I’ll come right out with it.  Here’s my full disclosure. I work for DurhamCares.  So, perhaps you may see me as a little biased, and maybe I am.  Regardless of that though,  I really do think you should be at the DPAC on May 4th for a benefit we’re hosting for our partners and that includes Tim Keller.  I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of Dr. Keller’s books, so I know I will enjoy hearing him speak.  But, I’m also of the generation that would need 380 days in a year to attend all the events we’re invited to, and a high six-figure salary to say “yes” to every solicitation of support. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but my point is that, I understand your question:  “Why should I pay $35 to hear a sermon - couldn’t I just download it?”  You’re not the only person asking that question. So, to help with the answer, here are my top 5 reasons to come to the DPAC on May 4th, with a bonus 6th reason if you’re still not convinced:

• You’ll be gathering with Durham community leaders and people from more than 30 local churches.
  Think about it….how long has it been since that happened in Durham?  We’ve been asking, and the common consensus seems to be “too long”.  Right now a special volunteer is putting together some music for May 4th featuring member of close to 10 different local church choirs!  As one local pastor summarized it, “There may be legitimate reasons why we don’t do this every Sunday, but occasionally it can be powerful to demonstrate what we all agree on.”
• You will be able to connect to what’s going on in Durham and to others who share your passion.
  Are you interested in doing something in Durham, but aren’t sure where to start?  Are you wondering what your next step might be to get more involved?  Come to find out.  This event isn’t designed for you to walk out the door, whip out your to-do list, and check off the box titled “Love Neighbor”.  It’s the connecting point that launches you deeper in.
• You’ll have a chance to ask Dr. Keller questions….specifically about your community. 
  May 4th won’t be just a sermon in 3D by Dr. Keller.  It will be about you.  About your neighbor.  About Durham.  Sure, a part of the night will be the keynote address, but during the speaking you will be able to submit your questions for a special Q&A time with Dr. Keller.
• You probably have a friend who would really benefit from hearing about how God feels about our city. 
  And maybe this friend wouldn’t go if you didn’t bring him or her.  We love hearing stories of people who are planning dinner for their friends at their house so they can bring them to the DPAC, or buying extra tickets to give to friends who really couldn’t afford to come.
• Your tickets will support local organizations that do excellent work in serving the neediest families in some of the toughest places in Duham. 
  This isn’t the whole point of the evening, but it’s an important point:  none of the money you spend to come to the DPAC will go to DurhamCares.  Not even a penny.  It will all go to cover the cost of the event and to the 29 Durham organizations we’ve worked hard to vet so that you can feel comfortable that your dollar goes to help folks that need it in our city.
• What else were you going to use that $35 for?
  Ok, so this last one is more of a question than a reason.  But seriously….what?  A nice dinner?  A new pair of shoes?  12 new apps for your iPhone?  There are lots of perfectly legitimate things competing for your $35, but consider - just consider - whether one of them could wait until next month.  You may decide it’s worth it, or you may decide it’s not.  But just consider it.

Ready to not miss this?  It’s 7:30, May 4th at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham.  Get your tickets today!

Already know you’ll be there?  Tell us why!  What’s your reason for making this a don’t miss event on your calendar?

DurhamCares Invites You to An Evening with Tim Keller

on May 4th at 7:30pm at the Durham Performing Arts Center!

Join us for an evening of celebration, fellowship and inspiration in a benefit fundraiser for the DurhamCares partners. Neighbors and congregations from across the city are invited as we explore what it means to Love Your Neighbor as seen in the Bible and ask what our next step might be to bless our city.

Tickets are $35 and 100% of profits from the event will benefit the 29 DurhamCares partners. Purchase first for your choice of best seats! You can buy your tickets in one of three ways:

• Walk up to the DPAC Ticket Office.
  Located at 123 Vivian Street, the box office is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm and on Saturday 10am to 2pm

• Call the DPAC Ticket Office at (919) 680-2787

• Order online at www.dpacnc.com

Note: Additional fees will apply for box office phone orders and online orders.

Who is Tim Keller?

Dr. Keller is founder and pastor of New York's Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Over the past 20 years, the church has grown to five services at three sites, with a weekly attendance of over 5,000. Named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Churches in America, Keller's ministry is notable not only for winning over New Yorkers who are skeptical to faith, but also for its missional approach, planting more than 100 churches through Redeemer City to City. He is the New York Times bestselling author of King's Cross, Generous Justice, Ministries of Mercy, The Reason for God, The Prodigal God, and Counterfeit Gods. He blogs at Redeemer City to City.

It's finally February, and Valentine's Day candies, cards and stuffed animals have taken over the aisles of grocery and retail stores everywhere. So, in the spirit of this romance that's filling the air -- and shelves -- we at DurhamCares are kicking off a month-long campaign to encourage Durham residents everywhere to love their neighbor.

This campaign will take several forms over the course of the next month. First of all, keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter feed. We'll have two trivia questions each day about our 2011 partner organizations, and we'll be offering lots of prizes for those who participate. But this campaign will take several forms, so keep an eye out -- we've got a few other surprises up our sleeves.

This year let's make Valentine's Day something bigger than cards, chocolate and roses (although those are nice, too). Let's make it about loving our neighbors by giving back, volunteering and getting involved. Want more information about just how to do that? Visit our website or give us a call at 251-6189.

DurhamCares and our sister organizations, Ministry Spotlight and Christian Technology Initiative, are looking for interns and volunteers! Are you looking for a place where you can use your skills and talents to impact the community? If so, we are the place for you.  We offer an impactful experience with the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in a great, fun and community-driven work environment!  For more information or to apply for current opportunities please contact Matt Miglarese at mmiglarese@durhamcares.org.

Download this announcement here. 

DurhamCares (www.durhamcares.org)

Video editing/Production: We need 2-4 volunteers/interns that are willing to with video production skills to tell stories of the work that is happening in Durham. You’ll have the opportunity to meet non-profits and volunteers and tell the stories of their work.

Administration: We need 1-2 volunteers/interns to help with administrative tasks in the DurhamCares office. You’ll have the opportunity to have your hands involved in all of the different projects happening at DurhamCares with this role.

Volunteer Matching: We need 2-4 volunteers/interns to work alongside our Match Program Manager in matching volunteers to perfect opportunities in the community based on their skills and interests. You’ll help interview volunteers, place them in opportunities in the community and build relationships with non-profit partners as you find volunteer opportunities.

Business Analytics:  We need 1 volunteer willing to analyze our business analytics and make recommendations for strategic planning and programs

Ministry Spotlight (www.ministryspotlight.org; www.givetogenerosity.org)

Research: We need 3-6 research interns/volunteers to interview research non-profits that focus on specific ministry verticals, such as human trafficking, orphan care, youth discipleship, church planting.

Marketing: We need 1-2 intern/volunteer that is willing to help with marketing efforts. You’ll focus on social media sites, specifically Twitter and Facebook, as well as brand development. In addition to that, you’ll have the opportunity to develop content for newsletters

Podcast Editors:  We need 2-3 volunteers/interns that have experience in editing podcasts to work on editing and publishing our podcast stream weekly.

PR: We needs 1-2 volunteers/interns to work on press releases, newsletters, brochures and content development for the organization. You’ll also be responsible for contacting foundations and organizations.

Design Guru: We need 1 volunteer/intern to help design brochures, promotional materials, graphics for web pages, newsletters, etc.  

Market Analyst: We need 3-4 interns/volunteers to provide non-profit market analysis. This role will include online research, drafting industry reports and overviews, and calling and interviewing organizations.

Christian Technology Initiative (www.christiantechnologyinitiative.org)

Marketing: We need 1 intern/volunteer that is willing to help with marketing efforts. You’ll focus on social media sites, specifically Twitter and Facebook, as well as brand development. In addition to that, you’ll have the opportunity to develop content for newsletters.

Information Engagement: We need1-2 intern/volunteers to research different areas of the technology world, such as Donation Utilities, IT, Social Marketing.

Design Work: We 1 intern/volunteer to provide design services for marketing collateral and web based projects. You’ll work in creating newsletter templates, online announcements and advertisements, and informational handouts.

The Durham Eagles won a regional championship this weekend and are heading to the Nationals in Orlando, Florida this Friday!  You can be a part of the team and show your support!

The Eagles aren't just a Pop Warner football team though.  This is a comprehensive academic and mentoring program with opportunities for Durham's inner city kids.  They've worked hard, lived up to their committments, kept their grades up and now have the chance to win a Championship. Consider making a donation to be a part of the team!

10% of Sales at the RTP Chick Fil A will support the Eagles in November.  Just be sure to give them this card with your order!

We are very proud of the Durham Iron Eagles! We are trying to support these young men in their quest for a Regional and a National Championship for Pop Warner Football. In these tight economic times our fundraising efforts are very important to help these young men achieve their goals. We are appealing to you for financial assistance.

Our most urgent need is to help these young men travel for their playoff games. We will have one playoff game in Garner, NC, which will not require travel funds, but we will also play in Charlotte, North Carolina over Thanksgiving weekend and this will require an overnight stay. Hotel rooms are about $100 each, and we will need 14 rooms to house our team and coaches. We will need to feed the team lunch and dinner on Friday, as well as breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The total cost of the trip will run around $2000.

We are hoping to have a much more significant need, the National Championships in Orlando, Florida. If we are fortunate enough to win our Regional playoff game in Charlotte, we will be travelling to the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney for a nine day trip in December to compete in the Super Bowl for Pop Warner. This trip has been estimated to cost $40,000 for a team of our size! Yes, $40,000. We know getting corporations and sponsors involved will be necessary, but we are also looking to friends and family to help us reach our goal.

Any amount of financial assistance will be greatly appreciated!

If you are able to help us financially, please make checks payable to: Durham Eagles Athletic Association. We are a non-profit organization and will be happy to mail you a receipt with our tax ID number on it for you tax records.  You can email Bill Stevenson with questions at whs2@alumni.duke.edu.

Regardless of whether or not you are able to help us financially, we would love to have you attend one of our football games.
Thank you for your support of the Durham Iron Eagles.

Sincerely,
Durham Iron Eagles players and coaches

What is Race Across America and why are we riding?

RAAM 2010: Day 1 with Team DurhamCares

RAAM 2010:  Day 2 with DurhamCares  

RAAM 2010:  Day 3 with Team DurhamCares

RAAM 2010:  Day 4 with Team DurhamCares 

RAAM 2010: Day 5 with Team DurhamCares

RAAM 2010:  Day 6 with Team DurhamCares

RAAM 2010:  Finishing the Race and Knowing What It's All About!

Not that I ever do too much anyway, but today I've decided to worry less about sentence structure and just put my thoughts down.

I'm tired. Tuesday night I went on shift at 4:30 and went the next 16 hours, got off for 8 hours (of fitful rest in 95 degree RV with no AC) and then on for another 14....6 hours of rest in moving, hot RV, and then back out for night shift. I think that brings me to today.

I am awed and overwhelmed at how well our team is getting along. There are typically 13 people in the RV at a time. Its, hot, largely airless, and completely cramped, and yet no one really gets frustrated with each other....that might be the real story of the week.

We are going through the mountains of West Virginia right now. They are beautiful, but relentless. A few miles back we actually crossed through to Maryland for a bit. That was a special feeling as I grew up here.

I can't wait to see my family early tomorrow morning.

I'm also really looking forward to the party at Tylers on Tuesday. I hope to see my friends there so that I can thank them for all of their support and encouragement.

Greetings from Illinois.  The ride is going great!  I am really enjoying the teammates and the crew who are absolutely incredible.  I have been on for 24 of the last 32 hours and I am getting ready to go back on in 6 hours and I think it is really setting in.  Its been amazing how many things we have seen and how beautfiful this country is.  I had thought that I wouldn’t need to go the caffine route to help me get through but that all went out the window last night as I went to redbull hard and I have a feeling I’ll be doing that until we get home.  It is really motivating to be in this race with this team and to see us continue to support each other and make changes to play to our strengths in each of the legs based on the stage.   It is incredibly encouraging from the road to hear about people in Durham giving more and more money and more and more volunteer hours.  It is great to see the scenery changing back to the way it looks in North Carolina, we feel like we are almost home.  Lord willing we will be home in the next 48 hours so we would love your thoughts and prayers. 

-Henry

One of the unique things, of course, about RAAM is that the race goes 24 hours a day, so 1/3 of our time is spent at night. Riding in solitude at night in the headlights of the support car is a soulful experience, and it surely is that way tonight as we make our way through Kansas on long straight roads.

Last night however, was high drama as we race with 5 other teams through the last of the mountains of Colorado and in to Kansas. It seems incredible to me that with more than 1,200 miles that 6 teams could be within 10 miles of each other. It seemed that riders and support vehicles were everywhere. I have never in my life had such a sustained run of adrenaline as we caught, passed and distanced these teams. We were flying. As we came in to Kim, Colorado we had vaulted from 10th to 5th in just 24 hours!!

We spent the next 6 hours in the RV, which has lost it's generator, and the a/c....kind of tough with 12 sweaty folks with little sleep. But that's where this team may be more amazing than what we've accomplished on the race. We are so committed to this event, to each other, and to the greater cause of Durham. But most importantly, God has taken care of us and to him we are most grateful. While we hear of other teams and their conflicts, we are gelling as a team with a surprising lack of conflict. I am so thankful for this team of 20 amazing folks on the road, and for the team (led by Heather and Haley) that have put on an amazing event at the American Tobacco Complex which has hosted riders 24 hours a day for the entirety of the time that we have been on the road.

Durham rocks!!