exalted through us. The people we came in contact with were not expecting us to exegete Leviticus, they were looking for
Five years ago, when God was stirring a vision in my heart to empower people to take care of orphans and widows, the name of the ministry (in my head, at least) was Simply127. From the very beginning, I simply wanted to help people live out God’s mandate found in James 1:27. The name was eventually vetoed for a variety of good reasons, and I am so thankful for the name 127 Worldwide. However, this idea that caring for orphans is simple has never wavered. Simple obedience to James 1:27. Notice that I said simple, but I did not say easy. It seems like this is a common theme that we also find in Scripture. Joshua’s instructions to march around the city of Jericho were simple, but can you imagine the execution of this unusual battle tactic? Abraham was asked to pack up and go without knowing where he was going. Jonah was given a few more details. He knew that he was told to go to Ninevah, but he found it difficult to muster up the obedience to carry out the instruction. Even the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane were asked to stay awake and pray with Jesus. Seems simple enough, right? Actionable obedience is usually simple, but it is rarely easy. At 127 Worldwide, we are excited to launch an initiative to challenge and encourage this idea of simple obedience called #simply127. In fact, we need your help! We want to hear your creative stories of your steps of simple obedience. We want to see pictures of you simply living out James 1:27. God has given each of us passions and talents that He wants us to use for His glory. In the last few years, we have seen a fish biologist, a pig farmer, medical personnel, students, housewives, artists, and entrepreneurs who were willing to be used by God to restore hope to orphans and widows. We have seen them make a real difference in the lives of our partners. We have seen God transform their lives. What is God calling you to do? Like Jonah, are you finding it difficult to muster
up your own obedience in some area? As believers, we humbly depend on God’s grace to obey His Word. And His word is not complicated about our responsibility in caring for orphans and widows. It’s simple. Like Abraham, sometimes our obedience requires putting our yes out there without even knowing what the plan is, simply because we trust the One making the plans. This newsletter is in a different format than our usual ones. We wanted to share stories of simple obedience. We wanted to give you opportunities to step out in simple obedience. Simply put, this is our #simply127 newsletter. We hope you enjoy!
Sara Beth Fentress
Founder and Executive Director GO - So far in 2016, we have sent 84 volunteers to visit our partner projects in Kenya, Uganda, Haiti, and Honduras. Our plan is to send 15 more volunteers before the end of the year. This is up from 65 in the entire year of 2015.
SP EAK - In June, we had an opportunity
to network at Elevate Camp in Daytona Beach to share with 700 students and adults representing 25 different churches.
INVEST - The first week of August 2016, we surpassed our giving for the entire year of 2015. Our projections show a 63% increase in finances for 2016 compared to last year.
EMP OWER - We are in discussions to add
two new partners before the end of the year. Stay tuned to learn more about new projects that are developing in Guatemala and Greece. Our first teams will visit there in 2017.
REJOICE ALWAYS These beautiful faces reflect God’s glory to the world as they celebrate His faithfulness to them. These widows received mattresses from Sweet Dreams this summer as they raise their children in the slums of Kibera in Nairobi. They simply obey God’s Word in their adversity as they, “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.” They are bringing up their children in the Lord as they struggle to pay for food, school fees, rent, and basic necessities. They depend on the God who saves them to be their provider, comforter, protector, and friend. These sweet sisters in Christ inspire us in their faith and dependence on their Father. They are simply obedient.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO I still can’t believe I went to Africa this summer. I love 127 Worldwide and the four pillars of their ministry – Go, Speak, Invest, Empower. But to be honest, the “Go” part has always been a little scary for me. I’ve never felt a specific calling to do overseas missions. I’m not especially talented or feel I have some amazing gifts to share with the world. I’m not overly adventurous or someone who likes to try new things. Yet I found myself on an 18-hour plane ride headed to Kenya. I do love missions and desire to serve. I saw the Lord present this opportunity to go and wanted to be obedient. However, my mind was filled with all the reasons why I should stay. I have a feeling that I may not be alone in these fears. Maybe
you have thought about going on a project but worry about some of the same things I worried about. Listen to how God completely changed my perspective. You don’t have to be called to a specific area before you go. I never felt the Lord telling me specifically to go to Kenya. I did see Him arrange the plans in my life to make me available to go. I just had to be obedient and do it. The reality is, all believers are called to go and share the Gospel. That may be in your neighborhood or it may be across the ocean. But don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from going. When our team arrived in Nairobi we met up with 127’s partners who have ministries serving the youth in the slums of Nairobi as well as a school/children’s home in rural Kenya. The partners are native Kenyans who have a heart for the people in their country and desire to serve and spread the Gospel. I realized they have the same calling on their life that I do, that every Christian does. I didn’t need a special calling for the people of Kenya. God has called me to love all people and all nations just as He does. We just have to be willing and obedient to go. You don’t have to be super-talented. Repeatedly in Scripture we see that God uses the weak and the ordinary. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Our team consisted of myself, a mom with young kids, a soon-to-be-grandma, a teacher and a college student. Our team leader is a homeschool mom of four boys. My point is, you don’t have to have a theology degree or be in full-time ministry. It’s not about what we can do but how Christ can be exalted through us. The people we came in contact with were not expecting us to exegete Leviticus, they were looking for encouragement, prayer, and someone to listen to their story. We spent most of our time in a slum in Nairobi called Kibera. The families that we visited there did not care what kind of gifts or talents we had. They just wanted to know that we cared about them. I remember my team leader telling me that we needed to ask ourselves how Jesus would relate to the people there. He would come to their level, touch them, listen, care, and ultimately show them that He is the only way to salvation. If we are Christians then that’s how we are commanded to live our lives every day, no matter where we are. It’s as simple as that. You don’t have try to fix every problem. Being in the slums in Nairobi and then spending a few days at
an orphanage meant seeing a lot of needs. People need food, jobs, education, places to live, parents to love them…the list goes on and on. I quickly learned that going on a mission project does not mean becoming a mini savior. I’m not, and thankfully, because of what Christ has already done, I don’t have to try to be. Peter Abungu is the founder of the Swahiba Youth Networks in Nairobi. They work everyday in the slums spreading the Gospel and helping youth with education, job training, etc. One day I was feeling really overwhelmed with the poverty I was seeing there. When there are so many issues it is hard to know where to start when it comes to helping. How can you possibly care for everyone? Peter reminded me that even Jesus did not physically heal everyone he came in contact with. But he offered something greater to all – the gift of salvation. The effects of sin in the world are great, but just as Jesus did, we can offer an ultimate healing by proclaiming the truth of salvation in Christ. We can’t do it all but God can choose to do whatever He pleases through us. My desire is that anyone reading this would consider going. Yes, there are some sacrifices involved. You may have to leave your family or your job for a couple of weeks. You may have to eat some food you’re not used to and brush your teeth with bottled water (actually, the food was really good and my teeth never felt cleaner). But seeing the heart of God in a very real way is so worth any small sacrifice. More than anything, I came away from my trip with a better understanding of who God is. Over and over the Bible tells us that God loves justice and mercy. Isaiah 1:17 says: “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” This is the heart of God and these are not suggestions. As believers we are to care about justice and plead on behalf of those who do not have the power to do so themselves. This doesn’t require a special talent. It requires simple obedience. God doesn’t complicate it and neither should we. He simply commands that those who love him obey him.
YOUNG GIVING Not only can living out James 1:27 be simple, there is also no age limit! Meet Bella, Chloe, and Phoebe. These girls heard about a need in Uganda from our 127 Worldwide partner project, Acres of Hope. A few months ago, they began saving part of their allowance each week. Recently, they donated $127.27 to purchase food for kids who live in a pod house at Acres of Hope. Thank you, Cashman family!
WATER THE SEED Many people ask the question “What did you do on your mission trip this summer?” It’s a fair question, but behind it lies the American ideal that doing equals accomplishment. In our busy culture, we often get trapped in the rush of activities and we miss what is really happening with the people around us. It is not so much about what we can do, but about joining in with what God is already doing. On our recent trip to Haiti this summer, I told our team that although we had a list of activities to fill our days and our time there, our main purpose was to encourage our partner, Pastor Honore, and his children. If we could make memories with the kids, reinforce God’s love through His Word and our presence, then that would be a success for our team. 127 teams have been able to invest into this partnership over the last two years. I think Patrick Sisco of Strong Tower Church, a volunteer on this summer’s Haiti trip, said it best. When he was asked “What did you do in Haiti?” Patrick responded, “We watered the seed.”
Welcome Amanda Walton! The 127 staff is excited to introduce our newest employee, Amanda Walton! Amanda lives in Kennesaw, GA and will be serving as a Regional Orphan Advocate in the Atlanta and East Tennessee areas. She will be traveling and speaking, encouraging people to go on short term projects and to speak on behalf of our international partners. If you know of a church, university, or group of individuals that would be interested in having Amanda come to share about all that God is doing through 127, then she would love to come! From an early age, the Lord began to shape her heart to serve the orphans and widows of the world. In 1985 she heard the USA for Africa charity single “We Are the World” and immediately asked her mom if she could use her allowance to help children in Africa. In 2010, Amanda had an opportunity to tangibly live out James 1:27 when God called her to leave behind her career in higher education at her alma mater, University of the Cumberlands, to live and serve among the beautiful people of western Kenya. She brings 10 years of professional experience in recruitment, as well as non-profit ministry experience to 127 Worldwide.
Born and raised in East Tennessee, Amanda is a proud farm girl at heart and loves helping out with the family pumpkin business. She inherited the gift of hospitality from her mother, so with a little notice, you are always welcome in her home where you will find a home cooked meal, peanut M&M’s and a comfy guest bed.
African Partners are coming to the USA! We are excited to host Peter from Swahiba Youth Networks and Geoffrey from Acres of Hope in the U.S. this Fall. Rose from Tumaini Miles of Smiles Center is also coming early 2017. Would you be interested in hosting them in your home so that they can tell your friends, family, and church all about what God is doing through their ministries in Kenya and Uganda? Hosting our partners in the U.S. has been an excellent way to expand their networks and build their support teams. Please email
[email protected] if you would like to host or help support their visit financially.
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