[Click image to view music!]

See rest of photos HERE.

[Click image to view music!]

[Click image to view music!]

[Click image to view music!]

[Click image to view music!]

Let this be a continuation of restoring the view of Medellin, and Colombia as a whole. This city is beautiful, not just in its view over from the Andes Mountains, but in every eye that you look into.

We are very excited to release to you our first video of the project! Enjoy, and please REPOST (go to the home page to the section called, “Spread The Word”)!

[Click image to view music!]

May 27th begins our new project, Seven Glimpses of Hope. This project is devoted to helping build awareness and funds for the street children that we are committed to rescuing and restoring.

For seven days, Filmmaker Stephen Stonestreet, Photographer, Mallory MacDonald and Musician/Filmmaker John Poole, will be documenting the everyday life of the children on the streets. Each morning they will film in a different ministry location to capture the needs of the children and hope being offered through Open Arms.

Each evening, they will release a video from that same day, with original music by VIA.

We ask that you join Open Arms and these artists as we desire to rescue more children and give them hope for a future.

Click here for more information.

As children come off of the streets, there are many issues that arise as a result of the experiences they have had. With boys that come through our program, there is the addiction to drugs and alcohol (and the knowledge that they could make money selling drugs), abuse from family members and strangers, as well as many other pressing issues. With the girls who come through our program, there is brokenness and the feeling of dirtiness that rips at their souls. There is also addiction to substances that, because of what they have to do to survive, helps them feel numb to their circumstances and abuse.

There is also the need for attention and love that they have not received. They desire a home, a family that loves them; they need a mother’s affection, and a father figure. This is where we desire to show them our love and attention, and after time, restore them through a holistic process.

There are many ways we can help a child physically–by providing food, clothing, a safe place to live, a healthy environment, and a school to attend. This is the beginning of the process of restoration–showing them our love, and giving them glimpses of hope for their future.

Secondly, there are the emotional and social needs. As a result of the experiences on the streets, many of these children go through tremendous issues that tear at their emotions, and make them feel separated from society. Many of these children go through horrible depression. In response to these needs, OAF has social workers and counselors that tend to the needs of each child, helping them through their doubts and insecurities.

The Open Arms Foundation is committed to sharing with these children the hope and salvation offered through Jesus Christ. We not only want to meet their physical, emotional, and social needs, but most importantly, we want to give them a glimpse of the love of their Creator and Father. From the first stage of our programs until after graduation, we desire to tell them the good news of what Christ did for them, and how they can find forgiveness and new hope; we want to tell them of a new life in Christ, and show them how to following Him. This is the most important part of our ministry to these children. Through Christ and our Church community, we can show them what true restoration is: new life, hope, joy, love, peace, and healing.

As we continue to commit ourselves to restoring each child that comes through our program, we ask you to consider committing your time and effort to build awareness of other children we have yet to rescue. You can find out more information on statistics HERE! You can also find out more information on how to build awareness HERE.

We also need your prayer and financial support to continue to rescue more children and take them through the process of restoration. You can find out more information on donating HERE (Online donations will be available soon). We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and are approved by the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability).

Join us in being a father to the fatherless, mender of the brokenhearted, healer of wounds, bringing love, affection, and restoration to the most broken and needy children. With YOUR open arms, we can change one broken child into a renewed human being.

Thank you for your support!

"Samuel" enjoys playing soccer with the other boys at the farm.

“Samuel”, now 17 years old, had left his home due to economic problems and because he was using a lot of drugs.  To further complicate his problems of living on the streets, he was also a homosexual.  However, he first learned about the Foundation when a friend of his who was attending our Patio program shared with him about it.  Then, on December 1^st, 2008, “Samuel” moved up to the boys’ farm.

Since living at the farm, his life has changed greatly.  When he had arrived to the farm, he had long hair and dressed oddly, but, soon afterwards, he wanted to cut his hair and dress normally like a boy.  He happily shared the following:  “I am no longer a homosexual, I do not use drugs anymore, and I am now more educated”.  This amazing transformation in his life occurred partially due to seeing the rules and a different lifestyle at the farm, but mostly as he heard the Word of God and accepted Jesus into his heart.  Another huge blessing from the Lord is that soon after he moved to the farm, the Foundation was able to put him back into contact with his aunt and cousin who are both Christians.  They now visit him once a week, and are able to support him and encourage him in the Lord.

“Samuel” shared that he enjoys reading, watching television, and playing videogames.  He says he just simply likes to be happy, and now that he is at the farm this has been possible.  Thank you for your support and for making it possible for “Samuel” to have a new start at life!