From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "Blessed to Be a Blessing"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

Friday Story: "Blessed to Be a Blessing"

Greetings, and Happy Friday!

As we pause to reflect on our blessings, we are reminded that we also have the privilege of blessing others.

Soun lives in Roarng Leu Village in Cambodia. In 2006 he fell from a tree and suffered a spinal cord injury. His wife took him to the hospital in Phnom Penh, but Soun never regained the ability to walk ...

• read the rest of this story ...

Equal Exchange Blog ... "Five Ways to Celebrate Fair Trade Valentine's Day"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

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Five Ways to Celebrate Fair Trade Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! What do you have planned for your special someone (or yourself)? This year, we’re celebrating love of all kinds – including our love for Fair Trade, of course. Here are a few ways you can incorporate your support of small farmers into your gift-giving and activities on February 14 ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... ALL THIS WEEK

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Faces of Children Sunday

Hi Friends,

This week, I'd like to ask you to pray for the ministry of Faces of Children in particular. On January 31, 2016, here in our home church of First Presbyterian in Midland, Texas, we are dedicating our Sunday services to the ministry of Faces of Children, hoping to connect more of our congregation to the needs facing children in our community and around the world.

Right now, we're in the midst of planning that service, and I'm excited about some of the ways we might be able to engage our congregation in praying for vulnerable children around the world. But it's also a lot to coordinate and arrange, and I'd just like to ask that you lift us up.

Specifically, please pray that God helps us follow His leading and plans, that the services would go smoothly, and that He uses this time to mobilize more of this local body to be His hands and feet in the lives of hurting children around the world.

I'm sorry this email is so brief today ... but I need to get back to planning! :)
Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

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If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to info@facesofchildren.net

From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "Life Keeps Getting Better"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

Friday Story: "Life Keeps Getting Better"

Greetings, and Happy Friday!

We love to share stories of the joy and immediate relief upon receiving the gift of mobility. But today we want to share the wonderful story of ongoing life transformation one family in Peru has experienced.

Doreli was forced to quit her job with an airline to care for her beautiful baby girl, Aimar, who was born with serious health issues. She made ends meet with support from her ex-husband and help from her parents ...

• read the rest of this story ...

Midland woman seeks help this weekend with Habitat for Humanity build

Hello all,

Well it’s a new year and I am at it again. I am ready to get the building of my home behind me so that I can focus on my last full year of college and other upcoming events. Being a Midland Habitat for Humanity 2015 recipient I would like to request your assistance once again. As part of being a 2015 recipient, I must reach 350 hours on the build. The Habitat community has set a deadline in which these hours must be complete, and It is crucial that I have at least another 85 hours by the first of February and with your help I can reach this goal.

These hours will go towards the building of my home and any hours left over can be donated to another family that is a part of Habitat for Humanity. This will be the last time that I will be able to bring a large group to help on the building of my new home.

The volunteer day is Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 9:00 am located at Ortloff Ct. (Directly across the street from the new Bunche Elementary School, behind the 3 houses that sit there in the front). Volunteers are more than welcome to stay all day or just part of the day; however all day is encouraged. lunch is between 12:00 and 1:00 pm (most locations end at 4:30pm, or whenever everything is completed and cleaned).

If you are able to volunteer please send me an email as soon as possible so that I can notify Habitat. If you have volunteered and are not able to make it, please contact me at least a day ahead of time so that I can notify Habitat as there may be another family that can take that spot.

Please be sure to mark your calendars on this date if you have pledged to volunteer, also a reminder email will be sent out prior to the day. If there are volunteers under the age of 18 a waiver for minors has to be completed and returned upon their arrival to the site.

Thanks in advance!

Nikki Lewis
Midland, Texas

Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... ALL THIS WEEK

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Faces of Children Sunday

Hi Friends,

This week, I'd like to ask you to pray for the ministry of Faces of Children in particular. On January 31, 2016, here in our home church of First Presbyterian in Midland, Texas, we are dedicating our Sunday services to the ministry of Faces of Children, hoping to connect more of our congregation to the needs facing children in our community and around the world.

Right now, we're in the midst of planning that service, and I'm excited about some of the ways we might be able to engage our congregation in praying for vulnerable children around the world. But it's also a lot to coordinate and arrange, and I'd just like to ask that you lift us up.

Specifically, please pray that God helps us follow His leading and plans, that the services would go smoothly, and that He uses this time to mobilize more of this local body to be His hands and feet in the lives of hurting children around the world.

I'm sorry this email is so brief today ... but I need to get back to planning! :)
Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

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If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to info@facesofchildren.net

WAW Wednesday: Back from Cuba, a Timely Gift, a Sad Note

"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."

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Back from Cuba

I haven't yet figured out a good way to communicate this trip. For now I will just report ...
• Water filters were delivered to areas plagued with cholera. This effort supported the work of the local church and will save lives.
• Now we need to see how we can widen the door. Our effort was a drop in the bucket.
• Because of the solid relationship between Cuba and Belize we pray that Belize may become the staging point for more Christian aid to Cuba.

A Timely Gift

A short while back we were given the gift of property in Southern Belize to sell and the proceeds to go to two children's homes, Marla’s House of Hope in Belize and Valley of Angels in Guatemala. Thanks for praying that through with us. And have a look at the touching thank-you note below.

Dear Mollie,
Peace!
I am writing to you to personally thank you for your overwhelmingly generous support. While I don't have the words to thank you enough, I want to give you a little context to help you see how much this means to me and Valley.

This morning I was called to go to the public hospital in Guatemala called San Juan … One of our children is there … When I arrived I found her in a large room with 40 other children, in a small dirty bed all alone hooked up to an intravenous, burning with fever, and miserable. She hadn't slept or eaten all night …I was looking around at all the poor children who were there. I was thinking what an awful place but at the same time I am grateful … I am truly grateful that we have amazing supporters who make it possible for us to help these children who have no-one … Your gift not only enables us to provide a place to live, food to eat, education, the faith but the ability to communicate love to them. To let them know they are loved and they are lovable and they are worth it.

So today was a tough day, most of all for Monica, but thanks to you she felt loved and smiled and played puzzles in her bed and hopefully will be well enough next week to come back to valley and continue her year studying with us.

[Fr Della Penna shared that his budget had been cut by $30K USD due to lack of funding; the check TWAW sent on behalf of our generous land-donor was just over $31K USD.]

Fr Michael Della Penna ofm
Director
Valley of the Angels

A Sad Note

WAW Photo

Our dear friend and ministry partner in the Belize city Burial Grounds area has passed away.

Pastor Rita Flowers of Alpha and Omega children's church will be missed by us, throngs of children, and her innumerable dogs.


Tim Tam
The Word at Work

ps: Our Ministry Associate team gathers school supplies, toys, and stuffed animals through out the year ... we've discovered blankets are an ongoing need as well, so please be saving them, too. Click here to learn more about becoming a TW@W Ministry Associate, or get in touch with Tim Hagen for more information!

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners? Please please fill out this Commitment Card and return it to their office!

Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page !

Equal Exchange Blog ... "2015 Year in Review"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

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2015 Year in Review

At the end of every year, we reflect on the accomplishments, challenges, developments and memorable moments that have helped us grow. Here are a just a few of the highlights from 2015, which we’re so proud to share with you all – and which we couldn’t have done without your support ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... ALL THIS WEEK

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Faces of Children Sunday

Hi Friends,

This week, I'd like to ask you to pray for the ministry of Faces of Children in particular. On January 31, 2016, here in our home church of First Presbyterian in Midland, Texas, we are dedicating our Sunday services to the ministry of Faces of Children, hoping to connect more of our congregation to the needs facing children in our community and around the world.

Right now, we're in the midst of planning that service, and I'm excited about some of the ways we might be able to engage our congregation in praying for vulnerable children around the world. But it's also a lot to coordinate and arrange, and I'd just like to ask that you lift us up.

Specifically, please pray that God helps us follow His leading and plans, that the services would go smoothly, and that He uses this time to mobilize more of this local body to be His hands and feet in the lives of hurting children around the world.

I'm sorry this email is so brief today ... but I need to get back to planning! :)
Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

---

If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to info@facesofchildren.net

Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... ALL THIS WEEK

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Faces of Children Sunday

Hi Friends,

This week, I'd like to ask you to pray for the ministry of Faces of Children in particular. On January 31, 2016, here in our home church of First Presbyterian in Midland, Texas, we are dedicating our Sunday services to the ministry of Faces of Children, hoping to connect more of our congregation to the needs facing children in our community and around the world.

Right now, we're in the midst of planning that service, and I'm excited about some of the ways we might be able to engage our congregation in praying for vulnerable children around the world. But it's also a lot to coordinate and arrange, and I'd just like to ask that you lift us up.

Specifically, please pray that God helps us follow His leading and plans, that the services would go smoothly, and that He uses this time to mobilize more of this local body to be His hands and feet in the lives of hurting children around the world.

I'm sorry this email is so brief today ... but I need to get back to planning! :)
Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

---

If you have prayer requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to info@facesofchildren.net

From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "One Family's Double Blessing"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission

is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

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Friday Story: "One Family's Double Blessing"

Greetings, and Happy Friday!

Last month a Vision Trip team went to Costa Rica and distributed 150 wheelchairs in seven locations with our distribution partner, Do It Center Foundation. In the city of La Cruz they were able to bless one family twice!

Nicolasa has spent a lifetime putting others before herself. She raised nine children who live nearby and help care for her. A few years ago she received a wheelchair to help her get around as her Parkinson’s disease made walking difficult. But she could still walk a little, and she knew someone who needed a wheelchair even more than she did, so she gave hers away ...

• read the rest of this story ...

Equal Exchange Blog ... "Five Ways to Fundraise This Valentine's Day"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

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Five Ways to Fundraise This Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day always comes as a delightful break from winter doldrums for all ages, and at school, it offers a festive and easy fundraising opportunity. Here are a few ways to celebrate with your students and raise money for your next project ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

From ChinaAid: "Church pastor charged with ‘illegally holding state secrets’ sentenced to criminal detention"

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

China Aid Photo

Church pastor charged with ‘illegally holding state secrets’ sentenced to criminal detention
Distributed by ChinaAid, December, 2015 ...

GUIYANG, GUIZHOU, CHINA – After witnessing officials forcing her husband into an unidentified van, Wang Hongwu, the wife of detained Huoshi Church pastor Yang Hua, received a notice on Sunday, stating that Yang is suspected of “illegally holding state secrets” and has been criminally detained ...

• more on this story from China Aid

From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "Hope in a Box"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission

is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

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Friday Story: "Hope in a Box"

Greetings, and Happy Friday!

will you join us in expressing gratitude for our partners around the world who receive and distribute wheelchairs?

In Malawi, the Namikango Mission staff carefully unloads box after box from the trailer of a 40-foot truck. Each box contains possibilities for another person who has faced near hopeless conditions. The label says it all: “Free Wheelchair Mission.” ...

• read the rest of this story ...

In the News ... "52 Faces" Q&A with Mary Hardin

MRT Photo by Tim Fischer

"52 Faces of the Community" is a new, regular feature of the Midland Reporter-Telegram that is recognizing the unsung heroes and volunteers of Midland, Texas. The latest installment in this series offers a question-and-answer session with Mary Hardin, Helping Hands of Midland executive director.

• read the rest of this MRT report

• visit the "52 Faces" index page

In the News ... "Salvation Army finds gold coin in kettle"

MRT Photo by Tim Fischer

• Tradition dates back more than 20 years in cities across nation

Cassie Burton, Reporter
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - It has happened the same time of year and at the same place, for a decade. Someone approaches the Salvation Army’s red kettle outside Hobby Lobby and drops in a $5 or $10 bill. Wrapped inside the bill is a gold coin worth hundreds of dollars ...

• read the rest of this MRT report

Equal Exchange Blog ... "The Small Producer Symbol: What Does It Stand For?"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

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The Small Producer Symbol: What Does It Stand For?

In the last year, you may have noticed a new logo on the package of your coffee: the Small Producer Symbol. The SPP (the acronym of the Spanish name, Simbolo de Pequeños Productores ) is a relatively new certification label that you can now find on many of our coffees and in stores nationwide.

Certification labels help us understand our food choices better, allowing us to make informed decisions about what businesses we want to support based on their practices ...

• CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

In the News ... "52 Faces" Q&A with Stephanie Wilbanks

MRT Photo by Tim Fischer

"52 Faces of the Community" is a new, regular feature of the Midland Reporter-Telegram that is recognizing the unsung heroes and volunteers of Midland, Texas. The latest installment in this series offers a question-and-answer session with Stephanie Wilbanks, 3:11 Ministries director.

• read the rest of this MRT report

• visit the "52 Faces" index page

In the News ... "Midland church gives out black eyed peas to neighborhood"

KWES Photo

• They do it for more than just good luck

Staff Report
KWES-TV

MIDLAND, TEXAS - It's something they have done every year for the past seven years.

The Lifehouse Fellowship Church handed out black eyed peas for the start of the new year ...

 • read/watch the rest of this KWES report ...

From ChinaAid: "Updated: Detainees released in Zhejiang"

The China Aid Association is a non-profit Christian organization - based in Midland, Texas - with a mission to uncover and reveal the truth about religious persecution in China, focusing especially on the unofficial church. They do this, they explain in their website, by exposing the abuses, encouraging the abused and equipping the saints to advance the kingdom of God throughout China.

China Aid File Photo

Updated: Detainees released in Zhejiang
Distributed by ChinaAid, December, 2015 ...

WENZHOU, ZHEJIANG, CHINA – As of Dec. 22, China Aid received a report that three more detainees were released: Wei Wenhai, Pan Liyue and Zhang Zhi. The name of another Wenzhou detainee, Zhang Chongzhu, was also recently discovered. China Aid will continue to update this list as further information is received ...

• more on this story from China Aid

In the News ... "52 Faces" Q&A with Jim Morris

MRT Photo by James Durbin

"52 Faces of the Community" is a new, regular feature of the Midland Reporter-Telegram that is recognizing the unsung heroes and volunteers of Midland, Texas. The latest installment in this series offers a question-and-answer session with Jim Morris, whose community involvement includes First Christian Church of Midland, and Christmas in Action.

• read the rest of this MRT report

• visit the "52 Faces" index page

From @FWMission ...Friday Story: "Learn More About Free Wheelchair Mission"

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

Friday Story: "Learn More About Free Wheelchair Mission"

EDITOR'S NOTE: Wanted to kick-off the new year with some info points about my mission friends/partners at Free Wheelchair Mission. We'll get back to their usual "Friday Stories" next week ... but, for now ...

• What We Do: Why Wheelchairs? ...

• What We Do: Our Wheelchairs ...

• What We Do: Where We Work ...

• What We Do: Distribution Partners ...

• What We Do: Our Impact ...

... we now return you to your regularly-scheduled program ... Happy New Year !!!

In the News ... "A New Ministry Opens Its Doors To The Homeless"

KOSA Photo

• Make a donation or get involved

By Carla Ruiz, Reporter
KOSA-TV

ODESSA, TEXAS - A new ministry called “Hope Heals All” [at First Assembly of God in Odessa] is aimed at serving the homeless around the Basin Area ...

• read the rest of this KOSA report