The title of this post is the slogan for The Purpose Hotel, an emerging idea of Jeremy Cowart. He's a renown photographer grounded in Nashville, Tennessee who has done numerous projects around the globe on six of the seven continents. More specifically, he created the "Voices of Haiti" photo essay after the devastating earthquake in 2010. This essay was displayed at an event attended by United Nations leaders, who were gathering to decide what to do about reconstruction. They decided to give 10 million dollars to restore Haiti. Crazy, right!
Friends, that's just one amazing incidence Mr. Cowart has initiated. His dream of The Purpose Hotel is revolutionary. The cost of your stay will go to support a specific child in need. You will have a face, a name, and a story connected to the room you are in. Not only that, but you will be relaxing under blankets made by women who were rescued from sex trafficking. Moreover, you can upgrade your wifi package to help free more people who are being trafficked.
I know many of you are thinking, "Yeah, it sounds cool, Anna. But I'm a broke college kid; have you seen my bank account lately?" And believe me, I get that more than anyone. I'm on a tight budget and have barely any wiggle room. But if we all pitch in what we can give, the numbers will add up. That's the beauty of the body of Christ. We can't do anything alone, but together, we can move mountains. Together,we can build this hotel.
As I was writing this, God brought to mind the widow who put her last two coins in the church treasury (essentially, the offering plate of Bible times.) Jesus watched intently as she gave her only money for the betterment of His kingdom. He told the disciples, "They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on" (Mark 12:44).
I pray to be like the widow. I want to be willing to give everything away, even if it means losing my life. I'd rather gain my soul by helping reach another with the love I am so graciously given.
Mumford and Sons said it well in their song, "Awake My Soul": "Where you invest your love, you invest your life." Co-founding The Purpose Hotel is an investment worth making... and once it's built, we will be able to (very literally) change the world in our sleep.
Learn more about the details and how you can donate here.