PGOW: Kenya

by: Laura Leigh Robson


Our passion is to display Christ and treasure Him above all things.

“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him“ — Hudson Taylor

People Group:

Garreh of Kenya

The Garreh people of Kenya mainly live on the boarder of Kenya and Somalia, Africa. They practice Islam, although not very devoutly, and are considered a subgroup of Somalians because of language differences and some conflict. These tall and slender people are nomadic herders. Living in movable huts made of wood and animal hides, the Garreh move depending on grazing and water. Caste systems are prevalent in this society with distinct male and female roles. Polygamy is practiced, where males have up to four wives. Families live in villages with the huts facing each other to watch and protect the people within.

Prayer Points

* Pray for an ending of the drought 

* Increase of sufficiency of the health care clinics.
* Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go as medical missionaries.

* Pray that the hearts of the Garreh people will be softened to the message of the Gospel and that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in their lives.
* Ask God to raise up believers and followers of Jesus to minister to the Muslim people of Garreh

* Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches in this region of Kenya

source:http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=11827&rog3=KE

Missionary Biography: William Carey

http://www.thetravelingteam.org/?q=node/109

More Information:

http://www.operationworld.org/

God's Portfolio

Imagine someone entrusted you with their stock portfolio.  Their entire future rests in your hands.  Do you sell their stocks, pay all the capital gains, take losses in order to get out, and bury the rest so that no one will know where it is and it will be safe?  We’ll come back to this in a minute.

Now what about our “stuff”? Why do we spend our lives piling up “stuff” and then allow this “stuff” to control our lives?  Abram in Genesis 15 says to God, “God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I’m childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?”  Abram is so short-sighted that he cannot imagine that God has a greater plan for him.  He is mad at God, in his short-sightedness, for not giving him someone that he sees fit to inherit his “stuff”.

God then takes Abram outside and says to him, “Look at the sky.  Count the stars. Can you do it?...”  

In my words, “Abram, shut-up!  Get out of your little box - your limited thinking.  Stop worrying about your “stuff” - your one son that can take care of your “stuff” for just one second.  Now look up.  How many stars are there?  Oh there are too many to count?    (I would’ve thrown something in here about how “I put those stars there,and I put you in this place, and I’ll take you out of it faster than...” but God didn’t say that so I digress...)  Then be quiet and listen for a minute, I’ve got something to say...”

God then continues, “Count your descendants!  You’re going to have a big family, Abram!”  God has plans that Abram could never imagine.  He could not understand that God wanted to not only give him one son, but so many children he could never count. Abram was too worried about what would happen to his stuff.

So back to that stock portfolio.  God has entrusted you with his portfolio.  With his entire Kingdom?  Are you willing to step out of your little box and limited thinking?  Are you willing to stop operating out of fear?  To realize that God’s portfolio isn’t just money or “stuff”?  Are you willing to realize that the God of everything, the one who created everything, the one who is Lord over all and “put those stars there” is trusting YOU with his most precious treasure.  Are you going to doubt God’s faith in you to take care of His treasure, and bury it in the ground?

Matthew 25:28-30 (MSG) says, “Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most.  And get rid of this ‘play-it-safe’ who won’t go out on a limb.  Throw him out into utter darkness”

God wants us to stop living for our “stuff” and in our worldly means.  To get rid of the part of ourselves that wants to ‘play-it-safe’.  Forget about your “stuff” and what’s going to happen to it after you’re gone, and step outside and look at the countless stars in an infinite sky.  The God who put those stars there loves you, and has trusted you with a treasure so precious He came here to die for it.  Now, what are you going to do with it?

Download Like Dano

Click on the widget to the left to download any or all of these songs!

Gungor - When Death Dies

This is one of my favorite songs from Gungor's new CD "Ghosts Upon the Earth". It's got a cool sound and I feel like the meaning of the message is open to interpretation. I'd love to hear yours...

Johnny Cash - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

One of time's greatest voices singing an old classic. Gotta love it.

David Crowder Band - SMS (Shine)

Some of us have heard this song in Hilltop or the 11:00 service, but it's one that sticks with you. The David Crowder Band nailed it with this song and the video is just as good. Check out the video here: 

Jamie Grace (feat. tobyMac) - Hold Me

This is a new song that's getting some play on K-Love. I really like Jamie's style and this song is a fun one to sing to the Lord.

Jenny & Tyler - Love's Going to Last

God's love is eternal. What a great thing to put into song! When bricks break, bridges fall and buildings come down... God's love will last forever. Another great song from Jenny and Tyler - if you don't know them, look them up!

People Group of the Week: An Introduction

By: Laura Leigh Robson

Genesis 12:1-2 shows us that Abraham was blessed to be a blessing to the whole world.   Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:14 that “ this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come”. Revelation paints a picture that people will stand before God. People from every nation, tribe, people and language will praise God. Why? Because God is a God who longs to see all people come to Him, find satisfaction in Him and praise Him. 

Revelation 7:9 is not a reality yet. There are people in the world who do not know Christ, and those who do not have any access to the gospel or the name Jesus. Most of these people live in the “10/40 window”. This is a general region that is 10 and 40 degrees above the equator and spans from Africa to Japan. The people living in this region believe 5 main religions: Tribal/ Animalistic, Hinduism, Chinese/ Ancestor worship, Islam, and Buddhism. Of the 7 billion people in the world, about 88% of the unreached people live in this area.

This week's PGOW:

Bengali of Burma (Myanmar)

These are Muslim and Hindi people who live in Bangladesh and Burma.  They are a hard working people who strive for excellence. Most of the homes are within villages and are raised so that when monsoon rains come, they are stable. The main crop grown there is rice. Most marriages are arranged and there are separate roles of men and women in the culture. The Bengali culture also is marked by a similar caste system like India. Mostly Muslim, the people hold to Islamic values. 

Prayer Points

• Pray for an opening of spiritual understanding among all Bengalis. 
• Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to the Bengal region and share Christ with the Bengalis. 
• Pray that the small number of Bengali Christians will be a light for the Gospel in this area. 
• Ask God to raise up Christian medical teams, businessmen, and teachers to take the Gospel into this region. 
• Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of these Hindus and Muslims towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel. 
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches in the Bengal region

http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10790&rog3=BM

More Information:

http://www.operationworld.org/

http://www.thetravelingteam.org/team_resources

Making (New) Disciples

Did you know that as churches age, they become far less able to make new disciples?  According to statistics provided by Dr. F. Belton Joyner, it takes 72 people (on average) to make 1 new disciple in congregations that are 10 years old or older.  72:1!  For congregations between 5-10 years old, the number jumps up to 17 people per new disciple; And for 1-2 year old congregations, the ratio is 2 people for one new disciple!  It seems that George Hunter was on to something when he said that the most efficient way to make new disciples is to plant new congregations!

Combine this with the reality that there are fewer churches per people in the United States than 100 years ago and we have a problem.  According to Hunter,  there were approximately 27 churches for  every 10,000 people in 1900 compared with 12 churches for every 10,000 people today.  The number is even less in our cities, where currently 85% of the population resides.

So the church today seems to be at a crossroads.  I don’t think the answer is to sit around and lick our wounds, reminiscing about the glory days.  Instead, we should be focusing our efforts on proactive measures to build bridges to those who are living far from God.  As Mike Slaughter suggests, “…if we are not giving birth to new churches, we will become irrelevant to the next generations.”

What I sense in the church today is that there is a grass-roots effort to return to this missional mindset.  It seems that God is raising up new leaders with a passion for reaching the unchurched by starting new movements and planting new churches.  Jesus told us that His church would prevail, and we know that it will, so my prayer is that God will continue to fan the flames of passion to see the church thrive into the next generations!  Will you join me?

New Download Like Dano

Baptize My Mind - Jon Foreman

You may know Jon Foreman as the lead singer from Switchfoot, but he also makes some great music on his own. The use of so many different instruments in this song gives depth that draws you in and the words are a great reminder of how we should clear our minds of worldly things and fill them with Christ's teachings.

There Is a Way - NewWorldSon

This is a fun song that will definitely make you nod your head. It's an uplifting song with a powerful message... and the beatboxing in the background is a huge plus.

Love Is Gonna Break Through - Chris Rice

Chris Rice is such a staple artist in the Christian music industry with an amazing voice. In this song he reminds us that love conquers all. 

When God Dips His Pen of Love In My Heart - Alison Krauss

I love how this song gives the feel of sitting on The Porch (plug) listing to relatives playing some good ole bluegrass music... maybe that's just my West Virginia roots showing. While Krauss is not necessarily known as a Christian artist, she paints a beautiful picture of how God communicates with us.

Bottom of the 9th - B.Reith (feat. Knine)

I had to include this song in honor of the Greensboro Grasshoppers making the playoffs. It's a catchy song with lots of good baseball references. And even if you don't get the references you can still shake that booty that Jesus gave you.

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Divine Romance - Phil Wickham

One of my favorite songs ever... hands down. The simplicity of this song and Phil's voice combine for a touching song that can reach anyone. I've heard people say, "I don't really like Christian music, but I love this song."

I'm Not Who I Was - Brandon Heath

This was one of the first songs I ever heard on K-LOVE that really spoke to me after accepting Christ. Jen and I got the chance to hear Brandon perform this song in a private concert. Great song about leaving your old self behind by a really great guy.

Carry Me Through - Dave Barnes

This song really brings out the gospel-loving side of me. He's got a fantastic soulful voice and this is a fun song to turn up and sing your heart out!

This Is Just So Beautiful - Jenny & Tyler

You'll probably hear me talk about this husband and wife duo if you haven't already. This track is from their newest CD called "Faint Not" and it's a beautiful song about how great a Christ-filled life can be.

The One Thing - Paul Colman

I really like this song... not only because of the catchy guitar riff and the beat, but the words are undeniable.

You Can click on the DOWNLOAD LIKE DANO widget on the homepage to download any or all of these songs

Unnatural Choices by Sabrina Isenhour

Last week as I reflected on Ben’s sermon regarding the issue of forgiveness, I thought not only of my own experiences in this area, but also of several clients I have had the privilege to counsel.  I thought about Samuel who walked into the counseling office to obtain help for depression that was negatively affecting all areas of his life, including his relationship with God and his wife.  Jamie sought help to find relief from depression and anxiety that she felt were caused by the chronic pain she lives with daily due to a botched surgery in her teen years.  As we explored what was going on in their lives and reached deeper into the issues of their hearts, both were surprised when they realized that the pain and darkness they had been experiencing for years was rooted in their choice to not forgive, either self or others. 

Continuing to live with an unforgiving heart hurts the one who is wounded more than the one who did the wounding.  It creates a barrier in our relationship with God.  Jesus told us to forgive others that we too might be forgiven (Luke 6:37), to settle matters with a brother we are at odds with before we come to the altar to worship (Matthew 5:23-24) and if you go to pray and realize you are holding a grudge against someone, forgive him (Mark 11:25).  God knows that a heart unable to offer forgiveness to others is a heart separated from him.  Physical, emotional and mental symptoms may also manifest themselves in a person who does not seek forgiveness, which was the case for both Samuel and Jamie.  Our attitudes and perspectives on life change due to the bitterness we are carrying around.  It even causes us to erect walls in other relationships because we tend to be wary of being vulnerable again for fear of being hurt.  Therefore, we settle for superficial relationships where others are not allowed to know us authentically.

Most people choose not to forgive because they have misconceptions about what that means.  For example, some feel that offering forgiveness means that what the other person did or said is okay, that you are condoning the behavior.  Some feel offering forgiveness means you then have to let that person back into your life and go on as if nothing ever happened.  Still others feel that forgiving makes them a doormat and opens them up to being used over and over again.  However, my understanding and experience of forgiveness is that it says I recognize that we are all sinners living in a broken world where we all make mistakes (intentional or not).  I recognize that I have hurt others just as often and as deeply as I have been hurt, and therefore am in need of being forgiven.  Most importantly, offering forgiveness says that I choose to offer the grace of Christ to others as it has been offered to me and trust Him to dole out any necessary justice or consequences.

Did you notice the word “choose” in the previous sentence?  That is one important truth about forgiveness--it is a choice.  Forgiveness is an unnatural act for us because of our sinful nature, but if we choose to walk into it, we will find that we are being made more and more into the image of Jesus Christ because our choices are aligning with his character.  (1998, Parrott, “Relationships”)  In Ben’s sermon last week, he talked about Jesus making the choice as he hung on the Cross to forgive those around him--those who were mocking him, casting lots for his clothing, and even those who put the nails in his hands and feet.  He made a conscious, deliberate choice to forgive them when He could just as easily have turned them back into dust.  What is unnatural for us is natural for the One who created us and gave his life so that we might know forgiveness and reconciliation. 

A second truth regarding forgiveness is that it is a journey; it doesn’t happen overnight.  In fact it may mean thousands of little and big choices made daily to offer forgiveness to another or to oneself.  In the beginning, you may not “feel” like you have forgiven, but as you continue to make these choices over time, surrendering to the One who has completely forgiven you, you will notice your heart following your mind.  At some point along this journey, you will realize just as Samuel and Jamie did, that you have released yourself and the other person from the bondage of an unforgiving spirit and that you are once again free.  For that is why Jesus came, to offer us freedom (Galatians 5:1) and abundant life (John 10:10).  

“Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly.”  Henri Nouwen

This Week at The Porch- Haiti

The Porch will be meeting for worship this Thursday (8/11) at 7:00 in the Guilford College United Methodist Church sanctuary. Join in and bring a friend as we hear how God was at work through our Haiti Mission Team. Also, stay up to date with all of The Porch happenings by viewing The Porch Light: http://goo.gl/71Z7O

Are Burdens Bad?

Until recently, I thought of burdens as a bad thing.  Jesus' cross was a burden - how could a burden ever be a positive thing?   It was a blog entry by Perry Noble that made me stop and think.  He writes, "You have been burdened/bothered by the Most High God in regards to what he specifically wants you to do regarding His will."  

I thought, "God is bothering me?  Like a little kid poking me to get him a juice box?  Of course not...maybe I don't know what burden really means..."  So I looked it up.  

Burden- something that is carried; duty; responsibility

So God, my Heavenly Father who loves me, has made it my responsibility, my duty, to carry out the calling He has placed on my life.  Maybe if I don't listen he'll poke me like a little kid would, but am I being a faithful disciple if I don't hear and respond?  And has God really put the right people around me to help carry my burden?  

I know without a doubt God has placed me where He wants me and continues to burden me (poking when I don't listen) with what He wills for my life.  I hope you, my friends, will help me with these responsibilities and will allow us in The Porch community to do the same for you.

What are some of your burdens?  How can we be praying for you?

-Neal

Amy H. interview on prayer

Prayer / Amy Harper from Guilford College UMC on Vimeo.

Take Away the Cup

In the upcoming weeks, The Porch is going to be looking at Jesus' prayers during the last hours of his life. Right before he gets arrested, Jesus goes into the Garden of Gethsemane and prays, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will”(Matthew 26.) It's a short prayer, but perhaps one the most powerful utterances in the whole Bible. In two short sentences, we can begin to understand the intense anguish that Jesus was under as we realize that he suffers the same way that you and I suffer. Who among us has not at one point or another prayed for God to remove our burdens?

This tells me two things. First, as long as we are on this earth, we will have to endure suffering. In fact, if we are serious about following Jesus, this means that we will follow him through the miracles, signs and wonders into the Garden and then to the cross. A call to follow Jesus is not one that takes us to a suffer-free zone, but instead one that allows us to serve a savior that was willing to suffer with us.

Secondly, God hears our prayers as a means of comforting us in the midst of our burdens. This does not imply that all of our burdens will be removed (the cup was not taken from Jesus), but it does show that God hears us. In a world that is telling us to make it on our own, Jesus' prayer in the Garden suggests the opposite. Our God is so close to us that he listens to our hearts and hears our struggles while we are in it. God is big enough to hear each of our prayers, yet close enough to listen and comfort each of his followers.

So how do you best give your burdens to God? Has God ever removed the cup for you? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

This Week at The Porch- The Lord's Prayer

The Porch will be meeting this Thursday (5/26) at 7:00 in the GCUMC sanctuary. We are continuing our Summer of Prayer series this week as we focus on the Lord’s prayer! We hope to see you there!

The Porch Returns this Thursday (5/12) at 7:00 in the GCUMC Sanctuary

Thank you to all of you who came to the Porch’s Town Hall Meeting. We made some good progress and got some great feedback as well! In case you missed it, The Porch has decided to meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at GCUMC throughout the summer. During this time, we will be discerning what our next steps will be for the fall. With that in mind, we have decided to make our worship focus a “summer of prayer.” We will be taking a look at the prayers of Jesus and learning how we can incorporate these into our own lives. This will also give us some intentional time to listen and pray each Thursday as we corporately seek to discern where God is leading us. Thanks for all your hard work, and we look forward to worshipping with you throughout the summer!

We will kick things off this Thursday, May 12, at 7:00 in the GCUMC sanctuary. Hope to see you there!

The Porch Town Hall Meeting (4/28)

The Porch will be meeting this week in the GCUMC sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. for worship, prayer, and discussion in a “town hall” format. Bring your best thoughts, reflections, ideas and discernment!

Casting Crowds

*The Porch will be meeting for the final time on campus (this semester) this Thursday (4/14) in the Guilford College Community Center at 7:00*

A funny thing happens to Jesus on his journey to the cross: the crowds turn on him in a matter of a few short days. The "Hosannas" of Palm Sunday quickly turn into "crucify him" on Friday morning. The same crowds, only days later. How can this happen?

Crowds are fickle. Crowds tend to align themselves with whatever is popular at the time. Crowds care more about the advancement of the crowd than about any one individual.

A call to follow Jesus is a call that takes us out of the crowd and instead places us right beside him as he picks up his cross to head to Calvary. Are you content to follow Jesus from the crowd?

This Week @ The Porch- Founders Hall

A Kingdom of Kings

*The Porch will be meeting this Thursday (3/31) in the Guilford College Community Center (MPR) at 7:00. Hope to see you there... with a friend!*

At nearly every wedding I perform, I like to use the example of Jesus washing the disciple's feet to show that in marriage, sacrificial, servant-hearted love is one of the most important characteristics of a healthy marriage. If the couple is willing to put the needs of their spouse before even their own needs, then the trivial problems will be just that... trivial problems. If a marriage becomes one-sided and self-focused, then all sorts of problems can arise. This is an easy trap to fall into because if we're being honest, it's much easier to focus on our own needs than someone else's. It's easy for us to make ourselves king... king of our marriage, king of our spiritual lives, king of our work.

But Jesus shows us that in the kingdom of God, being a king doesn't amount to much. In fact, in the kingdom of God, the king is not the greatest... the king is the greatest servant. When Jesus takes off his robe to wash the disciples feet, he is taking on the task of a slave. It was dirty, it was sacrificial, it was anything but king-like. Jesus washed Peter's feet, who would later deny him. Jesus washed Judas' feet, who would just a few short hours later betray him. Kings punish people for these sorts of things, they don't wash their feet. Yet what he did was one of his greatest expressions of love: he took on the role of a servant to show that God's grace does not pick and choose favorites, it is universally available.

The foot washing is an example that points us forward to the greatest expression of Christ's love which is found on the cross. Jesus didn't come to earth to talk about love. He came to earth to show us what Love looks like in the flesh. "Not to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28). And he tells us to do the same. Kingdom building starts with the acknowledgment that we are not the king, and takes us to place where we realize that the King is in fact the greatest servant of all.

The Porch will be meeting in the GCUMC sanctuary for 3/24

The Porch will be meeting in the GCUMC sanctuary this Thursday (3/24) at 7:00. We will be hearing from some of our own friends about their journey, so help us spread the word!

The Journey to the Cross: Stop #2 The Bump in the Road

So Jesus resists temptation in the wilderness, but the temptation didn't end there. I would imagine that one of the hardest things Jesus faced would be that those closest to him chose not to follow his teaching. John 6:66 says that "from this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." A few days earlier, there were 5,000 people following Jesus. Today? Not so many.

The road to the cross is unconventional and it is not easy. It calls us to ready our hearts for the good days and the bad days. Sometimes we will resist all of the temptations of the world only to find that the crowds have deserted us. Following Jesus takes us from the wilderness to the desert and ultimately to the cross. And there will surely be bumps in the road along the way. Jesus' disciples said "This is a tough teaching, who can accept it" (John 6:60)? The journey is tough and unconventional, and as such, reminds us that we are following in the footsteps of Christ, who suffered terribly.

So when have you encountered speed bumps in your journey? How did you deal with them?

We will be meeting this Thursday in the Guilford College Community Center at 7:00. Hope to see you there!

The Journey to the Cross: Stop #1: The Wildnerness

As we enter into this season of Lent, we are reminded rather quickly of Jesus' 40 day temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Think about this: if Jesus gives in to even one of these temptations, there is no cross. It's a deal-breaker. He resists the temptations, but the journey is just beginning. We have a tendency to think that if we can just get over the temptation hurdle, life will be easy. But the journey is just beginning, and it leads to the cross. So what are you packing in your packs to help you resist temptation along the way?

We will be meeting in the GCUMC sanctuary this Thursday at 7:00 (Guilford is on spring break), so help us spread the word!

The Unconventional Journey to the Cross

This week marks the beginning of Lent, which is the traditional season of repentance that calls us to remember that Jesus died for us on the cross. It is a call to prepare our hearts and minds as we anticipate the resurrection. The Porch intends to take this call seriously as a worshipping community, so we will be going on a journey. A journey that takes us to various places: the wilderness, the valley, the garden, the prison, and the temple. Pack your bags, because this journey is unconventional, as the journey to the cross should be. Prepare for the unexpected, and remember that the journey doesn't always end where we think it should!

Can anyone and everyone belong?

Is it true? Can anyone belong to God? The Porch has been wrestling with this question lately, and we hope that Thursday's worship will help provide some answers. We are returning to the Guilford College Community Center, so bring an open mind and heart to worship.

Thin Places (The Porch 2/24/11 Bryan Jr. Auditorium)

Celtic Christians have long believed in what they call "thin places." These are places where the boundary between heaven and earth are especially "thin." Essentially, a "thin place" is anywhere where one can experience God's presence more readily. I think about Mt. Sinai as an example of a thin place in the Old Testament. God spoke clearly to Moses through a burning bush and then when delivering the commandments some years later. Elijah also is able to hear the still small voice of God on Mt. Sinai, suggesting that the mountain has some sort of special connection to God.

I don't believe that thin places have to be an actual physical place like Mt. Sinai. Jesus came to earth as the incarnate word of God so that the full revelation of God could be completed. He was the ultimate thin place. Our challenge is to find the thin places in our lives where we can best experience the resurrected Christ! Does that happen in a church? While singing hymns? During communion? In moments of silence? Through serving others? While observing God's creation?

Where are the thin places in your life?

PORCH Feb. 10

Can't wait to see you guys tonight at The Porch at 7pm in Founder's Hall!!  Bring your torches.... proverbial torches that is ;)

And just some good food for thought... check out this video about creativity...

Keeping the ball rolling

Wondering what to do now that Traffick Jam is over? Come to The Porch this Thursday in the Community Center at 7:00 to figure out our next steps. Be thinking of ways that The Porch can be intentional about fighting human trafficking on a regular basis. What can we do?

Keep "Jamming the Traffick" !!

So Traffick Jam has ended for 2011... and I am blown away!  God showed up in a huge way tonight, and I am so thankful!  A huge thanks to all the people who helped make this event a reality!  Some great friends were made and I think a huge change was made in all the people who attended.

A special thanks to Back Porch Orchestra who are totally awesome and graciously supported us and Traffick Jam.  Please check them out, and if you're free next friday check them out for their cd release party at the Fat Frogg in Elon, NC

Most importantly, let's all keep this ball rolling and continue to fight human trafficking.  I've heard that at least 3 college campuses are hoping to host similar events, so keep a look out for more ways to raise awareness and put an end to this atrocity!

If you have questions or comments please feel free to contact us nsharpe@guilfordcollegeumc.org or bcarson@guilfordcollegeumc.org

If you want more info on any of the organizations involved tonight, here are the websites!
Caribou Coffee
International Justice Mission
Tiny Hands International
Not For Sale
Abolition
Change Purse
Hope House
World Relief
Ten Thousand Villages
Legal Aid
Restoration Place

This Week @ The Porch- Worship on Thursday in Founders; Traffick Jam

This a big week for The Porch! We will be meeting in Founder's Hall for worship on Thursday night at 7:00 as we wrap up our Justice January series. We are also hosting Traffick Jam in the Guilford Community Center on Friday night from 7:30-10:30. See details below. Help us spread the word!

The Porch will be meeting in the Community Center for 1/20

Join in as our Justice January series continues with the story of how God equips Moses. How is God equipping you? We'll be in the Guilford Community Center (MPR) at 7:00. See you there!

Traffick Jam - January 28,2011

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 

We hope you will continue Dr. King's efforts in fighting the injustices of the world.  Please come out and join us in raising awareness about modern day slavery, as well as joining other's who are passionate about bringing hope to the captives and "rising above our individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."  Please don't hesitate to contact us at nsharpe@guilfordcollegeumc.org or carsonbg@guilford.edu if you have any questions or would like to volunteer or help us spread the word about this event!

Traffic Jam 1/28/11

There are more slaves in the world today (27 million) than at any other point in history. You can help us bring an end to modern-day slavery through Traffic Jam, an event to raise awareness about human trafficking. Traffic Jam is taking place at the Guilford College Community Center on Friday, January 28 from 7:30-10-30. The event will feature booths from local agencies fighting human trafficking, live music, speakers who are working in the field, and a special screening of the "Candy Shop." For more information or to learn how you can get involved, keep an eye on The Porch Blog or contact Ben (carsonbg@guilford.edu) or Neal (nsharpe@guilfordcollegeumc.org).

The Porch will be meeting this week in the Community Center (MPR)

The Porch returns this week to the Guilford College Community Center on Thursday (1/13) at 7:00 p.m. with Justice January! How are you letting God quench your thirst this year? Join in the discussion this Thursday and help us spread the word!

Prayer Walk on 1/6

The Porch will officially start back on 1/13, but be sure to come out this week (1/6) for a prayer walk in the Guilford community. We will meet outside Founder's Hall at 7:00 (on the porch!) and go from there. Help us spread the word!