Blogs

The Least of These

2012-02-20T16:30:21+00:00

She is 15 and mothering her three siblings in the Gulu bush of northern Uganda when I meet her. My husband and I are there to visit some of the child-headed homes that are part of the ALARM orphan care program. Does anything strike the mother heart in me like the term “child-headed home”? She carries the meaning of those words in her eyes and it does not escape me. Not in the least.

We sit and listen to her story. We sit with many more and hear theirs…family after family, tragic stories laid out like open hands begging to be filled. I turn to Molly, ALARM’s Coordinator for Women and Children in Gulu, and tell her how encouraged I am by how she serves children like these. She says it can be extremely difficult but she loves it so much that it does not seem like work. I tell her that it is a blessing to see her labor with such diligence, and she stops and looks at me. “If I do not,” she says, “then tomorrow how will I come before my God? There is Someone to whom I must give an account.”

Then outside one hut, we see the fruit of ALARM’s work as we meet Michael. He describes how being sponsored has given him food, given him clothes…given him hope when he was in complete despair. And I think about Matthew 25, the day of account that Molly anticipates. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink...Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

And I think, isn’t that the very core of it all? That in serving with ALARM, in serving these families, we are staggeringly able to serve the One who served us first.

Paul and Sarah Stehlik live in Dallas with their three sons. They recently spent two weeks in Africa serving with ALARM.

Violence in South Sudan

2012-02-07T13:59:30+00:00

This CNN report does an excellent job portraying the deep complexity of South Sudan--with centuries of violence, the absence of rule of law, alternative dispute plans and the role of justice. ALARM is an instrument of a different way of life, the way of the gospel and offers not only the healing of a painful past but the prospects of a more peaceful future.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/04/world/africa/south-sudan-cattle-battles/index.html?hpt=wo_bn7

A Heart That’s His

2012-01-23T16:34:30+00:00

A team from Watermark Church in Dallas, TX spent the last week in Uganda leading a camp for over 250 kids as well as working in Pader at the ALARM Trade School. So many amazing stories and pictures from their week in Uganda. Below is an except from Lucina Thompson of Watermark Church that we wanted to share.

“Parting from the “secondary” (teenagers) Camp, was such sweet sorrow. They sang for us and we for them…the voices sounded like angels. When we asked for testimonies of what the kids learned, we hear of lives overcome by hopelessness yet now filled with love and promise of a future and hope…not just here on earth, but forever in heaven, as many trusted Christ. The defining moment was driving out to the sound of a group of girls singing the Camp theme song based on 2 Chronicles 16:9 “Look high, look low, everywhere we go, He’s lookin’ for a heart, a heart that’s His.” Praying that this truth becomes reality for 250 Ugandan children.” -Lucina Thompson (Watermark Church)

To reead more about the trip, visit the Watermark in Afirca Blog.

2011 In Pictures

2011-12-21T19:25:19+00:00

It's obviously hard to capture a full year in a few pictures, but we wanted to give you another glimpse of the amazing year that was 2011. So many of you partnered with ALARM this year and we are grateful. Enjoy a very small sample of some of our favorite pictures and moments from 2011.

Boys in northern Uganda where ALARM is working to support child-headed households

Women's leadership conference taking place in Uganda

The President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, joined ALARM in Dallas

Celestin Musekura (President & Founder) and Meredith Wheller (International Director) working together in Yei, South Sudan

2011 saw the very first graduating class at the Institute of Women's Excellence in Rwanda

Conference attendees in Uganda

Solar power panels being installed for the first time at the Christian Leadership Institute of Sudan (CLIS)

The newest nation is born - The Republic of South Sudan

More celebrations as South Sudan becomes a new nation

Conference attendees receiving a Bible for the first time in Tanzania

A mother and her child at a conference in Rwanda

ALARM's newest partner in South Sudan is With Open Eyes which is working to provide transportation to church planter-evangelists. Pictured on the motorcycle is James Baak (ALARM South Sudan Director) and Frank Harrison (Chairman & CEO of Coca-Cola).

Chaplain Training in Juba, South Sudan

2011-12-08T18:04:31+00:00

Over 100 chaplains from local police, military and fire departments joined ALARM and Watermark Church to be trained on servant leadership, peace building, and conflict resolution in Juba, South Sudan this last week.

ALARM South Sudan Director visits with Coca-Cola CEO

2011-12-07T15:12:08+00:00

We are thrilled to have James Baak, ALARM South Sudan's Country Director in the USA for a couple of weeks. Yesterday James had the privilege of sharring his testimony of being a "Lost Boy of Sudan" with ALARM partner With Open Eyes as well as Coca-Cola CEO Frank Harrison while in Charlotte, NC.

And any trip to North Carolina would not be complete without a some southern barbecue! - this was a first for James!

Developing Leaders in Kenya - Update from Celestin

2011-12-05T18:37:14+00:00

Greetings from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya! This past week, Todd Wagner (Senior Pastor of Watermark Church) and I spoke to 600 church leaders and pastors of the Africa Gospel Church during their annual leadership conference. We were privileged to teach on Servant Leadership, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation. Each participant received ALARM’s Ethnicity Manual - Restoring the Beauty and Blessing of Ethnic Diversity. Many of these leaders have little or no ministry tools and resources, so they greatly appreciated the gift from ALARM and Watermark Church.

Now I am on my way to Burundi to join our staff to facilitate the Pastoral Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) this week.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support. Grace to you.

Celestin Musekura
President & Founder of ALARM

Great Gift Options for Chrsitmas

2011-11-21T20:18:36+00:00

With Christmas quickly approaching, we know that many are in the throws of buying gifts for friends and family. We have several opportunities available this year that will not only allow you to purchase some great gifts, but will also allow you to support the ministry of ALARM. So this Christmas, make a purchase that will change lives and transform communities.

Our online store is a great place to purchase ALARM products like handmade jewelry from widows in Uganda and handbags from refugees in Kenya. Some really great items are available. In fact, use the code WithAPurpose during checkout and take an extra 5% off your order.

Our Gift Guide is a great place to find ALARM projects that you can support like sending someone to a conference, supporting our Africa staff, or even buy a pig! Choose a gift to donate in honor of someone special and download a FREE card card to print.

We are very excited this year because ALARM scarves are being sold in select Whole Foods Markets across the southwest. These scarves are handmade by widows in Uganda and currently only available for purchase in select Whole Foods Markets.

So this Christmas, consider some of these gifts as a great way to help support the ministry of ALARM.

A Family Serves Together in South Sudan

2011-10-13T18:21:56+00:00

Brent and Karin Lewis made sure travelling and volunteering was a function of their married life. “We continued this even when our kids were very young. It is exciting now that we all seem to have our area of interest,” Karin shared.

This summer, the Lewis family spent some time working with ALARM in South Sudan. Brent spearheaded and secured all the funding for solar power projects at Lora Orphanage and School, Morobo Orphanage and School, Nehemiah School and the ALARM Christian Leadership Institute of Sudan (CLIS). The solar panels allow the communities to eat dinner, clean up and do chores, and study in the evening. Before they could only do this if they had diesel generation (very expensive and unreliable) or kerosene lamps available. Karin, a doctor, spent time at the Yei hospital and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church clinic. The Lewis children, Braden and Katrin, spent time in the school with the kids and Katrin is thinking of returning to teach English.

Karin shared her reflections with friends and family through emails. “So much of it was positive because we were with amazingly resilient and godly people. Their past however, when exposed, reveals active scars. Every person in South Sudan has suffered greatly in the 56 year civil war.”

One evening, they gathered around the campfire and listened to the peoples’ stories. In Karin’s words:

"How can you explain seven years of hiding in the bush and jungle around a camp fire? Seven years running for your life and in the running, families are split up and often never reunited. Or worse, your children are kidnapped and brain washed and forced to do unimaginable things. They come back to attack and kill you. Living in constant fear of being discovered. The fear of starvation and illness.

But God. God was with them because He inhabited their praises. At night they made the fire because otherwise they would go crazy. The fire gave them warmth, cooked the meal and gave the comfort of community as the people sat around to sing praises and read the word of God. The fire had angels camped around them, protecting them when soldiers came and then just sat and watched them.

Now, one by one, as we sat around the fire reenacting the scene, they gave their testimonies of how God worked in their lives. Each one talked about God’s real and ever present strength and love. Each shared their personal journey. What a gift of friendship to share these things with us."

ALARM is extremely grateful for our partners like the Lewis family. Partners who come to join God’s community and His work. We are blessed to have the opportunity to witness his healing and transformation and to experience and be changed by Africa and its people.

Photo Blog - The President of Burundi in Dallas

2011-10-11T19:02:42+00:00

On September 26th and 27th ALARM, with partners Watermark Community Church and Bent Tree Bible Fellowship hosted the President and First Lady of Burundi. They shared their personal stories as well as their passion and vision for the country of Burundi. ALARM looks forward to a continued partnership with them as we seek to provide leadership development and reconciliation to the people of Burundi. (photos courtesey of Mo Sadjadpour)