ARTS. MISSIOnS. EXTREME POvERTY.
WHO WE ARE MISSIOn STATEMEnT Pick A Pocket is a ministry of Youth With A Mission Herrnhut, Germany. Our focus is to embody the Gospel wherever we go, serve people trapped in extreme poverty, create art, raise awareness about ways to transform communities and forge new connections between the developed and developing world. We believe that art has the power to speak to people, bring healing and reveal true value. We seek to connect the developed world with the developing world by producing art with the purpose of raising awareness and financial aid.
HOW IT STARTED In 2008, a small group of friends gathered together in Scotland for a retreat to take time to hear God We have two pillars in our ministry. One is being on the field in developing countries, creating and supporting projects that help people escape extreme poverty. The other pillar is mobilization and raising awareness.
We encourage others
to get involved through exhibitions, concerts, conferences and tours around the world. The name: The name “Pick A Pocket� was chosen out of the desire to revolutionize a mindset; from a culture living in a state of what we can get to a culture of giving back. Since the group began their efforts by helping one individual at a time, the focus of the ministry remains to approach poverty in a way of looking at the individual- not just the over all injustice. To pick one person’s pocket to fill with basic needs, hope and value. Pick A Pocket.
and dream of possibilities. Before this, they had been traveling to many developing countries like Ethiopia, Afghanistan and India, witnessed the extreme poverty and wanted to do something about it. All of them were passionate about art and challenged to do something greater with it- to build the Kingdom, to help those living in extreme poverty and to start a movement. After a few days of talking in Scotland, they realized they all had similar dreams and callings, so the group decided to combine their efforts and Pick A Pocket was created!
YOuTH WITH A MISSIOn (YWAM) Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to presenting Jesus personally to this generation, to mobilize as many people as possible to help in this task and to train and equip believers for their part in fulfilling the Great Commission. As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are called to love, worship, and obey our Lord. We are commissioned to love and serve His body, the Church, and to present the whole gospel for the whole person throughout the whole world. We, of Youth With A Mission, believe: that the Bible is God’s inspired and authoritative word, revealing that Jesus Christ is God’s son; that people are created in God’s image; that He created us to have eternal life through Jesus Christ; that although all people have sinned and come short of God’s glory, God has made salvation possible
OuR vALuES
through the death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ;
As an inner ministry of YWAM Herrnhut,
that repentance, faith, love and obedience are fitting responses to
we uphold the 18 Foundational values
God’s initiative of grace towards us; that God desires all people
of YWAM. To find all the values of
to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth; and that
YWAM you can go to ywam.org and
the Holy Spirit’s power is demonstrated in and through us for the
find them under the “About YWAM” tab,
accomplishment of Christ’s last commandment,”...Go ye into all the
but a few of them are:
world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15)
ex·treme pov·er·ty In economic terms, extreme poverty is a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation
facilities,
health,
shelter,
education and information.. In 2005 the World Bank defined extreme poverty as living on less than 1.25 USD a day. As a ministry, we acknowledge this definition but don’t want to forget the many other facets of extreme poverty: mental, emotional, and especially, spiritual. We feel there is a biblical mandate to help • MAKE GOD KNOWN • BE VISIONARY
the poor and oppressed, so we want to obey that calling. We choose to focus ministry, and partner with others, in areas that are economically repressed but we
• CHAMPION YOUNG PEOPLE
are not contained by that because we are
• DO FIRST, THEN TEACH
disciples of all nations. As a ministry
• BE RELATIONSHIP-ORIENTED
called to spread the Gospel and make we feel that part of our call is to also raise up our generation to take action; therefore we address ignorance of the injustice going on around the world by raising awareness wherever we go.
POCKETEERS There is a core team of Pick A Pocket members who live and serve in Herrnhut, Germany; Sarasota, Florida; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. However, we also see Pick A Pocket as being part of a growing number of people around the world who wish to see extreme poverty confronted and defeated. The Pocketeers are the full-time staff members of Pick A Pocket. They are the people who form the epicenter of the ministry. We are talking about artists and creative brains, investing their passions and gifts for the fight against extreme poverty. We are photographers, musicians, strategists, dreamers, painters, activists and directors who are striving ever higher, fighting the good fight!
['vILTnIS] ['Viltnis] is the Pick A Pocket Headquarters located in Herrnhut, Germany. It's name comes from the phonetic spelling of the German word "wildnis", which translates to "wilderness" in English. The name was chosen to express what the wilderness represents: a place where things are real and organic, a place to be yourself, a place to meet God and experience his peace and glory, a place to experience new things, a place of rest and a place of adventure. These traits ow through each area that the building that is comprised of: our offices, the cafe and gallery (and perhaps a spontaneous dance party or two occasionally). We created this place to reach out to our local community here in Herrnhut, but also to have a place that would connect people from all over the world to be a part of what we are doing in the Nations. With so many different facets to our headquarters there are many ways to get involved. From buying a hot cup of coffee that will directly support a ministry in India that aids in helping women escape prostitution by offering them a sustainable job in a bakery - to a gallery that enables artists to raise awareness and provoke viewers to respond to the needs to people near and far. Our headquarters exists as a platform to empower the local community, our friends, family and our generation to reach out globally to share the gospel and serve the poor. If you are looking to find the members of Pick A Pocket, this is where they are when they're not on the field.
WHAT WE DO ARTIST PLATFORM An integral part of our ministry is using the arts platform as a means of communication and call to action. We realize that extreme poverty is a huge thing to face, let alone overcome, therefore we are looking for as many people as possible to help join with us in serving the poor. As artists, we have decided to create art for the purpose of raising awareness about the injustices that happen around the world.
LEARN TO
DO GOOD SEEK
J U ST I C E O PPRE SSE D HELP THE
Our art simultaneously functions as a tool to bring value and restoration to any persons involved in the process- both the subject and viewer. We show our work in galleries and showcase our experiences with tours and speaking engagements. We use any chance to share about what God is doing and has done in the lives of the people we work with. Since 2008 we have toured throughout Europe, United States, Canada, South East Asia and Africa.
DEFEND THE CAUSE OF
ORPHANS
&
FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS
OF
WIDOWS - ISAIAH 1:17
FIELD PROJECTS We are always looking to expand in the areas in which we work. We desire to come alongside those in need and to support groups that want to see the world changed. We believe that God has called us as a ministry to be a voice for the impoverished, therefore we are passionate about helping in any way we can, wherever we can. We believe in empowering people to take ownership of their lives by giving them the tools needed to step out of poverty and into life at its fullest. To bring people fully out of poverty, we believe we must focus on their spiritual needs as well as the physical and find ways to nurture and encourage both.
Pick A Pocket is passionate about pioneering new projects and partnering with those that already exist. in developing countries that are run by people with like minded kingdom goals. Empowering people to change their situation by stepping into the truth and freedom found in the Kingdom of God is a major part of seeing ground-breaking change in a nation. Over the years we have started and overseen projects like- The Rahab Cafe which served as an alternative job opportunity for young girls in prostitution, a rescue effort called Drawn From Water that saved babies from being killed by tribe leaders because of tribal beliefs and The Koshe Project, an after school discipleship center for young girls working in the trash dumps that provides a safe place to come and find fellowship, education and support for their families. We have also come alongside other organizations and preexisting projects around the world, spreading hope and Kingdom truth to street children, HIV victims, orphans, the homeless and more.
A CREATIvE CATALYST Artists have an ability to see and create beauty out of something that the rest of the world may not see as beautiful. The arts platform allows those artist to display their creation to the world. Through all of our projects we believe that God wants to use the arts as an amplifier to the world of what He is doing. We want to use our art to show value, beauty and God’s heart for those in poverty to the rest of the world and disciple a generation into taking action and responding to Jesus call for “The Great Commission.” The arts holds great opportunity to create change. As an artist, you have the necessary tools to be a catalyst in our world!
ARTISTS HAVE AN ABILITY TO SEE AND CREATE BEAUTY OUT OF SOMETHING THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD MAY NOT SEE AS BEAUTIFUL.
Join the Movement We are looking for as many people as possible to help us join this fight against extreme poverty. We want to invite you to be a part of and to champion “People Not Poverty�. This movement encourages artists to use their art to focus on an individual trapped in extreme poverty. Through artistic representation you will bring value and dignity back to who they are. At our core we believe that in order for people to be able to help end extreme poverty, they must first see past the
GET INVOLVED The Ambassador Program
injustice and into the eyes of the
You can be a part of the Ambassador Program from
individual they are fighting for. With
anywhere in the world! This program is a grass-roots
this we are asking you to pick up your
movement that has endless possibilities. It is looking to
cameras, brushes, sewing machines,
connect artists in their home communities so that the
instruments, dance shoes, computers
fight against extreme poverty can be done with an army
and more to create art that directly
of people. If you are interested in sponsoring a project,
values a person in need or financially
hosting an event or gallery to raise awareness, or if you
supports someone to escape poverty.
have a crazy idea that would help to keep the movement going, email us at info@pickapocket.net!
Joining Our Team Prior to joining the Pick A Pocket core team we require you to complete a Discipleship Training School (DTS). There are thousands of different locations to do a DTS , however we recommend coming to YWAM Herrnhut which will give you a direct relationship with the ministry and the opportunity to grow in a vibrant arts focused community. For more info go to www.mission-live.com
JOIN THE MOVEMENT. PARTnER WITH uS
DOnATIOn InFO
EUROPEAN UNION:
Pick A Pocket desires to be a movement!
HOW TO DONATE:
Iban: DE82 855901004507180600
That requires people! We have projects and partnerships that require both prayer and finances. You can find out the project needs and how you can help on our website: WWW.PICKAPOCKET.NET We also have a newsletter that we send out on a regular basis- if you would like to stay connected with us in this way, send us an email: INFO@PICKAPOCKET.NET !
UNITED STATES: Checks can be mailed to: YWAM • P.O. Box 3000 Garden Valley, TX 75771-3000 *IMPORTANT* Make all checks out to YWAM. Do not write anything in the memo line. Add a separate note specifying that your donation is for “Pick A Pocket”.
PICKAPOCKET.NET | EMAIL: INFO@PICKAPOCKET.NET | TWITTER: @PICKAPOCKETNEWS
Bank Information for Donations: Swift: GENODEF1NGS Bank: Volksbank Loebau/Zittau, Loebauer Strasse, 02747 Herrnhut, Germany Bank Ident Code: 855 901 00 Account: 450 718 0600 Please send donations to: Youth With A Mission Herrnhut Untere Dorfstr. 5602747 Herrnhut, Germany Tel.: 035873-36166
| FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/PICKAPOCKET
| VIMEO.COM/PICKAPOCKET