Missions Week – Day Three: Servant’s Heart Ministry
Sometimes, it seems that if you listen closely enough, you can hear the hollow strains of an orchestra in the forground. If you stop, open your eyes and strain your ear intently, you’ll hear the soft beat of a well played harmony…
I can testify personally to the heart behind this amazing new ministry based out of Nashville, Tennessee. One of the founders, Rob Dublin, is a dear friend and is someone who, along with his wife, Kyna, has a deep love for missions.
Servant’s Heart Ministry has a unique focus. Primarily working in the Dominican Republic at this time, Servant’s Heart is working to empower and support the work of a local church, and in doing so, is impacting the lives of children and families.
Sshhh…listen – do you hear the strings?
Born out of a love for orphans, the founders of Servant’s Heart Ministry all met while actually doing ministry together. In 2006, Rob Dublin, Rex Sexton, Kenneth Hill and Jay Weinstein worked together in the country of Ukraine building homes for orphans. Upon returning to the US, they continued to meet with one another regularly and encouraged each other in their shared passion of ministering to the orphans of the world.
Add the bass…
After learning of the plight of children in the Dominican Republic, the idea of Servant’s Heart Ministry bubbled forth. With a little bit of research and a lot of planning, the four men planned their first trip to the Dominican Republic where they witnessed firsthand the cruel fate of an impoverished people.
But how did they get to the Dominican Republic? Well – that’s where the cello starts humming a harmonic continuum. Can you hear the sounds?
In a small village, roughly 45 minutes from the booming town of Santiago, people are living in extreme poverty. Children go to school where they spend roughly 4-5 hours a day learning, but receive only a small cup of milk and a piece of bread.
Sometimes that’s all those children will eat all day long.
A local church, run entirely by Dominicans, recognized the rampant hunger of the children and established a program for the kids to come to the church after school and receive a solid meal as well as spiritual training.
It’s a simple concept. Nourish the body and develop the heart. Immediately the church noticed the impact they were able to have in their community. But how would they sustain this program under such harsh conditions.
In rolls the timpany. A beautiful thunder of sound is beginning to resound.
Servant’s Heart Ministry is now working in conjunction with this local church, partnering with them to establish a feeding program, as well as providing training materials for the children, school supplies, school uniforms and so much more.
They are also working to develop a clean water program, providing filtration systems for the church and local water catchments. The money they raise will go toward power generators and food storage (refridgeration), building supplies and whatever other needs arise within the community.
Listen to the sounds. The symphony is beginning!
For now, the focus of Servant’s Heart is concentrated in this one small town in the Dominican Republic. But the vision is much grander.
In time, and as the orchestra gains momentum, there are plans to expand this model to other villages, towns and countries. The goal is to support locals – to provide them with the materials they need to minister to the people in their own backyards.
The best part of this story is that you all can be a part of the grand symphony that God Himself is conducting through this amazing ministry. There are so many ways to be involved:
- Prayer. Will you pray for Servant’s Heart Ministry as they work to bring about the vision that God has laid upon their hearts? Your prayers are the whispers that drive the beat of the symphony. They are the measures within which all the notes are contained.
- Donations. Of course monetary donations are always welcomed and appreciated. Funding is important in helping provide these churches and children with the things they need, like water filtration, power generators, uniforms and, most importantly, food. But Rob told me that there is also a need for supplies. They need Spanish books, literature, scriptures, coloring books, supplies for water filtration, anything that you can offer that would allow the church to better serve the children.
- Your time. In 2010, Servant’s Heart will be taking a second trip to the Dominican Republic and they would like to take a team of people with them. Let’s face it – when you are living life, sometimes, going on a foreign mission trip is difficult. One of the benefits of serving on a mission trip with Servant’s Heart is that, while it is to a foreign country, it is relatively inexpensive and easy to get to. The trips last only 4-5 days and the cost is much lower than many other overseas mission trips. This makes a trip with Servant’s Heart much easier for many people. Perhaps you are one of those people?
- Table Sponsorship. For Nashville residents, Thursday, October 22 is the first official fundraiser for Servant’s Heart Ministry. This would be a fabulous event to attend (it will be held at the spectacular Factory at Franklin). I encourage you to attend so you can hear in person the heart of these dedicated men as they cast their vision for the Servant’s Heart Ministry. Table sponsorship is available as an option to show your support (and you don’t even have to be a resident to do that. Wink, wink…)
For more information, please visit the Servant’s Heart Ministry website (again, I have left you a bajillion links so there’s no excuse for not at least clicking over).
You can also check out the beautiful video they put together of their first visit on their very own YouTube channel. Or, you can join their Facebook Fan Page. Or follow them on twitter. The possibilities are endless!
To contact someone personally about how you can be involved with Servant’s Heart Ministry, or to get their address so you can send supplies, click here.
God, the Almighty conductor, has lifted His Hand, tapped the music stand and begun waving His Arms, inciting a glorious melody. And, through the involvement of others, that melody will swell and grow, making something beautiful out of the ugliness that is poverty.
Will you consider joining Servant’s Heart Ministry as they change the world one child at a time?
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