Recently, I was looking for a way to quantify our family’s Gospel impact. I wanted a tangible way to keep track of what we were doing and where we were doing it. I desired a way to help our family be encouraged about our impact in the world, and at the same time be challenged about what could yet be done by our family. During a conversation with a friend, I was tossing around the idea of using a map and some sort of tracking system. She referred me to a mutual friend whose family had already implemented this idea.
Meet the Vlach family.
This is what my friend, Rixja, had to say about their map and the inspiration behind it.
“When we moved [from Birmingham], we wanted to make sure that we stayed connected to the missions vision that Brook Hills had ignited in us. We knew we would probably not be able to go on trips with the church but we knew there were other ways we could still be involved. We also knew we wanted our home to be a place that served others and pointed to Jesus. So, we decided to get a map, hang it at our dinner table and keep track of what we were doing and that when we open our home up to others, the map would become a natural springboard for discussion about needs around the globe. We use it to keep track of our Compassion children, water wells that we buy through Neverthirst, mission trips, major ministry, mission trips that we sponsored for someone else, Harvest of Hope projects, World Vision projects, and adoptions that we have helped sponsor. My brother is in the process of adopting from China right now and we are so excited! The beauty of keeping a map to track all this is that whenever we are tempted to feel prideful, we just look at the map and can see how much more can be done around the world!!! We have fabulous discussions at mealtimes about if we should keep concentrating the wells in one country, spread them around the world, sponsor a Compassion child on each continent, or impact a single village, and what can we do to impact Antartica!?!?!? See…. the conversations that were meant to impact others actually keep on impacting us and keep us focused on what else we can do and where. Several families had not heard about Neverthirst and asked for more info. We were able to show them the folder we get with each well purchase about the villages and people that are now receiving the Living Water because of the clean water. This may be prideful but our hearts soar with each photo of a well that bears the name ‘Vlach Family’. It continues to inspire us to come up with ways we can earn and spend more money on these projects.”
So, inspired by their example, I embarked on the process of creating the “Horton Family Global Impact Map”.
I started with a map. I decided on a simpler, less geographically accurate map. <grin>
I took the map to my local craft store and had it dry mounted on 1/2″ thick foam backing.
In addition, I picked up a DIY frame – no glass needed – and rounded up some scrapbooking paper and a few other supplies.
Then went to work! We decided on a Legend.
Next, we made flags on the appropriate colored pins for mission efforts we had identified.
…and began placing them on our map.
Once our pins were placed, we finished it off with a title.
Framed it.
…. hung our map and surrounded it with reminders to pray.
My prayer is that we would look at this map and be grateful for how the Lord has allowed us to play a small part in His Kingdom work. But more importantly, like Rixja, I pray that we would be overwhelmed by all the blank spaces and ask the Lord where else we might be useful in service to the nations.
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Note: Feeling a little more creative than our feeble attempts here? Check out our Pinterest board with more creative options for how to make a map. The idea is the same; just a tad bit snazzier maps!
Final note – on ordering the map:
Here is the link for ordering the antique map used in the Horton family project. Remember, you’ll need to purchase the mounting and frame separately.
And here is the link for the National Geographic map the Vlach family used. This version is mounted, framed, personalized and ready to go!
