Andrea McGinniss: Hands and Feet Project

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Pursuing true North

Religion & Spirituality


Please tell us about you and your God story and what led you to a deeper walk with Christ? When people ask me about my life, I find it easier to refer to seasons. The early season of my life was not spent in the church. I knew of God and of Catholicism, but never really made the connection to faith and Christianity. I was introduced to a new church and a personal approach to God in my early 20’s, while still at University. This was a period of time when everything was new and fresh and I wanted to learn everything, but it was also a time of remaking and reshaping my worldview. I moved to Nashville in 1993. This was a season of growing into marriage and motherhood; each of those steps required different tools. I am married to a musician and the challenges we faced with separation and raising children in this structure required a lot of the whole family. This current season, post music industry, has both my husband and I serving Haiti in a full-time capacity. That has required a different tool kit. “Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”- Psalm 139:11 (ESV) “May I be steadfast in my faith. May I keep in the forefront of my mind that you are ever present in perceived darkness, walking beside me, holding my hand, guiding me along the right path. With this, perseverance comes easier and hope more palpable.” What Led You to Hands and Feet Project? I have been intricately involved with Hands and Feet Project since the very beginning. My first visit to Haiti was in 2001 and three years later, I linked arms with my husband, Will as he joined his fellow band mate, Mark Stuart, to found Hands and Feet Project. Since that time, I have served as a donor, a guest, a volunteer and as part of the dedicated team. I accepted the position as the Executive Director in January 2018. What We Do? Caring for the Orphaned and Abandoned. Fighting to Keep Families Together. Our Mission: Our Christ-centered purpose is to provide family-style, residential care and sustainable solutions that fight against Haiti’s orphan crisis. Our Vision: First, under the guidance of Haiti’s Child Social Services, we provide holistic, residential care for children in crisis by building and operating Children’s Villages with multiple family-style homes lead by Haitian House Mothers. By utilizing our resources, relationships, and our American and Haitian staff, we strive to create a circle of care around each child with the intent of giving every boy and girl the chance to reach their God-given potential. Second, we will utilize our platform to help create sustainable and dignified jobs to push against the poverty-driven child abandonment and child slavery cycles. We believe the best orphan care strategy starts with a fight to keep families together. How to Get Involved? First and foremost, please pray for Haiti, Hands and Feet Project, our leadership, our staff and the children we serve. “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy”. – Daniel 9:18 You can visit our website and get more information (https://handsandfeetproject.org/get-involved/ ) on fundraisers, engaging your church, volunteering to serve locally and abroad. Keep up with our organization through social media. Share the story! A great way to stay involved is to sponsor a child that we provide care for (http://handsandfeetproject.reachapp.co/sponsorships). You are able to get updates, communicate with your child and keep up with life at our Children’s Villages. You can support a missionary. They are on the ground every day battling on behalf of each child. They need prayerful support, encouragement and financial gifts. Andrea McGinniss Executive Director, Hands and Feet Project