Thoughts From The President of 3:18 Ministries' Board of Directors

Check out the latest blog from 3:18 Ministries' President of the Board of Directors, Mike Andrews.  We are so humbled and honored by the men and women who serve on our Board of Directors.

http://www.theoquest.blogspot.com/2012/02/looking-for-mission-pick-one.html

The Eyes of An Apache Baby

Eight years ago this month Kara and I wrapped up four years of youth ministry at Fort Street Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska.  It was hard to leave this incredible group of students whom we loved deeply.  We had some great times with those students.  Shortly after we told the kids we were moving to Arizona, one of our students wrote a poem for us.  She had experienced ministry on the San Carlos Apache Reservation the summer before and shared her feelings with us.  Here are her words...

The Eyes of An Apache Baby

By Amanda Brazda McAninch

We had to part and say goodbye, to the eyes of an Apache baby.

They're returning now and making it right, for those eyes of an Apache baby.

Solemn as it is we must respect their cares, for the eyes of an Apache baby.

Though we mourn and without doubt will miss,

They will not leave in vain, but for the eyes of an Apache baby.

The sparkle's gone along with absence of hope,
In the eyes of an Apache baby.

Their troubles long and hard to cure, you see, in the eyes of an Apache baby.

The wear and tear of abuse and neglect, in the eyes of an Apache baby.

Searching high, searching low, for a Savior, a friend,
A love, a treasure, a hope,

But failing to find enough nourishment to their sorrow,

In the tired eyes of an Apache baby.

Our leaders depart to stop shedding of tear,

To cease agony and pain; they see, and I've seen,

The eyes of an Apache baby.

Amanda (on the left) in Hallelujah Square on the
San Carlos Apache Reservation

Summer of 2003

Live Life On Purpose

Check out a blog from Robert & Liz Crews, future teammates of 3:18 Ministries!  It is a quick read about their journey.

http://crewsfamily3-18.blogspot.com/2012/01/live-life-on-purpose.html

Martin Luther King Jr; The Civil Rights Movement & Native Americans

I have great respect for Martin Luther King Jr.  I respect a man who will stand up for what he believes in even when it is the tough thing to do, especially when his life is on the line.  I found myself reading MLK's "I Have A Dream Speech" this morning.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

     Today I wonder what our country would look like if the Native Americans and African Americans had united for the Civil Rights Movement. Today the Native American still is not free. Today the life of the Native American is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. Today the Native American lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. Today the Native American is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. The majority of treaties (if not all of them) between the Native Americans and our United States government have not been honored.  They too have expereienced many checks written by the United States government returned marked with "insufficient funds."  I have a dream...

-tory

A Big Thank You

Thank you so much for supporting 3:18 Ministries' Christmas project.  Because of the faithful support of so many people, we were able to fulfill all aspects of the Christmas project.  As we shared the gifts we were able to tell the recipients that these gifts were not from us, but from people all across the United States who love God and as a result love each recipient.  We continued to be humbled by the overwhelming support.  Thank you for believing in us and 3:18 Ministries.  God continues to move.  Lives are being changed.  Eternity will be different!

-tory

30 Ways To Pray For Missionaries

The biggest thing missionaries around this world need is prayer.  Have you ever wondered how to pray for missionaries?  Here is an article by Elaine Helms published in On Mission Magazine in the Fall 2007 issue with 30 Ways to Pray for Missionaries.  What would happen to missionaries around this globe if the Church would pray through this list during the month of December?  You could take one item each day.  Prayer is powerful!  Would you commit to praying for the missionaries you know this December?

http://www.onmission.com/onmissionpb.aspx?pageid=8589965002

3:18 Ministries' 2011 Christmas Project

The holidays are quickly coming upon us.  It is my favorite time of the year!  It is a time for blessing others, showing them they are loved, tangibly showing them how special they are to our Father and sharing the gift of Jesus.

This year 3:18 Ministries has three Christmas projects in mind.  We would like to again bless the kids and staff of the San Carlos Tribal Youth Home with a Christmas party complete with pizza and gifts.  Also, we would like to able to bless the young men who have been working with Tory doing construction.  We would like to give them their own tool belts and maybe some basic tools so they can have the equipment they need to continue to work.  Lastly, I would like to be able to help my young moms from the Parenting Classes I am teaching at the San Carlos Alternative High School.  I want to provide a gift for their children to encourage these young moms as they are parenting all by themselves.

We need you!  We cannot do these projects alone.  If you would like to help us with these Christmas projects please send donations (checks made payable to 3:18 Ministries, Walmart gift cards or Home Depot gift cards) to:
3:18 Ministries 
PO Box 349 
Globe, AZ  85502
Please send all donations by December 10th.  You can attach a note with your gift designating it for the Christmas project.

Please pray for the children and young adults who will receive these gifts!  Pray they would know the love of Christ and want to receive His incredible gift.

-Kara