The following is written by Mike Hahn, Founder and President of His Little Feet.
In September of 2009 I found myself in Ouanaminthe, Haiti on a cement basketball court with about 30 Haitian boys. Because I stand 6'7" I was told I should probably play on the "little boys" team. The older boys thought that the little boys could use some help.
The "little boys" were victorious. After the game one of the boys said, "Hey, can you teach me to play? I want you to be my coach." I smiled and agreed to his request. But I told him if I was his coach I would want to teach him about Jesus too. He agreed.
This little boy was strong, determined, and talented. He clearly had a passion for the game of basketball. I showed him how to dribble, to pass, and most importantly to shoot. I showed him how to do a "crossover" dribble move. To my surprise he was able to follow each move I showed him. I told him that I thought he was a good basketball player and he had the potential to be great if he practiced.
One year later I found myself on a cement basketball court in Lincoln, Nebraska with this same little boy. His name is Jefferson and he was a His Little Feet Choir member. We were playing on the same basketball court that I grew up playing on. He was even more impressive now than he was last year!
This time, however, I wasn't just teaching him the game of basketball- I was also teaching him about Jesus. I explained that in order to be a good basketball player you have to practice a lot and you have to be disciplined. This means you have to practice dribbling, passing, and shooting even when you don't feel like it.
I told Jefferson that to follow Jesus we have to be disciplined too. We need to pray, study, give, and worship even when we don't feel like it. That same evening I shared a scripture with him:
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11
Jefferson told me he likes discipline. The good news is God used discipline in Jefferson's life to draw him closer to Jesus... and by the way he turned out to be a pretty good basketball player too.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Music to Our Ears
You could almost hear the little footsteps running in the percussion and the voices from children around the world singing in the strings and keys.
Much joy was in the air last week as His Little Feet travelled to Brentwood, Tennessee to record music for the upcoming 2011-2012 His Little Feet Children’s Choir tour.
The recorded music – ten songs in all – will be used at performances by the 2011-2012 Children’s Choir as well as on the His Little Feet album “Reaching for You,” which will be released this fall.
Mike and Christa Hahn (founders and directors of His Little Feet), along with a team of talented producers and musicians, spent close to 50 hours in the studio over the course of the week, selecting and writing music that will be shared with thousands of people nationwide.
His Little Feet recorded eight new songs for the upcoming tour and album, including worship favorites like “Our God is Greater” and “All Over the World,” as well as an original song entitled “I Sing,” written by Christa Hahn about the true meaning of the music.
“Often, when teaching children what it means to worship God through music, I come back to the question of ‘Why are we singing this? And what are we singing about?’ If one is singing a song and doesn’t know the answer to that question then they are singing empty words,” Christa said. “There is a reason for us to sing. From the heart of an orphan, those reasons run deep.”
All of the music for the 2011-2012 Tour will feature unique cultural styles that match the eclectic makeup of the choir and reflect His Little Feet’s belief that God is working through the voices and lives of these children.
“I’m always trying to select songs that get back to God getting all the glory,” Christa said. “God is the same God in the United States as He is in any other country. The beauty of it is when we make our worship about Him we see God’s glory displayed in powerful ways.”
Of course, the Hahns were not alone in the recording process last week, as they partnered with a handful of extremely talented individuals to create a powerful and unique selection of songs.
Steve Dady (sound engineer), Dave Cleveland (guitars), Mark Hill (bass), Steve Brewster (drums/percussion), Jason Webb (keyboard/piano) and Brian Green (keyboard/piano) all contributed to the recording at Sunset Boulevard Studios.
However, Christa said, none of it would have been possible without the biggest Contributor of all.
“There is a lot of complexity in putting music together,” said Christa. “I would take a piece of paper with words to the musicians with the idea I had in mind. As always, the Lord took the song and made it bigger and better. He was present throughout the entire process.”
In 2010-2011, the His Little Feet Children’s Choir (comprised of 15 children from Haiti) performed in over 50 churches across the United States, encouraging hundreds of people to (be in on it) through giving, sponsoring a child, going on a missions trip or considering adoption.
Christa said she trusts that God has powerful plans in store for the upcoming tour, and that the music chosen will help drive an important message home.
“The selection of music is vital to the presentation on stage. The Spirit moves through the presentation and encourages those in the audience to respond,” she said. “We always teach the choir children that they are not singing for the applause of man, but for the applause of God.”
For more information about the 2011-2012 His Little Feet tour, or to inquire about booking the tour, please e-mail Jeff Dillon at jeff@hislittlefeet.org.
Much joy was in the air last week as His Little Feet travelled to Brentwood, Tennessee to record music for the upcoming 2011-2012 His Little Feet Children’s Choir tour.
The recorded music – ten songs in all – will be used at performances by the 2011-2012 Children’s Choir as well as on the His Little Feet album “Reaching for You,” which will be released this fall.
Mike and Christa Hahn (founders and directors of His Little Feet), along with a team of talented producers and musicians, spent close to 50 hours in the studio over the course of the week, selecting and writing music that will be shared with thousands of people nationwide.
His Little Feet recorded eight new songs for the upcoming tour and album, including worship favorites like “Our God is Greater” and “All Over the World,” as well as an original song entitled “I Sing,” written by Christa Hahn about the true meaning of the music.
“Often, when teaching children what it means to worship God through music, I come back to the question of ‘Why are we singing this? And what are we singing about?’ If one is singing a song and doesn’t know the answer to that question then they are singing empty words,” Christa said. “There is a reason for us to sing. From the heart of an orphan, those reasons run deep.”
All of the music for the 2011-2012 Tour will feature unique cultural styles that match the eclectic makeup of the choir and reflect His Little Feet’s belief that God is working through the voices and lives of these children.
“I’m always trying to select songs that get back to God getting all the glory,” Christa said. “God is the same God in the United States as He is in any other country. The beauty of it is when we make our worship about Him we see God’s glory displayed in powerful ways.”
Of course, the Hahns were not alone in the recording process last week, as they partnered with a handful of extremely talented individuals to create a powerful and unique selection of songs.
Steve Dady (sound engineer), Dave Cleveland (guitars), Mark Hill (bass), Steve Brewster (drums/percussion), Jason Webb (keyboard/piano) and Brian Green (keyboard/piano) all contributed to the recording at Sunset Boulevard Studios.
However, Christa said, none of it would have been possible without the biggest Contributor of all.
“There is a lot of complexity in putting music together,” said Christa. “I would take a piece of paper with words to the musicians with the idea I had in mind. As always, the Lord took the song and made it bigger and better. He was present throughout the entire process.”
In 2010-2011, the His Little Feet Children’s Choir (comprised of 15 children from Haiti) performed in over 50 churches across the United States, encouraging hundreds of people to (be in on it) through giving, sponsoring a child, going on a missions trip or considering adoption.
Christa said she trusts that God has powerful plans in store for the upcoming tour, and that the music chosen will help drive an important message home.
“The selection of music is vital to the presentation on stage. The Spirit moves through the presentation and encourages those in the audience to respond,” she said. “We always teach the choir children that they are not singing for the applause of man, but for the applause of God.”
For more information about the 2011-2012 His Little Feet tour, or to inquire about booking the tour, please e-mail Jeff Dillon at jeff@hislittlefeet.org.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Step Up at the Second Annual His Little Feet 5K
Have a passion for helping children in need? Want to get more involved with His Little Feet? Looking for a fun and simple way to make an impact in the life of an orphan?
Here is your chance.
On Friday, August 5th, 2011, His Little Feet will present the second annual Step Up! 5K Run/Walk at Eastman Park in Windsor, Colorado. This event, hosted by Ellerslie, will benefit His Little Feet in preparation for the upcoming 2011-2012 international children’s choir tour.
Anyone and everyone can take part in this exciting event. You can participate by running or walking the beautiful course, with spectacular views of the Front Range. And if you can’t be there on August 5th, you can sponsor another runner or walker.
It’s easy to get involved! You can register to run/walk or sponsor a runner/walker.
Last year, over 100 people participated in the first annual Step Up! Run/Walk, helping to raise over $5,000 for His Little Feet.
His Little Feet performed at over 50 churches on the 2010-2011 children’s choir tour, encouraging over 600 people to sponsor a child, over 50 individuals to go on a mission trip and over 50 families to start the process of adoption.
Beginning this fall, His Little Feet will again be touring nationwide, 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!
We need you to make a difference – STEP UP today!
Details:
His Little Feet Step Up! 5K
Friday, August 5th, 2011
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Eastman Park
7025 Eastman Park Drive
Windsor, CO 80550
For more information on the 2011 His Little Feet Step Up! Run/Walk Fundraiser, email info@hislittlefeet.org or call 866-252-3988.
Here is your chance.
On Friday, August 5th, 2011, His Little Feet will present the second annual Step Up! 5K Run/Walk at Eastman Park in Windsor, Colorado. This event, hosted by Ellerslie, will benefit His Little Feet in preparation for the upcoming 2011-2012 international children’s choir tour.
Anyone and everyone can take part in this exciting event. You can participate by running or walking the beautiful course, with spectacular views of the Front Range. And if you can’t be there on August 5th, you can sponsor another runner or walker.
It’s easy to get involved! You can register to run/walk or sponsor a runner/walker.
Last year, over 100 people participated in the first annual Step Up! Run/Walk, helping to raise over $5,000 for His Little Feet.
His Little Feet performed at over 50 churches on the 2010-2011 children’s choir tour, encouraging over 600 people to sponsor a child, over 50 individuals to go on a mission trip and over 50 families to start the process of adoption.
Beginning this fall, His Little Feet will again be touring nationwide, 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!
We need you to make a difference – STEP UP today!
Details:
His Little Feet Step Up! 5K
Friday, August 5th, 2011
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Eastman Park
7025 Eastman Park Drive
Windsor, CO 80550
For more information on the 2011 His Little Feet Step Up! Run/Walk Fundraiser, email info@hislittlefeet.org or call 866-252-3988.
Monday, July 4, 2011
What does God say about orphans?
All of us have seen commercials, read articles and heard stories emphasizing the dire need of millions of orphaned and vulnerable children around the world. Many of us know some of the staggering statistics by heart:
- There are 143,000,000 orphans in the world today.
- Over 400,000 children are currently in foster care in the United States.
- 5,760 children are orphaned every day due to AIDS in Africa.
- Every 2.2 seconds, an orphan child ages out of his/her orphanage system, facing the streets alone.
- 16,000 children die each day from hunger-related causes worldwide.*
When we hear these mind-boggling numbers, we are all moved to do something to help. The problem is so glaring that we know we can’t simply ignore it. And thankfully, hundreds of organizations and millions of people around the world are indeed doing something about it.
But as Christians, our call to help those in need comes from an even deeper place. Frankly, we shouldn’t respond to those in need just because it’s “the right thing to do,” but because God commands us to.
Did you know there are over 100 verses in the Bible relating to caring for orphans, widows and others in need? Many of these verses are straightforward calls to action for Christians to come to the aid of the orphan.
In His word, God tells us that…
- He is the Father to the fatherless:
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicket he brings to ruin.” – Psalm 146:9
- Caring for orphans is at the heart of religion:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” – James 1:27
- We should fight for the cause of the vulnerable and oppressed:
“Learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s case.” – Isaiah 1:17
- We should uphold justice for the orphan:
“Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.” –Deuteronomy 24:17
- We should speak up for those who are unable to defend themselves:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs 31:8-9
- We should give freely to the vulnerable and weak:
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
- In serving others, we are also serving Christ:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40
Simply put, God cares deeply for the weak and vulnerable – including the orphaned child. And caring for these children is not optional. In fact, it’s at the very root of who Christ is as well as the love God has already shown us.
The Bible tells us that we were once without a father too, enslaved by our sin. But God sent his Son – Jesus Christ – to atone for our sins and make us children of God (Galatians 4:1-7).
Yep, that’s right – as Christians we are adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters. How amazing is that! No wonder God commands us to care for the children we see in need today.
So the next time you hear another haunting statistic about orphaned and vulnerable children in our world, remember that taking action isn’t just a good thing, it’s a God thing.
*Statistics according to US Department of Health and Human Services, The Home for Good Foundation, and Bread For The World.
- There are 143,000,000 orphans in the world today.
- Over 400,000 children are currently in foster care in the United States.
- 5,760 children are orphaned every day due to AIDS in Africa.
- Every 2.2 seconds, an orphan child ages out of his/her orphanage system, facing the streets alone.
- 16,000 children die each day from hunger-related causes worldwide.*
When we hear these mind-boggling numbers, we are all moved to do something to help. The problem is so glaring that we know we can’t simply ignore it. And thankfully, hundreds of organizations and millions of people around the world are indeed doing something about it.
But as Christians, our call to help those in need comes from an even deeper place. Frankly, we shouldn’t respond to those in need just because it’s “the right thing to do,” but because God commands us to.
Did you know there are over 100 verses in the Bible relating to caring for orphans, widows and others in need? Many of these verses are straightforward calls to action for Christians to come to the aid of the orphan.
In His word, God tells us that…
- He is the Father to the fatherless:
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicket he brings to ruin.” – Psalm 146:9
- Caring for orphans is at the heart of religion:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” – James 1:27
- We should fight for the cause of the vulnerable and oppressed:
“Learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s case.” – Isaiah 1:17
- We should uphold justice for the orphan:
“Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.” –Deuteronomy 24:17
- We should speak up for those who are unable to defend themselves:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs 31:8-9
- We should give freely to the vulnerable and weak:
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
- In serving others, we are also serving Christ:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40
Simply put, God cares deeply for the weak and vulnerable – including the orphaned child. And caring for these children is not optional. In fact, it’s at the very root of who Christ is as well as the love God has already shown us.
The Bible tells us that we were once without a father too, enslaved by our sin. But God sent his Son – Jesus Christ – to atone for our sins and make us children of God (Galatians 4:1-7).
Yep, that’s right – as Christians we are adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters. How amazing is that! No wonder God commands us to care for the children we see in need today.
So the next time you hear another haunting statistic about orphaned and vulnerable children in our world, remember that taking action isn’t just a good thing, it’s a God thing.
*Statistics according to US Department of Health and Human Services, The Home for Good Foundation, and Bread For The World.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Urgency
Our culture today labels many things as being “urgent.”
Commercials tell us we must “act now” or we’ll miss out on the amazing offer. At work we are told to get something done “ASAP.” Even our food is urgent – if we can’t get through the drive-through lane in less than five minutes, we’re appalled.
But when we hear about the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children around the world, do we feel the same sense of urgency? We might be concerned, but are we moved to do something about it right now?
Sometimes it’s easy to assume that acting now - versus a week from now - won’t make much of a difference in correcting such a huge problem. With over 143 million orphans in the world, the problem is still going to be there next week…next month…next year…right?
But that’s not the Godly perspective. As Compassion International CEO Dr. Wess Stafford tells in his book, Too Small to Ignore: Why the Least of These Matters Most, the number of children in need in our world is worthy of immediate attention.
“Statistics…can overwhelm us. We become paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of the problem…But do you remember the shock and heartache you felt when you watched the World Trade Center towers crumble to the streets of New York, taking nearly three thousand innocent lives with them?
Now imagine with me for a moment. What if a catastrophe of equal devastation had happened at noon, just three hours later, at the Sears Tower in Chicago… then Denver… then Los Angeles… then Honolulu… Tokyo… Bangkok… Calcutta… Moscow… finally London – the world would have shuddered to a grinding halt, never to be the same again.
Well, something similar did happen on a worldwide scale that tragic day. Thirty thousand of our little innocents under age five were taken from us. Sadly, this level of loss also happened on September 10 and September 12 and every single day since. The microphones, cameras and satellite dishes don’t bring this shocking reality into our living rooms as they did on 9/11. But it happens nonetheless.” (pages 3-4)
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us that we are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and care for the sick. He also tells us that “whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
In other words, God wants us to act. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Right now.
And here’s the good news: there are dozens of ways you can help those in need – and you can start today! His Little Feet encourages you to (be in on it) by GIVING, SPONSORING, GOING or ADOPTING. You can find out more about these and other opportunities at www.hislittlefeet.org.
Don’t wait until later to answer God’s call to care for the broken, sick and hungry. There are millions of children in need of help today - now is the time for us to respond with urgency.
Commercials tell us we must “act now” or we’ll miss out on the amazing offer. At work we are told to get something done “ASAP.” Even our food is urgent – if we can’t get through the drive-through lane in less than five minutes, we’re appalled.
But when we hear about the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children around the world, do we feel the same sense of urgency? We might be concerned, but are we moved to do something about it right now?
Sometimes it’s easy to assume that acting now - versus a week from now - won’t make much of a difference in correcting such a huge problem. With over 143 million orphans in the world, the problem is still going to be there next week…next month…next year…right?
But that’s not the Godly perspective. As Compassion International CEO Dr. Wess Stafford tells in his book, Too Small to Ignore: Why the Least of These Matters Most, the number of children in need in our world is worthy of immediate attention.
“Statistics…can overwhelm us. We become paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of the problem…But do you remember the shock and heartache you felt when you watched the World Trade Center towers crumble to the streets of New York, taking nearly three thousand innocent lives with them?
Now imagine with me for a moment. What if a catastrophe of equal devastation had happened at noon, just three hours later, at the Sears Tower in Chicago… then Denver… then Los Angeles… then Honolulu… Tokyo… Bangkok… Calcutta… Moscow… finally London – the world would have shuddered to a grinding halt, never to be the same again.
Well, something similar did happen on a worldwide scale that tragic day. Thirty thousand of our little innocents under age five were taken from us. Sadly, this level of loss also happened on September 10 and September 12 and every single day since. The microphones, cameras and satellite dishes don’t bring this shocking reality into our living rooms as they did on 9/11. But it happens nonetheless.” (pages 3-4)
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us that we are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and care for the sick. He also tells us that “whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
In other words, God wants us to act. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Right now.
And here’s the good news: there are dozens of ways you can help those in need – and you can start today! His Little Feet encourages you to (be in on it) by GIVING, SPONSORING, GOING or ADOPTING. You can find out more about these and other opportunities at www.hislittlefeet.org.
Don’t wait until later to answer God’s call to care for the broken, sick and hungry. There are millions of children in need of help today - now is the time for us to respond with urgency.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Haiti
The entire His Little Feet staff had the privilege of traveling to Haiti about two weeks ago with the choir children as they returned home from their tour of the United States. It was a memorable time for all. One of our staff members, Brooke, reflects on the experience and the closing moments of the first His Little Feet choir.
What an honor it was to be able to bring the children home to Haiti- to see the place they call home and to meet all the people they hold dear. Hope for Haiti Children’s Center is just that- as soon as you walk through the gate, you see hope. This place the children call home is a haven, a place where the Lord is working in the midst of hopelessness.
It was such a blessing to see the excitement of the children as we eagerly awaited the vans to pull into the compound. We rejoiced in the gasps of joy and excitement as all 15 children piled as quickly as possible out of the vans to greet everyone they hadn’t seen in almost 7 months. It was without a doubt a joyous reunion! Tears, hugs, and stories abounded!
The children had their last His Little Feet performance on their home soil in Haiti. As they sang the song “Blessed Be Your Name” the lyrics, “You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name,” rang in my ears. Oh, what a privilege He has given to each of us- traveling with all 15 of these children. And as, in a sense, He has taken them away from us, I know my heart and many others touched by these precious ones will forever more choose to say, “Lord, blessed be Your name.”
After 6 days in Haiti quickly passed, the time came to say our goodbyes. It was a special time- everyone knowing what was looming before us. Right before it was time for us to leave, each of the Aunties and Uncles tried to express with words how dear the children were and how honored we had been that the Lord chose to place each of them in our lives. Also, we shared how incredibly proud we were of them as well as sharing words of encouragement and wisdom as the Lord led. It was a bittersweet time- a time I shall not forget, a time overflowing with His blessings and His faithfulness.
Thank You Jesus!
Serving Him with you,
Auntie Brooke
What an honor it was to be able to bring the children home to Haiti- to see the place they call home and to meet all the people they hold dear. Hope for Haiti Children’s Center is just that- as soon as you walk through the gate, you see hope. This place the children call home is a haven, a place where the Lord is working in the midst of hopelessness.
It was such a blessing to see the excitement of the children as we eagerly awaited the vans to pull into the compound. We rejoiced in the gasps of joy and excitement as all 15 children piled as quickly as possible out of the vans to greet everyone they hadn’t seen in almost 7 months. It was without a doubt a joyous reunion! Tears, hugs, and stories abounded!
The children had their last His Little Feet performance on their home soil in Haiti. As they sang the song “Blessed Be Your Name” the lyrics, “You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name,” rang in my ears. Oh, what a privilege He has given to each of us- traveling with all 15 of these children. And as, in a sense, He has taken them away from us, I know my heart and many others touched by these precious ones will forever more choose to say, “Lord, blessed be Your name.”
After 6 days in Haiti quickly passed, the time came to say our goodbyes. It was a special time- everyone knowing what was looming before us. Right before it was time for us to leave, each of the Aunties and Uncles tried to express with words how dear the children were and how honored we had been that the Lord chose to place each of them in our lives. Also, we shared how incredibly proud we were of them as well as sharing words of encouragement and wisdom as the Lord led. It was a bittersweet time- a time I shall not forget, a time overflowing with His blessings and His faithfulness.
Thank You Jesus!
Serving Him with you,
Auntie Brooke
Monday, June 6, 2011
A Celebration
It wasn’t that long ago when it looked like the 2010-2011 His Little Feet tour wouldn’t even happen.
Mike and Christa had spent weeks in Haiti trying to secure the temporary release of the 15 children. There were countless obstacles in the way, and every twist and turn seemed to present a new reason why the tour simply might not be possible.
But we all kept praying, as did the children. And we all continued to trust that God was in control and would orchestrate things for good.
Well, God was true to His promise. In mid-November of 2010, the 15 precious children from Haiti arrived to Colorado. Since that day, these children have experienced, learned and taught us more than we could fit in a dozen blog posts. But a quick list would include:
- Performing in over 50 churches across the country
- Completing the His Little Feet discipleship program
- Diligently studying in English and French
- Attending Art Camp and Sports Camp
- Graduating from the His Little Feet Life Training Academy
- And, most importantly, growing in their faith and walk with the Lord
On Thursday, May 26, the His Little Feet team celebrated the conclusion of an amazing, blessing-filled year at the first annual End of Year Banquet.
During this heart-warming evening, Mike and Christa, as well as all of the on-the-road staff members (Aaron, Brooke, Carrie, James, Jennifer and Rachel) shared some of the incredible (and hilarious) moments they experienced on tour. The team thanked the countless people who volunteered their time to make the tour a success.
Members from sister organizations, including Compassion International and America World Adoption, were in attendance as well, marking a powerful year in partnership that resulted in over 500 children being sponsored, 50 families pursuing adoption and over 50 individuals going on an overseas missions trip. Praise God!
But, as usual, the stars of the show were the 15 children from the His Little Feet Children’s Choir. Each table had the pleasure of interacting with one of the children, who told of their favorite experiences from their time in the U.S.
And before the night was through, Pastor Eric Ludy commissioned the children, praying that God would continue to work in their lives and use each of them to further His name in their home country and around the world.
What a phenomenal celebration to end a year that started with so many challenges! God truly does use difficult times to show us how faithful and good He is.
Last week, the 15 children returned home to Haiti with much celebration (and a few tears). But we know that this is not goodbye, and we look forward to seeing how God uses each of their unique personalities and talents to impact the world.
To all of you who prayed for, supported, hosted and encouraged us this past year, we sincerely thank you.
And to Moise, Loudrige, Likendley, Nephthalie, Ederson, Falencia, Johnson, Djoulie, Cassandra, Francia, Jefferson, Daphney, Kesnel, Esterline and Dianelie – the amazing kids of His Little Feet – thank you and we love you. We will never forget you or the work God has accomplished through you.
You have reminded us that, when we trust in Him with all our hearts, He will make our footsteps firm – no matter how “little” those footsteps might be.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
– Isaiah 52:7
Mike and Christa had spent weeks in Haiti trying to secure the temporary release of the 15 children. There were countless obstacles in the way, and every twist and turn seemed to present a new reason why the tour simply might not be possible.
But we all kept praying, as did the children. And we all continued to trust that God was in control and would orchestrate things for good.
Well, God was true to His promise. In mid-November of 2010, the 15 precious children from Haiti arrived to Colorado. Since that day, these children have experienced, learned and taught us more than we could fit in a dozen blog posts. But a quick list would include:
- Performing in over 50 churches across the country
- Completing the His Little Feet discipleship program
- Diligently studying in English and French
- Attending Art Camp and Sports Camp
- Graduating from the His Little Feet Life Training Academy
- And, most importantly, growing in their faith and walk with the Lord
On Thursday, May 26, the His Little Feet team celebrated the conclusion of an amazing, blessing-filled year at the first annual End of Year Banquet.
During this heart-warming evening, Mike and Christa, as well as all of the on-the-road staff members (Aaron, Brooke, Carrie, James, Jennifer and Rachel) shared some of the incredible (and hilarious) moments they experienced on tour. The team thanked the countless people who volunteered their time to make the tour a success.
Members from sister organizations, including Compassion International and America World Adoption, were in attendance as well, marking a powerful year in partnership that resulted in over 500 children being sponsored, 50 families pursuing adoption and over 50 individuals going on an overseas missions trip. Praise God!
But, as usual, the stars of the show were the 15 children from the His Little Feet Children’s Choir. Each table had the pleasure of interacting with one of the children, who told of their favorite experiences from their time in the U.S.
And before the night was through, Pastor Eric Ludy commissioned the children, praying that God would continue to work in their lives and use each of them to further His name in their home country and around the world.
What a phenomenal celebration to end a year that started with so many challenges! God truly does use difficult times to show us how faithful and good He is.
Last week, the 15 children returned home to Haiti with much celebration (and a few tears). But we know that this is not goodbye, and we look forward to seeing how God uses each of their unique personalities and talents to impact the world.
To all of you who prayed for, supported, hosted and encouraged us this past year, we sincerely thank you.
And to Moise, Loudrige, Likendley, Nephthalie, Ederson, Falencia, Johnson, Djoulie, Cassandra, Francia, Jefferson, Daphney, Kesnel, Esterline and Dianelie – the amazing kids of His Little Feet – thank you and we love you. We will never forget you or the work God has accomplished through you.
You have reminded us that, when we trust in Him with all our hearts, He will make our footsteps firm – no matter how “little” those footsteps might be.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
– Isaiah 52:7
Monday, May 23, 2011
Blessed Be Your Name
Uncle Aaron is one of the wonderful student interns we had this year with His Little Feet. Aaron worked as our main sound technician, loaded and unloaded our equipment, cared for the boys in host homes, and served in any other way that was asked of him. Our desire is for the Lord to speak to you through what Aaron shares below about a meaningful time in our tour.
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord...Blessed be Your Name”
This song brings to remembrance many experiences in the last year of my life, but two of the most significant moments have been while on tour with these 15 incredible children.
The first time I heard the children worshiping, apart from concert time and time spent in the Church at Ellerslie, was early in the tour back on campus at Ellerslie. I walked into the two-story dorm the kids call home here in the US and I immediately heard a sweet and powerful sound coming from what we call the “book nook” upstairs: children singing at the top of their lungs. At first, I didn't know why they were singing, or even what they were singing in Creole, but after a few minutes of listening I heard a song in English that I recognized... “Blessed Be Your Name”.
Now, I've heard this song hundreds of times in many different situations, but to me this time was completely different from any other instance. This time the singing was coupled with tears from 15 young Haitian hearts crying out to the God who rescued them from tough times in their past and has now given them the opportunity to be a voice for millions across the world. Curiosity led me up the stairs in the dorm to witness this moving time of worship firsthand. I found that the worship time was officially led by Francia (one of our incredible chaperones from Haiti) but was also contributed to by all, even our youngest little boy, Johnson. I looked around the book nook at these 15 kids all singing at the top of their lungs- some with tears streaming down their cheeks and some with their faces on the ground in reverence and passionate love to our Jesus. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. It was then that the song “Blessed Be Your Name” took on a deeper, more personal meaning for me.
As I listened to the words they sang I was moved beyond words. To hear these children (many of whom have lost very dear loved ones at a very young age) singing: “...You give and take away...my heart will choose to say...Lord, blessed be your name...” rocked me to tears. It was truly a life-changing moment for me...and those moments just kept on coming!
Another moment that really sticks out to me on tour is when we were in South Carolina in late March and we received the news that one of the Mamis who these kids have known and grown up with at the children's home in Haiti had suddenly passed away. We had decided to tell the kids after a Saturday evening concert, right before one of our most hectic Sundays on tour- the Sunday when Mike and Christa were flying out to Ethiopia to select the kids for next year's choir.
As you could imagine, the kids were incredibly heartbroken to hear the news of their dear Mami and friend passing away and that night was filled with many tears and memories. The next day we had 3 morning concerts at one location and one evening concert at another church. I don't think any of us as staff knew what to expect from the kids. Would they be able to smile and be joyful on stage? Or would they break down at every thought of this dear one they missed so much? Would they be comforted by the thought of their Mami basking in the glory of our great Lord? All we could do was be there for the kids and pray that Jesus would receive glory for all that was to come of this.
We continued with the concerts and the kids did quite well with the morning performances. The Lord had sure performed a great work! But what impacted me most from that Sunday was the evening concert. The day was long and tiring and was wearing on us all and with Mike and Christa gone, the responsibilities had been doubled for many of us. But oh, our God's grace is so sufficient and his love is so good!
That night I watched as the Holy Spirit came upon the kids in power at that small church in South Carolina. I watched as their faces were illuminated by the love of our Great King. I stood back in tears and in awe when the kids all started that powerful song once more: “Blessed be the name of the Lord...you give and take away...my heart will choose to say...Lord, blessed be your name!” Oh what unexplainable joy and emotion filled the room when those words rang out! It seemed as if all of the children had just touched the hem of Jesus' garment and had been relieved from the pain and aching they were experiencing and were filled with the life-changing joy of knowing that Jesus had saved them from a lifetime of hurt and confusion. I was struck speechless, as were nearly all in the room as we watched the glory of the Lord descend upon the faces of 15 children worshiping their Savior.
After the concert nearly every person there came up to me and said that they had never seen such a powerful presentation and display of Christ's heart for his children, and all I could say was: “Neither had I!” The Lord had proven himself faithful and true once again, even in the hardest of circumstances! As I began to tear down the set, James walked back into the room having come from greeting many of those who had witnessed the concert, and we both just stared at each other with tears in our eyes-speechless after having experiencing what took place that night. The only words we could say were “Oh Jesus! You are so good!”
How can we keep from blessing your name, oh Jesus?
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name!
- Matt Redman
Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!
-Psalm 72:19
...The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
-Job 1:21b
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 18:3
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord...Blessed be Your Name”
This song brings to remembrance many experiences in the last year of my life, but two of the most significant moments have been while on tour with these 15 incredible children.
The first time I heard the children worshiping, apart from concert time and time spent in the Church at Ellerslie, was early in the tour back on campus at Ellerslie. I walked into the two-story dorm the kids call home here in the US and I immediately heard a sweet and powerful sound coming from what we call the “book nook” upstairs: children singing at the top of their lungs. At first, I didn't know why they were singing, or even what they were singing in Creole, but after a few minutes of listening I heard a song in English that I recognized... “Blessed Be Your Name”.
Now, I've heard this song hundreds of times in many different situations, but to me this time was completely different from any other instance. This time the singing was coupled with tears from 15 young Haitian hearts crying out to the God who rescued them from tough times in their past and has now given them the opportunity to be a voice for millions across the world. Curiosity led me up the stairs in the dorm to witness this moving time of worship firsthand. I found that the worship time was officially led by Francia (one of our incredible chaperones from Haiti) but was also contributed to by all, even our youngest little boy, Johnson. I looked around the book nook at these 15 kids all singing at the top of their lungs- some with tears streaming down their cheeks and some with their faces on the ground in reverence and passionate love to our Jesus. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. It was then that the song “Blessed Be Your Name” took on a deeper, more personal meaning for me.
As I listened to the words they sang I was moved beyond words. To hear these children (many of whom have lost very dear loved ones at a very young age) singing: “...You give and take away...my heart will choose to say...Lord, blessed be your name...” rocked me to tears. It was truly a life-changing moment for me...and those moments just kept on coming!
Another moment that really sticks out to me on tour is when we were in South Carolina in late March and we received the news that one of the Mamis who these kids have known and grown up with at the children's home in Haiti had suddenly passed away. We had decided to tell the kids after a Saturday evening concert, right before one of our most hectic Sundays on tour- the Sunday when Mike and Christa were flying out to Ethiopia to select the kids for next year's choir.
As you could imagine, the kids were incredibly heartbroken to hear the news of their dear Mami and friend passing away and that night was filled with many tears and memories. The next day we had 3 morning concerts at one location and one evening concert at another church. I don't think any of us as staff knew what to expect from the kids. Would they be able to smile and be joyful on stage? Or would they break down at every thought of this dear one they missed so much? Would they be comforted by the thought of their Mami basking in the glory of our great Lord? All we could do was be there for the kids and pray that Jesus would receive glory for all that was to come of this.
We continued with the concerts and the kids did quite well with the morning performances. The Lord had sure performed a great work! But what impacted me most from that Sunday was the evening concert. The day was long and tiring and was wearing on us all and with Mike and Christa gone, the responsibilities had been doubled for many of us. But oh, our God's grace is so sufficient and his love is so good!
That night I watched as the Holy Spirit came upon the kids in power at that small church in South Carolina. I watched as their faces were illuminated by the love of our Great King. I stood back in tears and in awe when the kids all started that powerful song once more: “Blessed be the name of the Lord...you give and take away...my heart will choose to say...Lord, blessed be your name!” Oh what unexplainable joy and emotion filled the room when those words rang out! It seemed as if all of the children had just touched the hem of Jesus' garment and had been relieved from the pain and aching they were experiencing and were filled with the life-changing joy of knowing that Jesus had saved them from a lifetime of hurt and confusion. I was struck speechless, as were nearly all in the room as we watched the glory of the Lord descend upon the faces of 15 children worshiping their Savior.
After the concert nearly every person there came up to me and said that they had never seen such a powerful presentation and display of Christ's heart for his children, and all I could say was: “Neither had I!” The Lord had proven himself faithful and true once again, even in the hardest of circumstances! As I began to tear down the set, James walked back into the room having come from greeting many of those who had witnessed the concert, and we both just stared at each other with tears in our eyes-speechless after having experiencing what took place that night. The only words we could say were “Oh Jesus! You are so good!”
How can we keep from blessing your name, oh Jesus?
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name!
- Matt Redman
Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!
-Psalm 72:19
...The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
-Job 1:21b
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 18:3
Monday, May 16, 2011
What God Taught Me
As the 2010-2011 tour draws to a close, it is amazing to see the work God has done in and through the lives of the 15 children who are a part of the His Little Feet children’s choir.
Today, we asked the His Little Feet children to summarize what God has been teaching them this past year, and how they have grown spiritually because of it. Here are some of their responses…
Cassandra, 13 - God is teaching me how to be nice to people.
Moise, 10 - I’m learning to know Jesus.
Nephthalie, 10 - God is making my heart thankful for His sacrifice for us.
Esterline, 12 - I have learned from God how to love my enemies.
Johnson, 7 – I have learned what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.
Falencia, 10 - God is teaching me about respect.
Dianelie, 7 - God is teaching me how to listen and obey. I am also learning about being a Christian and not fighting with my friends.
Daphney, 14 - God is helping me to be patient.
Djoulie, 8 - I’m learning how to become a Christian.
Praise God for the many works he is doing in these children’s lives! May we all continue to seek after Him and learn to be more like Christ – no matter how old we are!
Please remember to keep these children in your prayers as they return home to Haiti very soon. Pray that God will continue to develop their faith and trust in Him, and that they will be used to bring glory to His name throughout their lives.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes Me.” – Matthew 18: 1-2
Today, we asked the His Little Feet children to summarize what God has been teaching them this past year, and how they have grown spiritually because of it. Here are some of their responses…
Cassandra, 13 - God is teaching me how to be nice to people.
Moise, 10 - I’m learning to know Jesus.
Nephthalie, 10 - God is making my heart thankful for His sacrifice for us.
Esterline, 12 - I have learned from God how to love my enemies.
Johnson, 7 – I have learned what it means to believe in Jesus Christ.
Falencia, 10 - God is teaching me about respect.
Dianelie, 7 - God is teaching me how to listen and obey. I am also learning about being a Christian and not fighting with my friends.
Daphney, 14 - God is helping me to be patient.
Djoulie, 8 - I’m learning how to become a Christian.
Praise God for the many works he is doing in these children’s lives! May we all continue to seek after Him and learn to be more like Christ – no matter how old we are!
Please remember to keep these children in your prayers as they return home to Haiti very soon. Pray that God will continue to develop their faith and trust in Him, and that they will be used to bring glory to His name throughout their lives.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes Me.” – Matthew 18: 1-2
Monday, May 9, 2011
From Auntie Rachel
Auntie Rachel is another one of the wonderful traveling staff for His Little Feet. In this entry she shares about one of the team’s fondest memories of the 2010-2011 tour.
A Day at the Hahns’
As the sun shines brightly and the warm breeze blows, it feels like summer has finally arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska. The whole team loves coming to stay with Uncle Dick and Auntie Jane, Uncle Mikey’s parents. It is a time of rest even though we have several concerts in the area over the weekend. Auntie Jane’s hospitable heart quickly makes everyone as comfortable as if they were in their own home.
On a typical afternoon, the girls are most likely in the basement braiding each other’s hair while the boys are lined up on the basketball court engaged in a lively game of Knockout. But there is a special activity that everyone is looking forward to today. After lunch, Auntie Jane is giving bread-baking lessons to the girls and revealing some of her time-tested secrets for banana bread, which is a favorite with all.
The boys also had a special time with Uncle Dick recently. He is a collector of watches, and the boys enjoyed an outing with him to Target where they each were able to pick out a new watch.
The most memorable moments at Uncle Dick and Auntie Jane’s home are the sweet, one-on-one times with the children that we as a staff begin to cherish more and more as the end approaches. As I am finishing up writing this blog entry, 10-year-old Falencia came to sit next to me and with her sweet smile asks me to wish everyone a “Happy Mother’s Day!”
“But let all those that put their trust in you rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them; let them also that love your name be joyful in you.”
Psalm 5:11
A Day at the Hahns’
As the sun shines brightly and the warm breeze blows, it feels like summer has finally arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska. The whole team loves coming to stay with Uncle Dick and Auntie Jane, Uncle Mikey’s parents. It is a time of rest even though we have several concerts in the area over the weekend. Auntie Jane’s hospitable heart quickly makes everyone as comfortable as if they were in their own home.
On a typical afternoon, the girls are most likely in the basement braiding each other’s hair while the boys are lined up on the basketball court engaged in a lively game of Knockout. But there is a special activity that everyone is looking forward to today. After lunch, Auntie Jane is giving bread-baking lessons to the girls and revealing some of her time-tested secrets for banana bread, which is a favorite with all.
The boys also had a special time with Uncle Dick recently. He is a collector of watches, and the boys enjoyed an outing with him to Target where they each were able to pick out a new watch.
The most memorable moments at Uncle Dick and Auntie Jane’s home are the sweet, one-on-one times with the children that we as a staff begin to cherish more and more as the end approaches. As I am finishing up writing this blog entry, 10-year-old Falencia came to sit next to me and with her sweet smile asks me to wish everyone a “Happy Mother’s Day!”
“But let all those that put their trust in you rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them; let them also that love your name be joyful in you.”
Psalm 5:11
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