About The Live Simply Project
It began with a crazy idea for giving away our Christmas Eve offering in 2004. It was just an idea. That year we gave over $4000 to ministry in Haiti with a tithe (10%) going to HLWM. Then God took over. To date Cornerstone has sacrificially given over $324,000 in partnership with Orphan Resources International (ORI) in Guatemala, One Mission Society (OMS) in Haiti and HLWM. We've literally changed our world by changing the lives of these children and families.
This offering has impacted the lives of hundreds of children and families in each of these areas. IN GUATEMALA at the Fundaninos Orphanage we have built new buildings, hired teachers, purchased food, purchased clothes dryers and provided hot water for 55 children. In addition we have supported a food ministry and last year another orphanage identified by ORI as a strategic need.
IN HAITI we have given 40-50 children each year the ability to attend school and receive a meal they might otherwise miss. We have also helped keep Radio 4VEH on the air as the major lifeline of information ranging from hearing the Gospel message to personal hygiene to information about farming and was one of the only means of communication to the people of Haiti during the devastating Earthquake this year. In this particular year when we're hearing about the cholera outbreak in the southern part of Haiti, Radio 4VEH is getting information to the entire nation about how to avoid being infected.
The Challenge: The approach is simple – deliberately choose to purchase less stuff for Christmas and give away to Live Simply the same amount you spend on Christmas gifts. Jesus was born in an out of the way place, in the way of the poor and at Christmas time it makes more sense to be where He would be than where our culture wants us to be. It's Jesus' Birthday not ours.
How Does It Work?
Our first priority each year is the Fundaninos Orphanage in Guatemala. The first dollars always go to support that ministry. It depends on the number of children there each year but this amounts to approximately $24,000 for 2010.
Our next priority is the children in Haiti. If Cornerstone families or individuals would like to sponsor a child during the next year, that is done through Starfish Kids in Haiti – a ministry within OMS.
And third our general offering alternates between Haiti and Guatemala each year. 2010 is the year for Haiti. All dollars – AFTER Fundaninos is supported – and AFTER individual and family decisions to support a child through Starfish Kids – will go to OMS – Haiti.
As always we will tithe this general offering portion to HLWM.
You can still participate in this year round project about living more simply. You can give a general offering, designate an amount or if you want more information on how to sponsor a child through Starfish Kids in Haiti, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it