Discussion Guide for
Take Your Best Shot A f t e r v ie w in g “ tak e y o ur b est sho t,” use this guide to research the effects of
poverty and illness, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.
Research »
M o r e t h a n 1 b illio n children are severely deprived of at least one of the essential goods and services they require to survive, grow, and develop. (Source: UNICEF Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger)
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Th e r e a r e appr o ximat ely 145 million orphans ages 0-17 years worldwide. (Source: UNICEF State of the World’s Children, 2009.)
E v e ry day, o n av er age, more than 22,000 children under the age of 5 die
around the world, most from preventable causes. That is 8.1 million children each year. (Source: UNICEF Levels & Trends in Child Mortality, 2010.)
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L o w b irt h weight, which is related to maternal malnutrition, is a causal factor in 60-80 percent of neonatal deaths. (Source: UNICEF State of the World’s Children, 2009.)
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E v e ry day, more than 7,900 people become infected with HIV, and more than 5,400 people die from AIDS. (Source: UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2008.)
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s in c e t h e b eginning of the epidemic, 25 million people have died from AIDS- related causes. (Source: UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2008.)
Reflect »
A us t in a s ked t he q uest io n, “What if I was a kid like Maggie? What if that was me?” when he saw Maggie’s Story. Imagine you were a child like Maggie. How would your life be different? What would it mean for your future? How do you think you would feel?
w h at do yo u t hink is the best way to help children like Maggie? What do you
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think you can do to help as an “ordinary person”?
Recall »
The ne w s r epo rt er , John Larson, said, “A school is everything.” Why do you
think that a school is vital to a community? How does education make a difference for people? How has education made a difference in your life?
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Yo u s aw in t he v ideo how Austin and his family and friends have helped
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others. How do family and friends in your life help each other and help others in both big and small ways? A us t in r a ised mo ney to help build a school and a medical clinic. What short-
and long-term effects do these projects have on a community?
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Respond »
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A us t in br o ught his fr iends together to help make a difference in the lives of others by doing something he loved. How can you and your friends help children like Maggie by doing an activity or playing a game you enjoy?
D is c us s w hy it is important to help people in other countries in both short- and
long-term ways.
Reach Out Consider making a difference in the following ways:
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P l a n a H oo ps o f Ho pe ev ent by yourself or with friends. Visit
www.hoopsofhope.org for more information.
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Sp o ns o r a c hild through World Vision. For just about a dollar a day, you’ll help provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics such as clean water, improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts will help make a world of difference for one child and his or her family and community as they continue development efforts. You may also choose to sponsor a HopeChild in an AIDS-affected nation. For sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com.
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Be c o m e a n adv o c at e for children affected by HIV and AIDS. Urge Congress
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G iv e gif t s through the World Vision Gift Catalog to help communities with
and the president to respond to the crisis by increasing U.S. funding to combat the global HIV and AIDS crisis and ensuring children and their needs are not overlooked.
development projects that will benefit their children for generations to come. Gifts include items such as wells, contributions to water and sanitation funds, trees, goats, mother and child health care, small business loans, school fees and even bicycles to help children get to school. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on “programs and events” for more information.
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Resolve »
But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The
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The r e f o r e, as we hav e o ppo rt unit y , let us do good to all people,
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The r e f o r e, sinc e we ar e sur r o unded by such a great cloud of
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Re l igio n t hat Go d our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look
The Scripture in this resource is from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an error, or have a question or concern about any of the information or sources listed within, please contact World Vision Resources.
victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. — Psalm 10:14
especially to those who belong to the family of believers. — Galatians 6:10
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. — Hebrews 12:1-3
after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. — James 1:27
Rely P r ay t h at:
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G o d w il l c o nt inue to use “ordinary people” like Austin to spread awareness
and make a difference for those who are affected by poverty and who are living with HIV and AIDS. F un din g and o t her r eso ur c es necessary for educational and medical
projects will be readily available. G o v e r n m ent leader s, humanitarian organizations, and policymakers will
find effective ways to develop communities affected by poverty so that all people can have access to food, shelter, healthcare, education, and protection of their human rights.
Copyright © 2011 World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved. PA G E 4 O F 5
About World Vision W o r l d V is io n is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org.
About World Vision Resources E nding gl o b a l po v ert y and injustice begins with education: understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world.
World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision. World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world.
For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources Mail Stop 321 P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Fax: 253-815-3340 wvresources@worldvision.org www.worldvisionresources.com
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