Together We Can Love the World

When Forgotten Voices asked me to be director of student relations, I was surprised and elated and experienced a plethora more thoughts and emotions. To join an organization that is on the forefront of protracting change in southern Africa, one can’t help but jump in with both feet. I don’t know how else to do something except to jump in with all that I am and have. To be able to use my gifts and talents to save lives [bring hope to] and communities in southern Africa is something that I feel honored to do. The AIDS epidemic is so much bigger than me, but as Remmy reminded us, it starts with saving [helping] one child at a time.

The fact that Forgotten Voices isn’t going into a hurting area and telling them how to fix their problems is one of my favorite things about the organization. We don’t know everything and southern African communities are a completely different culture. Those on the ground in Zambia and Zimbabwe understand much better how to support those forgotten voices in their communities whom have lost their parents.

The fact that I get to tell stories and connect communities excites me. Forgotten Voices is a personal organization with stories of personal lives: the fourteen year old girl who takes care of her family, the teen in New York who gives up a car so that an orphan can go to school. It is through personal relationships that we will be able to not only change these lives right now, but also for eternity.

So what is my story? There have been many things that have brought me here. I spent my most recent time in Germany ministering to high school students whose parents were impacting communities all over the world. The gift to mentor students that had such a heart for their fellow man was a very special thing. They have had a special opportunity by growing up in places far from their home.

Students here have the same passions and abilities to change the world. They want to use their gifts now. They don’t need to wait for more schooling or a steady job to start changing their world. They want to help now. And they are. If I can help them to channel their excitement into helping their world, then I will jump at the chance.

So what can we do together? We can spread the word. We can raise awareness about the things going on in southern Africa. This Christmas season we can pray for those whose voice gets so easily lost in the hustle and bustle of American life. We can remember that Jesus came to earth to save the lost and hurting; that when we serve the least of these, we are serving him.

So after you finish reading this please do a couple of things for me. Look us up on Facebook and ‘like’ our page. Follow us on Twitter. And finally, pray about how to serve those who need your help, whether they are down your street or across the world.
And one final question. How are you demonstrating God’s love to your world?

Matt Kirkley - Volunteer Director of Student Relations

Here I Am

Two weeks ago today, I stepped off an 18.5 hour return flight from South Africa. I'd taken a group of pastors from Central Pennsylvania to see the work that Forgotten Voices is doing in southern Africa. In a two week whirlwind tour we visited Zimbabwe, Zambia and spent one night in South Africa. We visited with roughly 15+ families and met with only a handful of the 150 churches that partner with Forgotten Voices. We experienced humorous moments - see picture of baby monkey chewing on Julie’s ear - and heartbreaking moments - like the visits with families who had no food and no seed to plant. We prayed, we laughed, we cried, but most importantly we had the opportunity to meet true heroes of the faith. We spent time with devoted pastors, listening to what their church is doing to help their communities, praying with and for them, encouraging them and rejoicing with them over the work that is being accomplished.

Every single day these men and women arise from their beds and say, “Here I am Lord, use me.” Throughout the day they change their hats - one second they are a pastor, the next they are counselor, a social worker, a business man or woman working on income-generating projects to benefit their communities. They put on each hat with a spirit of humility and a reliance on God and the Spirit to lead, guide, and direct them. When you sit with these men and women you can begin to see what it means to be the Church in the community. Each of our project partners adds a unique approach to addressing the AIDS crises. They develop locally-relevant action plans for meeting the needs of children who have been orphaned by AIDS and other vulnerable children in their network.

I love volunteering for Forgotten Voices to help equip our church partners to fulfill their action plans for their communities. I have witnessed firsthand the value these action plans bring to a community and have seen our partners transforming communities one child at a time.

I serve by leading our volunteers here in the United States and helping run the day-to-day operations of our ministry. Forgotten Voices has roughly 30+ volunteers in the USA who help us equip our brothers and sisters in southern Africa. We are looking to grow our volunteer network throughout 2011. If you are interested in volunteering please visit this link for volunteer opportunities.

In closing, my challenge to you is to arise each day with the spirit of “Here I am Lord, use me.” Learn from our partners, grow along with us as God continues to reveal new things about Himself, and participate with us in making a permanent change in the life of children.

Nate Shaffer - Volunteer Executive Director