Why I Give

It seems I’ve been going to church and building my faith my whole life.

My late father was rector of All Saints’ Church in Carmel for 24 years, so initially there was a duty to go to church. As a boy, I had the run of the house in the parish and church rectory.

So many memories of potluck suppers and the smells of the parish hall and the mystery of the back stairways to the sanctuary.

I experienced a few black-out years while in college in Reno and through my early years in TV news.

When our son, Daniel, was born almost 21 years ago, my wife Virginia and I set out to honor the gift we were given and have him baptized.

I contacted priests who I’d known for years, a former headmaster at the church day school, and the priest who married us in Reno. I wanted some familiar faces.

To their credit, they said the same thing. Each declined and urged us to find a church community in which to raise young Dan.

Dan was baptized at St. Clement’s, Rancho Cordova, and in 1995 we moved to El Dorado Hills and began attending Faith Church in the storefront.

But the importance of belonging to a church community had been planted. For me, it meant more than belonging....but contributing--my time, my talents and my finances.

Kent spoke last week about living in Faith. He said it’s like part of our DNA to live in community. Ours is a healthy church and it’s good to worship and serve together, among other things.

I’ve reached a point in my life where--for the most part--I do the things I want to do, and I don’t do the things I don’t want to do.

When it comes to sharing what I have or what I can do, I love to do it. Not because I earn favor from God, but in response to God’s faithfulness and love for me.

This gift that we have, Faith Church: the community, has Sustained and grown my faith and encouraged me to serve in ways that bring me great joy.

My response is give back....not because I want to....but because I love to.

Sudan Appeal

I am excited to begin a third career in what I’m calling “video ministry.” I will document the work of missionaries, nonprofit and charitable organizations to help others.

In May, in cooperation with Hope for Humanity, Inc., of Richmond, Virginia, I will join a team of volunteers for 12 days in South Sudan. Hope for Humanity built and operates Hope and Resurrection Secondary School, one of only 22 high schools in South Sudan.

Motivated students

Students range in age from 15 to 41 years and are grateful to continue or resume their education following years of civil war. Their motivation to learn is evident as the majority walk or ride bikes two to three hours to school. These youth look to education as the tool to lift themselves from poverty.

Students are provided a lunch of porridge or rice and beans, which may be their only meal for the day. With a hot meal, textbooks, a permanent structure and trained teachers, they are provided a safe and focused learning environment.

Hope for Humanity was founded to create educational opportunities for the future leaders of South Sudan. It is committed to the idea that education is the best way to help the Sudanese to grow and become self supporting. It is an uphill battle.

Southern Sudan

• Only 20 percent of the children in the region attend school because there are so few facilities available
• As a result of two civil wars spanning nearly 50 years, any infrastructure, including the education system, was destroyed
• Eighty percent of Southern Sudanese cannot read and 82 percent of girls currently do not attend school
• The literacy rate of 20 percent is among the lowest in the world
• There is a severe shortage of English teachers and English-speaking teachers in the scientific and technical fields
• The Republic of South Sudan, about twice the size of New Mexico, became an independent country in July 2011

My role

I will use video production to document the work done by the volunteers and meet some of the students there. I will produce video pieces for the Hope for Humanity organization to help show the progress at the school and the ongoing need for educational efforts there, using popular social media channels.

For more information on how you can support education efforts in South Sudan, contact me at dry_wit@mac.com