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.

 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 them and felt that the Lord wanted us to visit them.  They were not easy to find, but the staff of Rancho Los Amigos helped us locate the boys and allowed them to stay at Rancho for a couple of days while we visited.  We had the most blessed time!  It was awesome that their mom was willing to “share” them both with us.  We visited them again a few years later and they are now wonderful grown men. 

On our second trip to Rancho Los Amigos we were able to spend more time and witness first-hand what goes in to providing for the children.   It was an amazing revelation to us and we felt called to help in any way we could.  We began to host various children at holidays as well as hosting a drama team of some of the children who visited the USA during the summer.  The Lord knit our hearts with the children as we watch them grow and mature through the years.  He also called us to support those who lay down their lives for the sake of these children. 

Looking back over the past ten years, we have lost track of how many times we have been able to visit the home!  We have celebrated Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve with them, enjoyed snowball fights, hosted Vacation Bible School, babysat for staff retreats, been on wild bus rides through the mountains of Mexico with them, hosted construction teams to help with ‘face-lifts’ to the property…and the list goes on!  Each time we visited, we found God to be faithful in returning the blessings ten-fold.  Blessings never go in just one direction!  Our friends who have visited there have felt the same, many of them returning again and again, just as we have. 

We have reaped another huge blessing through our relationship with Rancho Los Amigos.  We can honestly say that the current home directors have become like family to us!

Everyone had been praying for a couple to come and wisely ‘parent’ the children, but I do not believe anyone expected the answer to those prayers to be quite so amazing.  Fernando and Maria Luisa Carpinteyro had already successfully raised their four kids, who grew up to become missionaries, so who would be better than this wonderful couple to disciple the children!  They and their family have poured wisdom, love, and numerous talents into this home.  I use the word “home” very literally, because it truly feels like a home that just happens to have 33 kids living in it!  We are continually blown away by their tireless dedication and amazing ingenuity as they seek to train the children up “in the way that they should go.”  We are confident that the children of Rancho Los Amigos, due to the godly instruction they receive, when they are old, will not depart from the Lord, just as Proverbs 22:6 promises.

We encourage people to become involved with Rancho Los Amigos for many reasons.  It’s not too often that you can have such a personal relationship with a child that you sponsor and with those who are taking care of them.  I would tell others to come and see for themselves what an awesome thing the Lord is doing for the ‘least of these’ through a few selfless individuals who are heeding God’s call.

Here’s a word to the wise, however…be prepared for your life to change forever!”

Get Involved:

Find out more about Rancho Los Amigos: http://ywamepj.org/page.aspx?ID=35820

Tell us your GivStory: http://www.givmusic.com/submit-your-givstory/

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

Tell us your GivStory http://www.givmusic.com/submit-your-givstory/

 Craig Smith talks about what inspires him to give back to those in need and explains how he began The Ancient Path. Click on the player below to listen to the complete podcast, or click on the podcast icon above to subscribe through iTunes.

 Nashville, TN (November 30, 2009)– In the spirit of giving, Country star Bryan White has shared his GivStory on GivMusic’s Podcast about his passion for the Christian child advocacy ministry known as Compassion International.  To further support Compassion, White, as well as many other country and pop artists, will perform on December 2 at Mercy Lounge, in Nashville, TN as part of Compassion’s Benefit for the Global Food Crisis.

“We have constant defining moments throughout our life where we can either walk away or  respond.  For me, one of the defining moments, as far as figuring out what I really wanted to do in life, was make an impact apart from the nation I lived in,” White explains. “I had always dreamed of looking beyond here as well and I was fortunate enough to go on a trip to Ecuador a couple of years ago with Spence, my friend, with Compassion.  That is really what changed my life and made me 100% get involved with Compassion.”

As White explains in his GivStory Podcast, a few years back he and his wife, Erika, sponsored a little girl from Ecuador in the city of Otavalo. On their trip with Compassion International they were able were able to get a first hand look into life of their sponsored little girl. White explains the experience as having a “profound impact” on his life. To hear more of White’s GivStory click HERE.

Compassion International’s ministry works to release children from economic, social, spiritual, and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible fulfilled adults. The benefit concert on December 2 at Mercy Lounge has a goal to raise funs and awareness for the Global Food Crisis Fund, an initiative of Compassion International. Artist’s scheduled to appear include Bryan White,  Sixpence None The Richer’s Leigh Nash, Carter’s Chord, Julie Roberts, Blaine Larsen, Rob Blackledge, Mica Roberts, Trailer Choir, Canaan Smith, Charmaine, Natalie Hemby, Alathea and other special guests. Radio veterans Tony Randall and Kris Rochester from the new national syndicated morning show “Tony and Kris in the Morning” will host the event.

Tickets are available online and can be purchased HERE

To listen to White’s GivStory click HERE or to share your own story click HERE

 For more up-to-date information on Bryan White visit, www.bryanwhite.com

 For Bryan White Interview contact:

Karen Tallier, LOUDMOUTHpr, 615 244 9015

Country Music recording artist Bryan White talks about his trip to Ecuador and how it changed his life forever.

A GivStory by Marilyn | Illinois

In late July 2004 I was informed after a standard / annual mammogram and immediate sonogram that I had a colloid carcinoma in one breast.  It was biopsied within a few days and was found to be malignant. The strange thing about this situation was that I was not due for this mammogram that month.  I asked for it to be done early so at my next appt. I would be able to hear the results and not have to wait out this process. I feel there were angels around me whispering in my ear to start this process in the summertime instead of autumn that year. 

The three weeks of waiting for the lumpectomy surgery were truly the worst moments of this experience.  Then after 2 more weeks of healing, I had to endure another surgery (using the same incision area) for a follow up surgery to clear the margins of cancer cells.I was one of the fortunate few who did not have to undergo chemo treatments but did have 6 weeks of weekday radiation treatments.  Those were over the end of the week before Thanksgiving 2004.  We took ourselves south to Florida where we visited with our oldest son’s family (and our only grandchildren) the day after that last radiation treatment.

You can see by the dates that I have recently passed my 5 year anniversary and am cancer free. God bless the doctors, nurses, and the wonderful facilities we have here in the Peoria, IL area for their care and concern.My motto is: Listen to your gut and your instincts.  I feel mine saved my life as this cancer was about to invade my system deeper when we caught it so early.

As well as supporting other women who are fighting this disease with words of encouragement and prayers, I have been giving to St Jude for the children for many years; and that is the organization where I shower my support for fighting this dreadful disease.

A GivStory by Debbie  | Michigan

I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer on my Husbands 50th birthday, Aug 12,2006. I had just turned 46,three days before.Wow and what a shock. I had cancer in both breast, but not the same cancer. Your mind does a fast track to hell and back but then you put the hard hat on and dig in.  Before a month had gone by, I had approximately six different test and or scans and a double mastectomy. I had surgery on  a Tuesday and was released on Thursday. Yuck, the ride home was very painful and of course you know my wonderful husband hit all the bumps. For about two weeks my husband turned into a nurse who emptied drain tubes and tried to drown me in the shower. My arms at the time were useless. I suffered frozen shoulders with the surgery and I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my leg and had to take belly shots 2 times a day. Next was getting a mediport for chemo. That was a disaster, they put it on a nerve…I had 8 chemo treatments at 2 week intervals. My last chemo I had to use a vein because the mediport was useless. I lost all my hair by the second treatment.

I had my final chemo treatment in January of 2007 and then I had 22 radiation treatments that ended in March 2007. I have had to take medication for 5 years to try and stop recurrance. I had reconstruction surgery exactly one year from mastectomy and that was not a good experience either. I still have to wear a shaper inside my bras to look normal. Yeah, kinda defeats the reconstruction

So far I am cancer free!

P.S. My beautiful husband was at every chemo and every radiation appointment….I belong to a Group call Pink Perfection. We meet for fun once a month and also twice a month for info and help.

 A GivStory by Joanne Dipp | Freeport, Michigan

In the fall of 2005 one of my sisters came to visit from out of state.  As she left for home, she said I have an appointment to see the doctor when I get back because of a lump on my breast.   A few days later she called and said it’s cancer and I’m scheduled for a mastectomy.  Of course, I had hundreds of questions and felt helpless to be so far away.  I discussed with my husband about me going to be with her for her surgery.  My 80+ year old mother wanted to go also.  I was worried about the effects the trip would have on her but off we went.   When the surgeon came out and told us there were several lymph nodes involved, my heart sank.  After a week we went back home and she was faced with the start of chemo.  One of my other sisters went out to be with her when she started her chemo.  While there she got a phone call that she had an abnormality on her mammogram and they wanted to see her.  When she got back and had a biopsy she found out that she also had breast cancer.  

WOW! two sisters in two months. 

 Both lived out of state from the rest of us.  Both tested positive for the BRCA Gene. That put the fear in the rest of us (6 girls in our family).  Do we get tested or not.  Will our insurance pay for this or cancel us.  All these thought go thru your head but the main one is how can we support them so far away.   I tried to research what I could on the internet.  What I found did not bode well for them as both were stage 3.  As time went by and they both got through their chemo with little complications, our hope grew.  When the next decisions had to be made, they both did what they thought was best for them.   One went totally with the advise of her doctor and the other did some alternative. 

Unfortunately we lost our sister Jill in April of 2008.  Joyce is still going strong.

During all this I thought what can I do.  I have signed up for a sister study (they wanted sisters of those who had breast cancer but did not have it themselves).  This was quite an involved process with many pages of questions to fill out.  This study has met their quota of recruits.  There is another organization looking for recruits called the The Army of Women; Dr. Susan Love and Avon started it.  If anyone out there would like to contribute, please go to their website www.armyofwomen.org.  They have contacted me to see if I would do something to help recruit. If you do decide to register, go to the referral field “Vesper Contest” and enter my email – joannedipp@hotmail.com