CONTENTS

An Awesome Opportunity
Ministry Highlights

An Awesome Opportunity!
Dear Friends of HighRise Video Productions (HVP),

I want to share something very exciting that has just happened in my life. I have been selected by my home church, Christian Stronghold Baptist, to be a part of our Youth Ministry Resource Team that is going to South Africa in March 2004.
The Stronghold Youth Ministry Staff has been invited to South Africa by the ASINDIZE! Project in the Umlazi Township of Durban. ('Asindize' means 'I can fly!' in the Kwa-Zulu language)

During two full weeks in South Africa we will help the ASINDIZE! Project in establishing its first ever week-long, in-depth, Student Leadership Development Camps. We will be working along side the South African staff to develop a curriculum and to establish a working model for this ambitious new program. HVP will be in charge of training the students and staff members in video production and helping them to create their own video documentary.

In between camps we will be spending the weekend in Soweto ministering at the Carl Sithole Center, which is a home for orphaned and abused girls and also includes a home for abandoned AIDS babies, both run by The Salvation Army.

I am excited about this unique opportunity to help our brothers & sisters who are actively involved in building the new South Africa!

On my last trip to South Africa with Campus Crusade(HVP-2002-vol1,Issue1), I had the opportunity to travel with nearly 200 students who made up the largest group of African American missionaries in history. As a result of this trip, 622 South Africans were led to Christ!

 

Durban, South Africa Skyline

So, I know from experience that our involvement in the ASINDIZE! Project will have a profoundly incredible impact for the cause of Christ in us the and the people we will meet for the rest of our lives.

Because the ASINDIZE! Project is already under-funded, the Stronghold Team has decided to raise the funds for this exciting new project here in the USA. All financial assistance that we receive will go entirely toward the expenses of this trip and the Leadership Camps. There is no organizational overhead.

And so, I need to raise $3000.00 as my commitment to this team effort. If there is any way that you can assist by praying for me/us or by financial assistance I would be forever grateful!

Please make checks payable to HighRise Video Productions. Our address is:

HighRise Video Productions
128 Locust Grove Rd
Rosemont, PA 19010

Many of you supported and prayed for me during my preparation for West Africa. THANK YOU! The Lord truly answered your prayers!


Ministry Highlights 		For more information please visit our web site: www.highrisevideo.com
Developing African, Christian Leaders -

MONROVIA, LIBERIA - This past fall, HVP spent a week in Liberia at Carver International Missions to produce a video about their mission schools; Carver Mission Academy, Monrovia Bible Institute and Monrovia Bible College. Carver's mission is to 'Develop African, Christian leaders for the church, public and private sectors." The video highlights current and former students of Carver who talk about the positive impact the ministry has had on their lives and the surrounding community of King Gray Village.

In a war torn country like Liberia, where there is 80% unemployment, education is the only way to rise out of poverty. This is especially true for girls, who without education and practical skills are often forced into prostitution as their only source of income. In Liberia, as in many other countries in Africa, education is not free and most people are just too poor to afford it. Carver is important to the community because it is one of the few schools that provide scholarships to many of its students. Some times even the missionaries and teachers pay a student’s tuition out of their own meager salaries.

During Liberia’s recent civil war Carver had to shut the schools down and the American missionaries where taken to safety in Ghana. In the war’s aftermath, all of the local staff and missionaries are reported safe and unharmed. Please pray for Carver International Missions and the people of King Gray Village.

Praise Report!
  • Liberia, West Africa-Carver International Missions - Donations from HVP supporters helped to pay tuition for 3 students of Carver Mission Academy for an entire year!
  • Benin, West Africa- Adopt-A-Village program- 1 village adopted in 2001 has taken it upon themselves to adopt 12 other villages and is spreading the word of God through out their community
  • Nearly 1000 copies of missions videos created by HighRise Video Productions are in circulation, helping missions organizations to raise funds and edify and motivate the African American church to get involved with the Great Commission!

 

 Adopt-A-Village Changes Lives

COTONOU, BENIN – HVP next traveled to Cotonou, Benin with Brian Johnson founder and director of COMINAD*, to create a fundraising/promotional video about the Adopt-A-Village program.
Adopt-A-Village pairs African American churches with African villages in an attempt to build relationships with the villagers and help them grow spiritually as well as economically. The video not only provides information about the Adopt-A-Village program, but is an excellent tool to educate church members on the current Reconciliation Movement in West Africa, and the increasing importance of African Americans becoming involved in missions.
Although the Lord only allowed us to visit one village during our trip, we were able to see how He is using the AAV program to transform lives for His Kingdom.
As the African villagers witnessed their village being transformed through donations of clothing, constructions of wells, schools, sanitary facilities, etc., they wanted to know more about the God that motivated people toward such kindness. As a result, the entire village accepted Christ and is On Fire for the Lord!