Pages

Showing posts with label Catalyst 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catalyst 2012. Show all posts

Friday, May 25, 2012

Land of Thousand Hills Coffee One Good Cup of Joe


It was an early Texas morning the musty smell of rain was in the wind across the parking lot of bent tree bible fellowship in Carrollton, Tx.  It was the second day of the Catalyst Dallas and to truthful I was dragging I needed caffeine to perk up my body.  I work overnights and I am used to sleeping having just hit the pillows at the time of day.  So even though I had some sleep the night prior my fleshly body was yelling sleep.  Well Land of Thousand Hills came to my rescue in the form of a free cup of coffee.  It was bold and full of body.  It has the power to take of the best roast of Starbucks, Kona, and any of the other blends.  But Land of Thousand Hills in more than just a cup of Joe.  It one way in the consumer culture you can be Jesus to the least of us on this rock we call Earth.  Like many other groups in the free trade market place Land of Thousand Hills was born out of the genocide and war of the mid 90's in Rwanda.  
" In 2001, Jonathan Golden, founder of Land of a Thousand Hills, recognized a simple and tangible opportunity to make a difference in the reconciliation of the Rwandan people. This realization led Golden to start a coffee company that pays a fair wage to the farmers of Rwanda, helps them with their basic needs, and brings a quality product to coffee lovers.
The introduction of specialty coffee to the healing fields of Rwanda proved to be an uncommon opportunity for once warring countrymen to not only rebuild their homesteads, but to work together toward lasting peace. A commitment to excellence in coffee has brought dignity and hope to a nation that history suggested would never recover.
Now, Land of a Thousand Hills has reached beyond the borders of Rwanda to bring dignity and hope to Haiti, Thailand, and other parts of the globe. We partner with farmers and local community leaders to develop the coffee into a sustainable income, pay a just Living Wage, and strive to further meet the needs of the people. When you buy Land of a Thousand Hills, you are receiving coffee that is 100% Arabica, fairly traded, and roasted fresh. Your excellent morning cup is offering hope to these developing coffee communities with each purchase. "
Land of Thousand Hills motto is Drink Coffee Do Good.  I want everyone to take a look and see how your cup of Joe and have a deeper impact on the least of us.

This Video was shot live at Catalyst Dallas 2012



Erin McGinnis is the Media Arts and Services Coordinator for LHF.




Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Cataylst Dallas Retrospective: Day 2: Main Event

Well dear friends, this is Erin reflecting on the second day of Cataylst Dallas did not disappoint.  This year's theme is "Be Present," and we were met bright and early at 7:00am by the Catalyst Be Present Bees with a "Lonestar State" breakfast (breakfast taquitos) and welcome to the 3500 attendees.  DJ Promote kept us busy while waiting for the seating to open; he has a divine talent for mixing tunes that enterianed both young and old.  Check him out on his blog at http://www.thepartystartsnow.blogspot.com/.

Video 1: AdoptionJourney.org

We started the morning off in worship lead by the Cataylst House worship band and it was truley awsome.  All the songs lead us into moments of reflection with the speakers.  They taught us to be "Be Present."  One of the best take-aways from the speakers was the following quoate, "It is out of our failures that gain our greatest triumphs." --John Maxwell.  Next Andy Stanley took the stage, and like previous times at Cataylst brought a messege that made you think out the things in your life that have overlooked. "Your only unique rolein this world is father or mother to your child. Everything else, you can bereplaced." and "Great leaders create an environment where they get to stand back and watch it work without them." were some of his best.

Video 2: Trade of Innocents


Next came the grossest thing ever.  The audience made a giant ball of ABC gum\.  This brought a new denifition to world of fellowship.  They had each of us chew some Big League Chew and the pass it down (with rubber gloves) to centerstage, where it formed it massive gum pile. And yes, a guy took a bite and chewed it for a prize.

Video 3: Land of 1000 Hills


We returned from our dinner break to the musical stylings of Gungor and the after dinner teaching of Matt Chandler.  God thru him brought a strong messege on our "Be Present" Theme.  "Ministry is a STUPID trade-off for a relationship with Jesus Christ." and  "God doesn't have to force people to love Him; He just shows them who He is." -- Matt Chandler

After this amazing day of inspirational teaching, I felt a. that my toes had been stepped on, and b. my eyes had been opened. It was a refreshing experience that still fuels me right now.

Video 4: The Last Letter


Erin McGinnis is the Media Arts & Services Coordinator for LHF, and freely admits his faith isn't strong enough to take a bite out of a massive ABC gum ball, no matter how great the prize.