Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
Giveaway: Fields of the Fatherless
My friend, Dorothy, is planning to be at the T4A National Conference, October 21-22 and to be part of a panel during the Mothers’ pre-conference event on Thursday, October 20. She’s a woman worth spending time with. I have learned lots from her–proof that learning doesn’t always flow from the older to the younger.
I first heard of Tom Davis because of Dorothy’s raving about his books–positive raving, very positive. Then I heard him speak a couple of years ago. I was fascinated and horrified by what he told us about the likely future of young people who age out of orphanages in Eastern Europe and other places.
When I was at the Orphan Summit in Louisville in the spring, Children’s Hope Chest donated 4 copies of Tom’s book, Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living to be given away. So this is a “better late than never” opportunity for you. It’s still appropriate because Tom will be one of the breakout session leaders at the T4A Conference and Children’s Hope Chest is one of the many exhibitors.
So here’s what to do to be eligible for winning one of the copies.
- Spend some time exploring the website of Children’s Hope Chest – say at least 5 minutes
- Watch at least one of the videos on the Media page
- Comment at this post to tell the rest of us something about your visit to the website. Something like maybe: What had the most impact on you? Or did something surprise you? Or do you feel challenged to do something new on behalf of orphans?
- Deadline is this Friday, 9/30, 11:59 pm CDT. After that 4 commenters will be randomly chosen.
16 Responses to “Giveaway: Fields of the Fatherless”
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What I found compelling is that this organization is trying to help these children thrive in their own culture. Adoption – a wonderful remedy for the fatherless – is second-best (and this is coming from a family in the middle of the adoption process).
My heart was at once moved and completely stopped in its tracks by the video of Anya’s story. Human sex trafficking is a topic that the Lord has laid before me on several occasions over the last few months,and each time I am floored. I simply pray for wisdom for how to move, how to pray for the rescue, spiritual, physical, emotional, of these young girls. Thank you for sharing this mission.
I really love the idea that they want an entire church and/or business to team together and catch a vision for serving a community that Hope Chest works with. What a great way to bring vision to a group of people rather than just one or two people feeling burdened about this overwhelming issue all over the world.
My husband and I are beginning to seek the Lord about adopting a child into our family of 5. It burdens my heart so much when I kiss one of my little ones, comfort them in the night or watch them laugh that so many do not know this kind of love and it is just wrong. As imperfect of a mom as I am, surely by the grace of our Father, He can help me love another with such great need.
It seems, from their website and so many others that I’ve seen recently, that God is really compelling His people in a new way to live out His command to care for the fatherless. Each type of ministry meets different needs for this children… and there can never be enough. My husband and I are in the process of adopting from Russia. We’re compelled by statistics about what happens to kids when they “age out”, and the life that awaits special needs kids within orphanages. Adoption is wonderful, but until there are enough people adopting that there aren’t any orphans, ministries like Hope Chest will be vital!
I watched Anathi’s story. What an incredible story about the Father’s love for the children in the slums of India.
Anathi went from teaching needy children in the garage of her apartment, to 650 students in an Indian slum toilet complex, to a beautiful school building where she currently provides an education for 2,200 children.
Her story challenges me to engage the children of my neighborhood with the love of the Father.
What a wonderful ministry! I was completely convicted when the video was talking about how they want to give these children food, education, and protection — the very things we take for granted.
I was also extremely impressed by the stories of children and families giving up birthday and Christmas gifts so they could raise money for the orphans all over the world.
This ministry is wonderful! I have been wondering if something like this exists- something that would allow our entire church to connect to a community overseas who is in need and bind together as a church family to meet those needs. Facilitating this community-to-community partnership is such a vital ministry.
I watched the video about the orphans in Ethiopia and the lack of ability to receive an education due to poverty. We are in the process of adopting two little guys from Uganda and the Lord keeps weighing the needs of orphans on my heart. So thankful for ministries like these!
I enjoyed reading about another ministry and resource I had not heard of before. I really like their emphasis on education. I especially enjoyed the story of Anathi in India and how the Lord spoke to her that “these children are my lambs” and “I am asking YOU to feed them.” And then seeing how He sustained her from that small beginning and grew something out of it for His lambs.
Yes! Our two youngest children are adopted from Ethiopia. We are going to Ethiopia again in a few weeks (me and my oldest daughter), but this time we’re not adopting; we’re working with Children’s Hope Chest. Love what they are doing.
[...] Noel Piper is giving away 4 copies of Fields of the Fatherless over at her blog. Visit Noel’s blog to learn how to enter this giveaway. Leave a Comment » Related Topics: Adoption, Books, Orphans [...]
Thanks for sharing this site with us. It’s encouraging and challenging. I am the missions associate for my church. If the missions pastor were equated to Paul, I would be in Timothy’s position. It’s a wonderful place to be. Nonetheless, I have found, even having been in vocational ministry for less than a year, that you have to fight to accomplish actual ministry. It seems like there is so much extra stuff between us and real, Godly works.
For that reason, this website and the media were all very refreshing. I try to keep daily reminders in front of me that propel me into ministry. Mainly, this is the Word of God and prayer. However, secondarily, the works and words of the global Church spur me on to fight to keep Christ’s Glory, His Gospel and the Mission in focus.
In addition to simply spectating on this good ministry, I would love to adopt their community on community approach. We have discussed how this might look in our Church. How can we best keep a real, living connection between our close knit faith family and those we send to other places? We want to remain in close contact with them and take responsibility to serve and support them as they cross the globe. We often join them overseas, whether for short, mid or long term. We pray often. We give money when we can. We communicate regularly. But the point is that it’s our community and their new community together. I love their approach and want to continue applying it.
I also really believe in supporting ministries that already exist. Obviously, leading and serving are inseparable. This ministry could act very much like a glove to the ministry ready hands of those in our local body.
Again, thanks for sharing this.
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Gal 6:9
Well I think the things that always impact me about orphans and was again highlighted watching some videos and visiting the website is that there is soooo much we can do to prevent children becoming orphans or helping them in their plight. It challenges me again to ask what it is that I am doing? I have adopted a precious daughter and its easy to think – well I’ve done my bit and so now its time for everyone else to do their thing but actually the work God wants to do through me is a long way away from being finished. The call remains, there is no finish line as to when we stop. We stop when Jesus returns.
Great giveaway! I was able to hear Tom speak at the Summit 2 years ago, but have yet to read this book! Children’s Hope Chest is an amazing ministry, one that we’d love to get our local church involved in… Our hearts are for the fatherless, and it has been a huge blessing to bring two babies into our family through adoption this last year! God Bless Tom Davis and Children’s Hope Chest.
It’s always good to roam around the CHC website. I’ve partnered with them in some ministry endeavors because I have the same sort of DNA as they do. Their passion for the plight of orphans from baby to adult is very evident in word and deed- and their website reflects that.
I’ve known about Tom’s website and ministry due to his excellent fiction books Scared and Priceless (by the way, if Tom is reading this, I am anxiously waiting for the next book!!!). Being adopted myself, I’ve always had a heart for adoption. The fact that so many countries are closing international adoptions is heartbreaking to me, but honestly I think I don’t know enough about the sex trade industry to completely understand its reach in the world. The post that really touch me and broke my heart on Tom’s site however is the one from July 22 about the little boy in Swaziland who was killed by his stepfather/hung in a tree. Senseless tragedy! Only knowing Mamba is playing in Heaven is comforting. Praise Jesus!