The Hampton Roads Church, hosts of this year’s ACR conference Generations have decided to extend the early-bird registration to midnight Sunday, August 15th.

This gives everyone an additional 2 weeks to register before all prices go up by $10 and coincides with the Virginia Statewide Worship Service where we will have on-site registration again this year.

Take advantage of the extension and register for the conference now!

A few weeks ago, thirteen volunteers and I sat in a tent with some of the 80 poorest and most neglected children on earth – orphans living at the Cadre D’Action pour le Developpement (C.A.D.) orphanage in Ganthier, Haiti. Many were suffering from scabies, diarrhea and all sorts of parasites.

As I sat there I thought about the words we were teaching them in English, French and Creole. I said to them, “I will miss you. I will pray for you.” The children repeated those phrases and then it struck me…they had never heard those words nor had they uttered them to anyone. You could see it in their eyes. Then I experienced an “a-ha” moment, we are here to show the something they have never experienced or knew about - how God cares about each of them.

You can give these children food, clothing, medicine and shelter… but they crave love. They want what we provide for our children – love, respect, appreciation and validation of their worth. That’s what the HOPE worldwide volunteers are bringing to Haiti - lots of it.

This first HOPE worldwide Haiti Volunteer Corps was life-changing for the volunteers, the local HOPE worldwide team and the orphans. We taught English, math, health, science, art and dancing (or at least our dance moves). Plus, we had plenty of fun art projects and parties.

We had several great Bible lessons with the orphans. One afternoon the volunteers shared Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It was awesome.

The volunteers were the real heroes. Despite the heat, the bugs, bucket showers and sleeping on the ground, no one complained. Instead, for one week they gave their hearts and souls to the children. What a difference they made! Each day the sun, the stars, and children’s faces got brighter and brighter.

As we prepared to leave, I have never seen so much crying. Through their tears, these beautiful children verbalized those words they had never said to anyone. “We will miss you. We will pray for you. We love you.” With sincere hearts the team replied, “We will miss you. We will pray for you. We love you.”

Please pray with us for the poor and the fatherless of Ganthier, Haiti, and others like them all over the world.

[Below is a video message from HOPE worldwide's relief efforts in Haiti.]

The Hampton Roads Church is excited to host disciples everywhere from Canada to Puerto Rico and Kentucky to Maryland during the weekend of Friday, November 5th – Sunday, November 7th 2010 in sunny Virginia Beach, Virginia.

An attendance of over 1,800 is expected as we sing, pray, laugh, and study God’s word together.

The conference will officially begin Friday evening and all lessons will be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. This year’s program will include:

• Ministry Staff program beginning Thursday night and concluding Friday morning
• Compelling biblical exposition of the Book of Daniel
• ‘Family-friendly’ schedule allowing both parents to enjoy lessons
• Women’s Program
• Singles, Campus, & Teen mixers!
• Elder/Deacon Reception on Saturday evening

Register before midnight on Sunday, August 1st and save up to $20 per person.

Early Bird Registration: $55 Married/Single Adults, $45 Campus, $35 Teens. Conference registration includes admission to all lessons and downloadable .mp3’s of all sermons at no additional cost.

“…His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.”
~~ Daniel 4:3