Back in August we put on an event called Banquäla 2009. If you’ve been following us or this blog for very long you know a lot about it already. It featured a night of conversation, food, and some great thoughts on media from some great folks we know. If you missed out and have been wondering what was said, now’s your chance. Visit the Banquäla page to check out videos of the night’s speakers. If you were there please feel free to listen again or share it with your friends. Here’s an intro to get you started:

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.

What is media and why do i care? Media is a force that shapes your understanding of the world around you. Media has the ability to open our eyes to global politics, global injustice, global peace and global celebrations. All around us is media. Call it Fox News, CNN, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or even mass text messages. Media is everywhere. And guess what? You, my friend, have the power to shape the stories that are told. You’re an artist. A storyteller. People listen to you. People are inspired by you. You want to carry influence. You want to change the world. You want to shape the way stories are told. Be the storyteller you desire to be. Come to Woodrow Hall in Birmingham, Ala. on August 1st at 6:30 p.m. and hear how Bedouins International can empower you to be a great storyteller, media shaper and world changer.

This is your chance to come and spend an evening hanging out with us, getting to know our vision, and learning how our vision can become your vision. Saturday night you’ll get to here some amazing stories, but you can also find out how you can become apart of telling on of the many other stories out there waiting to be told. Go to www.bedouinsinternational.org/banquala/ to find out more. We’ll to see you there!

On August 1st we’re having an event. We’re calling it Banquäla; it’s just a funny little word we made up. It will be the first in a series of annual events we hope to have every year to let you guys hear and see a little more about what we do. Even more than that we want to let you in on a conversation about the potential of media change the world.

So here’s your invitation. Come join us for a night of art, food, music and discussion about the power of media and the responsibility that comes with that power:
6:30PM Saturday August 1st, 2009
Woodrow Hall 5504 1st Ave North Birmingham, AL

Visit www.bedouinsinternational.org/banquäla to find out more and get your ticket.

I updated the main website over the weekend with some new content for you guys. Check out the “Partnerships” section to find projects we’ve recently completed for Time Square Church, Benei Aor, Casa Hoga MAMI and HIPH. We’ve also updated the “Purpose” section with some more current stuff. Go Check it out.
Also, check out the Caribbean Gold site to find out what’s going currently with that project. We now have 10 photos available for purchase in limited editions. Check it out, maybe even buy one of those beautiful prints.
So that’s a little taste for you of the exciting things going on in the world that is Bedouins International.