My friend Ben Arment is a genius. Not just a genius, but the kind who’s fearless, too. That makes him one of the biggest threats to the bad guys in this world.? You see, Ben had an amazing job with an amazing organization. But beyond that, he had a dream that would not leave him alone.
So, what’s a guy like Ben to do? He leaves his job, moves thousands of miles away, and starts putting together one of the most creative experiences I’ve seen in a long time called Story.
Both Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson) and Don Miller (author, speaker, and champion of cutest dog pictures on Twitter) are both speaking at Story. Last week, Don was in Nashville (where Michael and I live). Somehow the stars aligned and I was able to sit down with the two of them and have them share about what story means to them, a little about their own stories, and what they’ll be discussing at Story Chicago. (That video is coming in a few days!)
Before Michael arrived to the video shoot, I pulled out my trusty Flip video camera and asked Don if he’d mind talking to you guys about his latest adventure, The Mentoring Project. He graciously agreed, and so, without further adieu, I’d like to present you Mr. Miller himself.
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I haven’t talked about an organization like The Mentoring Project on my blog before, simply because I’m not familiar with many like it. The statistics Don shares in the video should be a wake up call to us all. As the church, we pray and pray and pray for opportunities to make a difference and we often have them right in front of us.
What can you do? Easy. You can cover the cost of supporting a child mentoring relationship. I have been supporting in this way for a few months now. If you’re part of a church, find out how your church can partner with TMP to help in your own back yard. And if you want to be a mentor, you can read more about that too.
Because TMP has literally just taken off, they’re currently working within the Portland area, where they’re based. However, I think it’d be handy for them to take a pulse on interest levels around the country, so when it’s time to expand even more, it makes it that much easier to already have some people lined up, excited, and ready to dive in.
What’s an organization you’ve discovered and fallen in love with lately?
(BTW, you can download a free sample Chapter from Don’s new book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by clicking here.
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Comments
12 responses to “From Donald Miller to You…”
i’ll definitely put TMP on my prayer radar. very cool. i wasn’t an orphan or by definition “fatherless” but i am indebted to the men in my life who mentored me in my late teens… through appropriate affection and spiritual guidance… that my real dad just couldn’t/didn’t show. it is so important to have that void filled.
Crystal Renaud?s last blog post..Abrupt Departure
My family has been supporting TMP for the last two years (backed to when it had a different name) and I am trying to bring a strong awareness to my community about the power of the family life. I grew up without a dad, he was killed when I was 4, and I have recently written a book about the parallels of growing up without a dad and finding God as our Father. So now I seek support, resources, and publishing while also pastoring in a community that has the highest unemployment rate in the country and 82% of the people are NOT connected to any faith family. Don’s voice has been huge in my life and I would love to bring mentoring and support to Muskegon Michigan, but I need help in any way possible.
Wally Harrison?s last blog post..The importance of Living
Seems like a great program. Hope lots of churches jump on board with this. Looking forward to Story videos too!
Daniel Decker?s last blog post..Our Burdens Can Become Our Bridge
Sibongile Child Care Center
http://www.sibongile.org/
A home for handicapped children run right here in South Africa. I work there weekly and its run by the unknown-mother-theresa this country. I can’t commend this ministry enough!
My wife and I discovered The Mission of Hope several years ago here in Knoxville. It has become a great ministry to the less fortunate in our area.
The Mission of Hope concentrates on serving people throughout poverty stricken rural areas of Appalachia in Southeast Kentucky and Northeast Tennessee. To accomplish their goals of providing assistance, the MOH seeks supplies, resources, monetary donations and grants from individuals, businesses, corporations, service groups and civic organizations. They then distributes donated items and purchased materials to areas of rural Appalachia where they are then delivered to needy individuals and families through the support of school resource centers and local ministries, already established within the communities which are served.
http://www.worldnextdoor.org
World Next Door, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
More than just a statistic.
More than just a statistic.
Our mission is to use entertaining, thought-provoking and heart-breaking journalism to change ordinary people into wild-eyed revolutionaries and to unleash them on local and global issues of social injustice.
This website is part investigative newspaper, part travel magazine, part web journal. It?s like National Geographic meets Bizarre Foods meets an online blog, all with a social justice focus (issues like poverty, hunger, AIDS, etc.).
Through our unique style of communication, we attempt to awaken the adventurous spirit in uninvolved ?suburbanites,? to get them connected to their true calling and in so doing, to multiply the impact of the organizations we write about.
Curtis Honeycutt?s last blog post..New Derek Webb Song! Wow!
I just got back from a Compassion Trip to Tanzania, Africa. I fell in love with Compassion and the work they are doing! I would love to find a way to get the word out about this amazing organization and the awesome work they are doing all over the world to put an end to child poverty.
Since I’m currently an intern with The Mentoring Project, this was so awesome to see. Thanks for sharing about us Anne.
Tyler?s last blog post..Sovereignty // Jonathan Brink
TMP sounds like a wonderful organization. I hope they meet all their goals, and even more!
My favorite? Two, actually, and neither new. But both doing solid, gratifying ministry to the needy. In both cases, churches of many denominations (and, in one case, even synagogues) joined together to “love and help their neighbors” – and are doing a wonderful job of it.
They are: Gateway Community Outreach (Deerfield Beach, Florida.) Founded in 1995; have around ten centers in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. And they’ve helped at least four similar organizations get started in other areas.
And the Grace Resource Center in Lancaster, California, up in the Antelope Valley section of the Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles. We got acquainted with Grace while we worked as traveling vendors across the West (and were homeless, living in just a tent trailer). A very good organization with great community support.
Both minister in much the same ways as The Healing Place in Baton Rouge, and began about the same time – but as far as I know, neither of them has ever given away cheetah print nightwear!
Yesterday, I read about David Wilkerson and the Times Square Church on Craig von Buseck’s Church Watch blog. I can remember when David launched his ministry to gang members in New York City and many years later, that ministry is still going strong. Whether we’re mentoring boys and young men without fathers, feeding hungry children overseas, running soup kitchens, taking mission trips…let’s remember God’s absolute love is winning against the evil that is battering our world. Through Christ’s death and resurrection and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to overcome all that is set against us. To all who are involved in sharing God’s absolute love with others, be strong and of good courage.
patriciazell?s last blog post..THE ORIGINAL SIN
The North Tulsa Heritage Foundation. They have a variety of programs but all them exist to improve the lives of those living in North Tulsa and are focused on children and their well being. The people there work tirelessly and love what they do.
Kenyon?s last blog post..Let?s Go Crazy
Other links about the importance of story.
“Living Story”
“Equips broken people to learn, live, and love in God?s story of grace.” http://www.livingstorygrace.com/
“Your Story Matters” — My Dad’s blog
Poetry written to pursue the hearts of those who do not know that God loves them (without using religious language).
http://yourstorymatters2him.wordpress.com/
Sara Ross?s last blog post..honor one another