I have touched down on the beautiful soil of Johannesburg, South Africa, and I am more excited than ever about what God is going to do in this place. I think I can smell the excitement in the air. Some local media are saying that MegaFest International 2008 will be the largest gathering of people of African descent since the beginning of slave trades hundreds of years ago. Can you imagine how proud civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, Thurgood Marshall and Harriet Tubman would be to see a day like this? Oh, how far we have come! I know that there are many people who wish they could be here with us during this very pivotal moment, but due to the circumstances of life were not able to attend. Please know that we carry your thoughts and spirit with us daily and your presence can be felt in the atmosphere!

For the last few months now, word has been buzzing about the phenomenal speakers and the spectacular music we have lined up. But I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of the humanitarian efforts we are conducting while we are in conference. When we first began planning MegaFest, I wanted to make sure that we did not just come in and offer revitalization for the soul, but also extend a helping hand to those who are in need through our MegaCARE initiative.

One of MegaCARE's missions while in Africa is to focus on Swazi children who are orphaned and have little access to nutritional food. The Potter's House for Children in Mhlosheni will provide meals, education, counseling and other services to more than 200 orphans. With an HIV prevalency rate of more than 42 percent, Swaziland is a nation reeling from the effects of the deadly pandemic. An estimated 15 percent of children, younger than 15 years old, have lost one or both parents to AIDS, including nearly 8,000 children in Swaziland's southern area of Mhlosheni.

When parents die, communities struggle to care for their children. As the number of orphans increases, Mhlosheni community members know they have a responsibility to care for and support these children. Currently, men and women serve as "child protectors," who are appointed to guard orphans from any form of abuse. Others have assumed the role of caretaker, providing meals, non formal education and life skills to children. But this impoverished community simply does not have the resources it needs to fully care for the orphaned children among them.

Even though the quality of service provided by existing centers is low, orphaned children walk long distances just to be with others like themselves, to spend time with adult caretakers, to enjoy a meal, play and sing. These centers have become a respite from their standard home life, which is often lonely and stressful.

T. D. Jakes Ministries and The Potter's House have built the first home in hopes that others will partner to build 17 sustainable centers for the community. These centers will serve more than 1,200 orphans and children throughout the district of Mhlosheni, whose parents are ill, providing them with a safe, three-room facility that will be used for teaching, cooking, organized activities, sports and counseling. Each center will offer health care, life skills, training in gardening and animal science, after-school activities and non formal education.

I'm sure you can see why we are so excited about the work we are doing here in South Africa. We really do take our philanthropic efforts seriously. We don't want to be just a world church though. We cannot look across the pond to South Africa without seeing the people in need here in our very own home state.

For those of you in the States, you all know that the stories streaming across CNN right now are only as important as the next big news item. With that being said, many of you will remember some weeks ago when those in the Gulf Coast were preparing for what was predicted to be another Hurricane Katrina. News outlets around the country began to zoom in on the people who were being evacuated, the homes lost and the cars floating away. After Hurricane Ike finally made his descent in the Gulf area, media interest began to wane immensely.

Within days, camera crews began to pack up and focus on the next newsworthy item. For many Americans, once the camera crew has packed up we think that the story is over, however those affected know that the reality is much different. It has been several weeks since the devastation of Hurricane Ike. Many people have lost their homes, cars and jobs, yet their voices are being overshadowed by topics like the presidential election and the Wall Street "bailout." For those affected there was nowhere else to turn except to the church. T. D. Jakes Ministries, The Potter's House and other churches, kicked into action sending as many helping hands possible down to the affected area to help clean, rebuild and assist others. Those affected have not been forgotten. In partnership with the organization, Somebody Cares, we are sending 3 buses of people to the Gulf Coast to help with food and first aid distribution.

Reaching around the globe and down the street, MegaCARE is dedicated to helping others through difficult times, because we know and understand that struggle is not exclusive to one race, class or gender. Struggle can affect anyone far or near.

So maybe you can't join us in South Africa, maybe you can't make it to the areas affected by Hurricane Ike, but you can make it your goal to donate your time or finances to those in need. Whether it is spending a weekend at the food bank, giving $5 to towards the MegaCARE initiative, or lending a helping hand to your neighbor, it is vital that we help others. You never know when you or someone you love may need support through a devastating time and you'll want and need others to help you.