(be in on it): GIVE

As the His Little Feet Children's Choir travels the US, we invite people nationwide to join us on the (be in on it) campaign.

By taking a step to GIVE, SPONSOR, GO or ADOPT, anyone can make a practical and life-changing impact on a child in need around the world.

When you choose to give to His Little Feet, you are supporting the ministry's efforts to help, love and train orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide.

Each year, His Little Feet brings children from all over the world to participate in the His Little Feet International Children's Choir. The choir travels the U.S., serving as the voice for millions of voiceless children.

In 2011-2012, His Little Feet Children's Choir visited over 75 churches, sharing with over 40,000 people.

The choir participants don't just perform, they lead others in worship of our great God. They also take part in the His Little Feet Life Training Academy. The children receive training in academics (English, Mathematics, Language Arts and Physical Education), performing arts (Music, Choreography and Drama) and life skills (Leadership Development, Team Building and Social Skills). His Little Feet's Life Training Academy provides a holistic approach over a short season of time, providing the children with experiences that change their lives forever.

Most importantly, His Little Feet choir children have the opportunity to hear and learn more about Jesus. Through daily discipleship and mentoring, each of these kids grows to have a deep understanding of God's love for them and His work in their lives.

But when you give to His Little Feet, you're not only supporting the work of the current choir. In fact, every gift to His Little Feet creates ripples in the water that can impact children millions of miles away and choirs who will come years down the road.

For example, during the 2011-2012 tour, those in attendance at His Little Feet concerts sponsored more than 1,000 children in over 20 countries worldwide.

If you currently support His Little Feet financially, thank you for partnering with us in this important way. We truly could not have the impact we do without your help!

And if you would like to give to His Little Feet, you can make a one-time donation or set up recurring monthly donations at www.hislittlefeet.org.

Walking With a Purpose

Exercise is a good thing. The Bible says our bodies are a "temple of the Holy Spirit," (1 Corinthians 6:19), and when we take care of it, we honor and glorify the Creator.

But God wants us to exercise our faith, too. As 1 Timothy 4:8 says, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

In other words, walking around your local park is great for your earthly body, but walking in step with the Holy Spirit and God's commands has eternal value. 

His Little Feet invites you to do a little bit of both, as we present the fourth annual Step Up! 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, August 18th at Boardwalk Community Park in Windsor, Colorado. This event, hosted by Ellerslie, will benefit His Little Feet in preparation of the upcoming 2012-2013 international children’s choir tour. 

You can take part by running or walking the beautiful course, with spectacular views of Windsor Lake and the Front Range. And if you live out of state or can't make it to the event, you can sponsor a walker/runner instead. 

It’s easy to get involved! Follow this link to register to run/walk online. Or, if you'd like to sponsor a walker/runner and help us reach our fundraising goal, please contact us at info@hislittlefeet.org. 

During the 2011-2012 "Reaching For You" Tour, His Little Feet Children's Choir performed at over 75 churches nationwide. Through God's provisions, thousands of children around the world were impacted, and our goals are even higher for the coming year!

Beginning this fall, His Little Feet will again be touring nationally, serving as the voice for voiceless children around the world. Praise God for the work He is doing and continues to do. 

Now is your opportunity to partner with His Little Feet and Ellerslie in reaching out to some of the millions of orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide – and have fun while doing it! Go ahead, get a little heart and soul exercise this week along with His Little Feet!

Details: His Little Feet Step Up! 5K Saturday, August 18th, 2012, 9:00 a.m., Boardwalk Community Park at Windsor Lake, 100 North 5th Street Windsor, CO 80550. For more information on the 2011 His Little Feet Step Up! Run/Walk Fundraiser, visit www.hislittlefeet.org, email info@hislittlefeet.org or call 866-252-3988.

Receiving Jesus

Below is an excerpt from Dr. K.P. Yohannan's latest book, "No Longer a Slumdog." Dr. Yohannan is the founder and international director of Gospel for Asia.

"In Mark 9:37 (NKJV), Jesus said "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me." What does His statement mean to us?

Imagine that you have worked all day and are finally sitting down to dinner with your family. Suddenly, you hear a knock on the door. You aren't expecting anyone, so you look through the peephole thinking you will maybe see a salesman or someone who wants to mow your law. Instead, you see the King of the universe. 

You would break down your front door to welcome Him in!

But what if you see a starving child, half-naked, with more holes than cloth in the rags she is wearing? Her hair is unkempt and filled with lice; her face is covered with dirt and sweat. Would you break down your door to welcome her in?

Jesus tells us that anyone who embraces little children, who loves them and who gives them dignity and value in His name is actually doing these same things for Jesus Himself (see Matthew 18:5). But there's more to it than that. Jesus is so happy with anyone who cares for children in His name, that He will come and be with them in a special way. He tell us further in Mark 9:37 that we receive not only the Son, but God the Father also. So there is a special blessing for those who share the heart of the Eternal for His children." ("No Longer a Slumdog," pages 67-68)

To respond to the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide, we encourage you to visit www.hislittlefeet.org to find out how you can "be in on it."

With Outstretched Arms

His Little Feet children's choir spent Father's Day sharing in fellowship with two northern Colorado churches.

During the Sunday morning service at First Assembly of God in Greeley, a young boy approached Christa Hahn - one of the Founders and Directors of His Little Feet. You could tell by the sheepish grin on his face that he had a special surprise awaiting her.

When he reached Christa he held out his hands. Within his palms was a handful of change - quarters, dimes and nickels - which he handed to Christa joyfully.

This donation was a gentle reminder that God uses each of us exactly where we are in order to bring His light and love to a broken world. This little boy happily handed over what was likely the majority (if not all) of the money he owned. And he did so with a joyful heart!

In Luke 21, the Bible tells us of the widow who placed two small, copper coins in an offering at the temple. While the rich members of the church put large gifts in before and after her, Jesus tells his disciples that this woman's gift was greater, because she gave "all she had." (Luke 21:4, NIV)

Jesus doesn't ask for just a little bit of us. He doesn't ask for all of us half of the time. He asks for ALL of us ALL of the time.

And if you feel like you don't have anything of worth to offer, just remember that Jesus used five loaves of bread and two fish to feed 5,000 people (Matthew 14:13-21). Don't be afraid, God will take whatever you give and multiply it exponentially!

One small gift, just like that of the little boy on Sunday, can truly change the life of a child in need. Your support of His Little Feet's work during the 2011-2012 Tour has resulted in thousands of children being impacted in Jesus' name around the world.

Our prayer is that God continues to teach us to give like that young boy on Sunday morning - generously, with outstretched arms and a smile on our faces.

Ice Skating & the Zamboni

After nine months of being here in the States, today the children and staff went ice skating for the first time. They all bundled up with warm clothes, did their best balancing on the skates and skated across the ice as best as they could. The His Little Feet choir happened to be some of the only skaters on the ice, so the rink manager played the His Little Feet CD all throughout the session. It was precious watching the children skate by singing praises to the Lord! 

At the end of the session, many of the children watched the Zamboni resurface the ice. The children were in awe of how clean and fresh the ice became as the Zamboni resurfaced the ice one section at a time. The children asked why the Zamboni was resurfacing the ice. We told them that the ice was being prepared for a hockey practice. The children were so intrigued and thought that was so cool. It is amazing to see how the simple things in life can be so entertaining for children.  

Grand Canyon

Today the His Little Feet team went to the Grand Canyon.  It was a beautiful day full of fun, excitement and awe as the children experienced the views of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim.

As soon as the team pulled into the park, a map was handed to each of them.  The children went right to the animal pictures on the map and they began to talk to one another about if there were going to see mountain lions.

One of the first questions the children had was, “Which is deeper: the Grand Canyon or the Pacific Ocean?” They learned that the Pacific Ocean is deeper than the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon has a depth of 1,800 meters and the Pacific Ocean has a depth of 10,911 meters. They couldn’t believe that the ocean was so deep.

The entire team hiked down the Grand Canyon trail for about an hour. It was an unforgettable hike. Inside the Grand Canyon the children sang out at the top of their lungs, “The heavens declare Your greatness, the oceans cry out to You, the mountains they bow down before You, so I’ll join with the earth and I’ll give my praise to You!”

As Tariku looked out over the Grand Canyon he asked, “God made that?”

Tsion exclaimed “It is so beautiful, but actually no words can even explain it.”

Sea World

Today the His Little Feet team went to Sea World.  The children absolutely loved their time at the park. They saw orca whales, dolphins, birds, sharks and more!

When Shamu jumped up out of the pool for the first time Detcho exclaimed, “Wow, God is amazing!”

All throughout the day, they would turn to the staff and say, “Did God make that too?” Every experience in the park unveiled more and more of God’s creation to the children. This special day will not long be forgotten.  

Everyone soaking wet but happy after the Shamu Show!

Ocean

The His Little Feet choir children have been extremely interested in whales, sharks and dolphins this tour. Up until just this week, the only way for the children to see the beautiful ocean creatures were to read books and watch movies about sea life.  But this week everything changed…the team finally made it to the Pacific Ocean for the children to experience the ocean first hand.

When Mahder stepped onto the beach sand for the first time, she exclaimed, “Delicious!”

When Javier saw the whale spout far off in the distance, he said, “Seeing the whale was the one thing I wanted to see and I see it!” 

When Bereket saw a dolphin swim past, he yelled out “DOLPHIN!! I SEE DOLPHIN!!!”

Tariku explained to his host home that surfing was like roller skating on the water.

Tsion said she that when she touched the water she could feel God’s power in the waves.

The children were not so fond of the seagulls due to the fact that while everyone was playing in the waves, the seagulls swooped down and ate half of the sack lunches the team had brought. Every child wanted to be buried from their shoulders to their toes in the sand.

And, Yohannes wanted to know how many days it would take to swim to China from the California beach.

Great memories at the beach!

Disneyland

Recently the His Little Feet team visited Disneyland. What an incredible day of fun they had!  The children loved Soarin’ Over California, Splash Mountain, Autotopia, visiting the Princesses, the Grizzly River Run and pretty much any ride they went on.  It was a cool, overcast Tuesday at Disneyland. The crowds were small and the lines were short.

At the end of a very fun day, the team went to the show “World of Color.” An hour before the show, the team got to their show-viewing spot and waited in anticipation for the show to begin.

Nahagi, one of the HLF Ethiopian boys, looked over at one of the HLF staff members and said, “Wow! There are a lot of people here for this show. I wish we could have church right now!” The staff member agreed. After the show, as the team was walking back to the bus, Nahagi said, “That was a really good show, but not as good as worshipping God!  Watching a show only lasts for a short time. But I get to worship Jesus forever!!!”

Orphan Summit at Saddleback Church

His Little Feet is a member of the Christian Orphan Alliance. This past week the HLF staff and choir children attended the Orphan Summit sponsored by the Christian Orphan Alliance at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA.

Check out a recent Christian Post article written before the event unfolded.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-crawford-loritts-caring-for-orphans-is-heart-of-god-not-a-fad-74346/

Over the two days that the Summit took place, His Little Feet interacted with people from all over the country that came to the conference, seeking to learn more on how they could help orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.  As the His Little Feet staff spoke with various attendees, one thing became very clear: God is moving in the hearts of His people to step up and be the church, loving and caring for orphans!

His Little Feet connected with a number of churches at the Orphan Summit who will be hosting the His Little Feet International Children’s Choir in 2013 & 2014. To find out more on how to bring the choir to your church, please visit www.hislittlefeet.org and click on “Book the Choir”