Posts Tagged ‘12 Dollars of Christmas’

12 Dollars of Christmas: Nuru International

December 31st, 2008

This post is part of the 12 Dollars of Christmas series I’m doing, sharing with you about different charities and people who are making a difference in the world and asking you to join me in praying for them and in giving $1 dollar (or more) to each of them.

I first heard about Nuru from my friend Sarah Springer, because she personally knows some of the people involved with this organization.

Nuru is a Kiswahili word that means light and that’s what this organization is doing – bringing light and hope. As an organization Nuru defines themselves as “A grassroots movement of thousands who have grown tired of waiting for someone else to end extreme poverty in Africa.” They are currently launching their Pilot Seed Project in Kuria, Kenya. This project in Kenya is doing a lot to improve the lives of many in Kuria and as I thought about writing about what they are doing it felt like it would be better for you to hear it directly from them, so if you are passionate about ending poverty or have any interest at all in the current state of life in Africa please visit their web site to find out more.

A few of the team members in Kuria have blogs, so you can read about the health classes they taught there and about the clean water project they are working on by going to Jake’s Blog, Nicole’s Blog, or Janine’s Blog. Or you can visit the official Nuru Blog page for even more information.

As part of my $12 dollars of Christmas campaign I also encourage you to join me in praying for NURU today and to join me in sending $1 (or more) to help further the work they are doing in Africa. To find out how to donate visit their donation page on their web site.

Lord, I pray that you would bless the work that Nuru is doing and that you would use it to improve the lives of many in Africa.

Rejoicing in the journey –
Bethany Stedman

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12 Dollars of Christmas: The Stewart Family

December 30th, 2008

This post is part of the 12 Dollars of Christmas series I’m doing, sharing with you about different charities and people who are making a difference for God’s kingdom and asking you to join me in praying for them and in giving $1 dollar (or more) to each of them.

Over the past few months Bryan and I have spent a good deal of time getting to know Mark and Joanna Stewart and their little boy Sasha. They are one of the most creative families I have ever known and I am continually amazed by them. So, I’d like to tell you just a quick little bit about each of them individually:

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Mark is that he is a man of prayer. I feel like Bryan and I are learning to pray through the times we spend praying with Mark. Mark is also a skilled photographer. He has a great way of putting people at ease and capturing them in a natural and authentic way. Mark’s heart is for the artists of Prague and his vision for this segment of the Czech population has been an encouragement and inspiration to me over the past few months.

Joanna is seriously one of the most holistically creative people I’ve ever known. She is constantly making something, or more accurately she is constantly making a lot of things. She is creative and industrious in the kitchen, making her own marshmallows, cheese, Bailey’s Irish Cream and many other things from scratch. She’s an avid knitter and always has a number of knitting projects on hand. She also sews and makes stunning purses from recycled material. She has been an incredible creative inspiration to me over the past few months. Joanna is also a truly beautiful mother. I love the way that she handles, teaches and disciples their son Sasha. They are also expecting their second child soon and I am excited to see how she mothers this unique new life.

I love their son, Sasha. He has the best vocabulary of any kid I know his age and as a word person myself I really appreciate this. He’s got a lot of energy, but he’s a really bright child and very fun to be with.

The Stewart’s spent 3 years as missionaries in Uganda, but felt God calling them to Europe. They followed that calling to Prague and came to help start Faith Community Church here in Prague through World Harvest. Mark and Joanna particularly have a heart for the artistic community of Prague and a heart for social justice. Here’s how they describe their work here on their web site:

“We want to enter into the arts community in this city. To encourage artists, performers, musicians, creatives and to build them up, to facilitate their growth. We want to invite them to seek,  and to grasp, hope. To offer them a strong draught, so that they might drink deeply of the true satisfaction that is in Christ. To challenge them, and to facilitate them, to make a difference in the world around us.
And not just to the artists, and not only to the beautiful people, must we pour out our lives. So we seek to incarnationally, sacrificially, love those who can offer us nothing in return. The poor and the hungry, the sick and the abandoned, the orphan and the widow. And not to do this alone, but to invite others along with us in that journey.”

If you want to learn more about this talented and passionate family that God is using in Prague please check out their web site.

And prayerfully consider joining Bryan and I in giving $1 dollar (or more) to the work that they are doing here in Prague as part of our 12 Dollars of Christmas experiment. To donate please visit this link.

Lord, thank you for the Stewarts and for bringing them to Prague. I pray that you would bless them and keep them and make your face to shine upon them. Lord, make them into a light that shines in darkness. Use their unique creative gifts to bring beauty and LIFE to the city of Prague. Lord, I pray that you would give them hearts of thankfulness and praise and that you would be glorified in all that they do. I pray that when people see Mark and Joanna and their children they would see you – they would see your love, your generosity, your grace, and your freedom. I pray that through them you would bring a new wave of creative freedom and life to your church and to the city of Prague as a whole.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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12 Dollars of Christmas: IDEAS

December 29th, 2008

This post is part of the 12 Dollars of Christmas series I’m doing, sharing with you about different charities and people who are making a difference around the world and asking you to join me in giving $1 dollar (or more) to each of them.

I’ve known Vern and Shelley since I was about 7 years old. They have been dear family friends and I have learned so much from them throughout the years. They are now working with an organization called IDEAS and I’d like to tell you a little bit more about this wonderful non-profit and what they are doing to improve the lives of many around the world.

IDEAS stands for International Development and Educational Associates and their goal is to meet the needs of the helpless and hopeless around the world through holistic project development. They take time to meet with and discover needs in partnership with the local community and then develop projects with a focus on educational needs, medical needs, community development, agriculture and social entrepreneurship. Together with their partners they have managed “34 sustainable projects across 14 countries in North Africa and Asia.” They have educated over 12,000 students, trained over 300 teachers, established 6 medical clinics, developed 8 vocational training centers, opened 12 schools, built 21 new village homes, created 2 village water systems and planted 30,000 trees. These are no minor accomplishments. But, IDEAS doesn’t stand out to me just because of how much I believe in holistic projects or just because of these numbers, IDEAS stands out to me because I know, trust and love Vern and Shelley and they are behind this movement and if they are behind it then I trust that it is a work worth getting behind.

I recently got to read a little bit in Vern and Shelley’s Christmas letter about their most recent trip to India and the work they did there. They went with six other friends and spent time traveling to schools, villages and medical clinics bringing what help and hope they could to people who are sick, hurting and impoverished. It was incredible moving to hear about this work they and others are doing to help the “least of these”.

If you’d like to learn more about IDEAS please check out their web site, www.ideasworld.org.

As part of my $12 dollars of Christmas campaign I also encourage you to join me in sending $1 (or more) to help support them and further the work they are doing. You can do this by going to the donate page on their web site.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

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12 Dollars of Christmas: The Springer Family

December 28th, 2008

This post is part of the 12 Dollars of Christmas series I’m doing, sharing with you about different charities and people who are making a difference for God’s kingdom and asking you to join me in praying for them and in giving $1 dollar (or more) to each of them.

 

Craig and Sarah Springer are the team leaders for our church plant here in Prague. They are both originally from Chicago and became Christians at Willow Creek during High School. They came to Prague for the first time in 2003 and felt called to reach this newly emerging Eastern European capitol.

Craig and Sarah have a true heart for the Czech Republic and reaching Czech’s for the kingdom of God. “They are targeting the emerging generation within the Czech Republic to energize the church of the future… Their mission is to catalyze a church planting movement within Prague led by Czechs.” (taken from their web site).

Craig and Sarah are wonderfully passionate people, each with very unique gifts which they are using to expand God’s kingdom in Prague. They are both very different, but they make a great team, both desiring to see a movement of God’s spirit in the Czech Republic. I encourage you to visit their web site to learn more about each of them, our church, and their vision for the Czech Republic.

Sarah Springer has quickly become one of my closest friends here in Prague and I have written about her here as well. She is a truly amazing woman and today is her 30th birthday! So, as you join me in praying for this family send an extra little prayer up for Sarah’s birthday that it would be  day filled with joy for her! J

And as part of my $12 dollars of Christmas series I encourage you to join me in praying for the Springer’s over the Christmas season and I also encourage you to join me in sending $1 (or more) to the Springer’s this Christmas to help support them and further the work God is doing through them. You can do this by visiting the support page on their web site, where you will find complete instructions. All contributions are tax deductible.

Lord, I pray that your spirit would work in and through Craig and Sarah Springer and their son Isaiah. I pray that you would bring Czech’s into their lives who they could build up and disciple into organic leaders. Lord, I pray that you would give them a holistic vision for Prague and the patience to see it through. I pray that Craig and Sarah would be a catalyst for change in the Czech Republic and that through them you would bring light and hope to many who are discouraged and living in darkness. Lord, build up a team of support around them, people who could join them in their vision and who could also, as friends, support and hold them up as they pursue this vision. Fulfill your purposes for them and through them, Lord Jesus.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

 

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12 Dollars of Christmas: Barb Iverson

December 27th, 2008

This post is part of the 12 Dollars of Christmas series I’m doing, sharing with you about different charities and people who are making a difference for God’s kingdom and asking you to join me in praying for them and in giving $1 dollar (or more) to each of them.

Barb is one of a rare breed. She has a way of asking questions that really make people think, and sometimes that can make people uncomfortable. But, I love the way Barb thinks – she isn’t content with the status quo answers. She likes to take people places that challenge them and cause them to look at things differently. She likes to think, and get other people to think, outside the box. I love this about Barb.

Barb works with Young Life in Prague and I thought it would fun to interview her today for you all J

ME: We’ll, start off with some easier, fun questions. So, Barb, tell us a little bit about where you’re from and where you lived before Prague?

BARB: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. Went to school at University of Illinois studying English and film, and then spent about five years in Walnut Creek, in the Bay Area of California. All good places to live! Walnut Creek is my home base when I’m in the US now, but I travel around to see people too.

ME: I know that you really enjoy movies and have a movie club with your students so could you tell us what your favorite movie is and why?

BARB: Oooh, the favorite movie question. I don’t have one favorite movie. I used to tell people “Some Like it Hot” was my favorite but it’s one of many. How about this: Five Recent Movies I’ve really enjoyed: “Bottle Shock,” “Enchanted,” “Bobule” (it’s a Czech film), “Iron Man,” “Burn After Reading.” I have a bit of an eclectic taste. Love independent films.

ME: How long have you lived in Prague?

BARB: I’ve been living here since October of 2001, so just over seven years. But I spent about a year here before that, spread over three different trips in about 5 years. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do here.

ME: Describe Prague and your impressions of the Czech Republic in a few sentences.

BARB: Prague. Hard to describe meaningfully, I think. For sure it’s home and my heart is here. I love other European cities and secretly want to move there, but there’s something about Prague that has implanted itself in me and won’t leave. Yet, at least. It’s a beautiful old city with terrifically ugly places. It’s trying to find its identity still, I think. It’s not sure it wants to just be the beautiful tourist magnet. And Czech too? Wow, that’s harder. Partly because I’m so firmly entrenched in Prague, which is quite unlike the rest of the country. It seems to me a kind of sleepy place that wants to develop and move into a new future, but isn’t really willing to get off its ass and do the hard work. There is a lot of potential greatness in this country, but a very real hopelessness that things can change – be less corrupt and more functional and, well, good. It’s tough to get people to work together (the key, I think) when they’re jealous and suspicious of each other. Now, I say these things with love, as an editor slashes red through a page to make it better than it is. I have a critical eye because of my deep love for this place.

ME: What originally brought you to Prague and what has made you want to stay for so long?

BARB:  The first time I came was in 1995 after graduating college. I wanted to live in Europe and teach English for a couple years. A school in Prague offered me a job before I got on a plane so I took it, knowing nothing about Prague or the Czech Republic. I had no idea what I was in for (the shock of moving away from what you know plus a really depressing Prague fall, and the fact that Prague in 1995 was nothing like Prague in 2008!) and left after the longest two months of my life. Didn’t think I’d ever come back, but I had a chance to after my life and faith were changed, about two years later. So I did. And experienced the city and culture and people in a totally different way that made me want to stay and live. If I’m really honest I’d say that God chose Prague for me and brought me here. I had another trip in there after the second one when I was teaching in a Czech high school. That was miserable because I had to be an authority and teacher and not so much a friend to the students, which is what I preferred. But that trip led me to discovering Young Life and realizing what a perfect fit it was for me. The last seven years have, in a sense, flown by, but I can also feel the length when I see my friends’ kids in the US and how much they’ve grown. Didn’t know I’d stay this long. But it’s good. And I feel I’m just getting started here, believe it or not.

ME: How did you come to follow Christ and what has it looked like for you to follow him over the past few years?

BARB: There’s quite a long heritage of following Christ in my family. My maternal grandfather was a pastor and an uncle is a theologian. So church and God and the Bible were always a very present part of my life as a child. I wouldn’t say it was forced on me but it was just something that was there and sort of not going away. And then, like many people, I went to college and started questioning why I was part of this thing and did I really believe it and maybe I wanted to identify myself some other way. So I went in the other direction and hung out with the unholy journalists and didn’t tell anyone about my background. And that worked for a few years. After graduation, life wasn’t going the way I had hoped and one night I had what I would describe as an encounter with God. I heard him speak to me. So weird, I know. But it changed my life and inspired me to leave the past behind and jump into a very unknown future. Which meant moving from Chicago to Walnut Creek and starting life over there. One of the best and most important decisions of my life, for sure. In the last few years I think my understanding of God has really grown. My religious views statement on my Facebook page says this: We’re gonna need a bigger boat. Movie fans will know that’s from “Jaws.” It also kind of sums up what I think about God and Jesus. Two things.
We’ll need a bigger boat because God is way bigger than we know and the boats religious folks like to fashion to place their gods in aren’t big enough for this great God who wants to know us. I used to be rather conservative and dogmatic in a lot of my views about God and doctrine, but that has really changed dramatically over the last few years. And honestly, I feel like I’ve let a big rock fall off my back, or that I’ve been let out of a cage. Dogmatism, insistence on knowing things of God with certainty (a dangerous word, that) and wanting to make sure everyone else is lining up behind you is a very dangerous thing. And I think it’s most corrosive in the heart of the person doing the organizing and line-straightening. And it’s a lot of work. So I’m enjoying not having that burden anymore. Sometimes I pick it up again but mostly I remember to leave it for someone else. Like God.
The other thing the statement means is we’re going to need more room on our boat for the people who love God but whose love and worship doesn’t look like what we think it should. And this goes hand-in-hand with the paradigm shift I described above. Some people think of belief as a boat you have to get on to be “in.” I don’t like that picture, but at least needing a bigger boat is a step in the right direction. Figuring out who loves God is not and never will be my job. But I think it’s up to me to make space for them, welcome them, and love them as well as I can.

ME: Tell us a little bit about the work you are doing here in Prague?

BARB: The work I’ve been doing through Young Life has been to get to know high school students. I’ve done this by volunteering as an English teacher for a few classes a week. When I get to know some students a bit we’ve started Movie Clubs, where we get together weekly to watch movies in English and then discuss them. It’s been a great way to get to know the students and what’s important to them and how they see the world, and it’s been a sort of safe and open space for me to share also with them how I see things–which is usually a viewpoint and perspective they haven’t heard or considered before (usually relating to matters of faith). It’s been really great, and I have very strong friendships with quite a few students. The relationship is the key more than trying to convert someone to believing something. Students need loving, caring adults in their lives who want the best for them. 
I’m currently in a transition period. I’m going to develop a new side of Young Life here in Prague – for university students. The students I know the best are now in university and I’m going to focus my energy more on them, their friends, and other university students. I’m not really sure what it’s going to look like but I’m excited about the future, with all the possibilities.

ME: So, what are your dreams for the future?

 BARB: I love that my life is about having and building significant relationships with people. It’s tiring and sometimes frustrating, but it’s amazing, too. I want to see these relationships continue and grow, and I’d love to see students make significant steps toward God, whatever that looks like for them. 
I’d love to live by the beach at some point. Thanks, God, for placing me in a landlocked country! (yes, that was sarcastic.) And I’m being seriously encouraged, even kind of prodded, to open a bakery in Prague. That would be a beautiful thing: a place where I can feed people delicious sweets and get to know them while they sit and eat and relax. If you have some capital you want to invest in this project, let me know. Lol.

So, that’s my friend, Barb. Thanks, Barb for telling us about yourself and what God’s called you to here in Prague.

As part of my $12 dollars of Christmas campaign I encourage you to join me in praying for Barb Iverson today and to join me in sending $1 (or more) to help support her and further the work God is doing through her. To do that please go to the Young Life web site https://giving.younglife.org/starthere.aspx and click on one time gift, then designate the gift to go to “A Young Life Staff Member’s Ministry” and search for Barbara Iverson.

Lord, thank you for Barb and her involvement in our community and in Young Life. Thank you for the many ways you have worked in her to bring her to this place at this time. I pray that you would continue to call her towards yourself in authentic truth and use her to draw others towards you as well. I pray, Lord, that you would bless her as she moves into new ventures of ministry. Continue to bring people into her life who are questioning and hurting and allow her to show them your truly unconditional love.

Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman

 

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