This week for our “Art of the week” post I wanted to share something a little different with you.  A few weeks back parents took my little sister to California for vacation.  While they were there I got an e-mail from my dad with this image attached.  Apparently they’d both worn their Bedouins Shirts on the same day and took this photo for us.  Just wanted to share a little cross-country Bedouins action with you guys!

Once upon a time you had to go somewhere to experience it. To understand the poverty in Africa…or perhaps even to know about it, you had to book a flight and transport yourself there.

Media changed that – is changing that right now, this very second.

After a while there were new ways, faster ways. Now, instead of having to go to Africa to know about what was going on you could read the paper. Pick up a magazine, or listen to the radio.

Then there was television. All of a sudden you could turn on the T.V. and be instantly transported from the comfort of your recliner into the middle of whatever was happening around the world.

And now…I could be on the ground in Africa and via my cell phone and twitter you could know what was happening almost instantaneously as it unfolded there.

So why does half of the world know who’s winning American Idol and not have a clue about how they can get involved in providing clean drinking water for the Billions of people living without it. Media is a powerful tool…but only when used for good. Otherwise it’s not transporting us anywhere.

Let’s go somewhere worthwhile. If you tweet, blog, e-mail…whatever…

Here’s my challenge to you:

Once a week do something remarkable. Share something that could impact, or even change the world. Just once a week. Share a story you’ve heard, link a non-profit you believe in…whatever it is, just once a week help transport people somewhere worthwhile. You can do it…and when you do, you will become a part of something much bigger than yourself and the world will slowly open its eyes.

Let’s refocus the heart of media.

Benei Aor is a Hebrew phrase meaning “Children of Light”. Benei Aor is a youth discipleship and outreach ministry which originally started in Brazil and now operates in both Brazil and the United States. Benei Aor USA (the American arm of the ministry) is directed by Mitzi Howard. Bedouins was connected to the organization through Mitzi’s husband Scott Howard who is a member of our Board of Directors. Bedouins built a website for the ministry giving them a one stop location for information about the ministry and its programs and upcoming events.

The goal of Benei Aor is to “draw youth to Jesus Christ, deepen their relationship with Him, train them in leadership and involve them in reaching others with the Gospel.” The ministry works with children and youth between the ages of 8 and 24. Participants meet once a week for prayer (an important part of the ministry) and discipleship. Groups also take part in service opportunities as well as sharing the gospel through creative outlets such as song and dance. There is regular interaction between the more than 500 youth that are involved in Benei Aor in both the United States and Brazil.

To learn more about Benei Aor USA or find out how you can get involved visit www.beneiaorusa.org.

We’re going to start something new here at Bedouins:  Every week we’re going to post some of our art.  We’ll share a photo, a video clip, some new design…something to show you some of the art that we’re working on.  We are artists and we’ve decided that should be a part of our blog.  So…to kick it off here’s a photo from our project with Hearts for the Children Ministries in Guatemala.  I’m currently logging audio and building a timeline for the multimedia presentation that we’re putting together for them and can’t wait to share that with you as well.  This image is one that will be a part of “Lupita’s Story”, a project we worked on while in Guatemala.  I will be posting the story chapter by chapter on here very soon with some photos, so you’ll get more context then.  This is one of Lupita’s sons looking out over the field that Lupita works in every day to provide for the family.

A friend and I were talking the other day and somehow got on the topic of Muzzy. I’m not sure if all of you know what I’m talking about…back in the late 80’s early 90’s a new language video course for kids came out. The videos featured a green creature named muzzy who taught you french. Anyways, the video was very distinct for whatever reason and now, years later my friend and I still remembered it vividly.

Do you realize the power that media has over us? Even a decade or more ago, a poorly made commercial on a (in my opinion) not that interesting topic stuck with us.

Media can impact you in ways you don’t realize, can change your opinions or even form ones where you didn’t have them before. Media can knock an idea home in a way that it sticks with you, sometimes for longer than you realize.

So why do my friend and I remember Muzzy and not any of the non-profits that were changing the world back then? What about the people who were reaching out to the forgotten and marginalized?

Focus.

That’s the key word. Focus. That’s why it’s in our mission statement: Refocusing the heart of media. It’s what we want to see happen. In 10 years let’s remember the HIPHs and IWWs and not the Muzzys.

It’s possible. We just have some refocusing to do.