LYNCHBURG, Va.-A heavy silence filled the room as students stared at the screen, absorbing the horrific bloodshed and fiery violence on display before them. Smile4Africa presented the showing of "Hotel Rwanda" as a way to help raise awareness of the difficulties Africa has faced and is still facing today. This also acted as a fundraiser for student going on a mission trip to Zimbabwe.
Nearly 100 students gathered at Liberty University's campus in DeMoss 1090 Friday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Free admission was given to any person wishing to come to the even, but popcorn and sodas for on sale for 50 cents each to help raise money. The main purpose of the event was to raise awareness in Africa, but also to raise money as they were accepting donations for their cause.
The evening began with Director of International Ministries and World Help, Cyres Mad-Bondo giving an introduction to the movie and the genocide that ended in 1994. He gave some of his own testimonies of time spent in Rwanda while also telling students Africa was in need of people willing to help and make a difference.
Many eyes became misty at the sight of the genocide as the movie progressed. Students were brought to a greater awareness of the difficulties other nations face as compared to luxuries many Americans indulge in today.
"The movie was so powerful and opened my eyes making me realize how good I have it here in America living without fear," sophomore Trudy Mohammed said. "It made me see that it is so important for believers to show Christ's love to the world because there are people hurting, and all they need is someone to love and care for them the way Christ loves us."
All proceeds from the event went toward the Summer 2009 trip to Zimbabwe where four students will be sharing their faith with children and families. Smile4Africa has a base in Zimbabwe where students will be working to help needs such as HIV/AIDs, cholera and building orphanages, according to Tayo Rockson, fundraising and marketing director for Smile4Africa.
Other than donations that were given, the group was also selling T-shirts for $10. Freshmen Amber Turner, Adina Garcia and Denise Cosom all volunteered to help sell the shirts after the event.
"I went on a mission trip to South Africa and have always had an interest in missions. When I got back from my trip I wanted to do whatever I could to become involved and help," sophomore Emily Gardner said.
After the movie came to its conclusion, Rockson ended the evening with an inspirational and passionate challenge for students to make a difference. He encouraged students to take the anger sparked from the movie and use it to go into the world and be the one to help. he prompted them to be imitators of Christ and open their minds to fight atrocities and to be the ones to spark a revolution.
The organization Smile4Africa is in existence to support Africans and help spread the concern to others. Their goal is to share the love of Christ through different means such as education and health care. They hope to provide more employment opportunities to those in Africa so that they may provide for their people on their own. Ultimately their mission is to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ, according to founder and president Albert MaVunga.
"Our goal is to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the people in Africa. We want to make it a double-header with the spiritual and physical aspects," MaVunga said. "We do not only want to teach them how to fish, but we also want to give them a lake to fish in."
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sold Out: From Music to Politics
As he was driving down the Virginia highway in his pick up truck, listening to K92, a song of passion blared from the stereo and struck a chord in his heart. After the song, “My Favorite Dream” by artist Tanner Blankenship finished playing, this middle-aged man continued listening with tears streaming down his face.
Once the song came to its end, Blankenship was asked to discuss his inspiration to write such a song. After the horrific shootings at Virginia Tech (VT) in April 2007, he began forming lyrics to this song. Growing up in the nearby area of Dublin, Va., this tragic news hit home with Blankenship, and he wanted to dedicate his newly produced song to the families and victims of the VT shootings.
He continued to mention how God was his ultimate inspiration for all of his music. Although he did not spend the entire interview talking about God, he did hit on it for a few moments. As Blankenship was speaking, the man in the truck was touched by what he had said.
The next day Blankenship received a e-mail from the man explaining that he felt God while he was talking and felt led to turn his life around. Blankenship uses his music ministry with the purpose of glorifying his Lord.
“My greatest desire is to be with you. So take me as I am, I am yours. And though I’m just a man I’ll give what I have,” Blankenship’s lyrics to his song “As I Am” said. “And though I’m helplessly and worthlessly, and nothing on my own, you love me. You can use me Lord.”
These lyrics portray his constant desire to be used by God and give all he has to him. Blankenship has been involved with music ever since he can remember, starting with doing worship at his church, Pulaski Church of God, and first learning to play guitar around 9 or 10 years old.
His 10-song CD consists of songs about helping hurting people, hope and the loving grace of God. Initially Blakenship didn’t intend to create a c.d., but after about a year he realized he had written enough songs to create one. So he produced his CD “Fallen” in his home studio named Follow Hard.
“I love the song “Ocean” because I just think it is a good song and it’s the most fun to play. Although I would have to say the one that meant the most was “Fallen” Blankenship said.
The song came to him suddenly one morning as he woke up. It was at a time in his life where, even though he became a Christian at a young age, he had gotten into some things he was not proud of. Blankenship said he was living in the world and did not care about people or God because he was living selfishly. He was sick of his worldly lifestyle and had reached the end of his rope, according to Blankenship.
“I wanted a change in my life so much and it’s probably one of the most remarkable songs I have ever written because it just popped in my head instantly one morning,” Blankenship said. “I wrote the whole song in 10 minutes, and it turned out to be a great one about how God had never left me.”
Blankenship has since has the opportunity to share his songs with diverse audiences. December Radio, Casting Crowns and Sarah Reeves are a couple known artists he has performed alongside. His CD, “Fallen,” is available for $10 at his shows or by contacting him at followhard@verizon.net.
Ranging from Autumn Fest to Camp Jeep, where Tim McGraw also played and there were thousands in attendance, Blankenship has also performed at local bowling alleys, coffee shops and churches. He even performed at a Liberty open mic night.
Graduating with a degree in Advertising/Public Relations from Liberty in December 2008, he also received an associate degree in education from New River Community College. Blankenship is currently taking online courses at Biola University to receive his master’s in Christian apologetics, while also working as a teacher’s assistant at Pulaski Middle School.
It was not his initial plan to pursue a degree in Advertising/Public Relations, but after taking some Visual Communication (VCAR) classes and talking with others, Blankenship felt God guiding him in that direction. He has used what he learned from this degree to aid in advertising different things and to promote his music.
Using this degree, he has worked on web design and has developed his own site for his ministry, followhard.com. Here he displays articles he has written on music, faith and politics.
Blankenship’s interest in advertising also led for him to complete advertising work for The Patriot, Pulaski County paper with a circulation of 4,000 readers. Through volunteering he was able to write articles the editors assigned to him, which eventually led to his interest in writing about faith-based and political topics.
“I learned it’s important to volunteer places for a while because that can always lead to something else. I always encourage people to put their foot in the door with volunteering,” Blankenship said.
With his interest in politics, which Blankenship says may have come from being at Liberty, and music ministry he hopes to spend the rest of his life making a difference in some way. As he is pursuing his Master’s in Christian apologetics, he says he would love to be part of starting a church or possibly going into politics.
Standing up for his faith and being involved in political issues that he has a strong voice in, such as abortion, is important to Blankenship. He would love to possibly incorporate this into his music ministry and write songs that speak of such issues.
“It’s so hard to tell what I will be doing years from now, but I want to be making a big difference in whatever I am doing. If I could do something with music or politics I would be happy as long as I am impacting someone’s life,” Blankenship said. “I can do that with anything I’m doing, but my heart is making a difference and ministering to people.”
Once the song came to its end, Blankenship was asked to discuss his inspiration to write such a song. After the horrific shootings at Virginia Tech (VT) in April 2007, he began forming lyrics to this song. Growing up in the nearby area of Dublin, Va., this tragic news hit home with Blankenship, and he wanted to dedicate his newly produced song to the families and victims of the VT shootings.
He continued to mention how God was his ultimate inspiration for all of his music. Although he did not spend the entire interview talking about God, he did hit on it for a few moments. As Blankenship was speaking, the man in the truck was touched by what he had said.
The next day Blankenship received a e-mail from the man explaining that he felt God while he was talking and felt led to turn his life around. Blankenship uses his music ministry with the purpose of glorifying his Lord.
“My greatest desire is to be with you. So take me as I am, I am yours. And though I’m just a man I’ll give what I have,” Blankenship’s lyrics to his song “As I Am” said. “And though I’m helplessly and worthlessly, and nothing on my own, you love me. You can use me Lord.”
These lyrics portray his constant desire to be used by God and give all he has to him. Blankenship has been involved with music ever since he can remember, starting with doing worship at his church, Pulaski Church of God, and first learning to play guitar around 9 or 10 years old.
His 10-song CD consists of songs about helping hurting people, hope and the loving grace of God. Initially Blakenship didn’t intend to create a c.d., but after about a year he realized he had written enough songs to create one. So he produced his CD “Fallen” in his home studio named Follow Hard.
“I love the song “Ocean” because I just think it is a good song and it’s the most fun to play. Although I would have to say the one that meant the most was “Fallen” Blankenship said.
The song came to him suddenly one morning as he woke up. It was at a time in his life where, even though he became a Christian at a young age, he had gotten into some things he was not proud of. Blankenship said he was living in the world and did not care about people or God because he was living selfishly. He was sick of his worldly lifestyle and had reached the end of his rope, according to Blankenship.
“I wanted a change in my life so much and it’s probably one of the most remarkable songs I have ever written because it just popped in my head instantly one morning,” Blankenship said. “I wrote the whole song in 10 minutes, and it turned out to be a great one about how God had never left me.”
Blankenship has since has the opportunity to share his songs with diverse audiences. December Radio, Casting Crowns and Sarah Reeves are a couple known artists he has performed alongside. His CD, “Fallen,” is available for $10 at his shows or by contacting him at followhard@verizon.net.
Ranging from Autumn Fest to Camp Jeep, where Tim McGraw also played and there were thousands in attendance, Blankenship has also performed at local bowling alleys, coffee shops and churches. He even performed at a Liberty open mic night.
Graduating with a degree in Advertising/Public Relations from Liberty in December 2008, he also received an associate degree in education from New River Community College. Blankenship is currently taking online courses at Biola University to receive his master’s in Christian apologetics, while also working as a teacher’s assistant at Pulaski Middle School.
It was not his initial plan to pursue a degree in Advertising/Public Relations, but after taking some Visual Communication (VCAR) classes and talking with others, Blankenship felt God guiding him in that direction. He has used what he learned from this degree to aid in advertising different things and to promote his music.
Using this degree, he has worked on web design and has developed his own site for his ministry, followhard.com. Here he displays articles he has written on music, faith and politics.
Blankenship’s interest in advertising also led for him to complete advertising work for The Patriot, Pulaski County paper with a circulation of 4,000 readers. Through volunteering he was able to write articles the editors assigned to him, which eventually led to his interest in writing about faith-based and political topics.
“I learned it’s important to volunteer places for a while because that can always lead to something else. I always encourage people to put their foot in the door with volunteering,” Blankenship said.
With his interest in politics, which Blankenship says may have come from being at Liberty, and music ministry he hopes to spend the rest of his life making a difference in some way. As he is pursuing his Master’s in Christian apologetics, he says he would love to be part of starting a church or possibly going into politics.
Standing up for his faith and being involved in political issues that he has a strong voice in, such as abortion, is important to Blankenship. He would love to possibly incorporate this into his music ministry and write songs that speak of such issues.
“It’s so hard to tell what I will be doing years from now, but I want to be making a big difference in whatever I am doing. If I could do something with music or politics I would be happy as long as I am impacting someone’s life,” Blankenship said. “I can do that with anything I’m doing, but my heart is making a difference and ministering to people.”
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