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1.21 Ministry Update-November 2011
2222 Winged Foot Drive
Missouri City, Texas 77459
India: In October Jack Benson and myself, along
with Jason and Karen Wells made a trip to Bangalore, India . This was my first
trip. Jack and the Well’s had been there before. We were there from the 7th
to the 24th.
We were invited to
speak at a Pastor’s conference put on by Bishop Dr. M. Francis Jackson Pastor
of Mt. Zion Pentecostal Church . The first day I shared that as a young teen
the reaction I had toward God when my Mother committed suicide. I hated God. At
the age of eighteen God made himself real to me. I gave my life to Him the best
I knew how.
The next day I shared
about Jeremy and the call that God had on his life. I then told them about the
accident and how differently I reacted to God this time. With my Mother’s death
I only knew about God. With Jeremy’s death I knew Jesus in a much deeper
sense. I knew Him to be my God and friend, lover of my soul. I shared
how this was and is the hardest thing Ruth and I had ever gone through. But we
still acknowledged that “God is good”. The WORD of God is true to His word.
Bishop Jackson had
lost his 14 year old son in 2000. He died in his arms. I came to find out later
that his son had died on August 16th the same day as Jeremy. Also a
young man came up to me and shared that he and his wife had just lost their
newborn son. Their son died in his arms. I was able to love on and pray for
Bishop Jackson and this young man. God is good.
I handed the testimony
cards and wristbands out that day. Everyone got one and what was left over I
left at the church.
We were kept very
busy. We dedicated three or four churches and bible schools in Pondicherry and
Krishnagiri. The pastors and congregations were all very happy people and
enjoyed sharing what they had with us.
We then went to the
city of Vellore to hold the first ever outdoor evangelistic meetings in the
history of this village. We spoke in the town square right across from the Hindu
temple. There is a small church established in the village. About 20 people
came to Jesus that day! Praise God!
Jack and myself then
went from the south to the north. We went to the northern town of Dehra Dun
which is north of New Delhi. We went to visit Rev. George Chavanikamannil who
heads up, Good News for India . He had a vision for a bible school in the north
and God led him to establish the New Theological College about 20 or 25 years
ago. It is quite the school. Please visit the website: ntcdoon.org. I know you will be blessed.
Australia: Youth With a Mission (YWAM) base in
Newcastle, Australia reports took 39 campers from local high schools to the
Gold Coast of Australia for a 5 day camp we called FIVE DAY ESCAPE in
September. About half of the campers were unchurched crew who had not been
involved in Youth Street (a YWAM outreach to the youth in the community). On
the final night I gave a message about what and who we take a stand to live our
lives for. We had 12 campers respond for the first time and the other went into
two groups such as 'sitting on the fence unsure of making a decision to follow
Jesus' and 'already made this decision and would like to pray for others'. The
12 who made first time decisions to take a stand and begin a life of following
Jesus were each given a bible, and a 1.21 arm bracelet. We also put Jeremy's
card in the Bible explaining his testimony.
The camp staff
reported that crew were reading their new bibles in the cabins and on the 8
hour bus trip home. We are excited to see young people respond to the message
of living a life for Christ! He's worth taking the stand for!
Web-site update: We are in the process of updating the 1.21
web-site. We detached ourselves from Ning a social network. Daniel Norris has
done an amazing job keeping the 1.21 site going since 2008.
Wristbands &
Cards: This year alone we
have mailed and given out close to 30,000 - 1.21 cards in numerous languages
Urdu, Spanish, English, Arabic, Hindi, Telegu, French, Indonesian, Fante and of
course English. Also, have distributed over 16,000 wristbands.
Thanks for your
prayers and support. 1.21 Ministry Inc., 2222 Winged Foot Drive, Missouri City,
Texas 77459.
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Wed 31/08/2011 2:36 PMLeading
charities and church welcome High Court
decision not
to deport asylum seeker children to Malaysia
Two of the
nation’s leading community service organisations,
Baptcare and
Mission Australia, have
welcomed the High Court’s
ruling that
it is illegal to send unaccompanied asylum seeker children
to Malaysia.
Baptcare and
Mission Australia recently
announced their support of
Melbourne’s
Crossway Baptist church and its offer to government to
accommodate
and care for the unaccompanied asylum seeker children
rather than
see them deported to Malaysia
– at no cost to taxpayers.
Baptcare had
offered case management to the families prepared to
accommodate
the unaccompanied minors as well as individualised
support to
every child in care.
Mission Australia
had offered its experience as one of the country’s
largest
providers of homelessness and youth services to support the
church with
developing procedures to ensure the care of children is
delivered at
high standards and with cultural sensitivity.
“We welcome
the High Court ruling, and now implore the government
to consider
alternative proposals to house unaccompanied asylum seeker
children. We
would welcome the opportunity to work with government
to create
options to release asylum seeker children into the community
where they
will have access to the supports that every child deserves,”
said
Baptcare’s Chief Executive, Mr Jeff Davey.
"The
decision made by the High Court is a very positive outcome for the
unaccompanied
minors. These children should get a chance to be looked
after in
the community which is far more beneficial to the child's long
term
wellbeing while their asylum application is processed. The offer we
made to the
government to accommodate and care for these children still
stands," said
Dale Stephenson, Senior Pastor of Crossway.
“When the
government was first elected in 2007 it promised a humane and
even-handed
approach to refugees. It promised community-led care of
refugee
children. Following today’s decision, we’re hopeful we’ll now see
a change of
heart and a return to those principles,” said Mission Australia’s
Chief
Executive, Mr Toby Hall.
For the past
three years Baptcare has provided supported community-based
accommodation,
social work and advocacy to male asylum seekers while
they await
the outcome of their visa application.
Baptcare’s
case workers have extensive experience in the specialist field
of
supporting asylum seekers during extended periods of uncertainty while
maintaining
their mental health and dignity.
“Many asylum
seekers have experienced trauma and torture, experiences
that most of
us could never contemplate or understandand have been forced
to flee
their homelands under threat of persecution because of their race,
religion,
political beliefs or ethnicity,” said Mr Davey.
“We believe
this is a justice issue; to have sent unaccompanied asylum seeker
children to Malaysia
would have been letting them down,” Mr Davey said.
NATIONAL MARRIAGE WEEK 11th - 17th SEPTEMBER 2011Celebrating, encouraging, valuing and strengthening marriages
Jesus calls himself 'the bridegroom', His love for us is freely given, total and unconditional,
through all times good and bad, faithful and exclusive until death.
Marriage should show the fullness of Jesus' love for us.
How many marriages truly show this? Whilst none of us have perfect marriages we can
work together in the church to help each other and our surrounding communities to
strengthen the marriages of this nation and leave that legacy.
Marriage should be encouraged, strengthened and supported by government,
society and individuals in every possible way. Together we can do it!
Marriage Week is a time when we not only honour and celebrate marriage
within our own numbers and the wider community but also promote the work that
we do to support and help marriages grow in health and strength.
Start planning now, combining with outreach programs that you may have in place,
empower a small group in your church to undertake what needs to be organised and
advertised.
The majority of our Christian broadcasters support Marriage Week along with many
of the family, marriage ministries and Christian bookstores of our nation.
When your church becomes a partner of Marriage Week, there are no costs or obligations,
plus you will have access to a growing number of resources at no cost.
These range from publicity material to ideas for celebration events.
Working
Together we can make a difference in strengthening marriages,
- spiritually, physically, culturally and economically.
So don't hold back, take the step now for the good of marriage in Australia.
For more detail on Marriage Week, check out the web site at www.marriageweek.org.au Source: National Marriage Week organisers
Welcome to the very first issue of mici magazine. www.micimagazine.com We are pleased to present a truly unique online magazine that addresses a niche that has, up until now, been overlooked. Currently, nothing in the Australian Christian market has geared itself to address such a specific and challenging age group—young girls; in particular, 16-20 year olds. And being online, mici magazine is freely accessible. Just sign up to receive each new issue and to access the archive.You only need to know one girl for mici to matter, and If like us, you care about nurturing and encouraging young women, curbing lost potential, uncovering true individuality and promoting all that comes with God’s own perspective on a healthy self-image, then mici is a concept you can confidently move with and support. Thank you and we hope you enjoy mici magazine. The mici team.
MEDIA RELEASE 10 May 2011Health funding applauded but long-term concerns remain International Christian child development and child advocacy organisation, Compassion, welcomes the $486 million increase to the size of Australia’s foreign aid budget. Australia’s foreign aid program is now $4.836 billion, representing 0.35 per cent f Gross National Income and on the way to matching the Government’s stated commitment of 0.5 per cent by the 2015/16 budget. With this said, Kevin Rudd commented that despite the difficult financial and political climate that Australia faces, the 0.5 per cent commitment had been quarantined and remained safe from the cuts facing many other sectors. The benefits of this should not be underestimated.Despite the looming Millennium Development Goal deadline in 2015—and with progress lagging furthest behind target reductions for MDG 4 (reduce child mortality) and MDG 5 (reduce maternal mortality)—Australia has shifted its focus away from development assistance for health in recent years. DJ Konz, Compassion Australia’s Executive Director of Child Advocacy, emphasises that children and mothers everywhere deserve to have access to the same highstandards of healthcare that countries such as Australia are privileged to enjoy. “In a challenging and uncertain economic environment we applaud the Federal Government’s recognition that if we are doing it tough in Australia, millions of children, mothers and families are literally struggling to survivein our neighbouring countries and beyond,” Mr Konz says. “Keeping our international aid commitments at this time is a deeply human gesture of concern for those who live in much worse circumstances than we do, and is critical to helping prevent the deaths of over 22,000 children who die, most needlessly, every day.” Tonight’s Budget reveals the actual estimate for 2010/11 health funding increased significantly above the budget estimate provided at last year’s budget briefing (to $634 million from $555 million). Though the government has proposed an $8 million increase to be spent on health aid in 2011/2012 (to $642 million), in percentage terms the amount to be spent on health will actually fall from 14.54 per cent of the aid budget to around 13.27 per cent. However, a large pool of unallocated funds is also expected to be directed towards health. While Compassion Australia is encouraged by this increase in health funding, it is concerned about the lack of focus on health programs long-term. Estimates indicate the proportions of spending on health to flat line or even decrease slightly by 2014/2015. These forward estimates are well below Compassion’s desire to see health become a second flagship of Australia’s aid program and represent 20 per cent of the total aid programs. Mr Konz says that when used well, Australia’s foreign aid budget saves lives and contributes in very real, concrete ways to children and families around the world having development opportunities they would not otherwise have. “Compassion Australia welcomes the Australian Government’s continued commitment to foreign aid, and to honouring its promise that our official development assistance will reach 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income by 2015/16. That said, Australia actually remains one of the least generous countries when it comes to foreign aid, despite our ongoing economic growth. “Along with the rest of the Micah Challenge Coalition we encourage the Australian Government to look beyond the next few years and outline when Australia will come into line with the rest of the international community and give 0.7 per cent of GNI to Development Assistance,” Mr Konz says. END Catherine Ryan Supporter Communications Manager Compassion AustraliaPO Box 1 Hunter Region MC NSW 2310T 02 4935 5000 extn 1172 | F 02 4935 5090 | M 0419 478 570www.compassion.com.au ABN 67 001 692 566
For release: Tuesday May 10, 2011Budget aid boost welcome, charities’ tax a worryThe Australian Christian Lobby has welcomed the Government’s boost to overseas aid in tonight’s budget but remained concerned about a move to tax charities.ACL Chief of Staff Lyle Shelton welcomed the $477 million per year increase to helping the poor which takes Australia’s giving to $4.8 billion or 0.35 per cent of Gross National Income.The budget showed the Government was on track to meet its election promise to increase aid to 0.5pc of GNI by 2015-16.“Despite the Global Financial Crisis and our own natural disasters, Australia remains a rich country compared to many of our neighbours and we can afford to be generous with our overseas aid, particularly when 22,000 children die each day from preventable conditions. “However, the Government’s target is still well below the Millennium Development Goal which calls for rich nations to increase aid to 0.7pc of GNI by 2015 as part of a plan to halve world poverty,” Mr Shelton said.While supportive of the MDGs, ACL was disappointed by the Government’s decision in 2009 to allow some of Australia’s overseas aid money to be used to fund abortions when the money could have been spent on saving mothers’ and babies’ lives.Meanwhile, ACL remained concerned about plans to tax the commercial earnings of charities which did not contribute to the charitable purpose of the organisation.“Because the overwhelming majority of charities with commercial arms plough profits back in to the charity, it is not known why this new tax is necessary and what other administrative burdens might come with it,” Mr Shelton said.“The case has not been made for going against the Henry Review recommendation not to tax charities and ACL remains concerned there may be unintended consequences for churches and charities.”Mr Shelton said the announcement that a Not for Profit Commission would be established was welcome as it would be independent of the Australian Taxation Office which had a conflict of interest when dealing with charities. Media Contact: Katherine Spackman on 0408 875 979.
Wed 11/05/2011 1:06 AMACL welcomes budget funding for school chaplainsTonight’s budget funds the Gillard Government’s election promise to provide an extra $222 million towards the popular National School Chaplaincy Program.Australian Christian Lobby Chief of Staff Lyle Shelton welcomed the inclusion of the election commitment in the budget.“It was great to see the Treasurer Wayne Swann mention the chaplaincy funding in his budget speech tonight,” Mr Shelton said.Prior to the election Prime Minister Julia Gillard committed to the continuance of the chaplaincy program and promised it would retain its faith-based nature.Tonight’s announcement extends funding for 2700 chaplains until 2014 and will allow an extra 1000 schools to employ a chaplain.Media Contact: Katherine Spackman on 0408 875 979.
Wed 11/05/2011 2:51 AM -
 The Hope of Survivors has designated August 1 as Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness & Prevention Day, an event to be celebrated throughout the month of August. Clergy sexual abuse is a prevalent problem in every denomination around the globe and one of The Hope of Survivors' primary goals, beyond providing support to victims of sexual abuse by anyone in the role of spiritual authority, is raising awareness of the issue and educating clergy, church members and the public at large. To kick off this inaugural Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness & Prevention Day, several events are planned during August, including: exhibiting at the ASI Convention in Sacramento, CA; participating in Prime 11 Cinemas Monday Night Sponsorship Program in Redding, CA; conducting a Hope & Healing victim's conference in Indianapolis, IN; and much more to come! This is a collaborative effort between many organizations and individuals and we invite you to Get Involved! God bless you, Samantha NelsonVice President
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