1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,730 Award winning truth cuts through the haze, 2 00:00:12,045 --> 00:00:15,360 confronts the darkness in these end times days. 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:23,510 A single match struck against the fear, hope ignites, drawing redemption near. 4 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,550 Can you feel the trembling in the ground? 5 00:00:26,790 --> 00:00:30,180 A buried heartbeat making sound. 6 00:00:30,180 --> 00:00:42,520 We all live in Dead America, but the dawn's creeping across the Panorama, 7 00:00:42,550 --> 00:00:46,700 this dead awakens, change begins, from broken places, hope unpins. 8 00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:59,920 Yeah, we all live in Dead America. 9 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:02,759 One healing spark starts the pyre, burning brighter, taking it higher. 10 00:01:03,090 --> 00:01:09,420 Today we're speaking with Craig Alsup, he is with Manna Worldwide. 11 00:01:09,510 --> 00:01:13,980 We are going to record for Podcasthon today. 12 00:01:15,300 --> 00:01:17,460 Craig, could you please introduce yourself? 13 00:01:17,610 --> 00:01:20,700 And let people know just a little more about you, please. 14 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:23,010 Sure. 15 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,200 Yeah, I'm, uh, I'm Craig Alsup. 16 00:01:25,290 --> 00:01:29,100 I'm a full-time missionary with an organization called Manna Worldwide. 17 00:01:29,490 --> 00:01:34,390 Uh, we are based in Fort Worth, Texas and working in about fifty 18 00:01:34,410 --> 00:01:36,090 different countries around the world. 19 00:01:36,420 --> 00:01:42,495 Uh, we have about, probably about, I think three hundred ongoing projects in all 20 00:01:42,495 --> 00:01:47,445 of those countries serving about twenty thousand kids and families every day. 21 00:01:47,955 --> 00:01:50,085 Uh, married to Jennifer. 22 00:01:50,414 --> 00:01:53,715 Uh, I have two biological kiddos, Sarah and Jude. 23 00:01:53,985 --> 00:01:59,295 And then we have four kids in Nepal that, um, that we've sponsored and 24 00:01:59,595 --> 00:02:03,465 sort of adopted without officially adopting over the years and they 25 00:02:03,465 --> 00:02:05,005 range in age from ten to twenty-five. 26 00:02:06,675 --> 00:02:07,815 That's pretty awesome. 27 00:02:08,264 --> 00:02:10,995 So what got you into missionary work? 28 00:02:11,085 --> 00:02:12,225 Fell into it a little bit. 29 00:02:12,285 --> 00:02:16,185 Um, my wife and I went and did an around the world trip in 30 00:02:16,185 --> 00:02:18,315 2008 that changed our lives. 31 00:02:18,375 --> 00:02:23,234 Um, we, uh, had grown up in central Mississippi, southern Mississippi, 32 00:02:23,625 --> 00:02:27,340 and uh, always wanted to travel but never got a great opportunity. 33 00:02:27,340 --> 00:02:30,459 And so after we got married, we decided that we were gonna 34 00:02:30,459 --> 00:02:31,840 go travel and see the world. 35 00:02:32,019 --> 00:02:34,120 And so we worked for about two and a half years. 36 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,739 We just, we worked every job we could possibly find to work to make extra 37 00:02:38,739 --> 00:02:41,590 money and, uh, saved all of our money. 38 00:02:41,890 --> 00:02:45,820 And then went and traveled and we ended up traveling to seventy-six countries 39 00:02:45,820 --> 00:02:49,690 over, uh, sixteen months or so. 40 00:02:50,019 --> 00:02:52,750 Uh, six continents, little bit of everywhere. 41 00:02:53,140 --> 00:02:59,710 And we were in Asia, in, uh, Southeastern Asia, and we saw 42 00:02:59,710 --> 00:03:01,480 poverty like we'd never seen before. 43 00:03:01,570 --> 00:03:07,540 Uh, poverty of, of stuff, and food, and all those things, like physical poverty. 44 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,740 But we also saw a lot of spiritual poverty in people that were just searching 45 00:03:11,740 --> 00:03:13,420 for God but struggling to find Him. 46 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,680 And, um, and so we began to see the need. 47 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:22,220 We saw some child trafficking and some, some real rough stuff down 48 00:03:22,220 --> 00:03:26,210 there and uh, God used that to grab our hearts and to say that we were 49 00:03:26,210 --> 00:03:29,420 supposed to step into something and, and do, do the next thing, right? 50 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,390 And, uh, so we made it home from this crazy trip. 51 00:03:33,795 --> 00:03:38,355 And with a heart like never before for missions, we thought it was just to give. 52 00:03:38,745 --> 00:03:41,775 Um, and so we started to do that more, uh, faithfully. 53 00:03:42,315 --> 00:03:46,725 Uh, we got friends involved in giving, we started leading mission teams and 54 00:03:46,725 --> 00:03:51,799 one thing led to another and our pastor introduced us to, um, the founder of 55 00:03:51,799 --> 00:03:53,980 Manna Worldwide, his name's Bruce O'Neal. 56 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:58,100 And, uh, told us that, you know, we should go and talk with him 57 00:03:58,100 --> 00:03:59,750 and just kind of pick his brain. 58 00:03:59,930 --> 00:04:02,450 And we did and it was a setup. 59 00:04:02,660 --> 00:04:07,850 Uh, basically our pastor, our pastor saw it in us before we saw it in us, right? 60 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,470 That we were supposed to do this thing full time. 61 00:04:10,470 --> 00:04:16,200 And so, um, I stepped out of being a therapist, uh, working with kids 62 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,750 and teens, uh, in private practice. 63 00:04:18,750 --> 00:04:24,750 My wife was, uh, head of a public health program and, uh, we stepped out of 64 00:04:24,750 --> 00:04:29,370 those roles and stepped into the mission role, uh, just over ten years ago. 65 00:04:29,370 --> 00:04:31,500 So right at the end of 2015. 66 00:04:32,865 --> 00:04:38,295 How did that feel transitioning out of corporate into missionary work? 67 00:04:39,385 --> 00:04:40,575 You know, that was interesting. 68 00:04:40,604 --> 00:04:45,374 Um, we never expected to be missionaries and, um, so it was, that 69 00:04:45,374 --> 00:04:49,065 was, you know, all of a sudden I was put on stage speaking at churches. 70 00:04:49,335 --> 00:04:52,065 I was meeting with pastors and stuff all the time. 71 00:04:52,065 --> 00:04:55,664 I mean, I was Christian, but I was like, you know, back row Baptist 72 00:04:55,664 --> 00:04:56,955 Christian a little bit, right? 73 00:04:56,955 --> 00:05:01,215 So, um, I never sort of expected that to be my life. 74 00:05:01,335 --> 00:05:06,135 Um, it was a little bit scary, uh, because we had to step away from 75 00:05:06,135 --> 00:05:10,965 salary jobs, we had to step away from, you know, uh, guaranteed finances, 76 00:05:10,965 --> 00:05:15,914 almost guaranteed finances, and we had to go raise our personal support. 77 00:05:16,335 --> 00:05:20,234 And, um, that was a little bit, uh, a little bit crazy and interesting. 78 00:05:20,594 --> 00:05:26,429 And so it, uh, you know, it took some, took some convincing. 79 00:05:26,460 --> 00:05:29,700 Uh, actually my wife, uh, was more on board than me in the beginning, 80 00:05:30,060 --> 00:05:33,179 and she was like, You know, I, I feel like God's saying that we do 81 00:05:33,179 --> 00:05:37,260 this and we don't wanna be, uh, against what God's calling us to do. 82 00:05:37,739 --> 00:05:39,750 And, uh, so wise counsel, right? 83 00:05:39,810 --> 00:05:43,830 Uh, I, uh, definitely a complimentary wife, right? 84 00:05:43,919 --> 00:05:49,020 Um, and, uh, and so we stepped into this role and, uh, really God has 85 00:05:49,020 --> 00:05:52,020 provided the whole time and our, our personal support was the biggest 86 00:05:52,020 --> 00:05:55,680 thing I was concerned about as, as the provider for the home, right? 87 00:05:55,740 --> 00:06:01,770 Um, you know, I had two small kids at the time and, uh, the personal support was 88 00:06:01,770 --> 00:06:03,450 the nerve wracking thing for me, right? 89 00:06:03,990 --> 00:06:08,670 Um, but in the first month of meeting with people, of talking with people 90 00:06:08,670 --> 00:06:12,510 about supporting us, we ended up having about twenty-five percent of our overall 91 00:06:12,510 --> 00:06:16,530 budget filled, um, which was crazy fast. 92 00:06:16,650 --> 00:06:20,340 And then over the next several months we went on up and, uh, it's 93 00:06:20,340 --> 00:06:23,160 been, it's been good ever since. 94 00:06:23,220 --> 00:06:27,300 And so we have ups and downs with budget, but it's been good. 95 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,680 Yeah, that's, that's a big part of missionary work is that budget 96 00:06:31,860 --> 00:06:39,180 and that's kind of why I wanted to reach out and do this today. 97 00:06:39,540 --> 00:06:47,520 Uh, helping that budget because you can't do a lot without having something. 98 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:55,344 And intention and, you know, this, this need to do something, it, 99 00:06:55,349 --> 00:07:00,869 it really can't go forward until people step in and help support the 100 00:07:00,869 --> 00:07:02,940 role that you're trying to play. 101 00:07:03,735 --> 00:07:10,755 And you, you said it, basically you have to let go and let God and believe 102 00:07:10,755 --> 00:07:14,625 that He will provide that manna for you. 103 00:07:15,164 --> 00:07:22,664 And that, that's why it, it really reached out to my heart, was Manna Worldwide. 104 00:07:22,664 --> 00:07:26,655 That, that's, that's a very interesting name. 105 00:07:26,715 --> 00:07:31,125 Could you talk to us a little bit about, do you know why 106 00:07:31,125 --> 00:07:34,094 they landed on Manna Worldwide? 107 00:07:35,670 --> 00:07:35,940 Yeah. 108 00:07:35,940 --> 00:07:40,080 I think, um, when Manna started, uh, just over twenty-five years ago now, 109 00:07:40,110 --> 00:07:44,070 so we're on our twenty-fifth year anniversary stuff this year, um, 110 00:07:44,580 --> 00:07:49,840 Manna, uh, was started by a missionary, Bruce O'Neal and his wife Pam O'Neal. 111 00:07:49,890 --> 00:07:52,950 Uh, they were in the Philippines with their kids and they kind of 112 00:07:52,950 --> 00:07:54,630 went there and they planted a church. 113 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,960 Um, and they started to look outside the doors of the church and they saw 114 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,470 kids without shoes, and kids without education, and kids without food in 115 00:08:01,470 --> 00:08:06,915 their bellies and they began to say like, Hey, you know, who's gonna 116 00:08:06,915 --> 00:08:09,255 help these kids, if not us, right? 117 00:08:09,345 --> 00:08:12,495 Um, because Jesus went around feeding people, and serving 118 00:08:12,495 --> 00:08:14,055 people, and loving people. 119 00:08:14,445 --> 00:08:19,035 And so they said, Well, you know, let's help a few kids and see what happens. 120 00:08:19,455 --> 00:08:20,415 And they did. 121 00:08:20,715 --> 00:08:23,565 And those kids' parents took note, those kids' parents got 122 00:08:23,565 --> 00:08:24,645 connected with the church. 123 00:08:24,675 --> 00:08:29,145 Um, I had a friend long ago that told me that sometimes people can't hear the 124 00:08:29,145 --> 00:08:34,355 gospel over their stomachs growling and, um, and I think that's very true, right? 125 00:08:34,355 --> 00:08:37,475 And a lot of places that we work are poverty stricken places, 126 00:08:37,475 --> 00:08:38,975 physical poverty's a thing. 127 00:08:39,335 --> 00:08:45,689 And, um, Bruce and Pam, uh, were alert enough to notice that in their 128 00:08:45,689 --> 00:08:48,810 community, and they were caring enough to do something about it. 129 00:08:49,260 --> 00:08:53,220 And so Manna came about first because they were feeding kids. 130 00:08:53,220 --> 00:08:57,300 And so the Manna named just stuck with like, okay, God is 131 00:08:57,300 --> 00:09:00,540 providing this food for these kids. 132 00:09:00,750 --> 00:09:05,400 And um, and we just get to come alongside and, and try to help to make that happen. 133 00:09:08,205 --> 00:09:14,175 So how does that make you feel when you see actual results? 134 00:09:14,175 --> 00:09:20,235 Because going to another country, especially where you've been, 135 00:09:20,235 --> 00:09:24,735 you've seen some pretty impoverished people, especially children. 136 00:09:24,735 --> 00:09:31,965 And the acts that they do sometimes is not, you know, what we expect to 137 00:09:31,965 --> 00:09:34,125 be right, but it's what they know. 138 00:09:36,045 --> 00:09:36,405 Sure. 139 00:09:36,855 --> 00:09:37,245 Yeah. 140 00:09:37,245 --> 00:09:41,595 Um, I mean, we are working, obviously, like I said, like fifty countries, right? 141 00:09:41,595 --> 00:09:44,985 So we're working in Muslim countries, we're working in Hindu countries, 142 00:09:45,285 --> 00:09:48,615 we're working in Buddhist countries, we're working in more animistic, you 143 00:09:48,615 --> 00:09:52,695 know, uh, tribal kind of religion countries, um, we're working in 144 00:09:52,695 --> 00:09:57,829 places that are hard places, um, and so you do see a lot of struggle. 145 00:09:57,829 --> 00:10:00,410 You see a lot of difficulty, you see a lot of obviously 146 00:10:00,410 --> 00:10:02,000 spiritual and physical poverty. 147 00:10:02,420 --> 00:10:06,290 Um, but, uh, but God, right? 148 00:10:06,319 --> 00:10:09,229 Um, we get to see, uh, lives change. 149 00:10:09,290 --> 00:10:13,280 Uh, one of our little girls, uh, Sun Depa, um, she's fourteen now. 150 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,880 She is, uh, I say our little girl, she's kind of one of our, one of 151 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:18,949 our semi adopted kids in Nepal. 152 00:10:19,189 --> 00:10:25,740 Um, she grew up, you know, for her, you know, initial years of life were in a 153 00:10:25,770 --> 00:10:30,720 very impoverished village situation, um, with parents that couldn't, um, 154 00:10:30,780 --> 00:10:33,870 afford to take care of her in the way that she needed to be taken care of. 155 00:10:34,260 --> 00:10:41,550 Um, with a witch doctor casting, you know, curses and, and, and, and bad juju over 156 00:10:41,550 --> 00:10:45,980 the kids of the village, especially the girls, not wanting them to go to school. 157 00:10:46,190 --> 00:10:50,060 And, uh, Sun Depa, man, she, she actually, every time they tried to take her to 158 00:10:50,060 --> 00:10:55,100 school, for a while, she would be sick, and would have all kinds of issues, and, 159 00:10:55,430 --> 00:10:59,630 you know, would be all stressed out, and all like, like these major things. 160 00:10:59,630 --> 00:11:05,000 And we found out that it was like this witch doctor tried to like do a curse 161 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,000 on her and we're like, What is this? 162 00:11:07,390 --> 00:11:10,800 Um, but then, fast forward, right? 163 00:11:10,950 --> 00:11:13,530 She gets to our children's home at like eight years old. 164 00:11:14,010 --> 00:11:17,730 Um, she really has had little to no formal education up to 165 00:11:17,730 --> 00:11:19,560 that point, she's way behind. 166 00:11:19,950 --> 00:11:24,870 Um, but she gets to our, uh, children's home, we start to take her to school. 167 00:11:25,110 --> 00:11:31,319 She, uh, starts to get sick a little bit at first and struggles, and then it 168 00:11:31,319 --> 00:11:36,990 was like a light switch, she heard about Jesus in our nightly worship sessions. 169 00:11:37,260 --> 00:11:41,699 Uh, she began to place her faith in Jesus, she began to sing Christian songs that 170 00:11:41,699 --> 00:11:45,750 she didn't even know what all they meant, but, you know, God was just surrounding 171 00:11:45,750 --> 00:11:49,020 her with these people that were serving and loving and protecting her. 172 00:11:49,410 --> 00:11:54,780 And then all of a sudden it was like, man, a light, you know, switched on and 173 00:11:55,079 --> 00:12:01,045 baby girl stopped getting sick, going to school, she started to excel in school. 174 00:12:01,314 --> 00:12:05,965 Um, now six years later, she's two grades ahead of where she's supposed 175 00:12:05,965 --> 00:12:10,915 to be because she literally got in school, became top of her class, top 176 00:12:10,915 --> 00:12:16,405 of the school, leapfrogged all of her peers to shift up two grades, 177 00:12:16,435 --> 00:12:18,235 and she's just absolutely killing it. 178 00:12:18,235 --> 00:12:19,165 She's brilliant. 179 00:12:19,465 --> 00:12:25,010 And we get to see stories like Sun Depa's play out across Nepal, 180 00:12:25,010 --> 00:12:28,040 and India, and Thailand, and Cambodia, and the Philippines, 181 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:33,200 and Mongolia, and all throughout Asia, where I specifically focus. 182 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:39,770 But also we're seeing it, you know, in thousands of kids in Africa, and 183 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,370 the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, and South and Central America. 184 00:12:43,370 --> 00:12:47,840 We're seeing it literally all over the world where we're seeing lives 185 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:53,089 changed and impact happen and God just showing up in these kids' lives and 186 00:12:53,099 --> 00:12:55,460 doing something absolutely incredible. 187 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:01,850 And, um, that makes seeing the need and not, you know, not always 188 00:13:01,850 --> 00:13:06,140 being able to help even, um, but it makes it all worthwhile, right? 189 00:13:06,439 --> 00:13:10,100 It makes it palatable when you go, You know what? 190 00:13:10,130 --> 00:13:14,300 Um, I can't help 'em all, but I can help one, you know? 191 00:13:14,540 --> 00:13:17,199 I, I can't help 'em all, but we are helping like twenty 192 00:13:17,199 --> 00:13:19,189 thousand a day somewhere, right? 193 00:13:19,189 --> 00:13:20,180 In, in the world. 194 00:13:20,510 --> 00:13:24,555 Um, it kind of reminds me, I, you know, everybody's probably heard this story 195 00:13:24,555 --> 00:13:29,295 by now, it's kind of, you know, a pastor story, uh, about, you know, the kid 196 00:13:29,295 --> 00:13:32,895 walking on the beach and he's throwing the starfish back into the ocean. 197 00:13:32,895 --> 00:13:36,495 And there, there's thousands upon thousands on the beach, and some guy walks 198 00:13:36,495 --> 00:13:37,844 up and says, Dude, what are you doing? 199 00:13:37,875 --> 00:13:39,045 This is a waste of time. 200 00:13:39,375 --> 00:13:42,224 And, uh, the kid picks it up and, you know, he throws it in and he 201 00:13:42,224 --> 00:13:44,084 says, Well, not for that one, right? 202 00:13:44,204 --> 00:13:47,175 Like, like that one, I, I could save that one. 203 00:13:47,625 --> 00:13:51,314 And, um, and that's kind of what we have to remind ourselves, man, when 204 00:13:51,314 --> 00:13:53,265 we're doing anything missions focused. 205 00:13:53,625 --> 00:14:00,135 Um, that man, we, it's, it's not our job to, to save anybody, it's not our job 206 00:14:00,135 --> 00:14:07,065 to provide salvation to them, it's not our job to, uh, you know, to, to make 207 00:14:07,065 --> 00:14:08,595 sure that they have all their needs met. 208 00:14:08,595 --> 00:14:10,665 It's not up to us, it's up to God. 209 00:14:11,055 --> 00:14:15,945 And we just step into it and go, Okay, God, we're gonna do everything 210 00:14:15,945 --> 00:14:20,175 we can with, uh, you know, all these fishes that you provide us, 211 00:14:20,445 --> 00:14:24,795 and we're gonna watch you multiply these fishes to the thousands, right? 212 00:14:24,795 --> 00:14:26,235 And the tens of thousands. 213 00:14:26,445 --> 00:14:30,905 And, um, you know, we just bring our, we bring our loaves and fishes, right? 214 00:14:31,295 --> 00:14:36,965 And we go, God, here's the thing, I got five and two, let's, let's do something. 215 00:14:37,205 --> 00:14:39,605 And God goes, Well, you got way more than five and two. 216 00:14:40,355 --> 00:14:42,064 And so that's what we see, man. 217 00:14:43,064 --> 00:14:43,425 Yeah. 218 00:14:43,454 --> 00:14:46,334 You know, He, He always provides, that's for sure. 219 00:14:46,605 --> 00:14:50,954 Even when we don't think it's coming, it's already there. 220 00:14:51,255 --> 00:14:55,755 And I, I really enjoy that starfish. 221 00:14:55,935 --> 00:15:00,704 I like the footprints, uh, analogy also. 222 00:15:01,094 --> 00:15:09,819 And so, you know, on the website it says there's 2.2 billion children, or about 223 00:15:09,910 --> 00:15:14,230 forty-five percent live in poverty. 224 00:15:15,099 --> 00:15:22,750 And I, I was raised in what we perceive as poverty here in the United States, 225 00:15:23,349 --> 00:15:29,730 but I, I really kind of chuckle at that in a way, and I don't mean to 226 00:15:29,730 --> 00:15:37,920 diminish anyone's circumstance at all, but, you know, when, when you see other 227 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:41,505 places, it, it can really shake you up. 228 00:15:41,505 --> 00:15:46,334 And, you know, those people are thankful when they get something. 229 00:15:46,755 --> 00:15:55,515 And I, I really think that we need a lesson in humility and being thankful for 230 00:15:55,515 --> 00:15:58,365 what we receive here in the United States. 231 00:15:59,445 --> 00:16:05,175 And how, how do we shift the mindset back to that giving 232 00:16:05,175 --> 00:16:07,755 principle that we talked about? 233 00:16:08,265 --> 00:16:15,375 Because there's a stigma with churches or ministries now where so many are 234 00:16:15,375 --> 00:16:25,725 taking advantage and, you know, you're not there to change lives or save lives, 235 00:16:26,085 --> 00:16:32,025 you are there to provide what the Lord asks you and you highlighted that. 236 00:16:33,015 --> 00:16:35,564 How does that work in the real world? 237 00:16:36,885 --> 00:16:37,155 Yeah. 238 00:16:37,575 --> 00:16:42,705 Um, my pastor, actually, I, I, we base here in Fort Worth, Texas, um, which 239 00:16:42,705 --> 00:16:44,325 is where Manna's headquarters is. 240 00:16:44,564 --> 00:16:46,905 And then we, we're back and forth around the world, right? 241 00:16:47,295 --> 00:16:51,735 Um, but my pastor always says, he says, You know, if, you know, if you 242 00:16:51,735 --> 00:16:58,515 haven't been, um, if you haven't been frustrated or angered, if you haven't 243 00:16:58,515 --> 00:17:04,340 been disappointed by people in a church yet, you didn't go long enough. 244 00:17:04,970 --> 00:17:10,790 Um, he said, you know, he says, The thing is, we are not perfect in the church. 245 00:17:10,970 --> 00:17:11,780 Nobody is. 246 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,160 Nobody but Jesus, right? 247 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:19,910 Um, and so sometimes the church gets a bad rap because of what some individuals do. 248 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:27,504 Um, and that doesn't mean that God is not at work in that church, it doesn't mean 249 00:17:27,504 --> 00:17:29,215 that God's not at work in this situation, 250 00:17:29,544 --> 00:17:34,615 it doesn't mean that God, um, can't, uh, you know, make miracles happen out 251 00:17:34,615 --> 00:17:37,584 of, uh, out of what's happening, right? 252 00:17:37,885 --> 00:17:45,725 Um, and it also doesn't mean that we get to escape our, um, God given, uh, duty. 253 00:17:46,104 --> 00:17:50,985 And, uh, you know, those commandments, uh, that Jesus gave us to, to love 254 00:17:50,985 --> 00:17:56,655 God and to love other people, to serve people, to give to people. 255 00:17:56,925 --> 00:17:59,715 And yes, that means financially too, right? 256 00:17:59,715 --> 00:18:02,625 It means our time, it means our talent, it means our treasure, 257 00:18:02,865 --> 00:18:04,065 and all of those things. 258 00:18:04,740 --> 00:18:09,120 And, um, so we don't get to shirk the responsibility, um, that God has 259 00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:14,760 given us, um, to do those things just because some people let us down because 260 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:16,230 people are always gonna let us down, 261 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:16,800 right? 262 00:18:17,159 --> 00:18:18,990 Um, and so that's the first thing. 263 00:18:19,050 --> 00:18:21,510 Um, I mean, I grew up in Mississippi. 264 00:18:21,810 --> 00:18:25,409 I grew up in the, you know, the most impoverished state in 265 00:18:25,409 --> 00:18:27,000 the nation in a lot of ways. 266 00:18:27,330 --> 00:18:33,120 Um, and I thought that I grew up seeing poverty. 267 00:18:34,260 --> 00:18:41,670 And then I started traveling and I expected to find that poverty was 268 00:18:41,730 --> 00:18:48,855 mostly what I was used to seeing in Mississippi, um, and that it was very 269 00:18:48,855 --> 00:18:51,495 localized to small areas of the world. 270 00:18:52,004 --> 00:18:57,615 Um, and that, you know, those kids in Africa, you know, shirtless with 271 00:18:57,615 --> 00:19:03,074 the potbellies and, and, and the flies landing on them was just a 272 00:19:03,074 --> 00:19:05,804 very small part of Village Africa. 273 00:19:06,524 --> 00:19:10,814 And then I started traveling and I went to Thailand, and I went to 274 00:19:10,814 --> 00:19:15,084 Cambodia, and I went to Vietnam, and Laos, and I went to, uh, uh, 275 00:19:15,435 --> 00:19:23,355 Indonesia, and I went to, um, Mongolia, and I went to Nepal, and India, and 276 00:19:23,355 --> 00:19:28,274 I started to go into the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, and Africa, and 277 00:19:28,274 --> 00:19:35,355 Central and South America, and I began to see that far more people live in 278 00:19:35,355 --> 00:19:39,794 far greater states of poverty than I had ever seen before in my life. 279 00:19:40,770 --> 00:19:43,949 And I started to think, Man, we've got it all wrong. 280 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,909 We should be, like you said, we should be grateful for what we have. 281 00:19:48,179 --> 00:19:52,830 We should be grateful that we live in a country where God is still spoken about. 282 00:19:53,070 --> 00:19:56,310 We should be grateful that we live in a country that was built based 283 00:19:56,310 --> 00:20:01,560 off of Judeo-Christian values because it turns out the countries that were 284 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:06,000 built off of Judeo-Christian values are doing better than any other 285 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,800 country, just about, in the world, 286 00:20:08,159 --> 00:20:08,550 right? 287 00:20:09,479 --> 00:20:13,709 And, uh, we should be grateful for those things and shame on us if we're not. 288 00:20:14,129 --> 00:20:18,029 Um, now not to demean anybody's poverty, you know, here in the United 289 00:20:18,029 --> 00:20:19,860 States, obviously, or anywhere else. 290 00:20:20,219 --> 00:20:25,830 Um, but, uh, when you look across the world, the, uh, the world is a bit 291 00:20:25,830 --> 00:20:27,810 different than what we picture it often. 292 00:20:28,290 --> 00:20:31,740 Um, the struggle is real for people. 293 00:20:32,250 --> 00:20:36,840 And, uh, I think, you know, I think we have a responsibility, like Acts 294 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:41,250 one, eight tells us that we have a responsibility for, for Jerusalem, Judea, 295 00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:42,960 Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 296 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:47,070 And I often preach, um, in churches, get to teach a little bit, and, 297 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,730 and that's one of the verses I use really often because I say, you know, 298 00:20:50,940 --> 00:20:54,060 Like your Jerusalem is right around you, right? 299 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:56,580 And you can't neglect that, you shouldn't neglect that. 300 00:20:56,580 --> 00:21:00,300 It's, one of the questions we get when we speak in churches very often 301 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:01,680 is, What are you doing here at home? 302 00:21:02,010 --> 00:21:05,040 And we say, Well, here's the thing, we're connected with churches all 303 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:09,545 over the United States who, we are helping to encourage missions in their 304 00:21:09,545 --> 00:21:11,705 church and outreach in their church. 305 00:21:11,975 --> 00:21:15,135 We're taking people around the world on mission trips, they're coming 306 00:21:15,185 --> 00:21:17,255 home more on fire for missions. 307 00:21:17,435 --> 00:21:19,715 And they're looking around their community and they're saying, 308 00:21:19,715 --> 00:21:21,245 Man, we need to do more here. 309 00:21:21,635 --> 00:21:26,285 And so in a big way, we are actually helping what's happening at home 310 00:21:26,675 --> 00:21:29,825 because we're getting people fired up for missions overseas. 311 00:21:30,335 --> 00:21:34,625 Um, and so what we see in churches is that when they connect with us, 312 00:21:34,625 --> 00:21:39,155 when they go and they give, and they serve, and they, uh, support projects, 313 00:21:39,185 --> 00:21:43,145 and they go on mission trips, is that their giving increases for 314 00:21:43,145 --> 00:21:46,775 their church, for those members and the people that those members tell. 315 00:21:47,135 --> 00:21:49,925 And so overall, it lifts the church, right? 316 00:21:50,825 --> 00:21:54,490 And so it's not an either or, right? 317 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,010 Our Jerusalem, super important. 318 00:21:57,010 --> 00:21:58,570 Let's get it, let's go, right? 319 00:21:58,570 --> 00:22:01,750 There's tons of organizations here helping in the United States. 320 00:22:01,810 --> 00:22:04,629 And then Judea a little bit further out, right? 321 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:10,659 Um, I, I like to say that Samaria, um, to them, when this was spoken, 322 00:22:10,930 --> 00:22:16,830 uh, by Jesus, um, to them this would've said go to the people in 323 00:22:16,830 --> 00:22:18,930 the places that you're scared of. 324 00:22:19,500 --> 00:22:23,310 Go to the people in the places that you don't like, go to the people in 325 00:22:23,310 --> 00:22:26,670 the places that maybe don't speak your language, don't worship like you, 326 00:22:26,670 --> 00:22:31,570 don't do the things you do, the people that it's easy to, you know, snub 327 00:22:31,810 --> 00:22:34,290 and walk around, go to those people. 328 00:22:35,129 --> 00:22:39,585 And, uh, and I think, man, that speaks so much truth to us today is that 329 00:22:39,585 --> 00:22:43,155 if we look around with all the crazy division in the world today and we 330 00:22:43,155 --> 00:22:44,895 look around and go, You know what? 331 00:22:45,315 --> 00:22:49,275 All those people that culture tells us to hate are the people 332 00:22:49,275 --> 00:22:54,135 that we should love because Jesus said, Go to Samaria too, right? 333 00:22:54,225 --> 00:22:57,375 And then He says, And to the ends of the earth. 334 00:22:57,465 --> 00:23:02,064 And so it's not an or, it's an and so let's do something for 335 00:23:02,064 --> 00:23:05,655 here, there, the people we don't like, and literally everywhere. 336 00:23:06,105 --> 00:23:06,650 And, um, 337 00:23:07,725 --> 00:23:09,375 you know, that's what we try to do with Manna. 338 00:23:09,585 --> 00:23:12,945 That's what we try to facilitate, um, through our work with churches, 339 00:23:13,065 --> 00:23:15,945 and businesses, and individuals here in the United States who 340 00:23:15,945 --> 00:23:18,075 come and support our work. 341 00:23:18,105 --> 00:23:22,395 They can jump on board to obviously support our family and the mission work 342 00:23:22,395 --> 00:23:28,050 we do, but honestly, um, it's, for us, it's about, you know, getting you plugged 343 00:23:28,050 --> 00:23:32,850 in and connected with an orphanage, or a nutrition center, a medical clinic, um, 344 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,340 an anti-child trafficking type project. 345 00:23:35,610 --> 00:23:41,790 Um, it's, it, it's getting you connected with these centers where we've got awesome 346 00:23:41,790 --> 00:23:46,275 leadership running these centers day after day after day that are there, you 347 00:23:46,275 --> 00:23:49,425 know, 24/7, 365, doing the hard work. 348 00:23:49,815 --> 00:23:54,165 Um, and me being able to plug you in to support some of that work and 349 00:23:54,165 --> 00:23:57,645 then hopefully get you on a trip and, uh, get you over there to meet the 350 00:23:57,645 --> 00:23:59,355 people that are there 'cause you give. 351 00:23:59,805 --> 00:24:04,845 Um, nothing changes your life like supporting an orphanage and then 352 00:24:04,845 --> 00:24:09,165 going and meeting a little baby girl or a little baby boy who gets 353 00:24:09,165 --> 00:24:13,170 to live there because you give the money so that they can live there. 354 00:24:13,950 --> 00:24:16,620 And, um, man, that changes your life. 355 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,290 Yeah, that, that's huge. 356 00:24:19,830 --> 00:24:23,700 You know, it brings to mind a couple things here. 357 00:24:24,780 --> 00:24:34,740 The first is, I, I always look at the very last words Christ spoke, you 358 00:24:34,740 --> 00:24:40,320 know, some of those were, Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. 359 00:24:40,860 --> 00:24:44,070 And I, I, I base my life off of that. 360 00:24:44,370 --> 00:24:49,950 Those people that are doing those things that we don't necessarily 361 00:24:49,950 --> 00:24:56,865 agree with, they need the help to show them how to live right. 362 00:24:56,895 --> 00:25:02,775 And this is why you have to reach out to the thieves, the killers, the, you 363 00:25:02,775 --> 00:25:09,825 know, prostitutes, all of these sinners in the world because we are all sinners. 364 00:25:10,530 --> 00:25:15,030 And, and a little sin is just like a big sin, it's a sin. 365 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:22,949 And then another thing is Ephesians six, it talks about, you know, we 366 00:25:22,949 --> 00:25:31,020 fight not against flesh and blood, but spirits, and these principalities, and 367 00:25:31,020 --> 00:25:39,210 powers, you know, these are big words that a lot of people just overlook. 368 00:25:39,735 --> 00:25:48,045 And yeah, uh, mission work is a big part of doing just that. 369 00:25:48,855 --> 00:25:55,215 So how do you see Manna helping in the world? 370 00:25:55,215 --> 00:26:00,135 What type of missionary work are they performing in the world? 371 00:26:01,784 --> 00:26:05,804 Yeah, so in the past twenty-five years we've helped to launch over 372 00:26:05,804 --> 00:26:10,365 a hundred churches alongside our, um, sometimes missionary partners. 373 00:26:10,365 --> 00:26:14,205 We've got partners that are missionaries that have come from the United States. 374 00:26:14,564 --> 00:26:17,865 Uh, we've got partners that are missionaries from South Korea, from 375 00:26:17,865 --> 00:26:22,725 the Philippines, um, from some places in Kenya, um, as well as Central and 376 00:26:22,725 --> 00:26:24,794 South America now we're partnering with. 377 00:26:25,995 --> 00:26:29,625 And then we've got pastors that are local to a place, right? 378 00:26:29,625 --> 00:26:33,645 So we work with a bunch of people in Nepal and India and, you know, the rest 379 00:26:33,645 --> 00:26:38,445 of Asia that are from a place and then they look around and they go, Man, I 380 00:26:38,445 --> 00:26:40,065 wish somebody'd plant a church here. 381 00:26:40,395 --> 00:26:42,615 And then they realize, Wait a minute, it's me. 382 00:26:43,485 --> 00:26:47,415 And, uh, and so they plant a church and they have, you know, typically 383 00:26:47,415 --> 00:26:52,305 these guys and, and, and they have barely any support financially. 384 00:26:52,725 --> 00:26:55,784 Um, there's living on, you know, dreams and prayers, right? 385 00:26:56,895 --> 00:26:59,355 And, uh, God is providing. 386 00:26:59,355 --> 00:27:03,765 And so we come alongside these pastors, these missionaries, um, 387 00:27:03,765 --> 00:27:08,025 to help plant churches, to help, uh, launch orphanages, nutrition 388 00:27:08,025 --> 00:27:10,185 centers, medical clinics, schools. 389 00:27:10,425 --> 00:27:14,745 I mean, we've got schools with hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds of kids in 390 00:27:14,745 --> 00:27:18,745 multiple places around the world, um, that are getting educated so that they 391 00:27:18,745 --> 00:27:23,575 can get themselves out of poverty so that they can have opportunity, um, right? 392 00:27:23,575 --> 00:27:26,425 That their families and their parents probably for generations 393 00:27:26,425 --> 00:27:28,255 and generations before have not had. 394 00:27:28,645 --> 00:27:32,695 Um, nutrition centers that are putting food in the bellies of kids who are 395 00:27:32,695 --> 00:27:37,855 hungry, who are often so in need of food that they can't go to school 396 00:27:38,065 --> 00:27:41,845 because they have to work to try to come up with some extra money for 397 00:27:41,845 --> 00:27:43,720 their family to be able to feed them, 398 00:27:44,300 --> 00:27:44,990 right? 399 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,909 And, um, or, or parents are having to make decisions between, like, do I feed 400 00:27:49,909 --> 00:27:51,655 my kids or do I send them to school? 401 00:27:52,665 --> 00:27:55,455 Uh, because I only have money to do one or the other, right? 402 00:27:55,754 --> 00:27:59,175 And so our nutrition centers come alongside and they help these kids 403 00:27:59,175 --> 00:28:02,534 in schoolwork and they help to feed their bellies and they're teaching 404 00:28:02,534 --> 00:28:04,245 'em about Jesus every single day. 405 00:28:04,635 --> 00:28:09,014 Um, and these parents are then getting connected with these pastors 406 00:28:09,014 --> 00:28:13,245 and the local churches that these centers are connected with and they're 407 00:28:13,245 --> 00:28:15,584 coming to faith in Jesus in droves. 408 00:28:15,885 --> 00:28:19,574 Um, we've got medical clinics, like we've got big medical clinics in 409 00:28:19,574 --> 00:28:25,455 Cambodia, Central America, and Africa, and, um, in Eastern Europe that are 410 00:28:25,574 --> 00:28:30,824 supporting villages and communities that had literally zero access to medical 411 00:28:30,824 --> 00:28:32,595 care in their communities before. 412 00:28:32,804 --> 00:28:35,504 But Manna is stepping in to say, Hey, you know what? 413 00:28:35,504 --> 00:28:37,095 Jesus cares about that too. 414 00:28:37,815 --> 00:28:41,625 And while we're helping you with your medical, we're gonna tell you about 415 00:28:41,625 --> 00:28:45,014 Jesus, we're gonna give you the gospel, we're gonna connect your kids with a 416 00:28:45,014 --> 00:28:50,504 nutrition center, or a school, or, you know, for like further assistance, right? 417 00:28:50,774 --> 00:28:54,915 So we're building out this like holistic community, um, you know, 418 00:28:54,915 --> 00:29:02,014 support system in communities that have no support system and, um, and 419 00:29:02,014 --> 00:29:03,695 we're seeing God do incredible things. 420 00:29:03,995 --> 00:29:07,715 Uh, we've got orphanages, right, that are taking in kids off the street, that 421 00:29:07,715 --> 00:29:11,855 are taking kids that have been taken out of their family by some sort of, 422 00:29:11,945 --> 00:29:14,075 you know, social services type system. 423 00:29:14,465 --> 00:29:18,245 Um, you know, we're supporting kids that have been trafficked, and that 424 00:29:18,245 --> 00:29:24,245 have been abused, and that have been not fed, and that have, um, 425 00:29:24,635 --> 00:29:26,195 you know, that have no other option. 426 00:29:26,805 --> 00:29:30,735 And so, you know, that, those are the things that we're seeing and 427 00:29:30,735 --> 00:29:34,845 all of those things work together to build up the local church, right? 428 00:29:35,175 --> 00:29:38,475 Um, we are a local church organization. 429 00:29:38,685 --> 00:29:43,035 I mean, really, really focused on how do we build up the local church? 430 00:29:43,245 --> 00:29:45,675 How do we connect the community with the local church? 431 00:29:45,885 --> 00:29:51,585 How do we make sure that what is done in a community gets seen by the community 432 00:29:51,675 --> 00:29:57,710 as, this is what this church is doing here to support our kids and our families. 433 00:29:58,010 --> 00:30:02,570 And uh, when we do that, when we can do that, what we see is people come to 434 00:30:02,570 --> 00:30:08,480 Jesus and people look and go, Wow, there is something different about this Jesus. 435 00:30:08,780 --> 00:30:12,104 And, um, and we got, we gotta know, right? 436 00:30:12,465 --> 00:30:16,814 And, uh, and that's, man, that's the name of the game for us is, uh, 437 00:30:16,844 --> 00:30:20,925 getting people connected to Jesus and making sure that they have their needs 438 00:30:20,925 --> 00:30:25,334 met in, in all the spiritual ways and all the physical ways as well. 439 00:30:25,695 --> 00:30:30,104 So what are some of the programs and ways that people can get 440 00:30:30,104 --> 00:30:31,905 involved with Manna Worldwide? 441 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:33,270 Yeah. 442 00:30:33,270 --> 00:30:37,620 So, um, one of, uh, my, my big jobs is traveling around the United States 443 00:30:37,649 --> 00:30:41,190 speaking, getting on podcasts like this one, speaking in churches, 444 00:30:41,190 --> 00:30:45,030 meeting with businesses, uh, business leaders that want to get involved, 445 00:30:45,090 --> 00:30:48,600 um, meeting with individuals, um, either online or in person. 446 00:30:49,395 --> 00:30:50,325 They want to get involved. 447 00:30:50,355 --> 00:30:56,535 And so the ways people can get involved is really to connect with me to, to find 448 00:30:56,535 --> 00:31:01,815 out about the projects that need support and, um, and to begin to support projects. 449 00:31:01,815 --> 00:31:06,795 We are a 501C3, so it's tax deductible and all legitimate, and all that stuff. 450 00:31:07,125 --> 00:31:12,879 Um, but really to partner with a project long, long term is really, 451 00:31:12,900 --> 00:31:18,240 really, really what, what we're after, what we want to, uh, to do to, to 452 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:21,240 allow people more impact in the world. 453 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:28,050 Um, and then, next steps to that, uh, would be hop on a trip with us. 454 00:31:28,350 --> 00:31:33,120 Man, we've got, we've got a Nepal mission trip the beginning of June, 2026. 455 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:37,560 Uh, we've got another Nepal trip, the end of August, 2026, 456 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:39,360 um, beginning of September. 457 00:31:39,450 --> 00:31:42,540 Um, and then we've got, what else? 458 00:31:42,780 --> 00:31:46,530 We've got, uh, Thailand and Cambodia, um, sometime in the 459 00:31:46,530 --> 00:31:49,830 fall, likely October or November. 460 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:56,485 Um, and then, uh, Nepal and India the end of December, uh, to 461 00:31:56,485 --> 00:31:58,405 the beginning of January, 2027. 462 00:31:58,824 --> 00:32:02,425 Um, and so that's just the trips that I have available. 463 00:32:02,695 --> 00:32:07,165 Um, Manna has about a hundred trips total that we're leading this year. 464 00:32:07,465 --> 00:32:10,344 Uh, there's a lot of people out there just like me that are leading trips 465 00:32:10,344 --> 00:32:14,304 to Central America, South America, Middle East, Eastern Europe, um, 466 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,880 Africa, and everywhere in between. 467 00:32:17,150 --> 00:32:22,160 And, um, and so the best ways to, to get connected is to connect 468 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:23,630 with me, uh, through email. 469 00:32:24,050 --> 00:32:24,800 Uh, 470 00:32:28,090 --> 00:32:35,095 my email is c.alsup, c.A,L,S,U,P@manna, that's M-A-N-N-A, worldwide.com. 471 00:32:35,425 --> 00:32:39,145 Uh, shoot me an email, tell me you heard me on the podcast, tell me you, uh, 472 00:32:39,415 --> 00:32:41,695 would like to know more information. 473 00:32:42,085 --> 00:32:46,284 Um, I can send you a list of projects that need support currently, either 474 00:32:46,495 --> 00:32:50,940 projects that we're wanting to start, needing to start, or projects that are 475 00:32:50,940 --> 00:32:54,870 currently going that are underfunded for one reason or another, uh, that you 476 00:32:54,870 --> 00:32:57,270 can jump on to, uh, to support and help. 477 00:32:57,660 --> 00:33:01,080 And, uh, I can also send you a list of trips and things like that. 478 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:05,639 Get you connected in, uh, to be able to go and see the need, see what Manna's doing. 479 00:33:05,639 --> 00:33:10,980 Listen, I get it, like there's a lot of people asking for money, right? 480 00:33:12,030 --> 00:33:14,550 And, uh, there's a lot of places that you could put your money. 481 00:33:15,090 --> 00:33:17,160 And you, you earn your money, I get it. 482 00:33:17,700 --> 00:33:21,630 Um, but, uh, I, man, I'm an open book. 483 00:33:21,930 --> 00:33:25,380 Ask me any question you want to ask me, uh, go on a trip with 484 00:33:25,380 --> 00:33:27,210 me and see what we do first. 485 00:33:27,510 --> 00:33:32,345 Um, lay eye, you know, lay eyes on the kids that are there, uh, 486 00:33:32,345 --> 00:33:33,725 that, that need the support. 487 00:33:34,085 --> 00:33:39,665 Um, meet the leadership and the pastors and these missionaries that we work with 488 00:33:40,025 --> 00:33:44,075 and, uh, and I promise, uh, you'll, you'll want to get involved, 489 00:33:44,075 --> 00:33:45,605 especially if you go and meet them. 490 00:33:45,605 --> 00:33:51,155 And, uh, these guys, these guys are doing a great job and, uh, man, it's, 491 00:33:51,155 --> 00:33:52,655 it's a good work to get involved in. 492 00:33:52,805 --> 00:33:57,845 So yeah, there are, there are tons of orphanages, nutrition centers, schools, 493 00:33:57,845 --> 00:34:02,045 medical clinics, stuff like that around the world that we either have that need 494 00:34:02,045 --> 00:34:05,825 a little extra support, that we want to launch and we're just waiting on the 495 00:34:05,825 --> 00:34:07,805 right people to come along to say yes. 496 00:34:08,304 --> 00:34:12,205 Um, if it's a church, uh, here in the US, I'd love to meet you. 497 00:34:12,205 --> 00:34:16,345 I'd love to travel and come and speak, and share, and, you know, set up 498 00:34:16,345 --> 00:34:20,155 at a missions conference, or maybe just a regular weekend or an event. 499 00:34:20,574 --> 00:34:23,514 Um, if it's a business, man, I can come, I can come sit down 500 00:34:23,514 --> 00:34:24,955 with your team and talk about it. 501 00:34:25,315 --> 00:34:28,885 Uh, if it's an individual, let me know, we can try to schedule a call, 502 00:34:28,885 --> 00:34:30,475 video chat, something like that. 503 00:34:30,775 --> 00:34:35,574 Or if I'm in your area, we could stop by and, and have a chat in person. 504 00:34:37,275 --> 00:34:38,685 Yeah, that's always good. 505 00:34:38,985 --> 00:34:41,925 Uh, I like what you're doing out there. 506 00:34:41,925 --> 00:34:47,040 There's a lot of help in the world that is needed, that's for sure. 507 00:34:47,490 --> 00:34:54,000 So is there anything else that you would like to discuss or highlight 508 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,850 today before we let you outta here? 509 00:34:58,080 --> 00:34:58,830 Let me think. 510 00:34:59,010 --> 00:35:01,800 Uh, yeah, I, I mentioned my email address a minute ago, 511 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:01,940 just c.alsup@mannaworldwide.com. 512 00:35:05,980 --> 00:35:09,190 Um, obviously you can go on the Manna website, find a 513 00:35:09,190 --> 00:35:10,750 bunch of information as well. 514 00:35:11,049 --> 00:35:15,400 Um, it's just manna, M-A-N-N-A worldwide.com. 515 00:35:15,850 --> 00:35:18,790 And if you go on there, you'll be able to see some of the countries that we work in. 516 00:35:18,790 --> 00:35:21,310 You'll be able to see some statistics and you'll be able to 517 00:35:21,310 --> 00:35:24,045 see a list of all the trips and stuff like that that are going on. 518 00:35:25,245 --> 00:35:29,925 Uh, you can get, go on our team page and you can email myself or, or any 519 00:35:29,925 --> 00:35:33,705 of our other leaders from different areas of the world and, uh, and be 520 00:35:33,705 --> 00:35:38,115 able to find out more information, see some videos and stuff like that. 521 00:35:38,625 --> 00:35:40,665 Um, man, let me think, man. 522 00:35:41,025 --> 00:35:47,279 Uh, I, honestly, uh, you know, I just wanna challenge people to take the next 523 00:35:47,279 --> 00:35:53,069 step and, um, you know, whether that's towards supporting Manna, uh, supporting 524 00:35:53,069 --> 00:35:57,450 our work, or whether it's supporting your local church more, whether it's 525 00:35:57,450 --> 00:36:01,410 getting involved in your local community or somewhere else around the world, um, 526 00:36:01,410 --> 00:36:08,970 whatever it is, um, your listeners, uh, should understand and should know, um, 527 00:36:09,060 --> 00:36:14,805 that uh, Jesus places good works in front of us that we're meant to walk into. 528 00:36:15,555 --> 00:36:19,425 And, uh, and the more we walk into them, the better life gets, I promise. 529 00:36:19,905 --> 00:36:22,815 Um, and the more we walk into them, the more people we get to 530 00:36:22,815 --> 00:36:26,115 help and the more people we get to see come to faith in Jesus. 531 00:36:26,115 --> 00:36:29,355 And the more people we get to see with food in their belly, and shoes 532 00:36:29,355 --> 00:36:33,555 on their feet, and clothes on their back, and education in their minds 533 00:36:33,795 --> 00:36:35,440 to make this world a better place. 534 00:36:36,180 --> 00:36:41,819 And so, yeah, man, I just wanna challenge people to, to do the next thing to 535 00:36:41,910 --> 00:36:45,270 be, be, do something Christian, right? 536 00:36:45,660 --> 00:36:50,640 Um, you know, then not to just be hearers of the word, listeners of the 537 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,130 word, but to be doers of the word. 538 00:36:54,060 --> 00:36:54,900 Yeah, Amen. 539 00:36:54,900 --> 00:36:55,890 I like that a lot. 540 00:36:56,250 --> 00:37:01,920 You know, the good book of Jeremiah outlines it well, that He 541 00:37:02,250 --> 00:37:05,850 wants good things to come to us. 542 00:37:05,970 --> 00:37:11,430 And if, if you're accepting of that, it, it happens. 543 00:37:12,450 --> 00:37:15,629 Craig, I wanna say thank you for sharing today. 544 00:37:15,720 --> 00:37:21,390 Uh, it's a good ministry that you're doing out there, the world needs more of it. 545 00:37:21,779 --> 00:37:25,230 So I hope in some little way this helps out. 546 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:27,900 Yeah. 547 00:37:27,900 --> 00:37:28,860 I appreciate it, man. 548 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:30,900 Hey, I'm, I'm super thankful. 549 00:37:30,900 --> 00:37:34,290 I'm getting on a bunch of podcasts this year, really trying to kinda 550 00:37:34,290 --> 00:37:37,950 get the word out more about what we do, and who we are, and, and how 551 00:37:37,950 --> 00:37:39,870 people can, uh, can get involved. 552 00:37:39,870 --> 00:37:45,060 And so, um, I appreciate you letting me come on and, uh, letting me share a 553 00:37:45,060 --> 00:37:48,750 little bit about Manna and my heart and, uh, what God's doing around the world. 554 00:37:49,110 --> 00:37:53,670 Um, it, uh, it never ceases to amaze me. 555 00:37:54,540 --> 00:37:59,640 And, uh, and delight me that I get to, uh, do the work I do. 556 00:38:00,180 --> 00:38:05,850 And, uh, and that I get to share these stories of these people that, that I 557 00:38:05,850 --> 00:38:11,070 love so much and, um, and that, and that more importantly that God loves so much. 558 00:38:11,550 --> 00:38:14,610 And so, man, thank you for allowing me the, the platform, 559 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:17,700 um, to, to say that they matter. 560 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:22,050 And, uh, to make, to, to make Him known more, hopefully, 561 00:38:22,050 --> 00:38:24,120 and to make them known more. 562 00:38:24,450 --> 00:38:27,630 And, uh, to be able to represent them means the world to me. 563 00:38:29,460 --> 00:38:31,050 Yeah, I like that a lot. 564 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:32,790 Uh, we all matter. 565 00:38:32,940 --> 00:38:40,680 And, uh, it, it's, thank you for being here today and I wanna say thank you 566 00:38:40,710 --> 00:38:47,820 to Podcasthon for having this event to help boost charities around the world. 567 00:38:47,850 --> 00:38:51,780 And this is a great charity to look at. 568 00:38:51,870 --> 00:38:57,675 And if, if your tax deduction needs to go someplace, why 569 00:38:57,675 --> 00:39:00,345 not here to Manna Worldwide? 570 00:39:00,525 --> 00:39:03,915 They help children build a brighter future for tomorrow. 571 00:39:04,545 --> 00:39:05,230 Thank you, Craig. 572 00:39:06,450 --> 00:39:07,590 Hey, man, I appreciate it. 573 00:39:07,590 --> 00:39:08,270 Thank you so much. 574 00:39:18,095 --> 00:39:22,845 Spreadsheets glow in neon light, pixels painting purpose bright. 575 00:39:22,845 --> 00:39:28,125 While orphans sleep in moonlit night beneath the bamboo's sway, He walks 576 00:39:28,305 --> 00:39:33,855 the line where numbers meet the sacred call to serve and feed with calculator 577 00:39:33,855 --> 00:39:36,734 in one hand, the Bible in his way. 578 00:39:37,914 --> 00:39:42,285 Where balance sheets meet prayer sheets in leather bound communion. 579 00:39:42,285 --> 00:39:48,285 Faith and finance intertwine like rivers merging deep, boardroom doors and 580 00:39:48,285 --> 00:39:51,345 chapel floors both echo with His wisdom, 581 00:39:51,975 --> 00:39:56,205 every pivot table whispers of the souls He came to keep. 582 00:39:56,924 --> 00:40:03,674 Not either/or but something more- a loom where heaven's weaving a tapestry of grace 583 00:40:03,674 --> 00:40:09,024 and trade in golden thread and steel, where every deal and mercy meal become 584 00:40:09,024 --> 00:40:15,725 redemption's breathing and quarterly reports show lives transformed and healed. 585 00:40:15,765 --> 00:40:23,085 Building with both hands, steel and spirit rise, skyscrapers of compassion 586 00:40:23,265 --> 00:40:24,495 touching eastern skies. 587 00:40:25,214 --> 00:40:32,044 Not just a venture, it's a sacred, lasting space, where profit funds the 588 00:40:32,044 --> 00:40:34,934 orphanage and salaries show grace. 589 00:40:34,954 --> 00:40:41,424 Building with both hands, leaving more than gold, rice fields turned 590 00:40:41,424 --> 00:40:44,474 to churches, stories bought and sold. 591 00:40:47,194 --> 00:40:47,704 The markets 592 00:40:47,984 --> 00:40:53,535 roar like ocean waves against the Manila piers, while quiet prayers in mountain 593 00:40:53,805 --> 00:40:58,375 towns lift souls from hungry graves, a lone star light through Shanghai 594 00:40:58,375 --> 00:41:01,515 nights, through Bangkok's neon tears. 595 00:41:01,515 --> 00:41:05,665 Where spreadsheets become altars and business cards save. 596 00:41:05,665 --> 00:41:06,055 Ledgers 597 00:41:12,174 --> 00:41:15,105 filled with lives redeemed in columns wide, 598 00:41:20,485 --> 00:41:25,884 in nutrition centers built where hopelessness had cried. 599 00:41:27,615 --> 00:41:34,120 From Dallas desks to Asian streets, The calling never wavers mentoring 600 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:39,759 young leaders with Solomon's own hands, teaching dads to father 601 00:41:39,940 --> 00:41:42,310 while the markets test their favors. 602 00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:46,740 Planting seeds of Kingdom where the desert meets demand. 603 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:51,130 Building with both hands, steel and spirit rise, Kingdom come 604 00:41:54,720 --> 00:41:56,050 in business, burning 605 00:41:56,050 --> 00:41:57,470 in their eyes. 606 00:41:57,470 --> 00:42:00,170 Not just a venture, it's a harvest in it's prime, where revenue 607 00:42:04,029 --> 00:42:07,359 means rescued kids and dividends are time. 608 00:42:07,359 --> 00:42:13,930 Building with both hands, leaving more than gold, a legacy of 609 00:42:13,930 --> 00:42:17,960 faithfulness in every share controlled. 610 00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:20,810 Column A, 611 00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:27,355 a child fed with rice and living bread, Column B, a spirit led from darkness 612 00:42:27,355 --> 00:42:33,634 into dawn, the bottom line in light divine where earthly work and heaven wed. 613 00:42:33,634 --> 00:42:36,144 Where every business meeting 614 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:39,480 becomes a Pentecost.