Samuel

Samuel died this morning. Our hearts ache for the Apinis'. Please pray for Bryan, Kathryn, Caleb and Joel.

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is on POVERTY.

• Children under age 18 make up 49% of the population of the world's least developed countries, compared with 21% of the population of the world's industrialized nations.
• More than 2 billion people lack access to electricity and modern forms of energy.
• More than 1 billion (one in five) live on less than $1 a day.
• Every day, 1,600 women and more than 10,000 newborns globally die due to complications that could have been prevented.
• The annual world economy breaks down like this: 37% Low Income ($825 or less), 38% Lower Middle Income ($826 to $3,255), 9% Upper Middle Income ($3,256 to $10,065) and 16% High Income ($10,066 or more).
• Approximately 143 million children in the developing world (one in 13) are orphans.
• More than 10 million children under 5 die each year. Two-thirds of these deaths -- more than 6 million deaths every year -- are preventable.
• Approximately 41% of the world's poor people live in India.

What stands out most to me is the fact that more than 6 million children under 5 die each year from preventable causes.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.

Me & The Little (Old) Man

Here are a few pictures of me and the little man from this weekend. Doesn't he look so cute in his polo and fisherman hat? My favorite is the Grumpy Old Men look over Mimi's shoulder!

Hopefully the hair comes in soon!

You Alone Can Rescue

Matt Redman's latest project, We Shall Not Be Shaken, was released on iTunes today. The lyrics from my favorite track nearly brought tears to my eyes as I read Samuel's update this morning.

Who, O Lord can save themselves
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still

You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to to find us, led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise

You, O Lord, have made a way
The great divide You healed
For when our hearts were far away
Your love went further still
Yes, Your love goes further still

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes,
You're the giver of life
[Repeat]

Samuel

Please continue to pray for Samuel. Bryan and Kathryn were informed on Sunday that Samuel is in critical condition and anything could happen at any time. Our hearts ache for them as they continue down this road on which God has them. Their testimony of faith is amazing and has challenged me in so many ways.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19)

All Over the World

Last week was the launch of North Point Online. According to the website, 4,000 were live while another 3,000+ tried to connect. While we only stuck around for the worship led by Steve Fee, we were very impressed. It was moment to remember as we worshiped with Maddie sitting in Em's lap and Micah in my arms -- AND thousands all over the world.

Tune in this Sunday for Part 2 of Andy Stanley's Losing Your Religion.

Quick Facts Friday

This week, the quick facts focus is on HIV/AIDS.

• Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 67% of the total world HIV-positive population.
• Of the estimated 2 million children under 15 living with HIV, nearly 90% live in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Of the estimated 2.7 million people newly infected with HIV in 2007, some 370,000 were children under 15.
• In 2007, an estimated 2 million people died of AIDS-related causes. Approximately 290,000 of these were children under 15.
• Currently, less than 10% of HIV-positive children in need of treatment are being treated.
• About 45% of new infections occur among young people ages 15 to 24.
• Approximately 15 million children under age 18 have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Of these, nearly 12 million live in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Each day, about 1,000 children worldwide become infected with HIV, the vast majority of them newborns.
• To date about 65 million people have been infected with HIV, and AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981.
• About 1.5 million women comprise nearly half the total number of people living with HIV, and 77% (12 million) of women with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region in the world. Two-thirds of all people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa; in 2007, 22 million people there were living with HIV.
• In 2007, 33 million people were living with HIV. About 8% of those 33 million people living with HIV were from new infections -- and one-fifth of that 8% were children.
• Although about 33% of HIV-positive pregnant women receive drug therapies to prevent the transmission of HIV to their infants, only 11% of HIV-positive women in sub-Saharan who need antiretrovirals had access.
• More than 6,800 new HIV infections occur daily worldwide, and more than 5,700 people die of AIDS.
• Approximately 5.5 million young people, ages 15 to 24, are living with HIV.

Please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.