Posted in Orphans by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 10/17/2011
While in Haiti last summer, I visited Son of God orphanage frequently. You may remember the story I wrote about finding Magdala, who lived there. My heart breaks at the thought of Magdala being trafficked. Looking at the picture below, I wonder how many of them are left. I'm not sure if Magdala is OK or not.
This is what my dad reports from his blog...
I have some news that I need your help in distributing:
 Backed by corrupt government officials, an orphanage we work with
in Carrefour/Port-au-Prince, Haiti has been trafficking its orphans.
Suspecting foul play, we've been investigating for the last year.
We've not been ready to go to the media until we had the facts.
As a result, the orphanage director is now in jail, but the 75
children left in the orphanage are still in danger. A worker said, "The
kids are in terrible condition - the doctor gave them some
prescriptions, but we doubt that the medicine will ever be administered
to the children. Instead, the medicine will probably be sold."
The problem is that those running the orphanage are still protected
by corrupt government officials. Our goal is to get this information to
media outlets in order to put pressure on the government to protect the
kids.
An AIM staff member just returned from Haiti and filed this report:
The situation at the orphanage is an EMERGENCY right now as kids
are sick and dying and still disappearing. We're trying to mobilize any
connections in politics and media to expose the corruption and put an
end to it. The lead investigator, said we "hit the jackpot of
corruption."
What we've discovered:
• Food gets donated to SOG orphanage, but disappears very quickly, while children remain malnourished.
• Reports by the children of physical abuse by orphanage workers.
• Reports by the children of sexual abuse by orphanage workers.
• Clothing when donated, instead of going to orphans, gets sold.
• Dozens of children have disappeared.
Another report about Katia illustrates the urgency we feel:
One five year-old girl, Katia was in the worst condition I have
seen of any of the kids. A couple of months ago she had mumps from head
to toe; a month later she was in a body cast that covered her from her
waist to her feet. When he found her on Saturday she had an extremely
high fever and like all of the other children - horrible skin
conditions. She was lying on a bench and someone moved a bench towards
her but she didn't have the energy to move out of the way. She has lost
most of her weight and she couldn't even lift her head. After pleading
with the "caretakers" of the orphanage, they released her to let us take
her to a local medical clinic.
The doctor at the clinic examined her and determined that the infections
are destroying her; she is nearing death. She only weighed 14 pounds.
He told us that if she doesn't get proper care right away she will die
of infections and malnutrition. He gave us a prescription and orders to
give her a high protein drink and medicine three times a day for the
next two weeks.
Recent reports indicate Katia now weighs a mere 11 pounds.
Here's how you can help:
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Sign this petition and share it with others.
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Tweet this post using hashtags #cnnfreedom #endslavery & #not_for_sale
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Contact any local or national media you know, asking them to run the story. We are trying to get CNN to cover the story.
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Blog about this and encourage your readers to sign the petition.
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Pray. (I believe this changes things.)
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"Like" this on Facebook and get your friends involved.
Thanks for caring.
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Posted in Brokenness by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 5/2/2011
My dad posted this on his blog yesterday. A re-post from a blog by Doug Phillips.
 Tom Lee was a man who always had a sparkle in his eyes and a Gospel
message on his tongue. His family is one of those that people describe
as "energy givers." When Tom, his bride and his family of thirteen
children would arrive in town, it always meant encouragement.
Last night as tornado storm winds approached the Lee home in Alabama,
Tom gathered his wife and thirteen children in the den. They huddled
and they prayed. Two minutes later the tornado descended upon them. The
house was instantly destroyed as beams and cinder blocks rained down
upon them.
But in his last great act of fatherhood, Tom Lee had the presence of
mind to throw himself on top of his children, including his first-born
son Jordan. Looking up at his father Jordan saw the blood in his
father's mouth and witnessed as the breath began to leave his father,
but was able to hear the last words of his father's crying out to God
for the safety of his family. Then the spirit left the body of Tom Lee.
There were other injuries including children trapped under a piano
and between beams. Medical assistance was nowhere in sight for many
hours. There was just too much damage in the valley, too few support
teams, and inaccessibility was a problem. Eventually they came.
This morning some children have been released from the hospital while others are still being evaluated for injuries.
This is where the Lee children were trapped from 6:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
On May 22nd some of the Kingdom Dreams team and I will be taking a week long tour thru Alabama. We intend on hearing of the loss that families have experienced, telling their stories and encouraging them that, though their houses might be in rubble, God still guards His dreams for them.
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Posted in Dreams by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 4/27/2011
Do you feel pressure in embracing a dream that may or may not be on your heart?
I've been working with Kingdom Dreams for the past four months now. We take people's dreams and empower them to get going. We propel them forward. We are the wind in their sails.
I've noticed...
Some people are afraid to identify a desire they have as their dream.
I noticed myself doing it. I thought that by doing this I was boxing myself in - saying that this is my calling in life. It seemed premature. Like I need to have a doctorate or something to be able to say I know my dream at 26 years young. I think this is a narrow view.
Most people don't just all of a sudden have a dream. They usually happen across them by failure or happenstance. By trying at something and then something else. This something else wasn't their life calling, but that didn't matter. They went for it and realized that their dream was something bigger, better and more effective. They tried something they wanted to do.
To have one dream is to limit yourself. You probably have a great many dreams that build upon each other. Seasonal dreams. And most of these dreams you will probably fail at. But you'll get better. You'll improve because you're smart and you're an overcomer. You'll become well acquainted to resistance and learn to push through it. And in the process you'll refine your approach, identify your strengths and build a great portfolio of stories!
Don't be afraid to call something your dream and embrace it. It may not be your life's dream, but who knows? Maybe it will lead that way. You won't know if you don't try.
A challenge: Call something small your dream and pursue it. You may need to do this 10 times before you find out what you really enjoy. But it's a great way to find out.
Anything that's worth doing is worth doing poorly. --Joachim DePosada
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Posted in Dreams by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 3/22/2011
 Jeff Goins recently wrote a good blog on how to get involved with Kingdom Dreams. Here's what he says...
There is no denying it. God is moving in a coordinated fashion, planting a seed in
world changers and kingdom bringers.
In the past few weeks we've found a growing number of passionate Christ
followers committed to a similar vision of Kingdom Dreams, creating opportunity
for synergy amongst the church.
We are on the forefront of something great, and we want
you to be apart of it.
KD went live about a month ago, but since then we have
gained greater clarity as to our role in this coordinated move by God.
Kingdom
Dreams exists to synthesize the church; connecting the body of Christ to
fulfill each persons unique
createdness.
Kingdom Dreams is being built to be the premier location to
be inspired, equipped, and resourced to pursue one's God given dreams
and passions.
Kingdom Dreams will be the catalyst for the next
generation of Christians focused on changing the world.
Kingdom Dreams offers people the space, freedom,
guidance, and confidence to dream and experiment, through the channel of
meaningful personal connections.
A dream this big needs the help of the body of Christ,
and we want to invite you to be apart of what God is doing.
There are lots of ways to get involved. We would love it if you joined us on
the forefront of this movement.
Here are five different ways to join the vision:
1.
Become a coach This generation
needs mentors and coaches. You
have life experience and wisdom to share.
Help walk someone down their unique path: Become a
coach!
2.
Help us network dreamers Most dreamers
need to serve under someone else dream while the mature and grow. Contact us
if you can connect dreamers to a variety of opportunities 3. Partner with Kingdom Dreams We want to
provide our dreamers with job, ministry, and volunteer opportunities that match
their passions. Let us know
if you or your organization has open positions for some passionate world
changers.
4. Spread the word: Do you believe in this vision of
making God's dreams come true through connecting people with
world-changing ideas? Share Kingdom Dreams with your friends, church,
pastor, and other network by:
-
Reposting this post on your blog, or writing your own.
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Talk about Kingdom Dreams on Twitter or post a link on Facebook. You can use the shortened URL .
5.
Share your dream Come to our website
and let us know about your dream.
You just might make yours happen, or help another's come true. Share your
dream
Let's build this into something
great together.
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Posted in Dreams by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 3/16/2011
There have again been some changes in my life.
About a month ago I started working with a new AIM ministry called Kingdom Dreams. We've been going for about three weeks now and are quickly growing.
Here's what my dad writes about it:
I've had a dream for many years now to see a generation fully alive.
It's a dream of my children's generation seizing the opportunity to wake
up to the greatness within themselves - God's kingdom dream for their
lives. And it's been a thrill to see that God has been speaking to other
people like me who share this dream.
 Since starting the World Race,
I've watched that dream, like a
jonquil in spring, unfolding. And today we took another step toward it. A
team has been working behind the scenes to build a ministry that helps
people realize their dreams.
The ministry is called Kingdom Dreams and today we went public with its first web site.
Kingdom Dreams will help young world changers (and maybe some older ones) in a number of ways:
- assessment
- coaching
- networking
- dream development
God created everyone with a dream - a dream of making this world a
better place, bringing the love of Christ to those who haven't felt it.
Unfortunately, most people stop short of realizing theirs. But we
believe that no one should miss their dream. We believe this world needs
you to dream God's dreams.
So what is a kingdom dream?
A kingdom dream is the idea or thought that makes your heart skip a
beat. A kingdom dream is that passion you've had since you were a little
boy or girl. A kingdom dream is what you would give your life to... if
only you had the time, the resources, or the security.
A kingdom dream brings health to the sick, food to the hungry, life
to the dead. A kingdom dream is God's will manifested on earth. And Kingdom Dreams wants to make sure everyone of God's dreams can be realized.
Take a look at the web site
and let us know what you think. You may have a dream - let us know
about it. Or consider joining us in making God's dreams come to life.
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Posted in My Generation by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 1/5/2011
College students are uniquely positioned to accept change. For all their lives they've accepted most of what their parents have taught them and now are beginning to ask important questions and make decisions for themselves. They're beginning to form the foundations of their faith as much of what they believe is shaken.
I've seen people go in several directions from here.
I have a friend who was preparing for the mission field in a prominent Christian college. After coming face to face with the religion, legalism and headiness of it all, though, he decided he didn't want any part of it. He dropped out of college, renounced his faith and started doing construction.
Another friend of mine became absorbed by the idea of creating simple change in individuals' lives. He was driven in college, focused on his interests, was active in some areas of social justice and graduated with honors. He joined the peace corps in Guatemala, immersed himself in the culture, learned the language and even married a local! He committed himself to a people for a time.
I floundered during college, uncertain about what I wanted to spend my time doing. I was on the fence in almost every decision I needed to make. I was unmotivated because there was no purpose to what I was doing. I switched majors six times, barely squeezed by in nearly every class, didn't apply myself and found little value in my faith and self-worth. Thank goodness for the journey afterward!
College students are usually in their first ever season of real independence. They may flounder, fail or succeed. But, from what I've seen, all of these will come from a personal feeling of worth, purpose and security in faith. We all need to know that what we're doing is worth doing.
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Posted in My Generation by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 12/31/2010
It seems like 20-somethings have a lot of room to grow. Mac pointed out yesterday that the Holy Spirit is doing a work on us. We're primed for change and something new. He is "waking us up," he says. But what to? Where have we been unconscious?
1. Identity... It does seem that we have had a hard time understanding ourselves. Many of us agreed that we 20-somethings don't know who we are. Erin said something profound yesterday -
"We are scared of who we might be deep down inside, who we are called to be and how that will look..."
2. Reality (spirituality)... We're connected with stuff and things that don't last and disconnected with what's eternal. Most of what we know lacks substance and lasting satisfaction. Are we physical or spiritual beings at our core? (I'm reminded of Hebrews 12:26-29)
3. Respect... We usually don't have much respect for our elders. That might be because we're narcissistic. We don't understand the value that they can impart or the need for it. We've been coddled and protected for far too long and need to mess up a bit to realize that we really don't have it all put together like we thought.
What else? How can we rediscover this stuff?
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Posted in Brokenness by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 12/30/2010
20-somethings are going thru an interesting part of their journey right now. I know because I'm twenty-six and have a lot of 20-something year old friends.
I've noticed that, generally speaking, 20-somethings...
- ...have a hard time committing (or even making decisions - I wonder how much of this has to do with the fact that there are more options out there now than there have ever been)
- ...will think critically about what we believe and welcome new thoughts
- ...are unhappy with what we're doing (we're stuck in the middle of a messed up system)
- ...don't know the value of hard work (we really haven't earned much of what we've got)
- ...are pretty insecure (probably because most of us don't know ourselves)
- ...are free of religion (we've seen enough of the law)
- ...welcome change and newness
- ...will make big leaps (without much promise of substance on the other side)
- ...are open and willing to receive truth
- ...have seen that, generally, modern Christianity in the U.S. isn't what Christianity should look like
Why do you think this is? Do you agree or disagree?
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Posted in Discipleship by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 12/20/2010
A few months ago, I wrote a blog called "Take Initiative, Get Discipled". I've seen quite a few people who don't know how to be a good disciple. I've also seen some who don't really know how to disciple. I've been in both of those parties myself.
I'm passionate about discipleship largely because it saved my life. Gary Black was a guy who reached out to me and discipled me in a way that I'd never seen before. He believed in me, challenged me and encouraged me. I think we all need that!
I'm also passionate about discipleship because it's what we're commissioned to do. I think it means much more than meeting over coffee once a week. I think there are young men like myself who want great discipleship, but don't have someone to disciple them.
So, I'm planning a discipleship roundtable. I just sent out the invitation to about 150 people, but there's only space for about 75. I invite you to be a part as well. First come first serve here. Just comment below or contact me if you're interested. Here is the email I sent out earlier, along with all the details:
Hey everyone,
You're getting this email because I think that you may be interested in the topic of discipleship. Specifically, how does one disciple or get discipled using Jesus' model in today's world? This will be geared toward action. It will challenge you to disciple and get discipled while offering guidance and resources in doing so.
This is a Discipleship Roundtable...
A bunch of people who we all know and respect will come together to talk about their successes and failures with discipleship in today's world. Expect:
-Teaching on discipleship and spiritual authority from Seth Barnes, Clint Bokelman and others
-Great community worship
-Spend time in corporate listening prayer on the subject and what God is saying about this generation
-Talk organically with guys that have done this for years
-Roast mallows around the fire
-Games with everyone
Why?
It's what we're commanded to do. We need to do it well.
There are a bunch of guys that I've spent a good bit of time and energy pouring into over the years and I mostly didn't know what I was doing. I still struggle. On the other side, I've also put myself under people to be discipled, but didn't really know how to be a good disciple. We need to learn and have people around us who are doing it and have some great experience to learn from.
When?
Jan. 28 (pm) - Jan. 31 (am)
Where?
The Hylton's - Gainesville, GA
Who can come?
Anyone who is interested growing in discipleship. Please pass this on to anyone you like.
Cost?
$30 to cover the cost of the food - 8 meals.
$20 - 5 meals (Lunches and dinners)
Please give money to Seth Barnes, Jr. by Jan. 21st if you plan on attending.
RSVP
Just reply to this email and let me know if you'll be coming or not. With a limited space at the house, there is a cut-off number, so sign-up quickly. There is also bedding at the Hylton's. Let me know if you'd like a bed. Those are also limited.
It will look very similar to the Luke 10 roundtable of August. Look for a tentative schedule of the event soon.
Seth Jr.
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Posted in General Update by Seth Barnes, Jr. on 12/8/2010
Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted a blog! Here's step #1 to change that... a general update (written last Friday, so even this is slightly out of date).
 ‘Tis the seasons for eating a lot! As our stomachs recover
from feasting last week, we're preparing for another staff celebration/feast
tomorrow. But this letter is not about that. It's about a home church,
roommates and my work with AIM.
Picture Left: We cooked our turkey in the ground this year!
Home church…
The home church is going very well. We get together every
Sunday, as we have for the past couple of months, and allow the Holy Spirit to
lead us. It's been pretty interesting finding the balance of structure and
openness. We are intentional about giving God room to move and plan on “empty
space” for Him to work with.
Last
Sunday one of my roommates talked briefly about the difference between filling
oneself with life versus good things. From there we opened the floor and
several people responded to the Lord's movement on their hearts. We ended by
praying over and ministering to each other.
Roommates…
We've got two more now! After coming off of the mission field (all 6 of us have returned
from 1-3 years of international ministry in the last few months), we as a house
sense the Lord directing us into a season of growth and mutual encouragement.
Of iron sharpening iron. Of a brotherhood that is tightly knit.
As a part of our spiritual growth, we are being discipled by
my dad and another of AIM's leaders, Clint Bokelman. Every Monday we get
together with one of them to talk about topics like covenant, spiritual
authority and church planting. We are challenged, inspired and coached through
it and during the week we try to implement the stuff together. I am amazed at
how God set everything up for us. Picture Below: My roommates and I had ridiculous pictures taken of us in Christmas sweaters.
Work with AIM…
AIM is growing. With a vision to raise up radically
committed disciples of Christ, it's encouraging to see that happening on
several different fronts! I'm learning that discipleship looks very different
than I thought and it takes a long time. After people like my dad and Clint
have put in decades of hard, dedicated work to realize this dream, us
youngsters are now beginning to embrace it.
 I
am mobilizing college students to reach out to the least of these internationally
and domestically. We will be sending groups to places like Peru, Haiti, Dallas
and St. Louis. For most of them, these trips are an introduction to God's
Kingdom as they reach out to the poor and the needy.
Working with AIM is always interesting as things constantly
develop. It seems that God is always connecting people from all over the place
onto similar calls in life. A few weeks ago my friend, Neil, and I went to
speak to a college group and a guy came up afterward, saying he'd like to be
Neil's disciple and that he'd follow him with complete dedication! This guy is
now in the process of applying to go on a four and a half month mission trip to
India. Things are going very well in Gainesville, GA. I'm growing lots and drawing closer to God each day. I'm consistently amazed at the fruit I'm already seeing from this season of life.
Live well!
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