About Us...
To focus on the cross of Jesus Christ . . . To be Jesus with skin on . . . to the forgotten!
"Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
No hands but yours, no feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which Christ's
compassion looks out on the world,
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good,
And yours are the hands with which
He is to bless us now." -St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
A Service Organization
Our mission is to help provide basic human services (medical attention, dental care, clean water filtration systems, vision care, building projects, etc.) to people in need so that they might have the same opportunity to live a healthy, happy life, and hear of God's love and truth for them. Giving people a hand up - not a hand out! Our most recent mission is to help orphaned children in South Africa.
We do what we do because God's word says: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."" - Matt. 25:35-40
Staff
Click here to see and read about our volunteer staff.
History
Amazon Charities was formed in 2003. We are a 501(C3) U.S. not for profit corporation. Fed ID#: 20-0291664.
What began as a mission trip down the Amazon River in Brazil (thus the name) has grown to include affiliations in many countries. We don't want to put limits on God.
VOLUNTEER FOR . . .
Dental & Medical Care
Water Filtration Projects: Clean Water - Clean Hands - Clean Hearts!
EVANGELICAL - This is the primary goal in everything we do. When you step out of your comfort zone and "demonstrate" the love of God to someone - with no strings attached - they are receptive to hearing the word of God.
Dental & Medical Care
Dental and basic medical care can sometimes be a matter of life and death. Many people suffer and die in silence of simple tooth decay! Our dental team has portable dental units and can set-up almost any where (even under a tree). Once limited to just pulling the decayed teeth the volunteer dentists now can repair and save teeth. It's odd that we visit places where the local food is like candy to the teeth, or the water so toxic that it causes some of most severe cases of tooth decay. This team also teaches people about oral hygiene and the importance of brushing their teeth. We always try to provide every person with a toothbrush of their very own (not to share). The impact of volunteer doctors, dentists, and nurses have an immediate and profound impact on these people lives.
Clean Water - Clean Hands - Clean Hearts!
The simple truth: every 15 seconds, a child dies from contaminated water somewhere in our world. This water comes from polluted rivers or buckets filled with rancid water teaming with parasites and disease. Would you let your child drink it? Would you? Meeting this basic human need is challenging but not impossible. Team members who have been trained by Living Water International will construct, deliver, and install a biological-sand water filtration system that provides safe, clean potable water. These filters are easily maintained and used by the locals. As they meet the physical needs and conduct hygiene education training ("clean hands") they are demonstrating the love of God and then can address the spiritual needs ("clean hearts") through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Construction
Everywhere we go there seems to be something that can be built or repaired. Not every volunteer can be doctors or dentists or feel comfortable in a medical capacity. The construction volunteer may be a desk jockey by trade but capable of swinging a hammer, cementing bricks, climbing ladders, dipping a pain brush or lifting things. We sometimes have professional contractors but even simple manual labor can help to build a church, clinic, school or shelter.
For example, in the village of El Shaddai, Brazil, they have a Catholic Teacher that could come only once a month to educate the children. With no place to stay, except maybe a tent, she could only stay a day at a time before traveling back to her city of Parintins. We built a simple wooden shelter for her (or any other visiting teacher/preacher) and now she stays for a week at a time. Praise God.
Children's Ministries
Do you remember summer time Vacation Bible Schools when you were growing up? Making a paper fan, necklace, or coloring some pictures while listening to a great Bible story was so much fun. This is the type of activities we engage the village children in. We sing songs and act out God's creation (sun, moon, flowers, etc.). The children are always receptive to smiles and hugs.
However, there is a much bigger problem in our world: HIV/AIDS! There are over 11.4 Million children now orphaned in Sub-Saharan Africa due to AIDS. Click here to read more.
Planting/Gardening Ministry
Everyone needs food. What better way to have it than by growing it yourself. We teach locals to cultivate and grow food that is well suited for their individual climate. When good garden areas are not found, the eco-gardens provide fresh fruit and vegetables through a water-saving irrigation system that is easy to install and totally organic. There's no need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides. We provide all the supplies and seeds for them to sustain themselves.
You know the saying,
"Give a man a fish and you've fed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you've fed him for a lifetime."
Sports Ministries
The youth of the world hold the future of the world. Changed minds and changed hearts facilitate changed actions. Jesus is the focus that brings about this change. Sports is a common key to opening the door to share this new way of thinking. Soccer is know and accepted world wide. All sports draw the youth and young adults. We look at what sports is emphasized in the country that we go to and we help equip those future leaders to go and share the gospel wit others.
Evangelical
Those who feel God's call to share the gospel have a golden opportunity to do that very thing by going on a mission trip. As God presents new opportunities to our ministry we prayerfully ask His guidance and we let His "Yes be yes, and His No, be no." Our mission is to be plain spoken and teach and preach the whole truth of the word of God. We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices to do God's will. We do this out of love for God's sacrifice that made atonement of our sins possible through Jesus Christ. We focus only on the cross of Christ. We prepare in advance your personal testimony and have it translated into the local language to be used as a tool to reach others.
Future Goals
Our goals are set by the vision and discernment of our Board of Directors. As they focus and pray about where God is leading Amazon Charities, new goals arise. We are; however, committed to channel our support to the Affiliates listed.