A GivStory by Paige Armstrong                  

I was 11 years old when I found out that I had bone cancer. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever faced in my life, God has brought incredible blessings from that situation and has truly unleashed my purpose through that pain. One of those blessings, was an opportunity through an organization called Make-A-Wish Foundation, to come to Nashville and record a professional CD. After that, there seemed to be a domino effect of opportunities to sing and speak all over the country, eventually leading to moving to Nashville, signing a record deal and being asked to be the speaker for the iShineLIVE tour.

iShine LIVE is a high energy, Biblically based event for tweens. There are all kinds of artists performances and a powerful message on what it means to be  “V.I.P” in God’s eyes. iShine is all about helping kids understand their identity in Christ amidst a culture that teaches them otherwise.  I have had the privilege of being the speaker for iShine since it started, and am excited to be sharing the stage again with other artist such as The Rubyz, Mission Six, and more! Through my battle with cancer, I learned how precious life truly is and how much we can’t waste it. God has shown me that I wasn’t spared to just keep silent and sit on the sidelines of life. We all have a purpose. My mission now is doing whatever it takes to help people find that and live it out.

I had heard of World Vision through different advertisements online and through word of mouth, I wasn’t officially introduced to what they do until they became a partner with our iShine LIVE tour. When I was asked to be the one on tour to share about World Vision, I met with a man from their team who explained with tears in his eyes about what the organization does. He showed me videos of the work they are doing all over the world and the need that is crying out all in so many places. It was an emotional meeting, and I was instantly captivated by their work and wanted to be a part of it. I started sponsoring a 12 year old girl a year ago named, Majorie, who lives in Port-au-Prince Haiti. As you can imagine, it struck me incredibly hard when I heard about the earthquake that hit there. I decided to write a song for Haiti and record it with professionals who donated their time in order to be sold for the proceeds to go to World Vision Haiti relief team.  If you’re able, you can go pick up my song, “Not Forgotten”, on iTunes, and all of the funds will go straight to the missions work going on out there.

We all have something that we can do… There is no need to feel helpless. Whether it’s buying a song that is supporting the restoration of Haiti, going to a benefit or taking on an orphan as a sponsor child… there are so many things we are needed to do. I’m asking you to please consider getting involved with World Vision and sponsoring a child. You pay a small amount each month which covers your child’s food, health care, education, shelter and so much more!

Click below to listen to Paige’s GivStory Podcast on iTunes.

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 A GivStory by Cathy Robinson | Franklin, TN

Have you ever been changed by helping others in need?  Do you ever feel you have nothing to offer?  Are you held back by thoughts like “what could I possibly do?”  Here is a testimony of a family who put legs to what God spoke to their hearts and has experienced His blessings in return. 

 “My husband, Ronny, is a businessman and I (Cathy) recently obtained my degree in Spanish.  We have one daughter, Courtney, who is 24, and a son Michael, who is 16.  We reside on a farm in Franklin, Tennessee, a 160 acre retreat called “Rancho El Paso.”  The name was inspired by the Lord a couple of years before we were introduced to Rancho Los Amigos just across the border from El Paso, Texas!  The children from Rancho Los Amigos are always surprised when they visit and see our sign at the entrance.

Although our church is very involved in missions and evangelism, our first mission trip outside of the country was with our daughter’s school in 1997.  We had supported Youth With a Mission over the years, but had never been to any of the operating locations until then.  That is when we first became involved with Rancho Los Amigos.  On that trip we helped build a home, did some evangelism, and visited the children.

Cathy pictured with the children of Ranco El Paso

When we returned home, we began to sponsor one of the boys we had met there.  He really stole our hearts!  During the summer, he came to stay with us for 6 weeks.  Then at Christmas, he and his brother spent 3 weeks with us.  Shortly afterward, their mother was released from prison and their family was reunited.  Later, I had a dream about (continue reading…)

A GivStory by Mark Schultz

A few summers ago I was contacted by Family Christian Stores’ Foundation,  The James Fund. A non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of orphans and widows around the world. They contacted me because I was also adopted and they thought that I would make a good spokesperson for the organization. They took me down to an orphanage in Mexico and there I met a husband and wife team that started an organization called Back 2 Back. They were the hands and feet for the churches and orphanages in the area, providing them with food and education.  I will never forget one of the girls there. She was giving us a lesson about kids and orphans.  During this lesson, she took out an ordinary piece of paper and asked us to visualize the paper being an orphan’s heart. She said children come to the orphanage and they are not like any of the other kids in their community. She then rips the piece of paper in half and says “now you are working with just this half piece.” She then explains that the children will want to go to school, but they don’t have the money.  She then rips off another piece of the paper. She gives several examples until she is left holding a piece of paper the size of a thumb print and says “this is what orphans’ heart will typically look like.” She said that each time we give to these orphans we are investing another little piece of paper back into their hearts.  

I thought to myself  “What can I do to make a difference?” I’m adopted and I have a heart for kids….

A few years ago my wife rode her bicycle across the country and I had always admired her for that. I thought that maybe I could ride my bike to help raise money for some of the kids I had seen. So, I called up my manager and told him my crazy idea. Before I knew it I was riding my bike across the country all the way from California to New Hampshire playing thirteen concerts along the way. At the end of the eight week tour we were able to raise a quarter of a million dollars. It was one of the greatest feelings of my life!

I have been doing music professionally for over ten years and I would call giving money to kids that really need it the highlight of my career.

 Most of the money that we raised went to the The James Fund orphanages, but some of the money was also given to World Vision. From my relationship with The James Fund I started to learn more about World Vision. I soon realized that they were also working within organizations and helping kids, orphans, and families. I thought “what a great ministry… I want to get involved.” I thought that I could help by playing concerts and helping to get children sponsored all over the world. It’s been an amazing journey. I was in the Dominican Republic a few months ago and was invited to a World Vision building that housed children with AIDS. The children were drawing on pieces of paper and smiling. Not quite the vision that comes to mind when you think about AIDS, but there they were smiling and happy. One of the teachers asked the students if anyone wanted to volunteer to sing a song.  A little girl began to sing a beautiful song in Spanish. The song translated in English says “God I Love You More Than My Own Life.”  When they translated it for me I was just floored because I realized that with AIDS, she didn’t know how long she had to live. I also found out that this child had an amazing dream, to become a doctor!  I immediately called my wife, who is a doctor, and told her about this sweet little girl. Her immediate response was “Go get her!”  So, of course we immediately signed up to become her sponsor family and are an active part of her life through sponsorship, letters, and encouragement.  I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of her life  and to be a fan and advocate for a great organization like World Vision . I can’t think of anything in life that is more rewarding than giving hope to others in need.

To learn more visit:

World Vision www.worldvision.org

Mark Schutlz  www.markschultzmusic.com

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