May Be the Love Challenge: Serve

How’s your serve these days?  

Photo Credit

No, we’re not talking about Tennis (especially where LOVE-LOVE means nothing!)

We’re talking about how you live your life?  Are you looking for opportunities on a daily basis to serve those around you?  That’s what “being the love” is all about!

In fact, Jesus took it so far as to say this “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35 msg) He didn’t mince words on the topic and He lived His life even louder.

One of the best ways that we can be the love is by serving.  It doesn’t have to be through huge displays and great sacrifices (although sometimes it might require that).  Small acts of service on a regular basis can have a huge impact.  They communicate value and you’ll be surprised at the doors they will open into the lives of those around you.

This month’s BE THE LOVE CHALLENGE is just that!  GET YOUR SERVE ON!  As you go through your daily lives begin to look for opportunities to serve those you come in contact with.  Perhaps it’s returning the grocery cart all the way to its allotted space or holding the door for the person behind you.  It could be doing the dishes or taking time to be a listening ear.  There are a million opportunities to serve that we are presented with on a daily basis.  Let’s commit to making the most of those opportunities together.

Also, come join us as we serve together at NEPAG on May 21st.  You can find out more about this service opportunity here or by emailing us at btlhome@bethelovecampaign.org     

April Be the Love Challenge: Speak Value

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!”

Do you remember that childish chant?  It simply isn’t true.  Words have power.  They can encourage and they can push down.  They can inspire and release purpose.  They can confirm fears and build prisons of lies.  The Bible takes it so far as to say that the power of life and death are in the tongue (Prov. 18:21)  That means the words we speak on a daily basis matter.  They matter to us, they matter to the people we speak to and they matter to God.

Bullying is on the rise today.  We see it in the headlines.  We see it in our schools and even in our work places.  Words can often be misused to bring people down.  This month we are challenging YOU to be the change!  You have the power to speak life and instill value.  The April Be the Love Challenge is just that, wherever you go and with whom ever you speak, SPEAK VALUE.  Together we can make a difference!

This month we are committing to value those we come in contact with and use our words to encourage and lift up.

Won’t you join us?

BTL Saturday: NEPAG

On March 5th, the Be the Love team had our first BTL Saturday at the Northeast Performing Arts Group.  We did it in conjunction with the Be the Love 101 Workshop and it was incredible.  So much fun to put into action what we’d spent the morning discussing.

The NEPAG dancers had just held one of their big performances the night before.

We had such a blast organizing!

Our BTL volunteers were up for the task!  It was amazing to see their hearts to do anything in order to be the love.

The next Be the Love Saturdays will be on April 16th and May 21st.  Email us at info@bethelovecampaign.org if you’d like to join!

We’ll see you there!

 

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Gandhi

BTL Partner: NEPAG

Be the Love is so excited to be partnering with the Northeast Performing Arts Group (www.NEPAG.org) here in Washington, DC.  They are a local community based organization that has dedicated itself to youth mentorship through the performing arts.  You can read more about them on the ABOUT section of their website. They are truly an incredible organization, embodying the spirit of “Be the Love” and we’re excited to be coming along side them.

Their founder, Ms. Rita Jackson, was recently honored during the Be the Love moment at the Beautiful You 2011 conference in February.  It was an incredible moment and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the entire auditorium.  To say she is an incredible woman would be a gross understatement.

As part of our partnership, Be the Love will be hosting several of our BTL Saturdays at the NEPAG center.  We’d love to have you join us!

Be the Love 101

We recently hosted the first ever Be the Love 101 Workshop to talk about “Healthy Helping” and ways to empower those we are trying to help.

We had a great turnout and the training was so amazing!

Really great discussion on defining poverty and what the best ways to help meet people in need.We were blown away by people’s comments and input.

Truly a room full of world changers!

Here’s a few of the participants comments after the workshop:

” It was amazing… the training opened my eyes to a lot of different perspectives about what it means to serve.  I loved the idea of collaborating in service… overall, it was very enlightening”

” What really stood out to me was the distinction made between approaching situations with an assets based approach versus a needs based approach.  Total paradigm shift to think about the fact that those we are helping also have a lot to offer to the process.”

“It was very helpful… I already know exactly how I’m going to use what I learned today and I’m excited to read the book [When Helping Hurts]“

Keep your eyes posted!  We’ll be scheduling some more trainings in the future.  Hope to see you there!

March Be the Love Challenge: Educate Yourself!

So you’re ready to change the world, but now what?  You know there are problems?  You’ve heard statistics that are mind boggling. You see hurting in your own community, but you don’t have the faintest idea where to start.

The March Be the Love Challenge is simple.  We’re asking you to take some time to educate yourself on the issues.  As you can see here the Be the Love Campaign is focused in three areas: Anti-Human Trafficking, Orphans Issues and Community Service.  We’ve compiled (and are still compiling) a wealth of resources for you to make use of.  To get started check out the Be the Love Resources page.

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On top of that, this Saturday, March 4th we will be hosting the first Be the Love 101 training. The training will take place from 10AM – 12:30PM and will focus on “Healthy Helping”.   Based on the book When Helping Hurts, this workshop is about real service that helps the poor.  This workshop is all about helping in a way that makes a positive impact and produces growth and life-change.  During the last hour, put your service into action at the Northeast Performing Arts Group (nepag.org).  Visit the Be the Love Campaign events page to find out more and to RSVP for the training!

This month take a few minutes to read an article, rent a movie, visit your local library or attend a training.  Your journey to change the world starts with just a few small steps.

February Be the Love Challenge & National Freedom Day

Today is National Freedom Day! A day we celebrate freedom and the prohibition of slavery and yet today there are more slaves in our world than ever before in history.

The A21 Campaign – Be Her Freedom.

Let’s make today, not just a day about “good feelings” but a day of action.  A day where we stand up, be the voice for those in slavery and be her freedom!  To learn more about the A21 Campaign, visit their website at www.thea21campaign.org AND participate in this month’s Be the Love Challenge:

The February BTL challenge  is to COME and BRING YOUR FRIENDS to the 2011 Beautiful You Conference here in Washington, DC. The founder of The A21 Campaign, Christine Caine, will be our main speaker.  She’s passionate about seeing people released from bondage and living lives of total freedom.  You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about what YOU can do to make a difference in ending modern day slavery.

We’ll see you there!  Who are you bringing?

Rescued: In Her Own Words

Have you ever wondered how a young woman can come to be trafficked?  It’s modestly estimated that 27 million people in our world today are being trafficked.  The number is almost unfathomable until you meet the one.  Today, hear from Favor, a beautiful young woman who was trafficked but has come to know freedom through the help of the A21 Campaign and most of all, a relationship with Jesus.

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Check out Christine Caine’s podcast entitled “Rescued” to hear from a survivor about her journey in overcoming her past and moving forward in freedom.

This is why we do what we do.

January Be the Love Challenge

We’re starting the new year off with some pretty exciting news for you! This coming February, Beautiful You is hosting an incredible, over the top, to cool for school conference for women!  It’s called Be the Love Together!

Get this! This year’s featured speaker is none other than the founder of the A21 Campaign, Christine Caine.   The A21 Campaign is committed to abolishing injustice in the 21st century.  The Be the Love Campaign has partnered with them to support their mission to raise awareness, take legal action where appropriate, and offer rehabilitation services to rescued victims of human trafficking in order to fight this injustice from a comprehensive approach.  If you’re in the DC area, (hey! Even if you’re not) make your way to the GW Lisner Auditorium, Friday, February 11th through Saturday, February 12^th for this life-changing event.    Not only are you going to be empowered to change the world together, but there’s going to be loads of fun, sweet and totally girlie moments during the entire event.

Now, here’s where you come in.  This month’s Be the Love Challenge is to buy the U+3 registration package.  For $185 you have the ability to not only give the gift of a fun weekend, but also you are bestowing value and building into a friend’s future. (actually THREE friends)  We guarantee you this is going to be amazing!  This special deal only lasts a few more days, so go to this link and register today!

We can’t wait to see you there!  Let us know who you’re bringing!

December Be the Love Challenge

Ladies!  Do you feel like a spot o’ tea?

Beautiful You and Capital City Church, two of our fabulous sponsors of the BE THE LOVE{a release party} ,  are at it again!  This coming Saturday, December 4th, they are hosting a Christmas Tea at the Willard hotel in downtown DC, and guess what?!?!  Proceeds from the event will be helping Joint Aid Management, one of the organizations that BTL Global sponsors.  Here’s where it get’s really cool.  By registering and participating in the event you will be partnering with Beautiful You to conduct an “extreme makeover” of a JAM day care center in Africa.  Your generosity will be changing kids lives.

Now, the event is just for women….”No Boys Allowed!” …but guys…let me make it easy for you…this makes a GREAT Christmas gift!  Register the women in your life and miss all the holiday shopping craziness!  I think it’s a win-win.

You can register for the event by clicking here.

We hope to see you there!

p.s. We’re still working towards our February Goal of $10,000 for the A21 Campaign.  Don’t forget to tell us how you plan on raising funds.  We’d love to spotlight you on the blog!