Released 6 October 2010
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:16-20.
Sometimes it’s not easy putting our love and our words into action. It requires time, commitment, selflessness, prioritization and motivation. So what motivates you? If making a difference in the lives of others motivates you, Project 24/29 might be something you’d like to participate in.
Project 24/29 stands for the statistic that every 24 hours, 29,000 children die from preventable diseases such as malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infections. Project 24/29 is an event that takes place at a corps/church for 24 hours. The event is usually held from Friday to Saturday where participants learn about a specific country, culture, and its needs through educational activities, intentional prayer time, service projects, and Bible studies. Before the event takes place participants are challenged to raise money by asking people to sponsor them to participate in the event. The money raised is sent to a Salvation Army territory in need overseas. During the entire event, participants who are able will fast in order to experience, even in a small way, what it is like to experience hunger.
Currently the Project 24/29 focus is the country of Pakistan. The country has experienced devastating flooding that has threatened the health and lives of the people of Pakistan. Dr. Guido Sabatinelli of the World Health Organization (WHO)describes the current flood situation. “The depth of suffering is incalculable as risks escalate of diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, malaria and other communicable diseases.” He also indicated that, “It is crucial that all humanitarian health providers, local and national, coordinate their relief efforts closely to save lives, reduce suffering and deliver the most effective response."
If you’re interested in putting your love into action or want to learn more about how you can help alleviate hunger across the globe, consider hosting a Project 24/29 event at your corps/church. For additional information, please go to: project2429.centralmissions.org. Complete leaders’ guides and promotional materials are available upon request.
Sponsorship is now available in the country of Pakistan. If you would like to sponsor a children’s home or school in Pakistan, please visit sponsorship.centralmissions.org or contact Sarah Kincaid at missions@usc.salvationarmy.org or 847-294-2065.