contact us >>> Chris Shay, World Missions Director Kristin Caddy, World Missions Asst. Director Sarah Kincaid, Sponsorship & Mission Support Coordinator Phone: 847-294-2108 Mailing Address: 10 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 Email: Missions@usc.salvationarmy.org Website: www.centralmissions.org Facebook: SA World Missions Twitter: SASponsorship
A Quarterly Newsletter of the USA Central Territory World Missions Bureau
World Missions
Perspectives
love in action >>> Love in Action (LIA), a project of the Sponsorship Office, is an opportunity for you to show the love of Christ and minister to others in need overseas through one-time gift monetary donations. LIA was created and inspired from scripture verses from the book of 1 John chapter 3. Verse 16 that says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” It continues in verse 18 to say, “Dear children, let us not LOVE with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in truth.” We hope that Love In Action will inspire people to show their love for one another and for their ‘global neighbors’ in a practical and selfless way. The LIA gifts are support projects and provisions that can meet needs immediately as well as create long-term answers. LIA can empower individuals and families to overcome adverse situations and give them an opportunity to reclaim their assurance for a promising future. For more information go to loveinaction.centralmissions.org.
4th Quarter 2011 Volume 5, Issue 1
Lessons from Project Hope by Sarah Kincaid
A few weeks ago I had the honor of visiting an HIV/AIDS project in Russia called Project Hope. This summer campers at Central Bible Leadership Institute raised over $6,000.00, with an additional $5,000.00 contributed by THQ, to support this Love In Action Project. Project Hope is managed by the St. Petersburg Corps to help support HIV+ mothers and families. Formula, food, clothing and moral and spiritual support are provided to these individuals, who come from unique and diverse backgrounds, as they are coming to terms with their HIV+ status. This visit was an important venture for our Sponsorship Program, allowing us to gather and share accurate information with our sponsors and donors. On a personal level, I had an unexpected learning experience emerge from my time in Russia as God taught me three significant lessons. Our money makes an impact I’ve always trusted in The Salvation Army, and as I shadowed the staff of Project Hope on their home visitations, food distributions, and clinic visits I was filled with joy knowing that lives are being impacted by the donations made back in the USA. Nina, the director of Project Hope, is a
quiet, humble, unassuming woman. Her life is an inspiring story of courage which involved ministry to Chechen refugee children and six months living as a hostage in a 6 foot by 6 foot pit. Considered to be an expert and the go-to person regarding HIV/AIDS within the Salvation Army in Russia, Nina is a resource to other agencies involved in HIV/AIDS support as well. Even with a permanent limp, a daily reminder of her time being held hostage, Nina carries on unconditionally loving Project Hope recipients and providing practical support to them. HIV/AIDS is misunderstood Though I am an individual who holds a college degree and attempts to pursue justice and love in all parts of my life, I was stunned to discover how unaware I truly was of what HIV/AIDS is and how it is perceived. I knew of the variety of ways one can become infected with HIV, but interactions with the Project Hope individuals made this disease real, gave it emotions, made it human. As I observed the Project Hope recipients (such as the family pictured above) I quickly discovered that HIV/AIDS can affect people from all walks of life. I didn’t (Continued on page 3)