GlocalNet

Dennis Jeffares is the International Director of GVI (Glocal Ventures, Inc.) NorthWood’s NGO in Vietnam.  Bob asked him to contribute to the blog this morning.  Enjoy!

It’s that time of year again.  Thanksgiving is over and many of us who are parents will fight the tide of commercialism and strive to help our kids understand what Christmas is all about.  We want our children to celebrate the birth of Christ, but we also want to give our kids a gift that communicates how precious they are to us and how deeply they are loved.  Some are willing to stand in long lines, in freezing weather to buy that perfect gift.  But how often has that “perfect” gift been forgotten within 6 months of being unwrapped?

Christmas is a time to help our children see that they have already been given a special gift, a unique ability given to them by our Creator.  When we as parents are intentional about providing our kids with opportunities to engage their gifting and passions, they see that they have a purpose in this world.  They see that they can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, both at home and around the world. 

Our family had the privilege to live and serve in Asia 10 years and had countless opportunities to serve as a family.  We were blessed to develop friendships with people who have world views significantly different than our own.  We learned from others that our family could make a difference in our community.  We learned that people from different backgrounds can come together for a common purpose and make our world a better place. 

We are blessed to belong to a church that offers multiple opportunities for families to serve both locally and in places like Vietnam and Mexico.  Locally NorthWood is involved in ESL, Kid’s Café, home makeovers, tutoring, and ministries to kids with special needs.  NorthWood takes groups to Vietnam & Mexico throughout the year to serve the poorest of the poor.  I took my kids to Vietnam this past summer and now they want to go back with me every summer to serve orphans. 

As you ponder what to give your child this Christmas, think about something that will broaden their perspective, help them make new friends, and evolve into a lifetime commitment to service.  The perfect gift this Christmas would be an opportunity to use their God given abilities to serve those in need. 

Questions to ask as your family evaluates 2008 and prepares for a new year:
How many lives did your family impact in 2008?  What’s your goal for 2009?