Everyone has a cause. I love this. I love that we can be so passionate about some things that move us, that have impacted our lives. Maybe your cause is diabetes, maybe its finding a cure for cancer. Of course, we all agree that most causes are important, but then there is those few that truly move you. like, you get it. You get why people give of themselves so much for it, you get why they want to spread the word, raise money, find the solution. It’s this internal burning desire. Its seeing a picture or quote about the cause that shakes your core.

For me, the cause that has always shook my core is homelessness. It moves me in ways I can’t describe. I ache for those people. I want to know their story. I want them to know I care. I want to learn from them, because often they are wise beyond their years.

So, when a fellow photographer shared their project, Dear World, I couldn’t wait to share it. To spread the word.

Dear World contains excerpts of letters written by the street community to the world. Their stories are paired with their portraits and readers are given an eye-opening view of what life is really like on the street and how they can help people stay off it.

Readers will meet Miranda – a former meth addict who has found healing and restoration. They will meet Jeremiah, a young man who, like many Americans, misjudged the economic stability and lost it all. They will read the words penned by people that they choose to ignore, the invisible urban population that stands in front of us all.

We should not ignore them.

Dear World is a book that will challenge, inspire, and equip you to answer the question for yourself. And you will be honored to be the hands and feet of Jesus to your community.

The book is a free download but they are accepting donations to help this cause. You can also spread the word on facebook, your own blog, twitter, etc.

Some quotes that rocked me.
I am a person.

Life is what you make it, so make it great. Make sure you live it to the fullest. God is great in all He does, so go after Him with all your might. -Miranda, on the street for 12 years.

I found more truth in drugs than I did in the church. -anonymous street person

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This is my personal challenge to myself and you. The next time you see a homeless, connect with them. If you don’t have anything monetary to give, give yourself. Find out their story, pray with them, give them a hug, show them that they are a person, a person loved by God.

Tags: dear world, homeless, missional photographer, missional photography, missions monday

This entry was posted on Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 9:36 am and is filed under missions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.