Chantel Denie, an Advocate from C3 Church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, reflected on her time in South Africa and the importance of seeing what God is doing for ourselves as she spoke on COME. “Why do teams come? In my experience, there is a western mindset that we think we can ‘help Africa’ but going there actually exposes our need in such a deep way. A spiritual need that we lack. We are unaware of it because we are quick to fill it with a lot of things. Being in community, for me personally, that was exposed. I saw Jesus in a completely different way!”
Lyn Namur, an Advocate from First Baptist Church in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, spoke on ADVOCATE and the need to be intentional. “We need to come up with a plan; things don’t just happen out of the air. We have the kids and care workers pictures up around our home; our Kitabataba family is a very important part of our lives and anyone who comes into our house knows about how personal it is to us.”
Taylor Lee, an Advocate from Sunset Church in San Francisco, California, shared on PRAY. “I encourage you to pray. Whatever that might look like. Whether you are praying weekly, monthly, or daily. Praying by yourself, with the whole church or with a team of people. Whether you are saying by name or praying in general. You are praying to a God who knows every child there and every person's needs there. We are the body of Christ and we need to walk with each other; the Bible doesn’t say anything about it not applying if you are living on a separate continent.”
Ann Wu and Suzy Yi, from Wellspring Church in San Ramon, California, shared their experience as Advocates. Suzy spoke on GIVE and how God can use us even when we feel inadequate. “We had a sharing time during the online church service, where I invited each family to support one child. After that I was feeling uneasy. I said to myself ‘I’m not doing justice to Hands at Work. I’m not coming off as an eloquent speaker.’ I was feeling bummed out. And that next day I found out that so many people started recurring support. Why didn’t I trust God 100% that he would take care of it?”
Amanda Baumann, an Advocate from Christ Church in San Francisco, CA, reflected on her trip to Malawi in 2018. She shared on REPLICATE and the confirmation she received on that trip that God was calling her family to foster care. “Our time in Malawi really confirmed that God was calling us to foster care and that it does make a difference to have temporary connection with a child. More than once I’ve wanted to give up. I’ve questioned God’s call. I’ve despaired. It’s made me appreciate all the amazing work God is doing in the world. It has emphasized the importance of prayer and coming alongside people in their calling.”