Generous #2: Orphan Christmas

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction…" –Jesus' brother James I need you to help raise $2,720 as soon as possible. Why? Because there are 136 orphan kids in India who need a Christmas. Christmas is the time when the kids usually get such things as a new toothbrush, a new pair of clothes, and a simple toy like a car or doll. For $20 per child, you can pay for Christmas for one orphan and cover these needs. In light of the economic downturn, giving to the Master's Home for Children orphanage, a ministry of Vision Nationals, is significantly down. I know that giving money to an overseas organization can be concerning because there is often suspicion regarding how the monies will actually be spent. But Vision Nationals is a wonderful organization we have partnered with at Mars Hill since our inception a dozen years ago. I served on the board some years ago, and the founder and leader, Arjuna Chiguluri, is a dear personal friend. In addition, Mars Hill helped purchase the land that the orphanage sits on, and I have personally visited the orphanage and met the children. What I experienced during that visit was amazing. Kids without parents, often living on their own in the streets, are brought into the orphanage, loved, led to Jesus, and given a first class education. Some of them go on to Vision Nationals' seminary and join the ministry's few hundred church planters. So please visit Vision Nationals' giving web page (click the "Egiving Systems" link) and give $20 for every child you would like to provide a Christmas for. Make sure to write in the note: "For an orphan's Christmas present." Time was running out to order the clothes and toys in time for Christmas. Therefore, upon hearing of the need for this year's gifts, in faith I asked Vision Nationals to order the items for the children, and I appreciate all of you who will be generous and respond to make Christmas happen for these children. If additional monies are given beyond what is needed, they will be used to feed, clothe, and educate the children. And, if any of Vision Nationals' other ministries (including educating the poor, caring for widows, planting churches--often in unreached rural villages) interests you, they could really use your help in those areas as well. About 750 people benefit from Vision Nationals' ministries every month, in addition to the literally thousands and thousands who are served at other large one-time events throughout the year, events such as medical clinics, evangelistic outreaches, and pastoral training conferences. Much of the small staff has not taken a salary for some months, so any help is appreciated. I know times are tough. But tough times are a good time to be generous to others as God in Jesus Christ has been so generous to us.