to Orphan Summit VIII. 

Steven Curtis Chapman and the Maas Family

Last night we had the opportunity to volunteer with Show Hope at The Songs and Stories Tour in our home town.  We received a big surprise when I mentioned that our son was on the PR material for Show Hope.  Here he is standing in front of the banner with his picture.

 
The next thing I know we are standing on stage with Steven Curtis Chapman and he is introducing us to the audience.  How cool is that!  Here is a little video clip that my mom, who just happened to be attending the concert, took while we were on stage. Sorry the video is turned sideways.  I love at the end you can hear my dad say, "those are my grandkids".  He is a proud Poppy!




Afterwards we spent a few minutes talking with Steven Curtis Chapman and took a quick picture.  Our family has truly been blessed by this ministry and it was quite an honor to participate in the evening.  Oh, and yes in the video we announce that we are adopting again!!

If you are not in a position to adopt right now but you have a heart for orphans please consider a sponsorship through Show Hope.  You can make a difference in an orphan's life.

What do Football and Orphans have in common?

If you are having a Super Bowl Party please consider taking time during half-time and participate in Tony's challenge.
Tony's Halftime Video Kit is available at:
www.adoptionjourney.org/dungyhalftime  

TV watch party organizers will find 3 things in the kit (free):

• Downloadable versions of the 3 minute video message from Tony & Lauren Dungy
• Instructions on how to burn the video to DVD or stream it to TV set boxes
• Conversation guide with suggestions on presenting the message with friends & family gathered that day

Do you have room?

During a recent conversation with my husband about adopting more children the phrase, "we have no room" came up several times.   You will not hear those words from our mouths EVER again!!!

Sometimes God gives one of his children a clear message to share with others.  God gave Megan @ Millions of Miles words to share and they have changed me profoundly.  Go read her post titled "Do you have room?"  Not only has God given this message to Megan but to several other people recently. Catch what Amy just posted last week.  

After you read her post watch this video.



and this video.


That Whoever Believes in Him from Southland Christian Church on Vimeo.

MAYBE GOD IS TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING????

Samaritan's Purse

Before we left for Sera's wish trip we made sure we packed our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  This is one of our FAVORITE holiday traditions.  We get the opportunity to bless a child overseas with Christmas presents and share the good news of Jesus Christ.  Each of our children write a letter and pack their own box.  The pictures below are of them writing letters to put in their boxes.

Don't despair, if you forgot or just did not have time, you can still pack a shoebox online. Operation Christmas Child has a page where you can Build-a-box online and choose which items you want included in your box.  You can also make a financial donation to help with expenses related to shipping of the shoeboxes.

Lifesong for Orphans - HopeEthiopia100

Hope Ethiopia from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Children at the Lifesong Ethiopia school  are fed 2 nutritious meals per day, provided with a quality education, and taught the message of Jesus Christ. This gives kids like Beza the hope they need in order to break free from gripping poverty.

We currently have a need to build a 12-room expansion to our existing school, in order to reach more children like Beza. We have been blessed, by the generosity of a donor, to be able to MATCH all donations to the Ziway and Adami Tulu Schools between now and December 31st... up to $130,000!!!

This week, the 5^th through the 9^th, we invite you to join Hope Ethiopia:100. We are looking for 100 people to give a one-time $100 donation! 

Joining this team will not only give hope to kids like Beza, but your dollars will be matched AND you'll be entered into a drawing for a FABULOUS gift basket (details below).

Help us achieve the next $10,000 by being a part of our Hope Ethiopia: 100 Team!

Together we can make a difference in the lives of these kids!  Together we can do more to bring joy and purpose to orphans!

And don't forget to keep checking the Lifesong blog for updates all week!

*Gift basket includes: $100 itunes or amazon gift card, Lifesong t-shirt, Lifesong cookbook,Journey On CD, handmade necklaces & note cards by orphans in Zambia, handmade ornament from a child in Ukraine, 5 bags of Gobena coffee, Gobena coffee
mug, Gobena t-shirt, andGobena tote bag. This basket is worth over $250!


*To commit via check, please send an email to info@lifesongfororphans.org. Make check payable to Lifesong for Orphans, indicate 'preference Hope Ethiopia: 100' in the memo.

Gifts with a Purpose from Lifesong

Make a Difference in ONE Life!

What is your holy discontent? What is your God-given passion on this earth? You know, that one thing that MOVES you to action, that brings you to tears, and causes you to lose sleep? We have a passion, a yearning to see justice for the fatherless!

"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." - Isaiah 1:17


2011 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

It's that time of year again. Holiday music rings through your speaker systems. Decorations light up your street corners. Families gather together.It's the season of love, joy and family.  

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during this season of giving, we often forget to give to those who NEED it most! This year give differently. Give FAMILY to the 147 million orphans worldwide who dream of belonging. Give HOPE to children living on the streets whose only Christmas wish is survival.

What if, this year, your family gave a gift to those who need it most? A gift that won't fit under the tree? 

Would you consider making a difference in ONE LIFE...

•  Help a child break free from gripping poverty.

•  Give the love of Jesus through Christian mentors.

•  Give a future to an orphan's caregiver.

This year join Lifesong for Orphans in giving a gift with purpose. A gift that will speak Jesus to a child. Introducing Lifesong's 2011 Gifts of Purpose Catalog. 

NOW, for even more exciting news....

In Ethiopia, children need an education to break free from gripping poverty. Public schools are lacking, so kids are left behind without the  HOPE of an education or future. Our current Lifesong school is not only giving by teaching these children about Jesus, but also feeding 350 hungry children 2 meals each day. We currently have a need to build a 12-room expansion to our existing school... please join us to make a difference in a child's life.

As of last night, we have a generous donor that has stepped up to MATCH all donations to the Ziway and Adami Tulu Schools in Ethiopia between now and December 31st... up to $130,000!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? What a GENEROUS way to make the most of your giving and bless the children and families in these communities! Let me tell you first hand, these schools NEED to be expanded... these children NEED an education... they NEED to be fed each day... they NEED to hear about Jesus! Lets give HOPE to these precious children in Ethiopia!

Would you join us in prayer as we seek to make the need known?

MAKE A MATCHED DONATION NOW!
***You can use the link above to make a matched donation OR select any of the Hope Ethiopia options below. 

Gift of $30 cares for 2 children for 1 month.

Gift in Honor of

Gift of $525 cares for 35 children for 1 month.

Gift in Honor of

Gift of $1,500 furnishes one classroom.

Gift in Honor of

Also, don't forget that you can give a gift in honor of a loved one this holiday season!