16 Days til Hey Jack Radio Day!!

October 1st, 2008

The countdown begins; 16 days and counting til Hey Jack Radio Day!  Have you got your shirt yet?  If not, you better hurry, because we need you to help us reach the goal of having thousands of people wearing their Hey Jack Radio shirts to broadcast this very important message to “text JACK to 23000”, so that people everywhere will learn about our friends in Kenya and be ignited to join the movement!

It’s hard to believe that God can use a simple shirt to provide answers to those tough life questions, like:

“How am I going to pay for school?”

“Will I have clean water to drink today?”

“How can I get the medicine to treat my sick child?”

“Will I get the chance to achieve my dreams?”

These are life questions that most of us in America will never have to ask, but for the people in Kenya, they’re asked everyday.  When you purchase and wear a Hey Jack Radio shirt, you not only help provide answers to those questions, but also broadcast the message so others can join us in coming alongside our friends in Kenya.

God wants to use you on October 16, 2008 as we unite to Wear the Shirt.  Broadcast the Message.  Inspire a Nation.

Jack gets his left arm!

September 11th, 2008

The unimaginable has come true for Jack.  After an unexpected surgery and lots of healing, he got his second arm this past Monday.  It’s surreal to believe that this time last year, Jack was spending his days at the CCRC depending on people to help him with every little thing, and now here he is in America with two new functioning arms!

Jack laughs as he shares, “I’m so happy to have two arms now.  It won’t be like my real arms, but something is better than nothing!”

When Jack went to the doctor on Monday to get his arm, he said he was a little nervous, because the doctor warned him that the left arm would be slightly more complicated to maneuver.  His left arm attaches at his shoulder, whereas the right arm attaches at the elbow, so all the movement comes from his shoulder making it more difficult.

He’s already practicing a lot though, and will be going to physical therapy weekly.  Jack will quickly master usage of his new left arm, but he said it’s harder to use his left arm, because he’s not left-handed.

Jack has gotten a lot of practice eating with his new arms, and he loves American restaurants.  The first thing they did after getting his new arm on Monday was go to Krispy Kreme!  His favorite so far has been the Japanese Steakhouse.  He loved getting to watch the chefs cook the food in front of him.

Besides eating, Jack says he’s looking forward to using his arms for everyday things that he hasn’t been able to do in years, like writing and bathing himself.  He’s anxious to learn how to write more.

A Ripple Effect by Becca Housman in Paducah, KY

September 9th, 2008

We were all given something, starting with birth. Our mothers all gave birth to us, and then someone continued to care for us as we were growing up. Whether it’s been paper from a classmate, encouragement from a teammate, or a birthday card from a friend, we’ve all been given something else from others as well.
There are places in the world that are in far much worse shape than you and I could ever imagine without actually experiencing it. Countries like Kenya are infested with diseases that are taking a large toll on the population. Many of these diseases are water related and fatal, leaving children without parents, as a result, older bothers and sisters must look after and take care of the younger siblings.

Every fourteen seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS alone; even more often than that a child dies. Some of these causes are disease. Some of them, however, are from poverty. The most common diseases are water-borne and AIDS. The slums are so poor though that they don’t know what other options are available, due to lack of education, and they don’t have the resources they need for change. The water they have available is contaminated with waste, as well as disease. An eight year old child may have to walk six miles, or more, one way, for this unsanitary water; and more often than not, this walk is made daily.
In some parts of certain countries people must resort to stealing because they have no other way of getting food, clothing, or other materials. Sometimes they must even steal from the garbage, if you are caught stealing, you will be beaten and sometimes go to jail. Take Jack as an example. Jack was a man who got in trouble with the law. As he was running away from the police his arms were ripped off as he was trying to jump onto a moving train so he wouldn’t be beaten by the police. Luckily, there are places like The BigStuf House, a home for boys; that took him in and cared for him when he couldn’t take care of himself. A group in the United States heard about Jack’s accident and decided to sponsor him, earning enough money for Jack to be able to come to the United States and visit a specialist. On June 3, 2008 Jack flew into Atlanta, Georgia and was fitted for new hands. During the week of June 21, 2008 Jack had surgery and was given his artificial arms and a newfound capability of caring for himself.  Now he is giving back to The BigStuf House, who helped him to survive. He teaches young boys how to play soccer and football, and helps them with their studies, as well as teaching them about God and the Bible. He is also a volunteer and assistant in the local church, and dreams of becoming a pastor. He prays that his story will reach out to others and help them to change their lives. This all happened as a ripple effect of one person, or group, caring enough to reach out and help someone else.

The BigStuf House is a home, founded by BigStuf (a camp organization founded in 1988, originally known as Youth Ministry Resources), that houses around fifty Kenyan orphans. Here they have a better place to live than on the streets, which gives many young children hope for the future. Here, they also attend church services and have a chance to join other extracurricular activities as well, such as playing football or soccer that I mentioned earlier.

Compassion is one of my favorite organizations. This group helps communities learn to grow, and become better one family at a time; they also have an opportunity to learn about God. Anyone can sign up to sponsor a child, when you sponsor them you send them money. This money is used for doctors, school, medicine, food, clothing, as well as other materials. Through Compassion you could help change a community by helping one child. If a Compassion Child has exceptional grades all through school and wishes to go to college, they could be accepted into an LDP (Leadership Development Program). Once again, someone will have an opportunity to sponsor them. If the student is able to, they may have the opportunity to visit the United States to study, work, or visit; some of these students have a chance to meet their sponsors. This summer I was fortunate enough to meet Ben, a former LDP student, from Nairobi, Kenya. He shared his story about being sponsored; it was a very moving experience. He had only been in the country for a very short amount of time, just a matter of days. He was completely dumbfounded by what he saw and what he was experiencing, and was quite excited. Again, he was given this opportunity was given only because someone cared enough to take action.

Just one positive action can ripple into something much greater than expected. One ripple could change the life of a person, or maybe even a whole community. I think that if we all gave back the world could be a much better place; and I very strongly believe that we all should give back something in our lifetimes. You’ve read how one person’s choice affected the life of someone on the opposite side of the planet forever. Now what are you going to do to start a ripple?

Hey Jack Radio Day October 16, 2008…It’s more than just a shirt

September 4th, 2008

October 16, 2008 is Hey Jack Radio Day where people across the globe will unite to wear their Hey Jack Radio shirts.  But this day is about so much more than a shirt.  It’s about raising awareness of the needs in Kenya.  It’s about bringing, hope, education, water and health care to the nation of Kenya.  And ultimately, it’s about doing something for the Kingdom.

Imagine with me the power of this shirt:

In an average day, you may pass 100 people on the street.  If you’re wearing your Hey Jack Radio shirt and just 2 out of those 100 people read the shirt, text JACK to 23000, visit HeyJackRadio.com, and buy a shirt, those 2 shirts will provide 20 feet of pipe for running water in a community.

Now if 75 people wear their Hey Jack Radio shirts, and 150 people read the shirt, text JACK to 23000, visit the Web site and buy a shirt.  Those 150 shirts will fund a teacher’s salary for an entire year.

If 6,000 people wear their Hey Jack Radio shirts on Hey Jack Radio day, and 12,000 people read the shirt, text JACK to 23000, visit the Web site and buy a shirt, those 12,000 shirts will fund a medical clinic that will provide accessible health care for 4,000-7,000 people in a community.

The population in the U.S. is 300 million people….stay with me for this one.  If just 12,000 out of 300 million people in the U.S. wore Hey Jack Radio shirts, and 24,000 people see the shirt, text JACK to 23000, visit the Web site and buy a shirt, those 24,000 shirts would fund 6 water projects in Kenya, which would provide clean, running water for 15,000 people in Kenya!

Now you see that Hey Jack Radio is so much more than a shirt.  On October 16, 2008, we have a goal of having 100,000 people wearing their Hey Jack Radio shirts in hopes that the national media will broadcast our message to the country.  So join us and Wear the shirt.  Broadcast the message.  Inspire a nation….

Jack’s stay in the U.S. extended!

August 27th, 2008

As soon as you meet Jack, you can’t help but get a giant grin across your face.  His eyes and expression lights up an entire room!  Jack has been with us since the beginning of the summer, with the main purpose of his trip to America was to receive prosthetic arms, but God had a much bigger plan.

During his first round of appointments, we were unsure if Jack would be able to get both prosthetic arms.  It was going to require extra surgery on his left arm, which also meant extra money.  God quickly provided a donor to provide the extra funding for Jack’s other arm. What an amazing blessing that was!   Jack was originally scheduled to return to Kenya in mid-August, but the wound from the surgery has taken longer than expected to heal, which is extending Jack’s stay until mid-October!

Jack’s dream is that God will use his story to change lives, and that is exactly what is happening.  Jack has spent the summer sharing his story and impacting the lives of thousands.   He has traveled to Bigstuf Camp and various churches and small groups sharing his story, and making new friends.  If you are interested in having Jack speak at your church, you can contact The 410 Bridge at 770.664.4949 or info@410bridge.org.

Daraja Children’s Choir of Africa in the News

July 24th, 2008

The Daraja Children’s Choir of Africa recently performed at First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa, AL, and the Tuscaloosa News was on hand to broadcast their message to the community.  Check out this cool article!

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080721/NEWS/505232850

Jack Gets his Arms

July 21st, 2008

Just in case you haven’t seen this unbelievable story. Here’s Jack’s journey in the U.S. thus far. God is good!

Students fast for Africa

July 17th, 2008

Nobody enjoys skipping a meal, but did you know that the average person in Africa only eats one meal a day? Yeah, that’s right ONE MEAL A DAY!

Last week after hearing Jack’s story on stage at Bigstuf Camp, a youth group from Community Bible Church in Highlands, NC was presented with a challenge. Youth pastor, Ryan Sprague, challenged the students to consider fasting their evening meal and then donating their dinner money to The 410 Bridge to fund a project in Kenya. Ryan encouraged the students to think and pray about it and then he did a little investigative work on his own. He met with 410 Bridge staff who were at the camp and shared with them what his students were considering. He asked if there was a specific project their donation could fund and learned about a piece of land that needed to be purchased in order to drill a bore hole to bring clean water to a 410 Bridge community. The cost of the land was $1750.

When Ryan next met with his youth group, he shared this opportunity. It may seem like an easy decision to skip one meal, especially for such a worthy cause. But this was the student’s free night when they get to leave camp and eat out. Its a night they really look forward to. Ryan said that some students never hesitated, some struggled, some were even mad but in the end, they all came together to make a sacrifice that would impact a community of people across the ocean. Every student gave their $20 and a few adult chaperons felt moved to write a check for the additional money needed to reach the $1750.00.

The story doesn’t end there. One of the students called a relative who managed a Publix grocery store in Panama City and told him what they were doing. The Publix store manager was so moved by the student’s gesture of compassion that he provided dinner for the whole group. Some students still committed to fasting but others had dinner if they chose to and in the process they broadcast a message of hope not just to Kenya but to all of the Publix staff who heard the story!

Because these students sacrificed one meal, the people of Karima are closer to having clean running water that is easily accessible and will help prevent disease. Way to go Community Bible Church Youth of Highlands, NC!

The Broadcasting Power of a Hey Jack Radio Shirt

July 14th, 2008

Read this amazing encounter from Jamie Kendrew when he wore his Hey Jack Radio shirt to broadcast God’s message of Redemption through Christ. Absolutely incredible:

“The reason for this email is to share with you a story. I had gotten back into Pittsburgh from Bigstuf about 4 hours ago and was unloading my stuff proudly wearing my Hey Jack Radio shirt. I parked in the very front of my apartment building and people were on their decks over my head. I simply said hi and did my tired thing and unpacked!

I went to bed and two hours later had some knocking on my door. I opened the door to a teary-eyed neighbor of mine named Bob. This man had just moved in about a month ago and he was a friendly guy. He filled me in on what had just taken place.

I guess when I was unloading my jeep someone (Bob) on their balcony texted “JACK” to 23000 and got the web site stuff. Apparently they became really interested and began to read up on 410, jack, and the entire movement. As if that isn’t cool enough, he went on to say that he went back out onto his balcony to take in all the videos and stuff he read and all of our neighbors (other than me) were out there shooting the breeze.

Someone asked him why he was so quiet and he began to share with them about Jack, 410 and Kenya. Well apparently they all became moved (non Christians at that) my teary-eyed neighbor now standing before me began to ask me more questions, and then went on to ask if I wouldn’t mind stepping out and sharing with all of the balconies about what is going on.

So I did, I walked out to the front of my building and 4 families- old and young- had assembled on their own balconies to hear more about what my one neighbor, Bob, was raving about.

So Bob said “Hey guys, in light of the conversation we were having about Jamie’s shirt I just asked him to step out and tell us the full story. Bob then walked me to the front of the building and said, “So listen up.”
LOL. Now I’m thinking, “ok, we are going to step out in the breezeway and talk about Kenya.” Nope. Bob set me up to do a sermon to the balcony face of my building! LOL.

He said, “ ok all lets listen to the man” and he then went inside to his balcony like the rest. So with beers in hand and grills a blaze I shared with them our stories from November’s service trip, and I shared with them about Jack, and all of the statistics about water, AIDS and Africa, in general and how students at Bigstuf camps have begun to change Africa.

They asked why they don’t hear more about this stuff in the media, so I shared how it is overlooked and so on by the media. They then asked “why would we be doing that? what causes us as people to love other people that way?” So I then went on to share how Christ came and taught us to do two things: love God and others.

I kid you not this was like the craziest moment of my life! Here I am standing in the front of my apartment now with people on the lawn behind me who started listening while walking their dogs Sharing Christ! AT THEIR REQUEST! Well, I shared that message and said if anyone wanted to know more that my door is open any time for them to talk, and I gave them the web sites for 410.

As I finished Bob says, “Well who can we give checks to to help?” I stated “well you can either go right to 410 or funnel them through Grace” I wasn’t ready for what was happening!

Slowly, all of my neighbors and some from our apartment plan began to talk, “well what if we did something together as building 500?” They went on with ideas and stuff and basically came up with their own group to help Kenya! LOL.

How cool! This is what they came up with: they are going do 2 monthly collections of our building to help support Joska through Grace. These are NON-CHRISTIANS,

I am now sitting in my apartment in awe. It won’t be a lot of money like our previous donor, but how beautiful that because of a t-shirt around 6 families heard of jack story, 410, helping Kenya, and most importantly heard the gospel and that is within 4 hours of return :] from camp

sorry for my spelling and grammar I am still sleep deprived and operating on caffeine (Kenyan caffeine at that) from the big stuf trip home.i hope this rambling all comes to find you both as legible lol I just wanted to share that with ya about this cause GOD IS GOOD!

we pray for you all daily

Jamie Kendrew

Pastor, Grace in Cranberry

Keep broadcasting friends! God is on the move…

Welcome Hey Jack Broadcasters!

July 3rd, 2008

Hey Jack Radio is not just a campaign. This is a God-infused movement. If you’ve been keeping up with the story of our friend Jack, then you know that God is up to something BIG. He is up to something that is beyond anything that we can think or imagine, and He has invited us to broadcast His message of redemption and restoration.  If you have not heard about our friend, Jack, then you need to stop reading now and go to heyjackradio.com and view his story!

Jack represents so many of our friends in Kenya, and God is using these stories to bridge the gap between his children in America and Kenya. God is opening the gates with opportunities for us to broadcast this movement, and He’s saying to us, “You don’t want to miss out on this!”

The stories are starting of people who are being impacted because they texted “JACK” to 23000! So thank you for tuning in and broadcasting your part of the story. Stay tuned for more, because this movement has only begun…