Ringing in the New Year with a Purpose

We had a unique opportunity on December 31^st to host a party for the youth near our ICM base in Dumaguete.  We call it unique because of its source.  On the other side of the world, a group of students from The Rock Student Ministries at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. decided to do something different with their New Year’s Eve.  They gathered their resources and implemented their ideas in order to sponsor five simultaneous parties in different countries across world, including Uganda, Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Philippines.  Their purpose was to share their love and faith with impoverished youth worldwide, while raising awareness about global poverty. Connecting through several media formats, 1,550 students in Washington, D.C. gathered to ring in the New Year with 5,750 youth across the world.  In the Philippines, seven pastors from the surrounding slum communities partnered with the ICM Dumaguete Staff to host the event, making it possible for 307 people to attend.  It was an incredible night of celebration and the first time these individuals were able to celebrate New Year’s outside of their slum communities.  Check out our recap video: [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/18648148 w=620&h=400]