Get Involved Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Center for Global Impact

Jeremy Vanderloop Concert

A few days ago, CGI had the honor of hosting a night of coffee and music at Foundry Provisions in downtown Indy. Jeremy Vanderloop was our special guest artist and he was fantastic!

Jeremy was a great balance of energy and “chill.” He had children dancing at his feet for some songs, and did some beautiful takes on classic hymns, too. At the end of his show, he passed out cards with photos of children being sponsored through his tour and asked us to pray for the child on the card in our hands. I had this amazing moment talking to God and realizing how much His heart must break every night when a child goes to bed hungry. I’m not sure if I’ve ever stopped to consider the depth of this, or if its my own current pregnancy that drove it home, but it was an emotional realization.

God loves us in a way that we will never understand. But he doesn’t just love middle and upper class Americans. His heart breaks as children go to bed starving and young girls are sold into trafficking, as teenage boys are turned into ruthless soldiers. Take some time to think about God’s love for ALL people. Share that with somebody today. Remind your children there are families with far less than we have. Give someone a hug and tell them you love them. You never know the impact you may be having on another.

If you want more information on how to make an impact in your community and beyond, check out www.cgidev.wpengine.com.

By Kristen Baynai

CGI on the Road!

I sat down to a heaping bowl of homemade blue cheese dressing paired with packets of Lance saltine crackers.

I was definitely not in Indiana anymore, but this place still felt like home. The table erupted in laughter again and I marveled at how God brings people together. I don’t know why I doubt that He knows best.

Kristen Baynai (CGI’s Volunteer Coordinator) and I had the pleasure of taking a week-long road trip to visit friends of CGI in Tennessee and Georgia. One of the highlights was sharing authentic barbeque with the friends and family of CGI’s Chef-in-Residence, Ryana DeArmond. We spent time in Alpharetta with Northpoint, Carrollton and Commerce with some wonderful byTavi Sales Reps, and Point University and Johnson University with passionate college students. We were excited to refresh some old relationships and create new ones.

CGI believes and lives by the work of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). God has created each individual to be part of the picture of His Kingdom. The women we serve in Cambodia improve their lives with the support and care of each person we visited on our trip, and you can be part of that too. Get in touch with us today to get started!

By Whitney Vance

Not Just Clothes

Kien Svay Kids in their new gym clothes

Last week, the children in our Kien Svay Kids program (part of CGI Kids) received new gym clothes. And here they are, grinning from ear to ear in their new outfits!

This photo warms our hearts because its a picture of more than just new clothes. It’s new opportunities and hope and excitement. It’s evidence of forward steps. So many of these children are trapped in a heartbreaking cycle of poverty and are gaining skills to help break free someday. We have already seen huge progress in their academic performances just since entering Kien Svay Kids, and we know its just the beginning!

Would you consider becoming a monthly supporter of CGI, and programs like these that help protect the vulnerable?

A Better Ending

Sometimes, people are exposed to the truth about trafficking and they are overwhelmed. They want to run in the opposite direction, because learning how dark and present the problem is, can make us feel powerless. Those feelings are natural, and we’ve all felt them.

But sometimes, people are exposed to the truth about trafficking and they choose to move toward the issue, fighting back against it. They know that change won’t come unless we act, whether we act as one person or one million on behalf of a righteous cause. Those feelings are supernatural. They are God calling us to lay down our fears and skepticism and fight for Kingdom justice, one step at a time.

Nadine Hill is a person who came face-to-face with the realities of human trafficking and chose not to run away. Today, she runs the Ecumenical Women’s Coalition Against Human Trafficking in Indianapolis, and works each day to combat sexual slavery and provide hope and relief for its victims. She’s teamed up with CGI to empower the women of byTavi, sharing their stories and using her networks to sell their products and pave the way for a stable future.

Read Nadine’s story below and be inspired to act! You may be only one person, but you have the power to bring healing, hope and a better ending.

Click Here to Read Nadine’s Story

Want to find out ways you can be involved? Contact us at bytavi@gmail.com.

The Beringers in Cambodia

Alan and Katy

Alan Beringer is CGI’s Director of Operations in Cambodia. Two years into serving in the mission field–along with his wife Katy and son Jonah–Alan plays a vital role in our organization, connecting the dots between supporters in the States and the day-to-day work of CGI in Cambodia.

He knows the whole package, from the visions of our stateside office to the faces of girls living into that vision. We caught up with Alan for a quick Q&A on what he does, how he does it, and how we can pray for his family.

What is your role with CGI?
I’m Director of Operations in Cambodia. Basically, I make sure that our projects in Cambodia are running smoothly.

Can you walk us through a typical week in your shoes?

There really isn’t a typical week! But here’s a little bit of my weekly routine: I attend a Khmer language school. (Yes, I continue to learn language; it brings smiles to Cambodians’ faces whenever they hear Katy and I speak Khmer!) I spend time with the CGI office staff reading the Bible and praying. Currently we’re reading the Book of Acts. My wife, Katy, attends a weekly meeting with the social workers at the Imprint Project, and I spend time at both Imprint and byTavi (only about a 5 minute walk between those buildings) throughout the week. I lead a Bible study with the women of byTavi and we normally end our time with a song.

I observe our Kien Svay Kids program (part of CGI Kids) each week and also learn how to sew with the women at byTavi. We have CGI staff meetings on Fridays and our time is filled with prayer, discussion about the week and staff development. I stay in constant communication with the CGI office Stateside, with regular Skype calls and weekly reports with details of what’s happening in our programs and with the individuals we serve here.

You have a unique view of the fruits of CGI’s programs and projects. What can you tell supporters half a world away about what their efforts are doing in the hearts and lives of the women we serve?
I first want to say thank you for your support of CGI. We would not be where we are without people like you. I have seen first hand how God is moving in our programs and how people’s lives are being transformed and redemption is happening. It’s amazing to me how new program participants come to us with little hope, but after they have been in our programs for a few weeks even, they are filled with joy and hope. God is at work here in Cambodia.

Being in the mission field can be challenging, and requires faith and plenty of prayer support. How can we pray specifically for you and your family?
Please pray that God would continue to give us strength as it would not be possible otherwise.
Please pray that we would stay healthy.
Please pray that we would continue to listen to and obey the Holy Spirit.

Please join us in praying for the Beringer family as they serve the people of Cambodia!

Host an Exclusive Shopping Experience!

Want to host a byTavi show without the hassle of getting your home ready for guests to enjoy? Then our new Exclusive Shopping Experience is perfect for you!

The Exclusive Shopping Experience allows a host to invite a minimum of ten friends to come to our byTavi store after hours to shop! Hostesses are welcome to bring refreshments for their guests to enjoy. All guests will have access to shop our entire inventory in both our storefront and our warehouse AND receive 20% off their entire purchase. As a host, there will be extra incentives available to you.

byTavi held our first Exclusive Shopping Experience with host Suni Johnson a couple of weeks ago. We had a successful evening with Suni and her guests and we were able to make new connections with her group of friends. The shopping experience provided a relaxed and enjoyable setting for us to share who Center for Global Impact is and what we are doing through our vocational training programs. Many of Suni’s guests were touched by the ministry of CGI and will continue to support our programs through purchasing byTavi and Imprint products and spreading the word!

The Exclusive Shopping Experience is perfect for girls night out, fellowship groups, birthday parties, or to have a fun way to introduce Center for Global Impact to your friends and family. Contact us today at bytavi@cgidev.wpengine.com to host your Exclusive Shopping Experience!

by Hali Mynatt

Love Redefined

What is love?

On Valentine’s Day, many of us celebrate romantic love—we shower our significant others with gifts and affection to show them we care. The Ancient Greeks separated love into different types ranging from affection, friendship, and romance to divine love, which they called agape.

Jesus spoke of this divine love when asked which was the greatest commandment—to love God and each other. Agape love transcends understanding and conditions. It’s Christ’s love in us that flows to others through us. C.S. Lewis, in his book The Four Loves, describes agape as a selfless love that is passionately committed to the well-being of others.

As an organization, we strive to be passionately committed to the well-being of others. We are so fortunate to work shoulder-to-shoulder with so many of you who strive for the same.

Happy Valentine’s Day from CGI and thanks for the love you extend through your support.

Influence Your Network for Good!

Joyce and Ly Phalla at the Culinary Training Center (CTC)

God surprises me when I least expect it.

Perhaps you can relate. After finishing full-time vocational ministry over three years ago, I began part-time tutoring, admiring how God had brought me full circle, back to my roots as a language arts teacher.

Just as I was becoming comfortable semi-retired, I was introduced to Paul Vida, who was using his skill as both a chef and a culinary arts instructor to develop CGI’s Culinary Training Center (CTC). In early 2011, the building in Battambang, Cambodia, had recently been leased by CGI. No staff! No in-country leadership! Just faith, a vision, and a generous start-up donation.

The goal? To provide at-risk young women skills, income, and most importantly, an introduction to Jesus Christ.

At that time, I had no clue I could contribute to CGI’s mission other than to write a few letters, add a few commas, and do a bit of editing. Surprisingly, God revealed that I could be much more influential. He will answer when we pray for opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives.

Those opportunities came in a variety of ways. The simplest one was introducing friends and family to CGI’s mission by selling byTavi products. As that influence grew, God provided events where I could sell and become a vocal advocate for the women CGI helps.

These include a women’s conference my college roommate helped organize, the Spring Bling at the assisted living facility where my mother lived, and a variety of women’s groups at local churches, including my home congregation. Through these, I’ve been blessed to speak to many women about extreme poverty and how they can help. And I’m looking forward to how God will use me in the future.

Even if we don’t realize it, each of us has a network of resources and influence. My challenge is for you to pray and let God surprise you.

Blessings both here and half a world away will follow.

By Joyce Long

Be a Voice

Stephanie and Jessica Maass

After having the privilege to travel to Cambodia with my 14-year-old daughter, Jessie, and meet the wonderful girls that CGI serves, I was honored to take action on their behalf by hosting trunk shows.

By having a trunk show, I am able to love my neighbors in Cambodia and be a voice for them here in the U.S. These young women are working hard to heal, to be restored, to learn new skills, to understand their value and who they are in Christ. CGI is loving them, and empowering them through the ByTavi and Imprint Collections. These ladies are precious, and the items they make are not only products to be sold, but symbols of healing and of change in their lives and culture.

It was incredibly easy to go online and order the ByTavi trunk show products to be shipped for the show. The instructions and DVD were included with all the items and the free return shipping labels. I actually chose to do several small sessions with friends, rather than try to coordinate a single night (which is difficult with busy schedules). I was able to share about my trip, share about the girls and their stories, and provide an opportunity for my friends to be a part of it all.

These women’s stories matter.

People want to make a difference in others’ lives. CGI has created a unique and easy way for women in the U.S. to directly impact the lives of women in Cambodia. We have a great privilege and responsibility to be a voice for the women whose freedoms have been taken away. I am thankful to have a way to raise awareness of the reality of human trafficking and to share their voices with my family and friends to be a part of the healing.

By Stephanie Maass

Overwhelmed by God’s Work

Whitney Vance with byTavi seamstresses

I will never forget the first time I stepped foot into the byTavi workshop. I followed Chris (CGI’s President) and Nathan (CGI’s Chief Operating Officer) up the narrow stairs to the second floor where the women work. When I rounded the corner and stepped through the threshold, I was immediately speechless and choked up.

For the first time I understood – and it clicked for me. I had been working with CGI for eight months, telling the story of these precious women and marketing their high-quality items, but I didn’t quite get it until I saw them with, what looked like to me, scraps of fabric, being created into works of art. That was in January 2012.

I just returned from my third visit to Cambodia, and this visit to the workshop was no less impactful. The program continues to grow, and the women’s lives are continuing to change. I met our three newest members of the byTavi family during their first day of work. It was a pleasure to see the “veteran” seamstresses training the new ones.

I talked with Tavi and was pleased to hear that her prayer request was for her teenage son, who had an exam later that week. The mere fact that he is in school is a testament to her and her family’s growth over the years. Another woman, who had just joined the team a month ago, asked for prayer about a breathing condition, so we laid hands on her and prayed for her healing. One of the management staff shared that her parents have recently come to know Christ.

byTavi is so much more than a great product. byTavi means lives changed – not only the lives of the women making purses, but their family members. It’s amazing the impact God can make with a simple sewing machine.

by Whitney Vance (CGI’s Marketing & Relationship Coordinator)