Now, before you all get confused, we STILL work for AIM. We are still support-raised missionaries, and we still definitely need your support! I will explain more about this in the
“Frequently Asked Questions” post tomorrow. 🙂 For now though, let me tell you about our plans!
In
2007, God placed a call on my life to care for orphans and vulnerable
children around the world. He also gave me a vision for a non-profit,
The Sound of Hope. At that time, I was clueless about how to start a
non-profit. I was a 23 year old college graduate with no money and no
experience – just a call, a vision, and a lot of passion. So, when Seth Barnes shared a similar vision with me and offered me a position at AIM to work towards it, I jumped at the opportunity!
For
the past 2 and 1/2 years, I’ve been working toward that vision. I was
allowed to start “The Sound of Hope” as a campaign under AIM’s
ministry, and began to raise money and awareness for orphans in
Swaziland, India, and Kenya. I’ve been to Swaziland twice, South
Africa, and India and seen the needs of the children first hand. It’s
been incredible to watch this vision begin to take shape, and to be
able to send funds overseas to care for the children!
My time at
AIM has been a time of great growth, and I’ve learned so much from the
staff there. I’ve gained invaluable insight and experience working with
a large non-profit that’s been around for 20 years. For that I am SO
thankful!
But…a few months ago I felt God speaking to me about
the future. I was confused and unsure of where He was leading me, so I
took 3 days to fast and pray for CLEAR direction. In that time God outlined 10 pages of plans for the future of The Sound of Hope.
He
made it clear that it was time to take a step forward. AIM provided the
building blocks to bring me this far, but now it is time to take The
Sound of Hope to the next level – to make it a stand-alone non-profit!
(which was the original vision). So, I flew down to GA, met with Seth, and shared what God was saying. There he gave me his blessing and permission to move forward!
to raise funds and awareness for orphans and vulnerable children worldwide.
We
will work with orphanages and children’s programs who provide not only
food, shelter, clothing, and medical attention, but also discipleship
and/or education. We believe strongly that God doesn’t just want to
FEED the children and sustain them in their cycle of poverty, but that
He wants to provide every child with the HOPE and FUTURE that they deserve!
We
will begin by continuing to support children in Swaziland, India, &
Kenya, and are hoping to add Thailand this year as well.
This
process is not going to be easy or cheap, and we will need the advice,
help, and PRAYERS of all of you to make it successful.
2) Pray for UNDERSTANDING as I sort through all the documents, legal requirements, etc that are necessary to start a non-profit.
3) Pray for DIRECTION and WISDOM for who to choose as Board members.
4) Pray for RESOURCES – that God will provide an attorney or accountant to help us with the non-profit incorporation.
5)
Pray for PROVISION – that God will provide the money necessary to
incorporate, and that He will burden the hearts of future investors who
will help provide the capital to get this off the ground. (money for
things like accounting software, web site serving, printing brochures
& posters, postage, travel, etc)
6) Pray for UNDERSTANDING as Rusty and I learn how to do the accounting necessary to start.
7) Pray for BLESSINGS, CREATIVITY, and FOCUS for Ryan and Tina Essmaker, who are designing our new website and printwork for FREE!
I
was very intimidated by this idea at first, but I know without a doubt
that God is calling us to do it. I was reminded by one of our mentors of Joshua 1:7-9 which says:
servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the
left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in
it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be
terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with
you wherever you go.”
I
believe that this is GOD’s vision, and that He is going to bless it
immensely if we will just continue to seek His direction, be ‘strong
and courageous’ and take a step of FAITH. I can’t wait to see what He
has in store!
you have any questions, feel free to list them below. On tomorrow’s
blog I’ll be answering your ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ so that you
can better understand all the details 🙂
