Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls
The one that started it all for me!
Vacation Bible School at Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, the summer of 2005. As the director of VBS, I had to “vet” this proposed mission focus for the camp. A quick online process turned into multiple hours … then days … then weeks of researching, weeping and prayer. My daughter, Josephine is in my life as a direct result of the process that a shoe drive began.
Wonderful work – the perfect “low impact / high yield” project for any group to undertake – and a real world way to care for the soles AND the souls of God’s precious little ones around the world.
Zoe Empowers
His Little Feet
I met Mike and Christa Hahn during the second year of their His Little Feet ministry, and the power of their commitment to Christ continues to dazzle me even a decade later! The Hahn’s are “shiny with Jesus”, and their love of Him shows day in and day out as they travel the U.S. with older orphans from around the globe, singing praises to God while they present the Church with the truth of the orphan crisis. The vision of HLF is simple: bring the mission field into the homes of the congregations, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. The witness of these children is unlike anything else I’ve experienced.
Compassion International
His Little Feet partner with other organizations in their mission to serve orphans and vulnerable children, and Compassion International is a key partner. The first time I heard the testimony of a Compassion graduate was at my first His Little Feet concert; the “Aunties” and “Uncles” who travel with children from their home countries are frequently graduates of Compassion programs. Feeding and educating a child in need: I have yet to encounter a more satisfying and meaningful use for $40 per month!
Every Orphans Hope
I met Gary Schneider through Orphan Sunday, a global phenomenon which he helped launch (see article on the Blog page for details!) Gary’s ministry in Zambia combines the best of group-home principles and Bible-mandates to pair willing widows with families of orphaned children and empower all in the process. Graduates of Every Orphan’s Hope are earning college degrees and becoming leaders at the local and national level … and being part of the action can be as simple as holding a bicycle drive.
Wycliffe Bible Translators
The last two missions came into my life through family members. When I married Mark, he was already supporting Wycliffe through the ministries of his friends, Tim and Martha Matzke who have given their lives to translating scripture and teaching literacy in the Solomon Islands. Tim and Martha amaze me … raising their daughters without pediatricians (Martha took powdered penicillin with her, and became adept at diagnosing ear infections!) and managing projects as disparate as a national campaign for literacy vs. local Bible studies! They are part of a global network of servants whose life-work is simple: bringing the Word of God to every person on the planet.
Frontiers USA
Frontiers USA is a special mission-sending organization that focuses on Muslim-majority countries. The usual risks and standard sacrifices which challenge all missionaries are compounded by the unique danger of being Christian and offering Christ in contexts where both are specifically illegal. The paradoxical reality of Frontiers USA: a cheerful, light-hearted joy coupled with scrupulous care to guard the identities (and thereby safeguard the lives) of field-workers.