American Prudential Capital, Inc. » where we give

Moving On in Japan…

brenda — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:21:35 +0000

The news channels have all moved on. They are on to the next big story. Libya is hot; Japan is not.

That is the way it goes. But for the 500,000 Japanese people living in shelters with no place to move on to…the story is still very urgent. They have not moved on. Not yet. They are not a news bite.

Without help, most of them will struggle hard to move on. But the amazing thing about being the “Family of God” is that they will have our help. They are our family.

Are we the same race, the same religion, the same nationality? Not likely. But we are the same family. This coming together and helping them rebuild their lives is what we would do if this happened to our sons, our daughters, our brothers and sisters. And in fact, it did.

I have a very dear friend who is in her 60′s and has the retirement plan of God…that is to say she is totally dependent on God to provide for her when she retires. So, recently she was inspired to give some money to a man of God whom she knew was in great need. She gave.

Then she had those fearful thoughts that sometimes come when we give sacrificially. She thought about her own needs, her nest egg that doesn’t grow and what would happen to her in her old age.

Fortunately, she could hear from God and remembered that it wasn’t the 10% that belongs to God but it is the 100% that belongs to God. We don’t give because we are good. We give because we are honest. We understand that we are not to store up for ourselves here on earth but rather we are to be God’s bankers.

We are here to manage the redistribution of wealth to those in need. This is neither the job nor the responsibility of the government. This is our great privilege. It is the service we render to each other.

Many years ago, God prompted me to give $200. I knew that if I gave that $200 I would not have enough money to pay my rent and buy food. I struggled with what I knew and what I believed. I settled on what I believed and gave the $200.

You know what, we never missed a meal and the rent got paid. How? I am not really sure. But we did not end up on the street begging for bread.

Our Pastors friends in Japan are actively gathering up survivors and relocating them to the Seminary outside of Tokyo. There they receive food, clothing, shelter and hope. They experience the love of family, the family God has provided to see them through this crisis.

With all of our help, they will be able to move on and they will take with them the memories of how “family members”, whom they never knew, reached out to them and helped them through.

God bless you for all that you are giving everywhere.

Brenda

We give through Lydia Ministries, PO Box 40572, Houston, TX 77240. This is a 501 c (3) charity and you will receive a tax receipt for your gift.

Lydia Ministries sends 100% of your donations to the folks in need. During this time all monies are going into meeting the needs of the people in Japan.

No one takes any salary and no one takes any administrative fees from what you give. Every dollar goes to buy food, clothing, shelter, medicine, etc.

HELP FOR JAPAN…

brenda — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:25:16 +0000

Friends and family,

Here is the update on our Japanese friends and loved ones.

First let me tell you a little about one of the pastor friends staying with us in Houston right now. His name is Pastor Ken Jodai. He is a third generation Christian. That is remarkable in Japan. His father was a teacher, very respected in Japan.

After finishing college he worked for a year in industry then served the church full time for a year. He knew he wanted to be in full time ministry so he set off to Seminary in Ibaraki, north of Tokyo. His family is from Osaka in the south and Ibaraki is north of Tokyo, think Houston and New York City! After Seminary he went to Fukushima to serve the small Christian community there.

Ken and his wife have 5 children and 4 were home with Ken’s wife when the earthquake hit. (Pastor Ken was here and his family was alone in Fukushima.) They have evacuated their damaged tiny 5th floor apartment and are housed in the one room church for the time being. (Think one room the size of my family room for all living and all ministry 24/7).

So, the question is, how can we help? The survivors will need everything, food clothing, shelter, transportation. The best way to handle this is with money. We have a 501 (c) 3 ministry called Lydia Ministries. Its tax Id # is 26-3148992. We cover the operational expenses of this ministry. So, every penny given goes directly into the needs of those hurt by this tragedy. Nothing is held back.

This ministry is young but already we have built homes for widows in Africa and we have helped build orphanages as well. We put 100% of all contributions directly into buying supplies and feeding and sheltering those in need. Since no one is allowed to take a salary from this ministry and volunteers cover all of the administration needs, we know where the money goes and how it is spent.

If you want to put help directly into the hands of those in need you can send contributions to:

Lydia Ministries

C/O American Prudential Capital

Post Office Box 40572

Houston, Texas 77240

You will receive a tax deductible statement for your contributions. If you think that $20 is too small, think again. It will buy food for a family, milk for a baby, gas for a car. When you have lost everything…everything helps.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and for your love of the Japanese people.

Brenda

Haiti Needs Medical Help

brenda — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:11:00 +0000

Friends,

Mercy Ships has indicated that they are receiving donations to fund a medical mission to Haiti.

As they have years and years of experience and well equipped ships to meet medical needs in third world areas, I recommend them to you as a trustworthy place to give to help Haiti.

To contact them regarding their plans for a medical mission email them at www.info@mercyships.org

To donate you can go to http://www.mercyships.org/HaitiRelief

In a recent email Don Stephens, the founder of Mercy Ships said:

“Sam Smith, CEO of Mercy Ships, emailed me regarding the most powerful earthquake to strike Haiti in more than 200 years: “The impact of this tragedy is ten times that of any hurricane. Please lift up the people of Haiti in prayer.”

Our Disaster Relief teams are working to provide relief to those in greatest need. Your financial support can help us bring hope and healing to the people of Haiti where it is so desperately needed.”

Please prayerfully consider a donation at this time:

http://www.mercyships.org/HaitiRelief

As we receive more information about the conditions in Haiti, we will provide more detailed reports about Mercy Ships’ response.

On behalf of the people of Haiti, we thank you for your prayers and financial support.

– Don Stephens

Founder/ President
Mercy Ships