We Love.
We Play.
We Minister.
Beauty in the Broken
September 28, 2011 • Nikole Lim
We are often bombarded with stories of war, famine, disease, and poverty that we become desensitized. We walk past these issues of brokenness, favoring ignorance over compassion.
We often think, If I stop, what will happen to me? But if we do not stop, we fail to realize the empowering, restorative, and transformational stories of others around us.
A single image can say so much about an individual. I’ve been a witness to uncounted images that portray the third world as a place of despair. Rather than expounding on uplifting stories of humanity, images have been used to capitalize on individuals, families, and cultures. Worth has been shattered and dignity broken.
My goal as a humanitarian photographer and filmmaker is to not exploit but to leverage stories that empower, restore, and transform. I strongly believe that storytelling through imagery must disseminate truth with dignity.
A couple years ago, I produced a documentary film and ...
Raising Up Godly Girls
October 3, 2011 • Laurel Bunker
It was the end of a long day and I was relieved to be home. Running through the door, I dropped my purse and keys in the chair, kissed my husband warmly, kicked off my shoes, threw off my cardigan and headed for my overstuffed chocolate colored couch which I affectionately call, “The Dove Bar”. Then up from the lower level of our home like to little Labradors came bounding my daughters, Naomi and Camile. “Mommy’s home!” they cried and jumped on top of me, making one hilarious and heavy hog pile! “Come on mom, get up! Come watch us play the Wii! I’m hungry mom, when will dinner be ready? Mom, I need you to do my hair, my braid came out. Can we go outside and wash the car?” Rest time was clearly over!
I love my daughter’s enthusiasm and zest for life –on most days! It reminds me ...
Mentoring through Media, Movies, and Modern Art
September 28, 2011 • Karina Veas
In North America, the bleak truth is that there are youth who are simply not acknowledged or heard—really heard and validated for their thoughts, insights, and understanding. God puts dreams and visions inside children, yet they often grow up and forget those very dreams. This often happens because when that little boy or girl tried to articulate them, they were automatically dismissed. Ministering to youth takes patience, time, and the ability to listen. Truly listen, so that you will be able to make deep connections.
It is Saturday morning, and I am off to pick up two of the students I work with for some quality one-on-one time at my house. At eight a.m. I arrive at Daisy’s house to pick her up, and she is excited and bolts out of the one-bedroom house she shares with her many siblings, mother, and grandparents. I leave my cell phone number with her ...