Jared White

As ten year-olds playing baseball together in Northern California, Jared White and Andy Langeland never dreamed that one day they would work together in a foreign country with teenage orphans. Changing the world was not on their minds as they ran the bases of that dusty baseball field.

But Jared's tender faith in God was growing, having surrendered his heart to Jesus a few years before. Jared explained how his parents were a tremendous spiritual influence on him. "They took me to church, read Bible stories to me, prayed with me, and shared God’s love with me from the time I was born. And because of their influence in my life, I decided that I wanted to have Jesus in my life when I was only sixyears old."

But as the years went by, Jared's family endured some very difficult and tumultuous seasons. It was then that he discovered that his faith was a solid rock that would not be shaken by circumstances. "It was during these rough times that my faith in God began to grow and strengthen. I realized that I needed God to be the stability in my life, and He answered my prayers on many occasions."

Jared describes a transforming time during his teenage years. "It was during high school that my faith in God began to mature into an outward faith, expressing itself in love for others. During the summer of my freshman year I had the opportunity to go to Denver, Colorado with my youth group and share Christ’s love with families in an inner-city neighborhood. This trip was followed by an invitation from Andy Langeland to go with him on a mission trip to Mexico, and my life was forever changed. I began to realize that this world was a whole lot bigger than the “bubble-of-self” that I was consumed with. I saw suffering and poverty on a level that I had never seen before, and the Father started stirring up His compassion in my heart for the lost, the broken, and the outcasts."

As Jared continued his education at Vanguard University and later Simpson University, his faith continued to mature. He took advantage of opportunities to serve wherever he saw the need. He volunteered as a youth pastor, a worship leader, and a high school chaplain. After graduating from college he continued following his heart for youth by working with troubled teens, serving in a mentoring organization and working as a Youth Probation Officer. Jared comments on what he learned. "These experiences only deepened my realization of the need for God’s people to share His love with the hurting and dying of this world, as well as my own absolute need for the grace and love of God in my life. We are His instruments, and amazingly God chooses to use us to fulfill His plan in the world!"

When Jared married his bride Amanda in May of 2007, they began to pray for God's will for their lives as a couple. By this time, his friendship with Andy Langeland would cause their paths to cross again. Andy and his wife Jaimee attended Jared's wedding and shared that they were moving to Ukraine to work with teenage orphans. A year later, they would invite Jared and Amanda to pray about joining them.

Jared describes how they responded. "When Andy and Jaimee invited my wife and I to consider being involved with what they were doing in Ukraine, we were instantly excited and began praying about the opportunity. After praying, we knew that God wanted us to go. He wanted us to be willing to give up our jobs, trust him for provision, have faith that he could work through us, and GO!"

After a few months of serving in Ukraine, Jared shared what he has experienced. "The thing I love most about working overseas with HWCM and Operation Lazarus, besides being involved with our best friends Andy and Jaimee, is seeing the faithfulness and love of God demonstrated as we step out in faith! And it is amazing to be part of a ministry that is rooted in faith in the power of God to accomplish anything! While we have only been in the mission field a short time compared to many people, we have seen God’s love and power demonstrated on so many occasions. We have seen orphans become part of God’s family; we have seen hard hearts and frowns turn into smiles and openness to Christ’s love; we have seen missing luggage miraculously show up, and we have seen God provide jobs for orphans only one week after praying for them to have employment. We have seen God's grace and His faithfulness in action!"

Amanda White's bio

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