Missional Monday

Are you looking for a GREAT organization to get involved with?  Look no further!  World Vision is a world class non-profit dedicated to helping better the lives of children.

 

 

 

Who we are

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

Who we serve

We serve close to 100 million people in nearly 100 countries around the world. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Why we serve

Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.

Reflecting Christ in each community

Wherever we work, our prayer is that our efforts will be used by God to heal and strengthen people’s relationships with Him and with one another. We do this by demonstrating God’s unconditional love for all people through our service to the poor — which includes providing for daily needs, working to build peace and promote justice, and partnering with churches and individuals to encourage spiritual transformation.

Reaching around the globe

World Vision is a global organization with offices in approximately 100 countries. These interdependent national offices are bound together by a Covenant of Partnership, a biblically based agreement that enables us to work together in a unified and complementary way as we walk alongside those we serve.

Employing the best in every region

We are blessed with staff who are experts in a broad range of technical specialties, ranging from hydrology to microenterprise development to public health. And we are inspired by the ways in which they use their God-given abilities in conjunction with existing community resources. Of the more than 40,000 staff employed by World Vision, 97 percent work in their home countries or regions. Familiar with the culture and language, they bring to World Vision a deeply personal understanding of how best to assist local children and families.

Meeting diverse needs

The millions of people we serve include earthquake and hurricane survivors, abandoned and exploited children, survivors of famine and civil war, refugees, and children and families in communities devastated by AIDS in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Our extensive global infrastructure enables us to respond where the need is greatest, anywhere in the world.

Trusted worldwide

The excellence of World Vision’s work has earned the trust of more than 3 million donors, supporters, and volunteers; more than half a million child sponsors; thousands of churches; hundreds of corporations; and government agencies in the United States and around the world. We are thankful to God that through these collaborative efforts, we are able to be a part of breaking the cycle of poverty for those in need in our world.  http://www.worldvision.org

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

 

Every morning 13,000 people in the city of Atlanta wake up with no place to call home.
Approximately 2,500 of them are children. Founded in 1986, the Atlanta Children's Shelter provides free, quality day care, emotional support, an educational curriculum for homeless children, and focused social services for their families. Dedicated to helping families overcome the issues that contribute to homelessness, including domestic violence and job loss, the Atlanta Children's Shelter focuses on the long term self sufficiency of the family – which sets us apart from other Atlanta homeless shelters.

Fast Facts

• Our mission is to provide loving, high-quality child development and support services for homeless families striving for self-sufficiency.

• Since opening in 1986, the Atlanta Children's Shelter (ACS) has provided loving care for over 7,700 homeless children and helped guide more than 5,050 homeless families to stable, self-sufficiency.

• ACS provides developmentally-appropriate instruction and activities for children one-month to five years old, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm.

• All childcare and social services are provided at no cost to families, including Case Management, JobTrack, Permanent Housing Resettlement, Life Skills Workshops and Aftercare Services for formerly-homeless families.

• Single mothers with 1-2 children comprise 85% of the families served. 

• In any given year, 30 to 50% of the families served are fleeing domestic violence or spousal abuse. Another 15% are homeless as a result of job loss.

• The agency’s funding sources are diverse. 90% of the funding comes from private sources including foundations, individuals, employee groups, faith-based institutions, the United Way, corporations and community groups. Only 10% comes from government agencies.

• ACS is accredited for high-quality Early Childcare Program by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a level reached by less than 5% of all childcare in this country.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach, Inc. is a Christian, non-profit organization founded in 1997 with a three-fold mission:

To provide support services to women experiencing unplanned pregnancies
To promote Christian parenting.
To promote adoption as a loving alternative.

Our motivation is to encourage women to choose life for their babies and to help women make sound parenting decisions. The object in mind is the children - it is our heart's desire to see children raised in loving, nurturing homes.
The support services of APO have been in existence since 1997. We feel that if we are going to encourage a woman to choose life for her baby that we should also provide any means necessary to help her through her difficult times.
Support services for birthparents are the heart of APO.
Adoption services were added in 2002 because some expectant parents feel that placing their child in an adoptive home is the best parenting decision they can make. Our adoption program exists because of our pregnancy support program. We see our adoptive families as a resource for our birthfamilies - not the other way around. We are convinced that this is the most ethical model in which to offer our services.
Being a Christian organization, our waiting-to-adopt families have a love for Jesus Christ and base their lives on the principals laid forth in the Bible. When it comes to adoption, we believe that children are very honored in the open adoption format. We recognize that some birth families and adoptive families may be uncomfortable with the idea of open adoption. We ask that you allow us an opportunity to tell you the truths of what open adoption is and dispel myths of what it is not.

We understand that when a birthparent is seeking the best outcome for an unplanned pregnancy, the details can seem overwhelming. It is our desire to help you sift through the details so you can make a wise decision for your child...a decision you can feel confident about for the rest of your life.
We look forward to getting to know you and we wish you the best on your journey.
Warmly,
The Staff and Volunteers
Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach, Inc.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

Hey guys! I need your help. I am looking for organizations I can focus on in my Missional Monday series. They need to be outreach organizations, health-related non-profits, or non-profits that have a good ministry... and they are in good standing with the BBB.

You have any organizations you support with your time, talent, or treasure?

List them in the comments and I'll look at including them in Missional Monday in the future.

THANKS!

Missional Monday

Breakaway is a non-denominational, weekly Bible study on the campus of Texas A&M University. We exist to introduce college students to Jesus Christ and call them to walk with Him for a lifetime. We accomplish this through worship, Bible teaching and resources. While not affiliated with any one church, we work hard to connect students to local, Bible-believing churches. By God's power and for His glory, we live to proclaim the gospel of Christ to college students and connect them to Christ's community and His mission.


Breakaway was a HUGE part of my college experience. Many of the people involved in its beginnings were and are good friends of mine. This is an organization which has been blessed...and I pray it continues to bless as well.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

In response to the passing of the ObombaObamacare health care plan (which has me wrapped in a blanket and huddled on my couch. Okay, that's the fever, but still...) Today's Missional Monday is a tribute to an organization that truly does free health care. And keeps the uninsured out of the emergency rooms so that ER docs can treat people who are really sick.

Health For All is a nonprofit, volunteer-based, community supported primary health care clinic that was founded in 1987. Through generous community support, we provide free doctor visits, pharmaceuticals, eye exams, foot exams, lab tests, X-rays, smoking cessation, diabetes management, coumadin education and counseling services care to low income adults in the Brazos Valley who do not have health insurance or qualify for government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare or County Indigent funds.

Health for All treats about 4000 patients each year utilizing a team of volunteer medical professionals. By providing an alternative to expensive emergency room visits by the uninsured, Health for All saves area hospitals and taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

The Doc has done work for them over the years...especially when he was an undergrad at TAMU. His opinion of them has always been high.

They feel similar to me about this health care bill! See what they say on their Facebook page:

Our clinic has been serving the basic medical needs of the uninsured for over 20 years with minimal government support. If the goal of Healthcare Reform is to serve the uninsured, why not support free clinics? A network of 3000 clinics could be funded at $2,000,000 each per year and would still only cost a total of $60... Billion over 10 years, which is 0.6%of the cost being mentioned for National Healthcare Reform...

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

I read a blog recently of a woman who had lost a child when she was 27 weeks pregnant. She is currently pregnant and knows that this child will be born with spina bifida. It is to honor her that this week's Missional Monday is EASTER SEALS.

Easter Seals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for nearly 90 years. From child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with disabilities, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life's challenges and achieve personal goals.

Tragedy Leads to Inspiration
In 1907, Ohio-businessman Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident. The lack of adequate medical services available to save his son prompted Allen to sell his business and begin a fund-raising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Through this new hospital, Allen was surprised to learn that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired by this discovery, in 1919 Allen founded what became known as the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind.

The Birth of the Seal
In the spring of 1934, the organization launched its first Easter "seals" campaign to raise money for its services. To show their support, donors placed the seals on envelopes and letters. Cleveland Plain Dealer cartoonist J.H. Donahey designed the first seal. Donahey based the design on a concept of simplicity because those served by the charity asked "simply for the right to live a normal life."

The lily -- a symbol of spring -- was officially incorporated as Easter Seals' logo in 1952 for its association with resurrection and new life and has appeared on each seal since.

Easter Seals Emerges
The overwhelming public support for the Easter "seals" campaign triggered a nationwide expansion of the organization and a swell of grassroots efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. By 1967, the Easter "seal" was so well recognized, the organization formally adopted the name "Easter Seals."

Easter Seals Today
Easter Seals offers help, hope and answers to more than a million children and adults living with autism and other disabilities or special needs and their families each year. Services and support are provided through a network of more than 550 sites in the U.S. and through Ability First Australia. Each center provides exceptional services that are individualized, innovative, family-focused and tailored to meet specific needs of the particular community served.

Primary Easter Seals services include:

Medical Rehabilitation
Employment & Training
Children's Services
Adult & Senior Services
Camping & Recreation

Americans With Disabilities Act

Easter Seals also advocates for the passage of legislation to help people with disabilities achieve independence, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Passed in 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination against anyone who has a mental or physical disability, guaranteeing the civil rights of people with disabilities.

At the core of the Easter Seals organization is a common passion for caring, shared by its 23,000 staff members and thousands of volunteers, and by those who support its mission. This heart-felt commitment to helping people with disabilities and their families is what Easter Seals is all about.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

As most of you probably know adoption is a topic near and dear to my heart. I've always wanted to adopt, and one day I pray that this desire will be fulfilled.

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 150,000 children waiting in North America's foster care systems. Created by Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, who was adopted as a child, the Foundation implements results-driven national signature programs, foster care adoption awareness initiatives and research-based advocacy efforts. As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to foster care adoption, we are driven by Dave's simple value: Do what's best for the child.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Help for Haiti

Are you looking for a way to make a difference in helping Haiti? Do you have a pit in your stomach, as I do, wondering how all of the people in Haiti who need help are going to get it? And in time?

The Rev has done some work with a wonderful organization called Family Health Ministries. They are a ministry whose primary mission is to support international communities in their efforts to build and sustain healthy families.

Our hope is that by building healthy families, we build healthy communities which in turn build a better tomorrow.

If you go to their website you will find updates on their teams located in Haiti. They have lost several of their own, and most of their Children, Friends, Staff, and Colleagues status' are unknown. Please keep them in your prayers.


I support missional living...and you can't get much more missional than FHM.

Missional Monday

EVERYONE has something they don't need just sitting around their house. If you're me, you have bunches you don't need (but can't bear to part with!) and keep repeating the mantra of, "I need to take that to Goodwill".

I finally did it. I took it all to Goodwill. Okay, not all of it. Just most. Or some. All right, I took a bit but will definitely take more soon!

Goodwill® inspires hope and self-confidence, helping people from all backgrounds and walks of life to feel successful, valuable and dignified.

We help people earn a living, improve their lives, and strengthen their families and their communities.

Our network of 166 independent, community-based Goodwills in the United States and Canada offers customized job training, employment placement and other services to people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.

In 2008, Goodwill helped 1.5 million people train for careers in industries such as banking, IT and health care, to name a few — and get the supporting services they needed to be successful, such as English language training, additional education, or access to transportation and child care.

Every 42 seconds of every business day, someone gets a good job, with help from Goodwill.

More than 172,000 people obtained meaningful employment in 2008 through their participation in Goodwill programs. These people went on to earn $2.3 billion in salaries and wages, and contributed to their communities as productive, tax-paying citizens.

Goodwills meet the diverse needs of people, including youth, seniors, veterans, immigrants, and people with disabilities, criminal backgrounds and other specialized needs.

Goodwill has earned the trust and support of 64 million donors in the United States and Canada.

Local Goodwills are flexible and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training, employment placement services and other community programs by selling donated clothes and household items at Goodwill retail stores and online.

Goodwills also generate revenue by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation document imaging and shredding and more.

Read more about Goodwill’s mission, vision and history.

On the occasion of our 100th anniversary in 2002, we committed to providing services to 20 million people by the year 2020. Read more about Goodwill’s 21st Century Initiative.

So go checkout your local Goodwill. And GIVE! It'll make you feel better. It did me.


Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MISSIONAL?

I remember hearing people in the church (The Rev!) talking about being "missional" a few years back and thinking..."is that a REAL word?". I'm a stickler for good grammar and vocabulary, you know. I also recall wondering, if it is a real word, what does it mean?

Church talk. Blech!

What I've come to learn...and BELIEVE, is that being missional should be the goal of every Christian. Period. End of sentence. Our "jobs" as believers...our MISSION...requires us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. At home. At school. At work. In all areas of our lives; in every role we "play"....we should reflect the love that Christ gives us on the world around us.

I love the way Casting Crowns puts it:

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

And Audio Adrenaline:

I wanna be your hands
I wanna be your feet
I'll go where you send me,
go where you send me
I'll be your hands
I'll be your feet
I'll go where you send me,
go where you send me
And l'll try,
yeah I'll try
To touch the world
like You touched my life
And I'll find my way
To be your hands

Part of MY mission right now is to help others find THEIR mission. Are YOU missional?

Visit my site every Monday to find a different organization highlighted. Maybe you can find a place to connect Your passion with Your purpose...your mission.

Missional Monday

Today's post will be short. To the point.

GO! Find a place to volunteer.
A way to be "missional" in your sphere of influence.

And then thank God that you have the CHOICE to volunteer!

Missional Monday

This week's Missional Monday is an organization I hope to be involved with in the future. A good friend of mine, Baloney, is very involved with them and currently volunteers for them helping in fundraising, etc.

The organization is: Crisis Pregnancy Outreach

The primary mission of Crisis Pregnancy Outreach is to provide love and assistance, free of charge, to young women who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy, and to their children as well.

History & Information

Members of Christian Chapel used to peacefully walk and pray outside of a Tulsa Abortion Clinic. As time went on, they began to feel the need to provide a meaningful alternative to abortion for girls and women in the Tulsa area and beyond.

Board member, Marilyn Guthmann, and her brother-in-law, Dr. Howard Guthmann, approached Cheryl Bauman. Together, they drafted a proposal to present to the Board and Pastor Richard Exley. The proposal was unanimously approved. Crisis Pregnancy Outreach was birthed in March 1983, as an outreach ministry of Christian Chapel. Within two weeks, the first girl was ministered to.

Crisis Pregnancy Outreach's comprehensive list of services developed as new seeds arose amidst the young women. For example, when a girl needed a place to live during her pregnancy, "host homes" began as the members of Christian Chapel opened their homes to provide a loving, family environment. When a girl needed items for setting up an apartment, the warehouse was formed.

Initially, adoption referrals were made when young women chose to place their children for adoption. It soon became evident that Crisis Pregnancy Outreach should become a Licensed Adoption Agency in order to facilitate open adoptions.

Crisis Pregnancy Outreach accomplishes everything with a team of dedicated volunteers. No one has ever received a salary. (Emphasis mine)

What can you do to help?

Your financial support helps to provide such things as prescriptions, clothing, childbirth classes, counseling, and dental care for our girls. Your support enables us to operate our transitional and maternity homes where our girls are cared for in a loving, home environment.

We accept donations of maternity clothing, baby clothing and equipment, household items, furniture, and appliances. These are to help our girls set up their own apartments or to assist with what they already may have.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

Today's Missional Monday is a topic near and dear to my heart. Food allergies! Although I am not currently involved with this organization I am dedicated to making food allergies more widely known, as well as supporting those that already do.

KIDS WITH FOOD ALLERGIES

Mission

Kids With Food Allergies is a national nonprofit food allergy organization dedicated to fostering optimal health, nutrition, and well-being of children with food allergies by providing education and a caring support community for their families and caregivers.


Programs

KFA helps children with food allergies and their families cope with dietary restrictions, lifestyle adjustments, fear and isolation through education, peer support, food/cooking assistance and outreach programs.

• Education Program
  KFA's Educational program is focused on providing reliable and accurate health information to parents and caregivers which, in turn, benefit the health and well-being of children with food allergies.
  
• Peer Support Program
  Parents of Food Allergic Kids (POFAK™) online support groups offer peer-to-peer emotional and social support as well as food and cooking assistance. The support groups are staffed by parent volunteers who know first-hand the day-to-day challenges of raising a child with food allergies.
  
• Food and Cooking Assistance Program
  In a society that revolves around food, finding safe recipes and preparing safe foods for a child with food allergies is of primary concern. KFA offers food and cooking-focused educational materials, a searchable Safe Eats™ Recipe Database, an Allergy Buyer's Guide and other offerings to address the critical concern of families: "what can I feed my child?"
  
• Outreach
  KFA’s outreach efforts focus on providing quality education about food allergies, and raising awareness of KFA’s programs for families nationwide.

Goals

1. To foster optimal health, nutrition, and well-being of children
   
2. To address the social and emotional needs of families upon diagnosis and as they adapt to a food allergy lifestyle
   
3. To provide a caring support community for families, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
   
4. To empower families with trustworthy information, news and resources
   
5. To encourage families to acquire knowledge to manage their children's food allergies while building effective communication between themselves and their children's doctors
   
6. To include those dealing with single or multiple food allergies as well as other conditions resulting in adverse reactions to foods
   
7. To provide interactive and creative approaches for finding safe foods and recipes
   
8. To build confidence for families and children to accomplish anything in life despite their food restrictions
   
9. To reach out to physicians to raise awareness of the social and emotional needs of families upon diagnosis and as they adapt to a food allergy lifestyle
   
10. To innovate with a creative team of professionals, medical advisors, volunteers and staff
    
11. To build and sustain a broad base of support from those who believe in our organization’s mission and will contribute funds needed to succeed.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

One of my most devoted readers mentioned that they were helped recently by a wonderful organization in their area. I would love to focus this Missional Monday on that particular group...


Salkehatchie Summer Service is a pioneering servant ministry at selected sites in South Carolina involving high school and college age youth, adult community leaders and persons of different cultures in upgrading housing, motivating community cooperative efforts by helping persons to help themselves, and providing all participants with opportunities for personal growth and service.



How Can I Help?

* Volunteer - Youth willing to work and adults with skills to share are needed.
* Donate Supplies - Lumber, paint, caulking, plywood, linoleum, paneling, nails, etc. may be brought to individual camps.
* Financial Support - Cash contributions are needed and appreciated. Registration fees and conference benevolences do not cover all of their costs.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

Today's Missional Monday is the third in a series of 3. It is the final candidate for receiving a portion of profits (if we ever have any!) from Twice as Nice Boutique. It is:

Phoebe's Home

Phoebe's Home is actually a part of Twin City Mission, which I highlighted as one of the first 2 options for receiving funds. This specific portion of Twin City Missions

is an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. Phoebe's Home operates 24 hours a day...



In addition to services made available to non-residents, Phoebe's Home provides emergency shelter, nutritional meals, laundry facilities, daily needs (toiletries, clothing), transportation, and recreational activities for its residents.

The average length of stay at Phoebe's Home , which can house up to 45 individuals, is 30-45 days. Extensions are granted, when necessary, if goals are being met. Residential clients are often eligible to apply for transitional housing through Housing Services, a program of Twin City Mission.

The Domestic Violence Services program supports an active volunteer program. Volunteer opportunities include: assisting with clerical support, child play, organizing/facilitating children's activities, tutoring, education/training for residents, assisting with daily living activities, minor maintenance, grounds keeping and fundraising.

How can you help?

VOLUNTEER!

For more information on volunteering, call or e-mail:

Jinna Turland , Volunteer Coordinator

(979)775-1968

volunteer@twincitymission.org

Domestic Violence Services statistics

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

Yeah, yeah. I missed another Monday. So sue me! (Just kidding. This is my guilt talking, and it tends to speak in sarcasm to deflect any TRUE feelings. Sorry!)

This is the second non-profit we are looking at supporting with a portion of our profits from Twice as Nice Boutique. We've found a 3rd prospect, so I'll post on them next...time! :o)

This week's Missional Monday focus is on:

Still Creek Ranch

Since 1988, Still Creek Ranch has served children and families either in residence or through outreach services. We are located 15 miles from Bryan, Texas on 275 acres of Ranch Land.

We accept children from all over Texas and around the world. Twenty-six children live in cottages at our two facilities: Still Creek Boys Ranch and Still Creek Girls Ranch. The boys and girls ages 8-18 grow up in a Christ-centered, structured environment and enjoy a private Christian education and a variety of vocational, spiritual and extra-curricular activites. We give children a hope and a future.

Still Creek Ranch operates strictly by donations. We receive no state, federal, government grants or United Way funding. Through the generousity of committed partners like you, individuals, corporations, foundations, civic groups, and churches, Still Creek Ranch is able to meet the needs for its programs.

If you are interested in donating, go HERE to help!

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

Missional Monday

Yes, this post is being posted on Tuesday and dated on Monday. And yes, I've missed multiple Mondays. But I PROMISE I'm going to start being better about posting Missional Mondays and just plain posting in general. Thanks to all of you for being so patient!

This week's Missional Monday is focused on the area of Bryan/College Station, home of Texas A&M! It is...
TWIN CITY MISSIONS!



Their VISION STATEMENT:
A world in which all individuals and families have opportunity for hope, acceptance, and stability, in a safe and caring environment.


Their MISSION STATEMENT:
Twin City Mission will accomplish its Vision through programs addressing: homelessness; violence and abuse; family conflict; youth in crisis; life skills deficiencies; and poverty.

Twin City Mission Capital Campaign

On June 3rd, 2008, Twin City Mission officially launched the "Because You Care...We Can" Capital Campaign. The public launch followed nearly a year of forming committees, conducting a silent phase of solicitation and building a public awareness campaign.



CAPITAL CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

(click Book at left for Special Event Fundraiser information)













Go to their website to get information on the following ways to help out:
HOUSE WARMING DONATION DRIVE

SHELTER WING PRICE DIVISIONS

'09 TCM GOLF CLASSIC Results

Around Town Article - April 1, 2009


Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

FYI: My twin sister and I are starting a new business (I'll post about it soon!) and this is one of two organizations we are looking to support with a percentage of our profits. I'll cover the other one next Monday!

Missional Monday & Hurting Hearts...

Missional Monday with a purpose:

Around 5:30pm yesterday I got a phone call from my next door neighbor. She was hysterical and screaming that I needed to get to the pool because a little boy had drowned. "You know CPR!"

I grabbed the car keys, yelled at The Rev where I was going, and raced to the car. I didn't even grab shoes. I pulled out of the driveway and saw my neighbor's husband working in the yard...I yelled for him to get in and we raced to the pool.

By the time we got there 2 people were performing CPR on the child. They were doing good compressions, so mostly I coached them on not stopping and helped when he was sick.

EMS arrived a few minutes later and we put him on a stretcher and they ran. I was a nervous wreck all evening, and couldn't sleep until the wee hours from the adrenaline.

I just got an email confirming that the little boy, Trey, did not make it. He looked to be about 3 or 4. No one knew how long he had been in the water...he was at a birthday party for his cousin and we believe he had taken off his flotation device.

I beg of you parents, PLEASE, PLEASE watch your kiddos at the pool. Even if they can swim, know where they are at all times. And if they CANNOT swim...get them lessons! Even a 6 month old can be taught to come up to the surface and float on their back if they end up in a body of water. It may be expensive, but it will be some of the best money you can spend. (Google survival swimming in your area to find qualified instructors.)

And finally, learn CPR. It took a minute or two before people stepped in to do CPR, and there wasn't a consensus as to compressions and breaths. Contact your local Red Cross or your local hospital's education department.

Red Cross Preparedness programs in first aid, CPR and AED are available for any age and can be tailored to the needs of specific groups and individuals. Whether you work with children, want training for employees, are a professional rescuer, or simply want to know how to help someone in an emergency, the American Red Cross has a program for you.

I pray no parent ever has to go through what Trey's family is going through today.

Missional Monday

Today's focus is on PUPPIES!!!  Yes, cute, adorable, can't put them down cuz you might cry PUPPIES!!





Today's organization is: Atlanta Boxer Rescue!

We are an organization dedicated to the rescue and adoption of Boxers in the metropolitan-Atlanta area, and to provide support and education for Boxer owners. We are operated and managed by a group of dedicated volunteers, and we are funded by adoption fees, fundraisers, and gifts from generous donors like you! Atlanta Boxer Rescue, Inc., is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Atlanta Boxer Rescue is looking for volunteers! If you live in Atlanta and have a heart for these puppies, and can help out transporting dogs between the hours of 9am and 5pm (when vets are open) please volunteer!

Atlanta Boxer Rescue is currently seeking volunteers to provide transportation of our Boxer dog rescues to/from their Foster homes and to/from their vet appointments. Transportation would occur during weekday business hours and would involve 2-3 hours of time total. One-way transports of approximately 1 hour may also be available. Atlanta Boxer Rescue is not based in a single shelter, but rather utilizes a network of Foster homes throughout metro Atlanta, so volunteer opportunities exist throughout Atlanta.

Volunteer must have good reliable transportation and a safe driving record. Must be willing to be around dogs and have basic dog-care skills. Vehicle must be suitable in size or configuration to provide safe transport for the Boxer dog. Volunteer will pick up the dog at the Foster home and transport to vet office. Will assist in handling dog during the vet appointment, then transport the dog back to the Foster home. Will also ensure any paperwork received at the vet office is transferred to the Foster home. Volunteer must have email access for receiving and scheduling transport requests.

Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.