Refocusing the Heart of Media
Refocusing the heart of media is the vision cast by Bedouins International, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Birmingham, AL. The idea of Bedouins International was born on mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico in March of 2007. Stephen, along with those who would later come together as Bedouins, created a photographic documentary of the orphanage Casa Hogar M.A.Mi. in Reynosa and published it as a book called Discovering Joy. The proceeds raised through Discovering Joy were then donated to the girls at the orphanage - enough to feed all of them for the next two weeks.
Inspired by the story of the girls at Casa Hogar M.A.Mi. Stephen, Roger, Paul and Josh, knew God was calling them to give their lives to refocusing the relationship between media and missions. Hence, Bedouins International was created as a means of using art to help others communicate their cause, their needs and their successes with the rest of the world: whether it's feeding the hungry, freeing the captive, or loving the unlovable.
Now we hope to inspire others to join us in our vision of refocusing the heart of media. So come check us out, ask questions, leave comments, give advice...we want to hear from you!
Inspired by the story of the girls at Casa Hogar M.A.Mi. Stephen, Roger, Paul and Josh, knew God was calling them to give their lives to refocusing the relationship between media and missions. Hence, Bedouins International was created as a means of using art to help others communicate their cause, their needs and their successes with the rest of the world: whether it's feeding the hungry, freeing the captive, or loving the unlovable.
Now we hope to inspire others to join us in our vision of refocusing the heart of media. So come check us out, ask questions, leave comments, give advice...we want to hear from you!
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Who We Are
Bedouins International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Birmingham, Alabama that provides media resources to other non-profits, charitable organizations, and missionaries around the world. Both a design collective and a ministry, it is made up of five members: Stephen DeVries, Director and Photographer; Paul Bryant, Associate Director and Videographer; Roger Eason, Associate Director and Musician; Joshua Farneman, Art Director and Graphic Designer; and Jessi Lambert, Director of Development. What We Do
The mission of Bedouins International is to connect missions-minded individuals and organizations with the rest of the world by equipping them with high-quality media. By incorporating photography, videography, print and web design, we are able to produce any number of media-related resources ranging from brochures and logos to video documentaries and websites. All of these amazing tools are provided completely free of cost. Why We Do It
There are too many stories that go untold, too many voices that go unheard. Bedouins exists to give a voice to those with a story to tell, but no means of telling it. We believe that every person - no matter their social status, geographic location, or financial situation - should be able to access the same kind of high-quality media available to those with the resources necessary for procuring the best of the best in communication. Our heart for media focuses on those with the need, but without the means; it encompasses every tribe, every tongue, and every nation; it aims at reaching all who have been neglected, forgotten, or simply unreachable - until now. We do this to connect, to equip, and to empower; but most of all we do this to show our love, and ultimately the love of God, by using the gifts God has given us to help and to serve others. What's New
Banquäla 2009:August 1st we will be hosting our very first fundraising event that is a little bit more than a banquet, a little bit less than a gala aka banquäla. Join us, Bedouins International, for a night of art, food, music and discussion about media in today's world.
6:30PM SATURDAY AUGUST 1st, 2009
Woodrow Hall 5504 1st Ave North Birmingham, AL
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door
purchase tickets and learn more here:
Banquäla 2009
GUATEMALA: Hearts for the Children
Stephen just recently returned from Guatemala, where Bedouins partnered with the ministry entitled Hearts for Children in order to tell their story. Hearts for Children aims to help the children living within their local community by sponsoring food programs, medical clinics and distributing clothes.
Though there are many stories, Bedouins latched onto the story of Lupita, an ex-prostitute of 20 years who after being rescued by Hearts for Children has a family and works for the ministry that changed her life. Visit our blog for more information and photos!
hearts for the children website
hearts for the children photos
BOLIVIA
While Stephen was busy in Guatemala, our very own Bob Miller was in Bolivia with the Christian Life Church. Bob is there to document and tell "the best kept secret in the world", says CLC's Rick Long. Stay tuned for updates!
EVERYDAY PEOPLE: A concert series benefiting Bedouins International
Come check out a great line-up of musicians, including Stewart Vann, Roger Eason and Bekah Fox at Urban Standard in Birmingham, AL March 21, 2009.
$5 at the door, and all proceeds go towards helping Bedouins International tell the beautiful stories of unheard humanitarian causes around the world.
FEBRUARY T-SHIRT DRIVE
-January 29, 2009
Bedouins will be hosting a t-shirt drive this February. For every five t-shirts you send us we will send you one back, hand-screened, with the Bedouins logo.
The shirts can be from the thrift store, American Apparel, or wherever you want, just as long as they are in your size. Send them to the new Bedouins office at 1710 2nd Ave N #501 Birmingham, AL 35203 and keep up with our blog to see pics of the new super sweet shirts!!!
CARIBBEAN GOLD UPDATE
- December 15, 2008
The show was a great success...thanks to everyone who made it out Saturday night. Keep up with the Caribbean Gold site to see when the photos are going for sale online!
CARIBBEAN GOLD: THE VANILLA BEAN PROJECT
- November 26, 2008
The trailer is now up at the Caribbean Gold site
See Haiti as we saw it at the exclusive first cut premier December 13th.
What's Up Next
Egypt with Times Square Church Missions
BEDOUINS GOES TO CAIRO, EGYPTBedouins International is partnering with Times Square Church in a trip to Cairo, Egypt October 14-24, 2009. Bedouins is going to help tell and bring home the story of Egypt's "Garbage People", that are named for both the business they have and the landfills that they live in, as well as the Sudanese Refugees.
times square church: cairo, egypt
BEDOUINS GOES TO KENYA
We will be traveling alongside Integrity Worldwide January 24 - Feb5 to document their many humanitarian efforts, including providing medical aid to hundreds of people in Meto, Kenya, digging 2 wells, laying the foundation for a library and teaching English classes to women.
KISI
P.E.T.s
are personal energy transports - basically, all-terrain wheelchairs for the leg-handicapped in third world countries. Bedouins International will be accompanying Missions unlimited to document the distribution of these P.E.T.s along the northern coast of Honduras the week of March 28, 2009. Get excited.
missions unlimited
ART SHOW AND FIRST CUT DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE
Saturday, December 13th 6:30 pm
WATCH THE CARIBBEAN GOLD TRAILER
Taking place at the Phoenix Building, Loft 508:
1710 2nd Ave N, #508 Birmingham, AL 35203
Seating is limited.
The show features a collection of photographs and the first cut of the documentary from Bedouins International's trip to Haiti. Proceeds from photo sales will go to support a Haitian village and the next project by Bedouins International.
Special Guest Speakers:
Anne Reynolds of the Haiti Health and Education Initiative, Stephen DeVries of Bedouins International, and a Q & A session with videographer and producer Paul Bryant following the film viewing.
www.bedouinsinternational.org/caribbeangold
For more information please call Bedouins International at 334.559.2951 or send an email to connect@bedouinsinternational.org
The Caribbean Gold documentary was produced and directed by Bedouins International. Visit the Caribbean Gold website for more information. Copyright © 2008 Bedouins International Inc. 1710 2nd Avenue North #508 Birmingham, AL 35203.
For the next couple of months Bedouins will be working on video and photo presentations from what we were able to capture in Haiti this past month. Keep up with the project site for the preview videos and eventually the final product!
Bedouins traveled to Haiti in mid-September to produce a video documentary on a school in a northern village near Cap Haitian as well as on a project called the Vanilla Bean Project. This project will charge a child with the care of a vanilla bean plant. By selling the vanilla his plant produces, the child will receive enough income to fund his education and possibly his entire livelihood!
This project is incredibly special because these children are growing up in the third most impoverished country in the world - the poorest country in the western hemisphere. With an unemployment rate of over 80%, it is sad to realize that Haiti sits less than 2,000 miles from the U.S. coast. We hope that the media we produce for them will help to raise some awareness about the current living conditions and how the Vanilla Bean Project can help to alleviate these conditions. Please continue to pray for Haiti as we prepare to leave.
Links to the Artists
Here is the main site for Bedouins International as well as the personal sites for Stephen, Roger, and Josh. These three artists make up 3/5 of Bedouins and are an indispensable part of what Bedouins does both as a media collective and as a ministry.
- Bedouins International
- Here is the main site for Bedouins International. Here you will find out more about where we came from, examples of our projects, and news on what's been happening in the world around us.
- Stephen DeVries Photography
- Check out Stephen's site for more examples of his photography, which ranges from documentary to commercial. Click on "Chronicles" to go to his blog and read up on what he is doing.
- Roger Eason
- Roger is an indie-folk singer/songwriter and musician. He is honestly one of the most talented up and coming artists I have heard in a long time. Check out his site, and if you like his stuff, order his new EP online!
- JoshFARNEMANGraphicDesigner
- Josh is a graphic designer from Auburn who has done some amazing web and print design for Bedouins as well as for those that Bedouins serves. Check out his site for more examples of his work.
- Jessi's Blog
- Keep in touch with Jessi and read her personal blog to see how she is doing and what she is up to!
- Chelsea's Blog
- Read about what the Bedouins Intern is up to!
Photo of the Week
Organizations We've Helped
Here is a list of a few of the organizations we've helped so far with design, photography and/or video.
- HIPHaiti: Breaking the Shackles of Poverty
- Humanitarians Initiating Progress in Haiti is a non-profit organization dedicated to making sure that all people living in the rural regions of northern Haiti have access to the necessities required for survival at a standard of living that views all human beings as equally dignified.
H. I. P. helps to provide immediate assistance to the most critical problems facing a community while working with the members of the community to create long term solutions to the sources of these problems. - TSC Missions - A Ministry of Times Square Church
- Since its founding in 1987, a major emphasis at Times Square Church has been to reach out to the poor, the hungry, the destitute and the addicted. This vision has grown beyond our borders and Times Square Church has been transformed by the Holy Ghost into a missions-focused church taking the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ to nations worldwide.
TSC Missions is the ministry of Times Square Church that responds to this call in three ways:
* By sending short-term mission teams around the world in friendship evangelism
* By supporting international ministries and projects that strike at the heart of poverty, disease and suffering.
* By reaching out to meet the needs of specific target groups within the body of Times Square Church and within the greater New York area, including the homeless, single mothers, the elderly, at-risk youth, drug addicts and others.
Watch the video Bedouins produced for them here:
TSC Final from Bedouins International on Vimeo.
- NEN | noexcusenow.com | where missionaries and supporters come together
- NoExcuseNow.com is an interactive tool dedicated to serving missionaries and their supporters on the Web. Their ultimate goal is to provide the means and environment to connect missionaries and supporters on a more personal level.
Watch our video for them here:
No Excuse Now from Bedouins International on Vimeo. - The World Race by Adventures In Missions
- Adventures in Missions is an interdenominational missions organization that focuses on discipling. We emphasize prayer and relationships in our work among the poor.
In the 17 years since we were established, we have taken 65,000 people to the mission field, some for a year or longer.
The World Race is an AIM-sponsored trip that involves mission teams traveling through at least 10 countries in 11 months and ministering the hope of Jesus Christ as they go.
Watch the video Bedouins edited for The World Race here:
AIM : The World Race from Bedouins International on Vimeo. - She Dances
- She Dances is a movement committed to help fight for the freedom of those so wrongfully placed in a world of slavery and injustice. By connecting people through art, passions, music, a t-shirt and love we strive to engage the movement of freedom.
Check out their site and the t-shirt designed by Bedouins to help them in their quest for freedom.
- Hearts for the Children
- Hearts for the Children is an organization in Guatemala that aims to better the lives of the children living within their community through humanitarian aid such as medical clinics, clothing distribution, providing food and much more. They also have a ministry called The Mary Magdalene Ministry which helps those struggling with addiction and prostitution.
Check out their site to learn more about their cause and check out Bedouins blog to see how Bedouins captured their story. - Missions Unlimited
- Missions Unlimited is a nonprofit, interdenominational organization focused on expressing the teachings of Christianity through compassion. They believe that man cannot live by bread alone, and strive to help those that are living without. Their main project over the years has been distributing P.E.T.S., personal energy transports, which are all-terrain wheelchairs for those living in third world countries.
Check out their site to learn more about the amazing things Missions Unlimited is doing!
Our Videos
Bedouins International Intro Video
Our Photos
Pictures taken by Bedouins' Director and Photographer Stephen DeVries during our trips to Mexico, Haiti and Kenya.
curated content from Flickr
Get Involved!
Want to be a part of refocusing the heart of media? Visit our WEBSITE to sign up for our newsletter, find dates for upcoming events, find contact info, and donate online.
Follow Us!
stay updated consistently with news at bedouins!
Our Favorite Bloggers
BISCUET
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBEDOUINS INTERNATIONAL | Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySTEPHEN DEVRIES PHOTOGRAPHY | Chronicles
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWhat We're Reading
Here are some amazing reads that the staff at Bedouins International recommend you get your hands on!
Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
Amazon Price: $9.74 (as of 12/24/2009) 
The Shack
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 12/24/2009)
Evidence of My Existence
Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 12/24/2009)
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/24/2009)
Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road
Amazon Price: $10.79 (as of 12/24/2009)
Where We Get Our Stuff
Here are some great sites to check out for photo and video gear.
- B&H Photo Video | Digital Cameras, Camcorders
- Shop Digital Cameras, 35MM Camera Equipment, Photo Printers, Home Theater, DVD Players, Authorized Dealer Canon, Sony, Nikon, Apple, Olympus, Panasonic, Kodak, JBL, Mino
- KEH Camera
- Used cameras, digital cameras, film cameras, Laptop computers and more. Whether you're buying or selling, choose KEH for all of your camera needs.
- Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
- Newegg.com offers the best prices on computer parts, laptop computers, digital cameras, electronics and more with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!
- eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices
- Buy and sell electronics, cars, clothing, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods, digital cameras, and everything else on eBay, the world's online marketplace. Sign up and begin to buy and sell - auction or buy it now - almost anything on eBay.com
What We're Listening To
Great music to listen to while you work.
Are We All Forgotten
Amazon Price: $5.98 (as of 12/24/2009)
Easy Tiger
Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 12/24/2009)
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/24/2009)
Sun Is Always Brighter
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/24/2009)
Meiko
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/24/2009)
Lens Faves
Here are some other great lenses of people helping people! Be sure to thank them for all of their hard work!
- Do-it-Yourself Fundraising | Fundraising Resources for Nonprofit Organizations | How to Raise Money for your Organization
- Welcome to the Do-it-Yourself Fundraising lens. This lens is devoted to providing information and resources on nonprofit fundraising for small organizations such as schools, teams, youth groups and clubs. Check out my other lens about fundraising on Squidoo.com. If you are a member of a nonprofit or
- Making a difference in the world in 5 minutes a day
- Our goal is to show people how to make a positive impact in their community in the time they have, even if it's just 5 minutes a day.
- Podcasts For Nonprofit Organizations: Personal Development for Leaders, Board Members, Staff and Volunteers
- There are some terrific podcasts on the subject of nonprofit organizations. They cover topics including:Starting a nonprofit organization Fundraising Leading and managing staff and volunteers Using technology effectivelyListening to informative podcasts is a great way to learn.You can listen to podc
- A Day of Hope
- A Day of Hope is a student based organization with California State University, Stanislaus which gives hope and encouragement by delivering baskets of food and turkeys to families for Thanksgiving. Baskets are delivered to needy families in Modesto and Turlock who would not have a Thanksgiving feast
Reader Feedback
submit
-
Reply
- jeffgoins jeffgoins May 29, 2009 @ 9:08 am
- Hey guys - great lens. Appreciate what you do.
-
Reply
- lisadh lisadh Oct 27, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
- Sounds like a very worthwhile endeavor. I believe most people are only complacent when they're unaware and unconnected. Media has the power to inform and connect people. Keep up the good work!
-
Reply
- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Oct 10, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
- A terrific informative lens. I didn't realize that the Bedouins provided media resources to other non-profits and charitable organizations. Thanks for dropping by my gypsies lens -- yes they are amazing people. ;)
-
Reply
- SemperFidelis SemperFidelis Aug 22, 2008 @ 11:38 am
- Excellent information about B.I.!
Blessed by a Squid Angel today! :)
Colleen ~ www.squidoo.com/squid-angel
-
Reply
- AmyP AmyP May 28, 2008 @ 8:33 am
- What an important job you have undertaken. Best of luck in your future endeavors.
- Load More
by Bedouins_International
Bedouins International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Birmingham, Alabama that provides media resources to other non-profits, charita... (more)
Explore related pages
Visual thinking school- Visual thinking is about using pictures to help you solve problems, think a...
Design Books: Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Advertising, Architecture, and Furniture- Check out this Lens that is dedicated to the best design books in the industry....
The way I design with Adobe Photoshop- My name is Alex from freshalex blog and I am going to share my tips and techniqu...
The Business of Graphic Design- This lens attempts to add clarity to the confusion of running a graphic design b...
Starry Seas Art Designs- This lens showcases the trendy, colorful designs of Starry Seas Art Designs, don...
Through the Eyes of Mary Frances- Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Mary Frances. Frances, for short. I hav...
