Happy New Year!
In the month of December, Storyline participated in the Advent Conspiracy, a movement of churches and people to revive and reclaim the Christmas season by worshipping fully, spending less, giving more and loving all.
As a way of expressing our commitment to spend less on Christmas presents, give more of ourselves to other people and love all God’s people, particularly the downtrodden, we decided to take up an offering for an organization called Touch A Life.
Touch A Life helps to liberate children from slavery, abuse and exploitation in Ghana, Cambodia and Vietnam.
It was an easy decision because in one sense Storyline already has something invested in Touch A Life.
One of our Storyline leaders, Patrick Cone, has recently made a documentary about Touch A Life’s work to free children sold to work on Lake Volta in Ghana, West Africa.
You can watch the video here. It’s worth your time.
Oprah read an article in the New York Times about child slavery on Lake Volta and sent people to help free the child featured in the article only to find
out that someone had beaten her to it — Pam and Randy Cope, founders of Touch A Life. Pam had read the same article and was moved to action.
You can read Oprah’s side of the story here.
Randy and Pam also have connections to Storyline’s heritage in Churches of Christ. Randy’s brother is Mike Cope, minister for Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas — one of Storyline’s supporters (and the church Ryan Porche grew up in).
I’m convinced that Randy and Pam’s work is close to God’s heart for justice and mercy.
Their ministry demonstrates the way that God’s salvation concerns not just the afterlife but also the present, when good news is proclaimed to the poor, freedom proclaimed to prisoners, and the oppressed are set free (Luke 4:18).
If you’d like to participate in our collection, you can make a donation here via PayPal with your credit card or bank account. Storyline will not be able to accept donations for Touch A Life after next Thursday, January 8th.
On Sunday, January 11, we’ll have the opportunity to present Storyline’s offering to the Copes in person at our community worship gathering.
In the Storyline 
Happy New Year to all at Storyline!
So pleased to read y’all are helping the trafficked children on Lake Volta in Ghana through Touch A Life. Your community worship gathering will be extra-blessed that day!
Amen to Andee’s comment! It’s good to see the great work you and Julie are doing in Dallas tho we do miss seeing you around Memphis!
I am so very excited that Storyline has chosen Touch a Life to support! Even though I have never met them, Randy, Pam, and the lost children have found their way into my heart and prayer life.