Archives For Social Issues

An Update from charity: water

March 29, 2012

I just got an update on the money we gave to charity: water for my birthday last year. It’s cool to know it’s still bringing life and love to those in need. Thanks also to Shep & Kristi West, Trey & Jen Williams, Yolanda Valderrama, Chuck & Irene Goocher, Kenneth & Joy Jordan, & Nic & Kristen Arce for your contributions to this effort.

I’m taking some time today to remember how blessed I am to have easy access to clean, safe water. To those in Ethiopia & Malawi today, may God richly supply their needs. To those here with excess, may we grow in our generosity.

Here’s the report:

Your money was sent to Ethiopia and Malawi.

About six months ago, your funds were pooled with those of other mycharity: water campaigns to help thousands of people in Ethiopia and Malawi. We invested your money with our local partners, Relief Society of Tigray (REST) and Action Against Hunger (ACF) in Ethiopia and Pump Aid in Malawi, to build and rehabilitate freshwater wells and spring protections for people in need. They’re also teaching communities about safe hygiene practices and forming local Water Committees to look after the projects when they’re finished.

When your projects are complete, our partners will go back and collect GPS coordinates, photos and other details from each community. Then, they’ll send all the data to us so we can create a project report for you and all your donors to share! We don’t consider a project fully finished until the local Water Committees have been trained and the community has taken responsibility for their water point. 

In Missions, Social Issues
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Giving Water, Giving Life This Christmas.

December 8, 2011

Go to your tap and turn on your faucet. The most amazing thing happens. Water streams forth. It’s a convenience we take for granted. But still today, almost a billion people on our planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. Stop. Reread that sentence. It should give us pause to know that we are so blessed.I wonder why God has chosen to shed His grace on us in such a huge way. Could it be that we are blessed to be a blessing?

Last year, you built a water well in Peru through your Christmas Offering. Check out what Shannon from Living Water International had to say about what God did through you:

“Your water project is complete in Peru! Praise God! You have served an entire community of 140 with clean, safe water in Jesus’ name. It is unbelievable to look at the previous water source – from the polluted river. These people were in desperate need! Thank you for your partnership in serving the thirsty.”

This was so successful that we are led to do it again this year for another village. When we give the gift of water, we’re giving life, health, and a tangible expression of God’s love as well as offering them eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Other receipts from this year’s Presence offering will be invested in positioning The Connection Church to continue shining out the light to Central Texas in 2012.

Will you join me in praying to ask God what He would have you give “over and above” this year? We can’t all give the same amount, but we can all do something. In my family, we give our most expensive Christmas gift to the birthday boy, Jesus, through His church. If you choose to give online, you can click right here. Or, you can bring it to The Connection Church this month.

I thank God for using us to save lives through The Connection Church. I can’t wait to see what God will do as we give back to Him because of all He’s given to us this year!

In Evangelism, Missions, Pictures, Social Issues, Vision
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I Will Remember

September 11, 2011

10 years ago today, we woke up to a new reality. It was a new world where life would never be quite the same. I vividly recall how surreal it was as we watched the second tower attacked while still trying to process the first. We chose to believe in the face of fear. We chose to unite in spite of our differences.

This summer, as I visited the site of ground zero, I was struck by the size of the damage that was done. In some ways, the face of our nation was scarred. But the scars serve to remind us that we are healing. And if we really do remember, we will recommit today to all that it means to be an American.

I’m proud of my country and today, I will remember.

In Social Issues
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Giving Away My Birthday For Water

May 16, 2011

I first heard Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water tell his story at Catalyst Atlanta in October. He spoke passionately about the fact that 1 in every 6 people in our world don’t have access to clean water.

Water is essential for life, and the key to health, business, and education. Millions of people get deadly diseases from contaminated water that you and I wouldn’t even want to walk through, much less drink. 45,000 people will die this week from the lack of access to clean, safe water. Those who survive have to walk for hours everyday to get nasty water to give to their families. This is unimaginable and inexcusable when we can do something about it.

So my birthday wish this year is to provide safe clean drinking water for people in need. I’m so thankful that I don’t need anything this year. Not another iTunes card or another electronic gadget. This year is all about saving lives.

This is my 41st birthday and my wish list is simple: I’m asking that you give $41 or more to provide the gift of water. It’s not for me, 100% will go directly to freshwater projects for people in developing nations. Will you partner with me to make a difference? Go to this site to find out how you can get involved: http://mycharitywater.org/colephillips

In Missions, Service, Social Issues
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Giving Presents or Giving Presence?

November 20, 2010

As we’re getting ready for Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how much we have to be thankful for. I’m especially thankful this year for our growth and impact and the many changed lives we’re seeing at The Connection Church. Whether through our recent Thanksgiving Food Drive or through our upcoming Angel Tree gifts for the children in Hays County with an incarcerated parent, I am blown away by the difference we’re making this year! Thank you to each person who has invested to make all this possible!

At Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift of all: God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son! We want to help you keep Christ at the center of your Christmas celebration. When we give gifts this year, let’s prayerfully consider what we’ll offer the birthday boy Himself, Jesus Christ. He deserves our greatest gift!

That’s why we’re having our annual Christmas Presence Offering. God has called us to be His hands and feet both here and around the world.

This year’s offering will be used to build a well for clean, safe drinking water to those in a poverty-stricken country through Living Water International. When we give the gift of a well, we’re giving life, health, and a tangible expression of God’s love to a village of over 250 people!

Other receipts from this year’s offering will be invested in positioning The Connection Church to continue shining out the light to Central Texas in 2011.

Here’s what we’re asking everyone to do:

  • Pray and ask God what He would have you give “over and above” your regular tithes and offerings. We can’t all give the same amount, but we can all do something.
  • Bring your “over and above” offerings with you during the month of December as we celebrate His blessings or give online here.

I thank God for using us to save lives through The Connection Church. I can’t wait to see what God will do as we give back to Him because of all He’s given to us this year!

In Missions, Social Issues, Spiritual Growth, Vision , , , , , , , , ,
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