Reach Out and Touch Someone

When I was a little kid, there was a phone company slogan that was very popular: “Reach out and touch someone!” I loved that slogan then and still love it now. One of my biggest pet peeves is how so much of life has lost the personal touch. You go to the bank and do business with a machine, using a little plastic card. You call the electric company and do business by punching numbers into a computerized phone system. And even at the grocery store, many places have begun installing little kiosks where you scan your own groceries, pay with plastic, and bag your own—all without ever having to interact with another living, breathing human being.

Well, this weekend, I have been touched. On Sunday, I turned 32. And over the weekend, I received more than 100 emails, Facebook messages, and tweets from all of you telling me Happy Birthday. I have to say that I felt really, really loved—and yes, touched. THANK YOU ALL!

But I didn’t start this post to talk about me…

Several days ago, I saw a most intriguing tweet from my favorite Okie-Laskan (that’s an Oklahoman that’s transplanted to Alaska) pastor friend, Jason S. You might not know this, but Jason has a hidden talent—he is a phenomenal musician! Over the past several years, he’s released several CDs of worship music. I have one of them and it’s GREAT! I keep it in my disc player! But I’m digressing…

When the horrific earthquake happened in Haiti, Jason began looking for an opportunity to help with the relief efforts. Like most of us, he’s on a budget and doesn’t have a lot of extra cash to spare. But then, something happened. I’ll let him share it:

“I got an email from CD Baby, the distributor of mine and many independent artist’s music.  They have decided to make a donation for every purchase on their website.  Here’s what they said:

Starting on Monday, January 25th and continuing for two weeks, we will donate $1 of our cut from every CD sale through our website, and $1 from every download sale over $8.99 on our site, to the American Red Cross and to Mercy Corps, a Portland-based relief organization with a large presence in Haiti. With your help, we hope to raise tens of thousands of dollars.

I was convicted because I know as God’s people we are meant to make an impact, and even though throughout the world, I know we are, it has to be personal.  I remembered Proverbs 21:13, “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”

I’m opening my ears and allowing God to open my heart. Since CD Baby is giving a dollar for every purchase made in the next two weeks, I’m going to give $5 for every album purchase (digital download or CD).  I’ll turn around and give this to World Vision.

You can support the efforts in Haiti and get, what I feel is some great worship music in the process.  Maybe it’s not your style, no problem! But maybe you know someone who might like it. If you already have this music, you can purchase it for a friend or whatever you like.

I hope you’ll help me in this and that we’ll have a great testimony of what God has done.  Let’s participate in the life of Jesus and bring some peace. After all, that’s exactly what He did—our trouble met His gift of peace.”

I don’t think I can say it any better than Jason did, so now I’m just going to share the link. Go HERE to support this project.

Since we’re talking about reaching out and touching someone, I want to give you one more opportunity here today. On July 11-25, I will be joining a team of ten with Rose Boyd and Operation Teaching Tools to go to Kenya and Sudan on a mission trip. I know that I’ve mentioned this here a number of times, but I haven’t shared HOW you can help.

Really, there are TWO ways you can help.

1.       I need prayer partners. And by this, I mean serious intercessors who will commit to pray regularly for me, my team, and the folks we will be ministering to. I will send you regularly updated, specific prayer requests. And I will ask you to commit to pray EACH DAY while we are gone out of country. If you wish to be a prayer partner, please email me at smsalter78@yahoo.com with your name and email address so that I can add you to the list and send you your updates.

2.       I need financial supporters. I am responsible for raising my $4,050 of support. This purchases my plane ticket and pays for my expenses while in the mission field. I know that our Great Big God will provide the support, but I also know that He might wish to use some of you to do it! Please prayerfully search your hearts to see if God would have you to help in this way. If you wish to be a financial supporter, please make your checks out to Operation Teaching Tools (they are a 501-c-3 non-profit organization and so your gift will be tax deductible) and mail them to:

Sarah Salter

PO Box 54

Falcon, NC 28342

If you pray and feel that God is leading you to assist in another way, please feel free to contact me by email or postal mail at the addresses above. God works in MANY ways, not just these two!

Thank you all for letting me share my heart today! I’d like to open this up to everybody to share. If you have a cause you would like to share with us, please feel free to share it in the comments along with websites, email addresses and any other helpful information!

Thank you ALL for being willing to reach out and touch someone!