"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows." Isaiah 1:17

Advocate. There are countless ways to advocate for the orphan whether through adoption, sponsorship, in-country orphan care or prayer (just to name a few). Enjoy this month's Mission Moment as we highlight some of these advocate opportunities...

ADVOCATING FOR THE ORPHAN {Chris Hopf}

Chris Hopf, a pastor at Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX) and India Orphan Advocate, shares what it means to be an advocate for orphans abroad and in your own community. Listen in...

To learn more about becoming an Orphan Advocate, visit lifesongfororphans.org/advocate.

FINDING A NEW FAMILY {Maryjuri's Story} 

Meet Maryjuri, a 13-year-old at Plan Escalon School in Honduras who is learning the power of redemption from her own life's circumstances. Listen in to hear how God has given her a NEW family and a NEW belonging. Become an ADVOCATE for students like Maryjuri through the support of child sponsorship!

To learn more about sponsoring a child like Maryjuri, visit lifesongchildsponsorhip.org.

ADVOCATE THROUGH PRAYER {Lifesong Prayer Team}

Sign up to receive monthly updates of recent prayer requests and praises from all across Lifesong's ministry. Learn more at lifesongfororphans.org/prayer-team.

READ MORE...

Showing Jesus to the Forgotten -- Learn what it means to be a TFI Advocate to the forgotten in your own community. Read More

"We Had Room for Another Child" -- Lifesong celebrates adoptive family who has received funding FOUR times! Love to see families ADVOCATE through adoption. Read More

Be an Advocate for Orvin -- See the incredible HOPE in Orvin's eyes despite the loss he has suffered and see how you can advocate on his behalf. Read More

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit 10 {May 1-2; CHICAGO} -- CAFO2014 Summit inspires and equips Christians to care for orphans with wisdom-guided love. Register today! Read More

*COMING SOON*

Celebrate Life Concert tour with Cheri Keaggy & Children from Zambia. This concert will be an excellent opportunity for the whole family to hear how they can help care for orphans and vulnerable children. Read More

Praying for boys ~ and a *GIVEAWAY*

Greetings ~
A few months ago I stumbled on this amazing site called THE MOB SOCIETY and I can truly say it has been a God send.  You see it's all about boys and their mama's and here at the Hammons house we are full of boys that's for sure.
Well while looking around the site I came across Brooke McGlothlin and her new book Praying for Boys.  I am blessed to say that I have read this book and will continue to read it AGAIN and AGAIN.  You see Brooke is a real life mama with a warm heart and great humor and gets what being a mama to boys is all about.  But she is also helping me find my way to pray with and for my boys.  I'll be honest in saying I was never one who was confident in prayer.  Confident in doing it right ( I know I know there is no wrong way) but I wanted to make sure my boys were covered.  Both of them have seen and experienced more trauma and grief in their 7 and 8 years of life than many will experience in their lifetime and so I thought I had to get this prayer thing right.  Brooke opened those doors for me and led me on a path of self discovery and prayer.  And so I invite you to take a moment and meet Brooke - and than follow her on your own path to praying for the boys in your life and raising them up to be Godly men of the world.

http://www.brookemcglothlin.com/

So won't you share with me here on the blog your biggest struggle as a mama of boys or your biggest success and come Sunday evening one lucky random winner will win a copy of Praying for Boys courtesy of Brooke and Bethany House Publishing!!  And know I will add you to my personal prayer wall as we all become stronger in faith as we pray for our boys.

You are invited ~

Weekly in the office, our Lifesong Family comes together to pray for our in-country orphan initiatives, adoptive families, Forgotten Advocates, fellow co-workers and anything other items needing prayer or praise that week. It's a special time to come together to remember and acknowledge THE ONE who deserves all the glory and praise for the work HE allows us to do. To THE ONE who has ultimate control and power over every situation.
We would love to invite you to join us in this time of prayer by subscribing to our monthly Prayer Team email. At the end of each month, you will receive an email outlining the prayers and praises for specific needs from that month. We hope you will pray along with us! Sign up below...
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Learn more about the Lifesong Prayer Team>>

“Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
James 5:14-16

Our Holiday Wish ~

Gifts of Purpose

We wanted to point out some of our gifts this year that are BRAND NEW to our Gifts of Purpose Catalog...
Provide Post-Adoption Resources
Raising children from hard places isn't easy. Because Lifesong believes in supporting adoptive families in all stages, post-adoption training scholarships are available to equip adoptive & foster parents with the tools to help heal hurting children. $200 | $450

Fund a Foster Care Mentorship Training
Many children & vulnerable adults affected by the foster care system want to know that they matter. The Forgotten Initiative Mentoring provides the opportunity for the Body of Christ to show children that they are loved & valued. $500

Sponsor a Family at Village of Hope-Guatemala
Children were made to be in families. By providing Guatemalan house parents, vulnerable children can feel belonging & that there is someone investing in their life & future. Our children are provided food, home & a mother and father figure to pray with them, help them with their homework & mentor them as they grow. $42 | $500

Give Opportunity to Zambia's High School Students
Known as one of the best in the city, the Lifesong Zambia School strives for academic achievement. With the recently built high school, our students now have the unique opportunity to join the 5% of kids in their country that receive a high school education, giving them hope of a future free from the cycle of poverty. $48 | $782

View the Online Catalog

Join Lifesong for Orphans in giving a Gift of Purpose. Until December 31st, a generous donor will MATCH each donation with a gift to Lifesong, up to $300,000. $75,857 remaining to reach the goal! Give a Gift. Bring Joy & Purpose to a Child in Need.
 

It's NOT about us ~ through the eyes of an 8 year old!

Greetings ~
 I really had no idea HOW materialistic I was (I actually thought I really wasn't!) until Tariku entered my life.  When you live a life with less than the bare necessities it is AMAZING what you think about on a daily basis.  For Tariku his mind often wanders to how he can do for someone else, what he can share or give to make another person's day.  About 5 or 6 times a year he comes to me and says he has to go through his toys and give some away.  This past week was once again that time and so he did - 1 by 1 he went through toys and books and asked Teddy to go through his.  In the end they had a large bin, a trash bag and a box full of toys.  Typically we load them in the car and off to goodwill we go but being so close to the holiday I took to facebook to see if there was a place we could take them so Tariku could SEE the difference he was making.  Within minutes and thanks to the power of social media I was reminded of a most amazing event happening on Dec 7th called Help Portrait. (please take a moment and check out what this fantastic group is doing around the world)

Fast forward to Dec 7th - I had a wedding in the morning and as I was leaving Tariku reminded me mama today today is the day to deliver the toys to boys who may never have had any.  So just after noon as I returned from my wedding he and I loaded the expedition and off to Cross Point church in Nashville we went.  I wasn't really sure what we would see or if he would actually get to SEE the joy he spreads when he does what he does. But I did not need to worry - the doors opened and there were lots of kiddos having their pictures taken for the very first time!!  With the help of some wonderful elves we brought in Tariku and Teddy's toys and dropped them off at the foot of Santa.  IMMEDIATELY Tariku said look mama look they really like the toys look at them playing.  And in that moment I was reminded in this season it really is NOT ABOUT US.  It is rather about what we do to make someone's day, to feel valued, to feel important, and most importantly to feel loved - all which we so often take for granted.  So thank you Micah, GraceAnn, Jeb, Myrick and Jeremy for allowing Tariku to SEE the true reason for the season with his eyes.  He hasn't stopped talking about since we left!

Some photos from our time @ the Help Portrait event.

Jeb and GraceAnn take a look at the goodies 

A sweet boy already ready to check out the goodies

Tariku and Jeremy (aka Adler's dad from school!)

It's Giving Tuesday ~

Greetings ~
YAHOOOOO - you have survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday and made it to Giving Tuesday!  I want to know who you give to - so I am going to randomly give away 2 copies of the book Orphan Justice by Johnny Carr.  All I want you to do is share with me who you are giving to on this fantastic day.

So here is how it will work ~
Leave me a comment on who you are giving to - 1 entry
Share my blog on facebook/twitter/instagram - 1 entry for each share (but you need to come back here and tell me you shared it!!)

Than tomorrow morning at 8am I will give away 2 copies of this most amazing book!