Forgotten Voices' Mission:

"Demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ by equipping local churches in southern Africa to meet the physical & spiritual needs of children orphaned by AIDS in their communities."

Friday, October 22, 2010

Partnerships in Action, an on-going Story of Change in Zimbabwe



Our God is not limited by geography, but is glorified by uniting the combined efforts of willing people scattered far and wide. Recent developments at The Rock Church in Zimbabwe are an encouraging example of this truth.

When Forgotten Voices first partnered with The Rock Church in 2007, church leaders identified access to clean water as a major need in their community. One year later, a church in New York accepted the challenge to partner with Forgotten Voices in raising enough money to drill a borehole (well) for this community in Zimbabwe. The resulting borehole had the capacity to pump 300L/minute and provide local access to clean water for between 500 to 1000 people.

Today, The Rock Church is expanding the impact of that borehole to further serve the community. Through the continued contributions of friends of Forgotten Voices, the church has purchased two water storage tanks – one for the community school and one for the community garden. The church is working with Foundations for Farming, a ministry partner of Forgotten Voices, to bring agricultural training and resources to the local community. To supplement the training, seed and fertilizer brought by Foundations for Farming, the church has installed an irrigation system, using pipes to bring water from the borehole and water tank to feed the newly-planted garden plots. Equally powerful is the fact that children can now spend their time in school, rather than walking for miles each day to find enough water for their family!



Each of these initiatives – drilling of the well, purchasing of water tanks, provision of agricultural training and supplies, installation of irrigation pipes – was made possible, in part, by churches, organizations or individuals who were strangers to each other, but were committed to the mission and model of Forgotten Voices International. As a result of their combined contributions, children are able to stay in school, families are being trained to grow their own food, clean water is available to an entire community and the local church is being recognized as the hands and feet of Christ in the community.

Help us give voice to pastors in southern Africa, who are reaching out to demonstrate the love of Christ to children orphaned by AIDS in their communities. Invest in their hopes at www.ForgottenVoices.org by making a gift today.

Meet Siphilisiwe


Siphilisiwe was widowed by the age of 28. When her husband died from meningitis in 2003, she was left to raise four children under the age of ten. Seven years later, the physical and spiritual burden of losing father and husband weighs heavily on this family. Living in Zimbabwe, a country with 95% unemployment, and with limited formal education, Siphilisiwe earns money by selling food at a road-side stand near her home. But it hasn’t been enough to make ends meet. Siphilisiwe’s two oldest children dropped out of school two years ago when she could no longer afford to pay their school fees.

Hazel is the eldest child in the family and takes care of her siblings when her mother is not around. She had to quit school during Form 3 (equivalent to grade 10).

Nhlanhla is the second-born. Though only 14 years old, he has a responsibility to his family as the oldest male, and education is key to his ability to eventually support them. He had to drop out after grade 7, however, when money for school fees was no longer available.

This year, Siphilisiwe learned that the Free Methodist Church in her community ran a Social Ministries Program which, among other things, helped families in need with school fee payments. This church is one of the many across Zimbabwe and Zambia with whom Forgotten Voices is honored to partner. Siphilisiwe approached the church and explained her situation. Both Hazel and Nhlanhla were approved so have their school fees paid by the church, through their partnership with Forgotten Voices International.

Hazel has now returned to school to finish Form 3 and Nhlanhla has begun Form 1 (grade 8). One of the church volunteers who now regularly checks in on this family writes,

“Hope has been restored. The family can now smile again, though tears still run down Siphilisiwe’s face as she remembers her loss. On the other hand she has tears of joy as her kids are back to school. Thank you for joining God in demonstrating His love to the widows and orphans. Praise God!”

This is already a powerful story of the local Church reaching out to widows and orphans in their distress. But the story doesn’t end there. Siphilisiwe has begun bringing her family to church. Pray that they come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Pray that they will experience His love, healing and strength as they continue to face challenges ahead.

Help us give voice to pastors in southern Africa, who are reaching out to demonstrate the love of Christ to children orphaned by AIDS in their communities. Invest in their hopes at www.ForgottenVoices.org by making a gift today.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Prayer and Praise

Each month we receive prayer and praise updates from the churches with whom we partner across Zimbabwe and Zambia. Below are just a few of those updates. We hope you'll take some time to pray about these requests and praises, and remember the work of our church projects in Africa.


Ndeke ECZ Project - Zambia
Pray for the orphans who have recently started back to school. Pray especially for Alice, who lost her aunt to illness in late August.
Praise the Lord for the unity that exists between the church and the community.
Praise Him for the additional funding received from Forgotten Voices International that enables us to maintain our connection with the community.
Praise the Lord for the 24 orphans who benefited from the food stuff and school requirements that were purchased for them by Forgotten Voices International.
Pray for the children left behind by Mavis, one of our committed church deaconesses. Mavis passed into glory after a brief illness.


Echoes of Mercy Project - Zambia
Pray for those children who have not yet finished paying for their school fees. Pray that they would look to the Lord for provision in His timing.
Praise the Lord for our denominational centenial celebration that was held on August 15th.
Pray for us as we seek a parcel of land for cultivating maize during the upcoming farming season.


Christian Leadership Resource Center - Zimbabwe
Pray for our two-day business training workshop for all of our pastors, coming up in October. Following this workshop, the pastors will return in November for a four day leadership seminar. Pray that the necessary finances will be made available and for God to equip His church through these sessions.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Car $ & Xbox for Forgotten Voices?





Find out more about Forgotten Voices at http://www.ForgottenVoices.org.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Remmy Hamapande - Schedule and Speaking Engagements

October 15-November 8, 2010

All events, unless otherwise noted, are open to the public. Contact info@forgottenvoices.org for more information.

October 15th
Arrive in the USA

October 16th

Attend Homecoming festivities at Messiah College
Grantham, PA

3:00 p.m. Attend Forgotten Voices Short Term Missions Trip ReunionOpen to all who have previously traveled to Africa with Forgotten Voices

Contact Ellen Shaffer at eshaffer@forgottenvoices.org for more information

Dillsburg, PA

October 17th

9:00 a.m. Speak at West Shore Evangelical Free Church (Room 200A)
Mechanicsburg, PA

October 18th
6:00 p.m. Theological College of Zimbabwe Fundraising Dinner, Antrim BIC Church
Hear from … Remmy Hamapande on the significance of Theological training in
Southern Africa; President of Forgotten Voices, Ryan Keith, on aspects of
practical application of the Gospel in Africa, and Board Member & former
Acting President of TCZ, Glen Pierce, about the mission and vision of TCZ …
and be encouraged by the partnerships within God’s Church.
To reserve your free tickets, contact Brendan Earl, 717 496 4707, b_early_85@yahoo.com
Chambersburg, PA

October 20th
6:00 p.m. Co-facilitate Leadership Training Workshop, Christ Church of the Capital District – Invitation Only
Albany, NY

October 23rd

8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Co-facilitate TenTogether Training
Dillsburg, PA

October 24th

8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Share in Carlisle Evangelical Free Church services
12:30 p.m. Lunch, presentation and Q&A at Carlisle Evangelical Free Church
Carlisle, PA


October 26th

8:00 a.m. Speak at Nativity School Chapel – Invitation Only
Harrisburg, PA


October 31st

9:00 a.m. Speak at North River Community Church
Pembroke, MA


November 1st

Speak at Harvard University
Boston, MA

Speak at Gordon College
Wenham, MA



November 2nd

6:00 p.m. Attend THETA/TCCA dinner - Invitation Only
Contact Ryan at RKeith@ForgottenVoices.org if you want to hear more about
TCCA and how you can help the seminary that trained Remmy and partners with
Forgotten Voices.
Mechanicsburg, PA


November 5th

Attend Mid-Atlantic Orphan Summit - Register online or at the door
Hershey, PA


November 6th

Attend Mid-Atlantic Orphan Summit
11:45 a.m. Panel Discussion: Your Business and the Orphan
2:45 p.m. Listening to Churches Abroad for Their Economic Freedom
Hershey, PA


November 7th

9:00 a.m. Speak to West Shore Evangelical Free Church Sunday School classes
10:45 a.m. Speak at West Shore Evangelical Free Church Youth Service
Mechanicsburg, PA

November 8

Depart for Zambia

Through that door - Remmy



As we wait just outside customs for Remmy to walk out into the USA, more than excitement fills my heart. I'm definitely pumped to see one of my closest friends in the world. No doubt. But I'm also full of anticipation for what God is going to do over the next 3 weeks with and through Remmy.

Wait till you see this guy's smile. He fills a room with warmth without trying. God has uniquely gifted him to serve and love children in oppressive situations. I get to go to Africa and leave to come back to share stories from him to you all, but Remmy is always there. Now he gets to come share his own stories in person.

Remmy is a game changer. God is doing great things through him. His last name, Hamapande, means to clear and prepare the land for a new start. I wonder how many hearts and minds he'll renew. How many people who will renew their lives for God. How many will dedicate themselves to listen to their neighbors, to live more fully after meeting him.

My worldview has been expanded and enriched by Remmy. My prayer of excitement and anticipation is that as you pray for Remmy's trip, pray also that your heart would be clear, open and prepared to be renewed by what God has for us through Remmy.

Any minute he's going to arrive. I'm giddy with excitement and anticipation.

Pray with us,
Ryan

- Posted using BlogPress from Ryan's iPhone. Follow him at http://www.Twitter.com/forgotttenvoices.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Rescue operation; one child at a time

Just a few hours ago many of us were glued to our screens as we witnessed the rescue operation of the Chilean miners who had been trapped and confined for over sixty days underground. The first seventeen days were the very difficult ones as it was apparent that without communicating to the outside world, they would all eventually have died. We thank God for technology and for the successful rescue mission; our prayer is that they reunite with their families and live as normal a life as they would love to. God bless them!

In the same vein, I have been thinking about the
many children, especially orphans, who are trapped in poverty and unfortunately not many are willing to take up rescue operations and offer them a chance to have a descent childhood. Many have not lived to enjoy their childhood lives because they had to grow up soon enough to take care of their siblings. There are many child headed households to the extent that school is to them a luxury and not a right anymore. This 'poverty confinement' is killing many as they resort to all sorts of survival schemes.

Government leaders in some cases keep changing goal posts about meeting the Millennium Development Goals, especially halving world poverty by 2015. We need people after God's heart; people who will clothe themselves with Christlike selfless lives and show some love to the agonizing children. Thank God to those that have heard their cries and are willing to reach out no matter how insignificant their efforts may look; God is seeing and his heart is delighted. Be part of the ministry of Forgotten Voices International, as they partner with local churches in Southern Africa to demonstrate the love of Christ to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children orphaned by AIDS in their communities. Just like the Chilean miners, ours is a rescue operation of one child at a time. I know we can make a difference with "rescue operation, one child at a time"!

Micah 6: 8 "...what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God"

Your fellow servant in God's ministry,

Remmy.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Remmy to speak Sunday @ West Shore Evangelical Free Church

Sometimes in life, we get to meet very special people who help us draw closer to the Lord, learn more about life, and love more deeply. For me, Remmy Hamapande is one of those people.  He is now our Program Director in Zambia, while also serving as a Children's Pastor in his church and helping lead Christian Education for his denomination (BIC) nationwide in Zambia.

Remmy loves life and is coming to the USA on Friday, where Matt Kirkley & I will give him a tour of our nation's capital. Then, we will spend Saturday with Messiah College for Homecoming 2010.

While he is here from this Friday - Nov 8, you will NOT want to miss your opportunity to hear him share and watch his big smile fill the room!

This Sunday, Oct 17, Remmy is sharing at West Shore Evangelical Free Church in Mechanicsburg, PA at 9am in Room 200A (Blue Room). He'll then attend the 10:45am service, before going off to a lunch with my mom, sisters, and older sister's kids (visiting for my sister's 10th reunion at Messiah and to meet my dear friend Remmy).

If you are interested in hearing Remmy speak in the Harrisburg area, Albany (Wed, Oct 20), NYC, Long Island, or Boston, please check back here. We hope to have his full schedule up later this week, as we iron out some details and get places linked up.

We hope you can make it!

-Ryan Keith