Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

Christianity

VolunteerForever.com – Crowdsourcing for Church Mission Trips – Interview

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volunteerforeverI recently wrote an article about various ways to fund church youth group mission trips (because our Jr. and Sr. High groups are both currently raising funds).  As a result Steven Weddle, the Co-Founder & CEO of VolunteerForever.com reached out to me to let me know about his site and how it might be able to help our church.  I thought it was a really interesting concept but needed to get more information from him so I asked him the following questions which he agreed to turn into a nice interview for my blog:

1) What inspired you to create this site?

I created Volunteer Forever after volunteering abroad in India in late 2011. The trip was a life-changing experience for me, but getting there was difficult since I had a hard time finding a trustworthy volunteer opportunity and paying for the trip. When I got home, it just dawned on me to build a website that would allow people to find volunteer opportunities abroad and raise money for their volunteer trip expenses.

2) Have you funded church youth group mission trips through the site and if yes, how many?

Volunteer Forever was originally designed to help individual volunteers raise money for their trips abroad. For example, our typical user was a college student or recent graduate raising money to join a position with an international volunteer organization overseas.  However, in describing the features of Volunteer Forever to my family and friends (several of whom have participated in church mission trips), I realized our website would benefit church youth group mission trip participants as well. So far, we have one family who is currently fundraising for their church mission trip to Haiti. Their mother founded an organization that raised nearly $8,000 on Volunteer Forever last year and she is using our website again for her children’s first mission trip to Haiti. Ultimately, we’d love it if every church youth group had the opportunity to use our platform to make mission trips more attainable for everyone. Each group will be able to create their very own trip page that individual fundraisers will be able to link to. Donors can then easily make a donation to the individual fundraiser of their choice and the funds are instantly placed in the fundraiser’s or group’s PayPal account.
3) Would you recommend that a youth group notify their congregation and community to support a volunteerforever.com campaign?

Absolutely, your congregation and community will likely understand your mission trip’s purpose and the benefits of participating in one. Best of all, you’ll be able to leverage the support from your church and ministry leaders to raise awareness of and advocate for your fundraising campaign. Furthermore, you’ve built trust and rapport with your congregation and community members, which are incredibly vital for a successful fundraising campaign.
4) What are some of the challenges with crowdfunding a mission trip?

One of the biggest challenges for crowdfunding for a mission trip is engaging your audience and telling a compelling story. Not everyone will understand why you are raising thousands of dollars to go on a mission trip to help people outside of your local area. When crafting a crowdfunding campaign for the trip, we encourage all of our fundraisers to clearly explain the following in their campaign description:
  • What’s your motivation for going on this mission trip?
  • What will you do there and how will the host community benefit from your presence?
  • Why do you need funding and how will the funds be used?
  • How do you plan to grow from the experience?
5) How do people normally spread the word about a project that may be on your site (social media, emails, etc.)?

Our fundraisers spread the word about their project through e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter. Typically, a fundraiser will send out a personal e-mail or Facebook message to their closest friends and family members. Then, they will share their fundraising page with their extended networks through Facebook. Facebook is an especially effective way to raise of a campaign; our data for this months shows nearly 60% of all donations on our site originated from Facebook. We’ve integrated these social media tools directly onto each fundraiser’s page so that with a single click, you can share your fundraising campaign across e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and many other social networking platforms.
At a conceptual level, I think this is really interesting and worth looking into.  It makes a ton of sense and no matter what we end up doing for our church, this is a website that I’ll be keeping my eye on.  I definitely want to thank Steven Weddle for taking the time to tell me more about his site and how we might be able to use it.  If you end up giving it a try for your youth group, please report back and let me know how it works for you and I’ll do the same.

15 Blogs that Talk About the Power of Prayer

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prayerMillions of people pray every day for a variety of different reasons.  Whether you’ve found yourself in need of a listening ear or you want to praise a recent triumph, prayer has the ability to help people feel more grounded as they communicate with a higher power.  How and when you pray depends upon your religion.  In some religions, prayer is spoken aloud in a chant, sometimes as a group and others as an individual.  Group prayer is believed to have more power because there are a greater number of people communicating at the same time for the same things.  These 15 blogs will share information with you regarding various forms of group prayer, healing prayer and how and why it’s beneficial to keep a prayer journal.

Group Prayer

There are many ways to have group prayer.  Every time you go to church you take part in group prayer.  There’s a large group of people all around the world who pray for various leaders of the world at the same time, hoping to encourage positive outcomes with various world decisions. These five blog entries will shed some light on different group prayers practiced around the world.

  1. The Power of Group Prayer – A powerful example of what group prayer accomplished for a young man is shared on this blog.  The story details why he needed it and what the outcome was.  There’s even information on how you can accomplish something similar.
  2. The Power of Group Prayer – This blogger shares a difficult time that she is having at work and explains how she tapped into the prayers that are sent out to the world every day by monks and nuns.  She explains how she paid it forward by praying for others as well.
  3. Power of Prayer – A group of Christians traveled to Jerusalem to see the temple mount.  It was guarded by Arabs who prevented people from having bibles in the area or even praying there.  This blogger shares her experiences there, as well as what happened and why she feels that these guards feared the power of prayer.
  4. Prayer Groups/The Healing Power of Love – Ever wish you could get some divine help dealing with issues at work?  This blogger details a group that met for an hour each week and only prayed for love for themselves and others, but while they were praying they had their hands on lists of prayer concerns.  Find out what happened with this group and those they prayed for by reading this post.  You can also find out what his idea is.
  5. Starting a Prayer Group – If you’d like to start your own prayer group, this blogger lays out a plan for you to do so.  Tips from how to run the meetings to how to be a leader and much more are covered in this blog post.

Healing Prayer

Many people believe in the power of prayer to heal people.  Some religions believe that spiritual leaders can heal people by touch.  Other groups believe in lying hands on someone, whereby everyone prays for a person while touching them.  Read through these five blog posts and see if any of them resonate with you.

  1. Warrior’s Prayer Card – Stuart Wilde is a man who is into the metaphysical and believes that you should rely on yourself to grow and prosper.  He encourages a lot of prayer, but he also believes in reaching out to something bigger.  His beliefs are very interesting and worth taking a look at.  These warrior cards are used to help heal your ailments with prayer.
  2. Alternative Healing: Prayer Healing Still Engrained in Swiss Culture – Apparently Swiss doctors have been known to recommend prayer or other alternative healing practices to their patients.  The culture supports ancient methods of healing.  This story describes these experiences.
  3. How to Pray for Healing – This blog details a method of praying for those who need healing.  The steps are spelled out and surprisingly he doesn’t want you to use the word prayer, but instead wants you to command the healing.  This blog is Christian based.
  4. Here’s a Good Christian Prayer for Healing That Shouldn’t Freak You Out Too Much – Eric Foley is a reverend who wrote this very well-written post about healing prayer.  He makes a point of saying that many Christians get freaked out by some references to healing, and explains why this shouldn’t freak you out.
  5. Food Allergies Healed with Prayer – This video is from a woman whose child was cured of food allergies by prayer and she explains what happened.

Prayer Journals

Many people pray, but often it’s hard to know if your prayers are being heard.  Some people will tell you that their prayer was answered and that now, after years of trying, they were able to have a baby or gain some other much prayed for result.  If you want to track your prayers to see if and how they have been answered, a prayer journal may be the answer.  These five blog articles will explain how easy it is to create and use one.

  1. Tutorial: How to Make a Prayer Journal – Not only does this blogger explain why she felt the need to have a prayer journal, but she is very insightful as to why others might need one too.  The directions for making the prayer journal are easy to follow.
  2. Creating a Prayer Journal that Works – This blogger struggled with keeping a prayer journal for years.  She could never stay with it until she happened upon something called a ‘Prayer Notebook’ instead of journal. It was here that she felt like she found her answer.  She tells you how to create a 3-ring binder for prayers.
  3. How to Make a Prayer Journal – Free printables are available on this blog post that will help you in creating a prayer journal.  She explains why she needed a journal and then explains about tracking prayers.
  4. Keeping a Prayer Journal – Confused about what to write in your prayer journal?  This blogger spells out what she did and how it worked for her.
  5. My Prayer Journal App  For those of you who would rather type than write, here is an app to keep your prayer journal right on your phone or tablet.

How to Raise Money for Your Mission Trip

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bake-saleMission trips are an exciting way to learn about other cultures, offer aid to those in need and share the message of Christ. Even if your trip is a domestic one, you’re sure to encounter people from all walks of life, some of which are far different from your own. Unfortunately, these missions of goodwill and assistance do cost money. From travel and daily expenses to funding the assistance programs you’re planning to organize, there are a variety of expenditures that your group will be faced with covering over the course of your mission trip. To help raise money for these expenses, consider the following ideas.

Hold a Bake Sale

There’s a reason why bake sales are an old standby in the world of fundraising: they work! In addition to raising money, pooling your resources, time and effort to churn out baked goods for a bake sale is a great team-building exercise, and can help you to foster a sense of teamwork amongst participants in your mission group before you ever leave home. If there are skilled bakers within your congregation, they may also be willing to donate time or food items to support your cause.

Consider Crowd-Sourcing

Everything from albums to novels are funded through crowd-sourcing sites like Kickstarter these days, which can be of great use to mission trip organizers. Drafting a thorough proposal and sharing the link to your chosen crowd-sourcing collections site through social media, blogs and email can even help your cause to go viral, getting the attention and donations of people that would ordinarily be far out of your reach. Be sure that you carefully read the terms of use and all the fine print, though, since every crowd-sourcing site works differently.

Send Out Fundraising Letters

Writing professional letters of solicitation to be sent out to members of your congregation or faith group can garner donations from those who would love to help, but aren’t quite tech-savvy enough to manage crowd-sourcing sites or navigate social media. Your own church directory is a great source for mailing list information, especially if you’re part of a very large congregation. While you can print out address labels that will make the work of preparing snail-mail much less time-consuming, hosting an envelope-stuffing party where every member of your mission trip pitches in to stamp, stuff and address mailers is another way of working team-building exercises into the fundraising process. Remember, it’s never too early to start building the bonds of teamwork and partnership.

Look for Business Sponsorships

Some businesses, especially those that proudly advertise their faith-based approach to business, may be willing to sponsor your mission trip for advertising or tax purposes. Don’t be afraid to send polite letters of inquiry to local business owners that share your faith, as business sponsorships can be quite hefty and can make all the difference in your fundraising efforts.

Make Inquiries Regarding Church Support

If your mission trip is officially sanctioned by the clergy and elders of your church, they’ll almost certainly be willing to either provide donations or hold a special collections ceremony to help fund the trip. Speaking with your pastor about the options available to you may open more doors than you ever realized, and could help you expand your mission trip far beyond your original intentions. Working closely with church leadership is essential if you’ll be representing your congregation to the rest of the world, especially if there’s any chance of media attention.

Hold a Car Wash

There’s something about a car wash that tends to pull in even those that aren’t affiliated with your church. You will need to look into obtaining any necessary permits before setting up shop on a busy street corner, but high-traffic areas can yield big results. Unless you live in an area that’s warm year-round, however, car wash fundraising efforts are really only effective in the spring and summer months.

In addition to these ideas, there’s also something to be said for good, old-fashioned brainstorming sessions. Gather your missions group together to discuss everyone’s ideas for raising money. When you make a collective effort to think outside the box, there’s no telling what you’ll come up with!

10 Bible Passages About Forgiveness

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forgiveThe New Testament of the Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness; specifically, the great redemption of Christ’s followers through his sacrifice. Still, there’s also a fair number of passages in both the Old and New Testaments outlining the importance of forgiveness in the hearts of believers. If you’ve ever struggled to find forgiveness in your heart for those who have wronged you, here are ten Bible passages on the subject which may help you along your path.

  1. Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (New International Version)
  2. Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.” (New International Version)
  3. Luke 6:37 – “Do not judge, and you will not be judge. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (New International Version)
  4. John 8:7 – “When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'” (New International Version)
  5. Luke 17:3-4 – “So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” (New International Version)
  6. Matthew 5:23-24 – “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (New International Version)
  7. Matthew 18: 21-22 – “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'” (New International Version)
  8. Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (New International Version)
  9. 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 –” If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he as grieved all of you to some extent–not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.” (New International Version)
  10. Galatians 6:1-2 – “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (New International Version)

While it’s not always easy to forgive others, it is something as Christians we are called to do. The Bible makes it clear, many times, that forgiveness and tolerance are callings of the faith that must not be ignored. With the power of prayer and the guidance of God’s Word, you can let go of past hurts and continue to grow in Christ.

Rules, Rules, Rules

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commandments
Rules, rules, rules it’s like people create them just so they can confuse me
Wrong or right, right or wrong a rush to judge don’t take very long see
Rules for the sake of rules will certainly create a bunch of fools indeed
Trying to change or rearrange the essence of what a person should be

Don’t get me wrong without law & order societies don’t last long agreed
But we have to prepare and take care of each other if we dare to believe
Because it’s love from above that gives us a shove & directs humanity
They were written in stone by God alone and will last for an eternity

For these are his commandments written down for you and me to read
Starting with the one and only God whose name starts with a capital G
Our God is a jealous God wanting only what is best for you and for me
Helping us to avoid the void that is created by following any other deity

These other gods with a small g will do anything to grab our minds daily
Becoming idols in our eyes before we realize they are mind controlling
We have to be strong to turn away to never stray from the one Yahweh
He is the alpha and omega the only God we need now and for always

When we say his name we have to give it the respect that it deserves
Saying it in worship and respect knowing that our God always observes
We shouldn’t say it in vain or disdain when people get on our nerves
We call his name to request a bit of his time which he lovingly reserves

Speaking of reserving time this is a tough one for you and certainly for me
We are instructed to respect the Sabbath and to keep that day holy
For God created the world in six days the heaven, the earth, and seas
On the seventh he rested as we should rest to recharge our batteries

We are told that we are to honor our father and mother and he told us why
Because through honoring and loving them we will live more fulfilled lives
Likely because they love us, lead us, and offer guidance to help us survive
God knew we would need them and wants us to listen to their advice

Surviving, thriving, and providing a safe place for our families to live
Free of murder or thoughts of death that the devil may violently give
Satan can plant pain, envy, & anger driving our inability to forgive
But we must love not hate and steer ourselves clear of being abusive

The love we give to each other when we exchange vows is divine
We are bound to each other as our lives are interwoven like a vine
We must not think about or lie down with another at any given time
Because once two become one to step out simply steps us out of line

There’s no side stepping or dancing around the truth when we lie
The guilt we feel builds whether it was little or big, yellow or white
We usually deceive only ourselves no matter how hard we might try
Because the truth will truly set you free and the guilt will waive goodbye

We should use our hands for the greater good and not for the good of one
Because stealing to line our own pockets can never be completely undone
Theft changes a man and becomes increasingly easier for us to condone
But right is right and wrong is wrong and jail is certainly not there for fun

When you see a neighbor with something or someone that you covet
You have to refrain from desiring it or them no matter how you love it
What’s theirs is theirs and whatever is mine is mine and that’s just fine
Don’t look and don’t touch because it’s far too easy to cross that line

These commands and rules exist for our own good I know that is true
They are about how to love God and teach me how to show love to you
These rules are there to help us in everything that we say and that we do
They help us to find meaning and to provide his heavenly point of view.