Hello all you lovely ladies!

I‘m so excited about the direction in which Shine is heading in ’09! I believe God is directing us to add a dimension to Shine enabling us to reach out to women of all ages who don’t yet know Him, both in our local area and further afield. Recently I was reading in Isaiah 58 where God challenges His people about what true fasting is all about. Verse six says:

“Let’s seek to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke.”

Isaiah goes on to talk about how God defines true fasting and lists practical ways we can reach out to people with His love. As I was absorbing this amazing truth, God began to stir within me a passion and a burden to reach out to these precious people, those who are oppressed, broken and forgotten. In particular I felt God speaking to me about the women, teenage girls and children who are facing struggles and trials of many kinds, and whose self worth are being negatively affected as a result.

I believe Jesus is urging the women of New Hope to rise up and take responsibility, to make a difference in the lives of these priceless people. I believe there are three different realms of Christianity. The first is salvation, the second surrender, and the third and most difficult of them all; responsibility. The word ‘responsibility’ simply means ‘a charge’ or ‘a trust’.

So, I believe God is entrusting these precious lives to us. He is giving us the responsibility of reaching out and making a difference; to show that there is a God who loves and accepts these beautiful sisters of ours. Jesus Himself took on the troubles of the troubled – let’s be a people willing to take on the troubles of the troubled!

I love what it says in Romans 15: 1-3;

“Those of us who are strong in the faith must step in and lend a hand to those who falter and not just do what is most Convenient for us, for strength is for service not for status”

So, if we’re strong in our faith and have strength in our bodies, that’s God-given, and is not for our status but for His service! What a privilege to serve the King of kings!

Philip Vera Cruz, a great civil rights leader who made such a difference to so many oppressed people, once said, “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?” I pose the same question to you - are you ready for the challenge?

I believe God is directing us to set up an additional dimension to Shine, which will be called W.O.W. (‘Women Of Worth’). We will be working alongside other local organisations who deal specifically with women and children, such as social services, local refuges for abused women, and so on. We will put together gifts for the women and set up a Teddy Bear Bank, collecting brand new teddy bears for the children. In doing this we will be expressing to these most valuable women and children that there is a company of women who believe in them and are cheering them on, and most importantly, that there is a God who loves them unconditionally  and who has an incredible plan and purpose for their lives.

We are also partnering with The Hillsong Colour Sisterhood, an organisation of women from all nations uniting to place value on humanity worldwide. We will be facilitating their ‘Shine’ program which is a tool specifically designed to help precious teenage girls discover their true worth, strength and purpose; to place value on their lives. My dream is to facilitate ‘Shine’ in local high schools as well as at church in order to reach as many young women as possible.

As with any responsibility, there is a cost! It’s going to cost us not only financially, but in energy, time and on many other levels. I have been overwhelmed with all the support this vision has received from so many of you so far, and, ladies, I want to encourage you to embark on this amazing journey with me. Allow God to plant those seeds of responsibility within you and let’s rise up together as a company of women uniting with many others on the face of this earth, to make a real difference!!!

Many blessings and much love
Danni
Xxx

PS: I very much look forward to working along side you all in the coming months and THANK YOU to all those who have  expressed an interest in supporting W.O.W already!

Will keep you posted!
xx Danni xx