I cry easily. Nearly every emotion from delight to despair can induce dripping from my eyes. This can be a bit awkward at times, especially when my tears are unreasonable (like when I mist up over a country song). Were my tears from last week justifiable? I’ll let you decide.

I cried because an email showed me the faces of the children who will live in and be protected by the home you and I are building. And they aren’t just any faces. They are faces I know and they live in a place I know, the village of Attapaka, India.

The 58 children who currently live in the Attapaka Orphanage

You might be surprised to learn that these children already live in an orphanage.

I’ve been to this orphanage twice and it’s one of my favorite places in India because it is so wonderfully unique. It is home to exuberance and cantankerousness, hope and remembrance, childishness and sageness, agility and stiffness, smooth skin and wrinkled skin. It is a place where the youthful are reigned in, the aged are held up, and comfort and care is given to all.

Elderly man in Attapaka, India

Young boy at Attapaka orphanage

Now, if you posses just a fraction of Sherlock Holmes deductive abilities you’ve probably already discerned the truth about this facility, it doubles as an orphanage and a home for the elderly.

Residents of the Attapaka facility, young and old.

After a recent inspection of this facility, local authorities notified GFT that they can no longer house both the children and the elderly in the same building and gave them 6 months to relocate one of these groups. If they are not able to comply, the authorities will put the children or the elderly back on the street. Building a new orphanage here will allow GFT to relocate the children and keep both the children and the elderly safe.

The building site for the orphanage in Attapaka, India

Here are a few things I love about this building site:

• This location was chosen by Brother Jacob and his leadership team after much prayer and discussion.
• Building an orphanage at this location will allow us to provide safety for both the children and the elderly. (How’s that for a double blessing?)
• There are currently 58 children at this location. The new building will house 100 so there will be room to grow!
• The village of Attapaka is just 2 kilometers outside of Badrachalem, which is the capital city of this tribal area of India. Being this close to the capitol will give the children ready access to medical care and several universities.
• I know these children so now this project is a whole lot more personal.

Since the beginning of this project I have labored to build an orphanage for unknown children in an unknown place. Now I know who I’m fighting for and can point out on a map exactly where this orphanage will be built.

Elderly woman in Attapaka, India

Young lady at Attapaka orphanage

Seeing the faces of these children made me realize how big and important this project really is. And I can’t believe I get to be a part of it. I feel overwhelmingly blessed. That’s why I cried.

This building project needs to be completed by the end of June, 2013. That’s a reality that terrifies me. The current financial need for this project is $33,500. Can the word expedited apply to fundraising?

Make a donation here. Find out how you can help here.

The post Introducing the Village of Attapaka {the location of the orphanage} appeared first on No Stingy Act.

Father and child at a leper colony in Khammam district, India

Meeting a father with less than $1.25 a day to provide for his family may cause you to re-prioritize your spending.

Woman at leper colony in Khammam district, India

Shaking the hand of a woman crippled from leprosy for lack of access to medical treatment might make your insurance premium seem less burdensome.

Beautiful girl at an orphanage in Managuru, India

Realizing that the little girl in the orphanage would have ended up in a brothel if she had not been rescued could change the way you talk (There might be a little more speaking up for those who can’t speak up for themselves and a little less political discussion).

Boys dancing at an orphanage in Managuru, India

Watching young men dance might leave you with the realization that you can find something better to do with your time than watching the latest episode of ______________ (fill in the blank with your favorite TV show).

Woman at a ministry training gathering in Managuru, India

For me it was spending two weeks with a little group of Christians from Gospel for Tribals Social Services Society (I know. It’s a long name).

Pastor attending training in Managuru, India

These Christians weren’t like any Christians I had ever seen before. They were radical. They gave up their possessions to follow Jesus. They were beaten and spit upon. Their houses were burned. They forgave.

Elderly woman, India

They took in orphans, cared for lepers, honored the elderly, drilled wells for the thirsty, and bandaged the broken. They prayed for people to be healed (and it worked).

Pastor and wife praying in Managuru, India

They prayed (really prayed, on their knees). They wept. They repented.

Women dancing in Managuru, India

And they danced (and I danced with them).

These Christians were getting the job done. They were preaching the Gospel where it had never been preached before, making disciples, and planting churches.

I watched them and I wondered why my faith didn’t look like theirs.

After much pondering, I’ve come to the conclusion that my faith doesn’t look like theirs because I don’t love like they love. My faith will become radical faith when I respond to the needs I see around me as if they were my own.

How in heavens name am I going to do that? That’s not just hard, it’s impossible.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matt 19:26

My experiences with GFT in India have led me to partner with them in an orphanage building project. I am raising $65,000 to build an orphanage in India. I would love it if you got involved. Donate here. Find other ways to help here.

The post Introducing GFT {the orphanage building organization} appeared first on No Stingy Act.

You would see him wash feet, embrace lepers, and shed tears over the persecuted. You would see him give food (lots of food) to hungry people (lots of them).

Brother Jacob at a leper colony in Khammam, India

You would see pastors and missionaries form lines to share their burdens with him, each knowing that he will do everything in his power to help them. You would see him open every nook and cranny of every building he owns to offer shelter to orphans. You would see these children flock to him (all 2,700 of these children call him Father).

Brother Jacob at an orphanage in Managuru, India

You would hear Brother Jacob tell his story. He was born in India to a Hindu family in 1971. At the age of seven he became very sick. His parents traveled with him to seek medical treatment. The doctors did everything they could for him and then sent him home to die.

On the journey home the family stopped in a village and heard that an American evangelist was in the area. Jacob’s mother took him to a prayer meeting where the evangelist prayed for him. That night Jesus appeared to Brother Jacob and said to him, “You will not die, but live.” Jesus also showed him his new name, Jacob, in the book of life.

Jacob recovered from his illness that very night. As a result of this miracle he and his family found life in Jesus.

Jacob went on to attend two Bible colleges in India, Manna Bible College and Emmanuel Theological Seminary. In 1991 Jacob set out as a missionary to the unreached tribal regions of Andhra Pradesh. He walked hundreds of miles taking the good news of Jesus Christ from village to village and started his first church under a mango tree with 3 people.

On June 18, 1992 Jacob married his wife Elizabeth. He and his wife have three children, Vijay Daniel, Victoriya, and Samuel Joseph.

On December 26, 1994 Brother Jacob founded Gospel for Tribals Social Services Society. This ministry has trained 728 pastors and missionaries who have formed over 850 churches and impacted over 6,000 villages.

Brother Jacob at a home for the elderly in India

In a recent email, Brother Jacob commented on a ministry survey trip he was planning to the slums of Mumbai.

Some of my friends may question me? ‘Jacob, are you crazy! You have many responsibilities with 2300 [now 2,700] orphan children, 641 missionaries and so many other responsibilities.’ But my humble answer is that I have only one life here on this earth. If my Lord calls me home today, no more mission; but still the Lord will do His work. But I feel strongly that I am responsible for the opportunities, time, effort and abilities He has freely given to us to make an impact for His Glory alone!

2000 years ago, Our Master Jesus was crying and saying that the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are very few. LK 10:2. Our top priority in our daily lives and in our churches should be the cry of Jesus for lost souls and missions. Where are the missions today? How many Christians have forgotten world missions and missionaries? It’s my prayer and cry that the Holy Spirit of God will raise a mighty Army of people who are sold out for the eternal cause.

These words from Bishop Jacob challenge me. Have I neglected my calling as a follower of Christ to care for the physically and spiritually broken? Yes, I have.

Brother Jacob has been faithful to respond to the needs around him. Now, having been challenged by his life, I think it’s appropriate for me to move to meet his need.

He needs to build 14 new orphanages to house the children currently in his care (learn more about that here). I have committed to help him build one orphanage in India. Will you join me?

The post Introducing Brother Jacob {the orphanage builder} appeared first on No Stingy Act.

I’m brainstorming domain names for the website.  I get infatuated with the idea of using the word “act” in the name and calling my benevolent projects acts (like acts in a play).

I make a list of names:
nobleact.com–Too stuffy.
bountyact.com–Sounds like a reality show.
benevolentact.com–Zzzzzz.
loveact.com–Uhm. People might get the wrong mental picture. I’m afraid to Google it.
justact.com–I like it, but the domain is already taken.
kindact.com–Yuk.
generousact.com–That’s it. It’s already taken. Oh, well. It was probably too blah anyway.
unstingyact.com–Hmm. That could work.

Juli, my good friend and roomy, walks up from the basement.

“How about Unstingy Act?” I ask.

She replies, “No stingy,” in a mock Native American accent.

I say, “That’s it! No Stingy Act.”

I really like it. It’s rather unexpected and catchy. I think people will remember it. I run it past my parents the next day and they like it.

The name sticks.

I purchase the domain and design the logo.

It’s too late to back pedal now.

I share the name with a few more friends.

Some don’t hear the name right the first time.

“No Stinky Act?”

“No Strings Attached?”

I must need to enunciate better.

Most need a reminder of the name after they’ve heard it.

It’s not so memorable after all.

Maybe this was a bad idea. Only time will tell.

The End.

The moral of the story: If you’re in the market for a domain name, consult with more than four people before making the purchase (especially if those four people are your roommates and your parents).

Now it’s your turn. Please share your opinion on the name and describe your facial expression the first time you heard it. Good, bad, or indifferent opinions are all welcome, but please don’t suggest a better name. That would be painful and would probably keep me up at night.

The post The Story Behind the Name appeared first on No Stingy Act.