January already!

Welcome 2007! Can I still say that at the end of January? This year is already off to a crazy start. So much LIFE stuff is happening. The reality of getting married has hit me. The fact that Evangeline, Gabe and Rach leave for South Africa on Feb 5th thrills us. The truth that we survived our first year as an organization and are prevailing and thriving as we begin 2007 is living testimony that God is faithful. We are expectant for big things this year.


Christmas Party Fundraiser Review-
The Christmas Party Fundraiser was hosted at bLEND Café here in Chicago where we had a great turn out. The event was all that we envisioned it to be and more. Over $4,000 was raised! Some for our 501(c)(3), some to go to the much needed funding for ground work in Africa and some for the piggy bank. It was great to go out on a limb and get creative by doing a date auction, silent auction, live art and live music, but it was also important to us, to challenge people regarding God’s heart for the poor and help move them along the road to becoming advocates for this vision by extending our network. The greatest part of the evening was to look around and see our peers who have supported us throughout the whole first year, participating and pulling the whole thing together. Huge thanks go out to all y'all who made this event so successful. To the musicians, artists, bLEND, donors and dates for making our first Christmas Party Fundraiser such a bash.
The event was covered by a journalist and our friends from The Umbrella Mag – to read their write up click here. To see our pics from the evening visit the photo gallery on the main AR site. Photo Gallery


Feb 5th- Evangeline, Gabe & Rach leave for South Africa
As we see our vision move along it takes us to that scary next step where folks actually get on an airplane and end up in Africa. That’s kinda the idea right? Right!...but a lot goes into this…especially if you’re going for half a year! Quitting jobs, moving states, visa work, raising funds etc! Evangeline will be identifying our next steps on the ground as far as Orphan Care goes. Rach will be assisting her as well as helping us figure out the practicalities of implementing our internships on the ground. Gabe, the mad professor genius will be involved in further developing the computer training programs in several of the churches.

If you are interested in hearing from them while in SA, visit their blogs Dagani.Org & Dreaming For Africa and if you are interested in supporting them and their efforts… I know they would really appreciate it, please do so.

Evangeline and her friends. (they are counting the days till she gets back to see them.)

Church Orphan Home Plans are HERE!!!
From the AR vision and mission statement you can see that a huge focus of our vision is to Care for Orphans & Widows (Building Church Orphan Homes that provide 24/7 care in a loving family environment.) This orphan care effort will be focused in one centralized local church facility center per community. Months ago we drew up rough plans that encompassed all the necessary ingredients to fulfill the visions of the churches we serve in Africa. The first drafts of those plans for the building have come through from our volunteer architect in London. Clive is super gifted and draws in the Metric system…bonus. Clive has donated 100% of his time and skill into this mammoth task. Thanks Clive, we love you buddy!
We will build a multi functioning church center. The ground floor will be a church & community hall. The top floor will be the orphan home, providing innovative care to a capacity of 48 orphans and 10 caregivers; a good ratio & size to maintain healthy dynamics. Many caregivers will be widows and grandmothers who will live with the orphans. It has proved successful to place an orphan in the care of someone who knows their pain because they too have experienced loss. Attendees of the church form an extended pseudo family. The home has a family atmosphere of love, compassion and hope for a future; and so childhoods are restored.

The side of the building will be skills development rooms where interns will train people in computers, HIV/AIDS care and awareness, small business practice, tutoring, nutrition etc. Interns and community members will go out together and address needs in the community. This unique center will be a hub of holistic healing for the community. If any of you know of a church interested in partnering with an African church in an impoverished community, this might be what they are looking for. Let’s network, let's talk.
(For those of you who like the details...click here to see the drafts! Floor plans 1. 2. 3. )

Clive and I in London in Oct 06, going over plans and ideas.

Well, I’ve gone on longer than I planned. Continue to pray for us, support us and feel free to ask any questions you want. Thank you for supporting this revolution of holistic redemtion.
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Allan G

Last Words...

"Someone has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us."
-Jerry Garcia