Friends,
We have an awesome opportunity as partners to love on the children of AIDS-ravaged White River, South Africa. Through a sustainable, holistic, and effective movement of ordinary people called Ten Thousand Homes, a group from Salisbury is travelling to South Africa this June to work alongside them "building hope and creating homes for orphaned and vulnerable children."
I'll be part of that team on the ground in White River, and I hope you can be part of the team stateside. Journeying together, I'll keep you apprised of developments as the day of departure approaches and share great news of all the good work being done upon my arrival home. Most often, I'll use this blog as my primary means of communication for now, but I'll be expanding that soon. Your involvement is no less important or impactful than mine; we're a team.
To join us, I'm only asking for three things; contribute with one, two, or all three. I'm asking for money, prayer, and publicity. The first one is easy to explain. Everybody knows plane tickets and room and board are never free. Feeding orphans, building their homes, and providing a loving space costs money. If giving financially is how you feel you can best contribute to the good work, give generously. No amount is too small or too big. The gofundme.com site won't crash if given 10,000 donations of $5 or a single donation of a million dollars (if I, however, receive a personal check for $1m, I may indeed crash). Consult your heart and your checkbook, and join this partnership. Feel free to cover the entire amount by yourself and free everyone's money to serve even more broadly. Your donation, if made through gofundme.com, is not tax deductible. It will, however, be used conscientiously and effectively. Your trust in me and your dedication to loving others are paramount.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe his love is mighty. I believe God cares for us all and wants to be glorified in all ways and in all things. If you're the praying type, I hope you will join this partnership on your knees, praying your fellow team members would be safe, that everyone we meet will experience tangible love, that Ten Thousand Homes would continue to flourish in a way that brings hope to children who have none, and that our God would lead the way, being glorified and receiving all gratitude for such an experience.
The third way you can join is probably the simplest: Share. Share this blog and the gofundme.com link. There are buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and even Linkedin. If you don't have the money, and you're not a person who prays, just click the buttons; maybe someone, one of your friends even, wants to be involved and just hasn't seen the right chance to be part of a team like this.
There you go, three different ways to partner and love into the lives of orphans and children across the world. It is my wish each of you participate with all three, but you do have options.
As a side note, but an important one: trusting in the graciousness of God and the generous desires of my friends and family, I plan on raising more than the $2,000 dedicated to my part of the trip. With your permission, once that threshold has been met, the remaining funds will be distributed equally among other team members unable to raise the entire amount and then to the movement of Ten Thousand Homes. If you would like to earmark your donation for my expenses only, please let me know when you give.
One last thing, I promise: if you do not feel comfortable giving online, if that's not something you do regularly and sending a paper check makes you feel better, that's not a problem. Make your check payable to: High Rock Church, and put Steve Noell on the memo line.
Mailing address: High Rock Church - West
Attn: Pastor Chris Shelton
710 Jake Alexander Blvd W
Salisbury, NC 28147
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