To focus on the cross of Jesus Christ . . .
To be Jesus with skin on . . . to the forgotten!
"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, No hands but
yours, no feet but yours, Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion looks out on the world, Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good, And
yours are the hands with which
He is to bless us now." -St. Teresa of Avila
(1515-1582)
A Service Organization
Our mission is to help provide basic human services (medical attention,
dental care, clean water filtration systems, vision care, building projects,
etc.) to people in need so that they might have the same opportunity to live a
healthy, happy life, and hear of God's love and truth for them. Giving people a hand up - not a hand out!
Our most recent mission is to help orphaned children in South Africa.
We do what we do because God's word says: "For I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison
and you came to me. And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you,
as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."" -
Matt. 25:35-40
Amazon Charities was formed in 2003. We are a 501(C3) U.S. not for profit
corporation.
Fed ID#: 20-0291664
What began as a mission trip down the Amazon River in Brazil (thus the name) has
grown to include affiliations in many countries. We don't want to put limits on
God.
EVANGELICAL - This is the primary goal in everything we do.
When you step out of your comfort zone and "demonstrate" the love of God to
someone - with no strings attached - they are receptive to hearing the word of
God.
Dental & Medical Care
Dental and basic medical care can sometimes be a matter of life and
death. Many people suffer and die in silence of simple tooth decay! Our dental
team has portable dental units and can set-up almost any where (even under a
tree). Once limited to just pulling the decayed teeth the volunteer dentists
now can repair and save teeth. It's odd that we visit places where the local
food is like candy to the teeth, or the water so toxic that it causes some of
most severe cases of tooth decay. This team also teaches people about oral
hygiene and the importance of brushing their teeth. We always try to provide
every person with a toothbrush of their very own (not to share). The impact of
volunteer doctors, dentists, and nurses have an immediate and profound impact on
these people lives.
Clean Water - Clean Hands - Clean Hearts!
The simple truth: every 15 seconds, a child dies from contaminated water somewhere in our world.
This water comes from polluted rivers or buckets filled with rancid water
teaming with parasites and disease. Would
you let your child drink it? Would you? Meeting this basic human need is
challenging but not impossible. Team members who have been trained by Living Water International
will
construct, deliver, and install a biological-sand water filtration system that
provides safe, clean potable water. These filters are easily maintained and used
by the locals. As they meet the physical needs and conduct
hygiene education training ("clean hands") they are demonstrating the love of
God and then can address the spiritual needs ("clean hearts") through the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
Construction Everywhere we go there seems to be something that can be built or
repaired. Not every volunteer can be doctors or dentists or feel comfortable in
a medical capacity. The construction volunteer may be a desk jockey by trade but
capable of swinging a hammer, cementing bricks, climbing ladders, dipping a pain
brush or lifting things. We sometimes have professional contractors but even
simple manual labor can help to build a church, clinic, school or shelter.
For example, in the village of El Shaddai, Brazil, they have a Catholic Teacher
that could come only once a month to educate the children. With no place to stay,
except maybe a tent, she could only stay a day at a time before traveling back
to her city of Parintins. We built a simple wooden shelter for her (or any other
visiting teacher/preacher) and now she stays for a week at a time. Praise God.
Children's Ministries Do you remember summer time Vacation Bible Schools when you were growing
up? Making a paper fan, necklace, or coloring some pictures while listening to a
great Bible story was so much fun. This is the type of activities we engage the
village children in. We sing songs and act out God's creation (sun, moon,
flowers, etc.). The children are always receptive to smiles and hugs.
However, there is a much bigger problem in our world: HIV/AIDS! There
are over 11.4 Million children now orphaned in Sub-Saharan Africa due to AIDS.
Click here to read more.
Planting/Gardening Ministry Everyone needs food. What better way to have it than by growing it
yourself. We teach locals to cultivate and grow food that is well suited for
their individual climate. When good garden areas are not found, the eco-gardens
provide fresh fruit and vegetables through a water-saving irrigation system that
is easy to install and totally organic. There's no need for chemical fertilizers
or pesticides. We provide all the supplies and seeds for them to sustain
themselves.
You know the saying,
"Give a man a fish and you've fed him for a
day.
Teach a man to fish and you've fed him for a lifetime."
Sports Ministries The youth of the world hold the future of the world. Changed minds and
changed hearts facilitate changed actions. Jesus is the focus that brings about
this change. Sports is a common key to opening the door to share this new way of
thinking. Soccer is know and accepted world wide. All sports draw the youth and
young adults. We look at what sports is emphasized in the country that we go to
and we help equip those future leaders to go and share the gospel wit others.
Evangelical Those who feel God's call to share the gospel have a golden opportunity
to do that very thing by going on a mission trip. As God presents new
opportunities to our ministry we prayerfully ask His guidance and we let His
"Yes be yes, and His No, be no." Our mission is to be plain spoken and
teach and preach the whole truth of the word of God. We are to present ourselves
as living sacrifices to do God's will. We do this out of love for God's
sacrifice that made atonement of our sins possible through Jesus Christ.
We focus only on the cross of Christ. We prepare in advance your personal
testimony and have it translated into the local language to be used as a tool to
reach others.
Future Goals
Our goals are set by the vision and discernment of our Board of
Directors. As they focus and pray about where God is leading Amazon Charities,
new goals arise. We are; however, committed to channel our support to the
Affiliates listed.
