To help supplement our focus to capture the attitude of Christ, we’ll be reading Prideful Souls Guide To Humility (available new and used on Amazon) by Thomas Jones and Michael Fontenot.

Download (courtesy of the Hampton Roads Church): Campaign Handout | Family Devotionals | Bible Talks | C.S.Lewis Mere Christianity Excerpt: The Great Sin

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
~ Philippians 2.5

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
~ Colossians 3:16

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.]

Our sister in Christ, Monica Wright, was recently selected second overall in the WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx.  We are all so proud of her many achievements at the University of Virginia and are excited to see what God has planned for the next phase of her life in Minneapolis.

• Meet the immediate needs of food, shelter and health care for all of the disciples who have lost everything and the 50 others relying on them.
• Train the disciples for new jobs. Hire disciples to carry out HOPE worldwide relief efforts.
• Over $300,000 has been donated and pledged to HOPE worldwide Haiti Disaster Relief.
• Another $700,000 is needed from you, your friends and other partners.
• $100 will support one person for one month.  Click here to donate.