Watch the 'DTJ Begins' Video in our Media Theater.

Pictures from the first journey. A photo essay on DTJ's begining.

In September of 2004, Zach Mathers, Joshua Baldwin, and Jonathan Olinger embarked on a journey around the world to film a documentary about injustice and suffering. An ancient proverb spurred them on to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and to ensure justice for those who are suffering (Prov 31:8-9).They believed they could do this best with cameras. Injustice and suffering were broad topics, and the realities faced were on an even broader scale. Through 13 nations, injustice and suffering emerged as they encountered military juntas, rebel armies, extreme poverty, street children, child labor, forced sex slavery, the affects of genocide, civil wars and countless other injustices. Finding the injustices was tragically easy.

As the journey progressed, their minds and hearts were constantly unsettled and broken by the thousands of orphans they met. Of all the injustice in our world, they found orphaned children to be the most vulnerable, often taken advantage of in abominable ways, forced to suffer most horrifically and acutely. Disdain at their plight turned quickly to a deep desire to inspire others, in the Western world and abroad, to care for these beautiful children with the tender and transforming love of Christ.

The seeds of this trip spurred an irresistible burden and joy that has turned into much more time spent in the developing world, holding hands and joining hearts with children. The DTJ team has grown since that original and sincere quest to really "see" the world, but the heartbeat remains the same. We believe the many brilliant and talented people in our world who are suffering immense amounts of injustice, have loud and profound voices, they just have no way to be heard. We are inviting you to join with us to speak up for them, letting their own voices tell their own story, and to begin caring for them, one at a time.

Read a letter from Discover the Journey's Director about his personal journey over the last few years while working to found DTJ. (PDF)