Encourage

 

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to a ladies retreat in Louisiana where we were encouraged to use our gifts and talents to reach the world for Christ. The retreat was with my former church, and these ladies are amazing. They really are what the title of the retreat called them to be "Dangerous Women". If they feel led to serve in a certain area, and there is not a ministry to serve in that way, they start one. They have already made a significant impact in Lafayette, Louisiana, and many other parts of the world. Their courage and faith inspires me to no end.

Today's bird is from one of the ministries highlighted this week, Raven & Lilly, a ministry based out of Los Angeles California. 

This beautiful coffee sleeve was made by women in Africa.  Raven & Lilly's mission is this :

• We are intentionally focused on creating economic opportunities for the disadvantaged.
  
• We support women's empowerment programs that comply with fair trade standards. This ensures women are valued and rewarded for their work.
  
• We seek transparency and accountability in all of our transactions.
  
• We encourage our artisans to develop independence.
• We desire all of our artisans to work in a safe and healthy environment.
  
• We use recycled and remnant materials when possible.
  
• Proceeds are sent back to the artisans' communities to help with education, healthcare and micro-loans.
  

We focus on women because many women have little or no opportunity to rise above the cycle of poverty or their circumstances.

• 70% of the world’s poorest people are women
• 2/3 of those who cannot read or write are women
• At least 2 million girls per year are at risk of undergoing Female Genital Mutilation
• AIDS is becoming a women’s disease with women increasingly bearing the brunt of the epidemic
• 80% of refugees & trafficking victims are women
• 100 million girls are expected to enter forced marriages in the next decade

I don't drink coffee, but this had to become the newest addition to my collection!
Raven & Lilly is so amazing to me because I am constantly thinking about how I, as a designer, can use my skills to impact the kingdom, and these women have done just that!

What are your gifts? How might you be able help through the gifts and talents God has given you?