Welcome to my blog - I'm glad you decided to visit! I'm Josh Sheppard and I want to share with you an amazing opportunity coming my way this Summer. I'm headed to South Africa and will be doing my best to serve God's will there on a mission trip ... but before I go, I need to raise $5000! 5,o00 in two months my friends...
While this may sound like a daunting task, I am actually looking forward to the process of raising the money. Maybe I am just crazy, but this really is an opportunity for me to actively trust in God and for Him to show His provision by taking care of my financial needs. Over the next few weeks I'll have to do one of the things I hate to do most: ask for money! So ... if any of you has an extra 5000$ laying around... I could use it! :) More realistically, I would very much appreciate any amount you would be willing to donate to this mission trip! It's really true that every little bit counts!
Sure, that sounds cliche, but check this out: If one-third of my friends on Facebook decide to give $5, then that would be over $1000 towards my trip! There's 20% of the fund raising provided for right there!
I'm going to update this blog regularly with information on how the fund raising is going... when I get to South Africa, I'll make it a point to update this blog at least once a week (and probably more), sharing what God is doing in my life and the lives of others while ministering to the people there! I look forward to seeing what God will do for His kingdom this summer and how He will work in what, I believe, is my calling to ministry!
Of course 5000$ is no small amount of money, so I can assure you I don't take this lightly. Here's a few FAQ:
So Josh, what will you be doing in South Africa and why should I give my prayers and money to your mission trip?
I should be there from early June to mid-August. That's about 10-11 weeks in Africa. You might recall that the World Cup is going to be in South Africa this summer, and soccer will be an integral part of my ministry while down there. This presents a great opportunity for myself and other Christians there to use soccer as a means to spread the Gospel. Many schools will be out of class for the World Cup and this ministry is a huge opportunity to help these kids. Playing soccer will help keep them off the streets of the city (where drugs, alcohol, and human trafficking are a major problem)and I will have the chance to share Christ with them through the comfortable environment of the soccer field.
In the mornings, I will be working VBS-like activities and sharing the Gospel with kids there. In the afternoons, we will be organizing and running soccer clinics for children. Also, we will have "big screening" events where we will project some of the World Cup games on a big screen. Many South African's don't have radios or tvs in their homes and this will give them an opportunity to see the games. There are other "outreach programs" that I will have the chance to be a part of while ministering there, too. You can find a bunch more information about some of the ministries I'll be involved in at: http://www.actsoverland.com/
"With the local school holidays having been extended due to World Cup taking place in South Africa, there is a great need (and opportunity) to ensure that children are being not only well-looked after, but also drawn into the excitement of this unique sporting event. Living Hope’s ministry is therefore focused around kids & teens clubs, so that children are not only kept away from the threats such as human trafficking, drugs and alcohol abuse (which are expected to be especially high at this time), but are also hearing the message of God’s unconditional love and plan for their lives."
-- ActsAfrica.com
If you would be willing to give, you could either send me a check made out to myself (I will keep my funds in a separate bank account) and addressed to 800 Lakeshore Drive. Birmingham, AL 35229-1633.
Or if you see me on campus or at a coffee shop, feel free to slip me some cash and I'll make sure to get it to Living Hope!
Josh Shep
