Looking back on the last 8 years of leading Forgotten Voices, I see a powerful, yet simple lesson. The most influential change comes in simple, small steps. We often look at the great challenges of our day and can become quickly overwhelmed. The orphan crises continues to grow, even as our ministry grows too. We [...]

Tags: change, forgotten voices, hope, love, margin, praxis, steps, world
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Today is the due date for my 2nd child, so the title may imply I am waiting for her. I’m sure she will be fantastic and I cannot wait to hold her. But as the birth of our daughter draws closer, I cannot help but think about how vulnerable she will be. I remember holding [...]

Tags: champion, child, forgotten voices, hope, orphan care, Ryan Keith
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My family and I were out for frozen yogurt recently. The place was packed, with the line spilling out the door and down the sidewalk.  We were sitting on the curb watching the massive crowd building. My almost 3 year old daughter, like me, loves people. With my typical lack of humility, I told her, [...]

Tags: community, forgotten voices, ice cream, strangers, zambia, zimbabwe
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Are you overwhelmed by life and wondering what now? What next? Me too, sometimes. One of the most rewarding, yet emotionally challenging parts of my life is leading Forgotten Voices. Over and over, I find our ministry in situations that seem impossible, likely because we are on the front lines of caring for vulnerable children [...]

Tags: change, forgotten voices, hope, love, margin, perseverance, world
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Late last night I was at a diner. I met up with a long-time friend, who I used to be pretty close to, but life had taken our paths apart. He’s younger than me and I had not seen him in 5 years. He has a lot going on in life. Serious stuff from many [...]

Tags: community, diner, forgotten voices, zambia, zimbabwe
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I love listening to children tell me their stories. What they did that day. What they want to be in life. Or just a random story or joke that doesn’t seem to fit in with anything else. Children have a way of unlocking life, no matter where they come from or where the world thinks [...]

Tags: change, forgotten voices, hope, listen, love, margin, relationship, world
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This January I am struck by the memory of the old “No room at the Inn” story. As Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to rest and a place for Mary to deliver Jesus, they couldn’t find a place. Imagine if the people KNEW who was in Mary’s belly? Would they have made [...]

Tags: change, forgotten voices, hope, love, margin, world
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On New Years day a friend of mine, Layton Shoemaker, passed away unexpectedly. He went for a walk early in the morning, something happened (TBD), he collapsed, and he passed away. He was supposed to be my first call of the work year yesterday. My very first call in 2013. I had been praying for [...]

Tags: death, forgotten voices, Layton Shoemaker, life, living, zambia, zimbabwe
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“We must embrace the suffering around us and be light in our world.” – Pastor Beki Moyo, our Zimbabwe Director, on a conference call this week, charging us all to go forward in our ministry to children orphaned. This Christmas we are reflecting on Continuing the Journey, specifically how your support helps children continue their [...]

Tags: #FVAdvent, Christmas, holidays, Jesus, joy, loss, love, redemption, suffering, zambia, zimbabwe
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You can give today at forgottenvoices.org/donate. Thank you. -Ryan

Tags: Christmas, education, forgotten voices, zambia, zimbabwe
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