Global: Hitomi Gray and Alongsiders

Happy November 1! The fall colors have been beautiful at my home near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It’s a joy to look out and see creation exclaim the wonder and power of our great God.

I have lots of big news to share about Double December, the time of year we encourage a year-end gift. But for now, I have a fun piece to share concerning our partner Hitomi Gray and the organization she works for, Alongsiders.

Hitomi is the Training Coordinator for this global discipleship movement that aims to pair an older youth with a younger child for the purpose of walking alongside one another. She shared a wonderful update last month and I was so touched by it, I asked her if I could copy it and pass it on to you.

I trust you’ll be encouraged by her update below!

Wayne Sneed

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In Albuquerque, we host the International Balloon Fiesta every year in October. This year is the 51st Fiesta.

Over 500 hot air balloons come from around the world. For a week, in the early mornings, hot air balloons launch and decorate the blue sky.

They look like Christmas ornaments floating in the sky, and some land in local parks and fields. It’s fun to drive and chase the balloons, whichever direction they may go. It depends on the wind that time of the day. Some days the balloons can’t launch if the wind is too strong. I never get tired of this week-long event.

In the Alongsiders movement, we use to the word launch too.

When a movement coordinator finishes the initial training, we celebrate the completion of the training and launch the movement in their local area. In the last three months, movements have launched in the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Madagascar.

As the Training Coordinator, I feel honored to be part of these launches.

Just as I look up in the vast sky and become mesmerized by the colorful balloons, I often times am in awe of what God is doing around the world as He launches these movements marked by the loving presence of Alongsiders who faithfully walk with vulnerable children in their communities.

These young pairs are like the precious balloons, but obviously more than just balloons looking pretty in the sky. They embrace the loneliness, hardships, abuse and poverty, and walk together with courage and love.

As of today, we have 37,424 pairs of youth and children in 25 countries. I’m not big on numbers personally, and we don’t work for numbers. Each time the number grows one at a time, it means one less child has to walk alone, and one youth has stepped up to become a disciple of Jesus, learning to love one child. God works through one youth, to reach one child. Each one, reach one.

One coordinator shared with me about a meeting he had with a youth in a refugee camp in Tanzania. After he shared about the vision of Alongsiders, a youth told the coordinator, “I am a refugee with nothing to offer. At first I didn’t think I can become an Alongsider. But now God has shown me that I can give a child my love. I want to become an Alongsider.”

And I believe that is what God is stirring in the hearts of thousands of youth who themselves struggle and don’t have everything together. God works in mysterious ways against what our society tells us. You don’t need high education or salary to come alongside vulnerable children. You don’t have to have your life put together to touch a child with love. When two or three are together, Jesus is there, too. If Jesus is with us, who can come against us?

I share this because I wanted to share with you the blessing of what I get to learn and experience through my work with Alongsiders. You are faithful partners participating in God’s amazing work. In the world of wars, disasters and persecution of churches, we are walking with over 30,000 youth and Jesus to bring light to marginalized children. Thank you for investing in this exciting Kingdom work!

Joyfully,
Hitomi (for the Gray family)