Children

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A Night Shelter Bus

August 17, 2010 in Children, South Africa, Transformation | 1 comment

NightShelterBusWe’ve shared with you before about Charles George of Delft, Cape Town, South Africa, and his remarkable work there with vulnerable children and orphans (for more information about him, click here.) Today we received an article from him called “The Story of a Night Shelter Bus” about a discarded double-decker bus, a community who saw an incredible need, and the ingenious way that Charles has brought partners together to bring God’s love and shelter to abused children.

Please read the story here and think about ways that you might build trust with others and partner to help solve the big problems of your community through the creative love of Jesus.

 Gary Edmonds

Mothers Matter

May 6, 2010 in Children, Financial Responsibility, Transformation | No comments

Mothers making and selling necklaces.

Mothers making and selling necklaces.

They raise children, tend to household chores, heal wounds, provide stability for families, educate the next generation, listen to dreams, pray for the sick, work to provide daily sustenance, laugh with the joyful, love tirelessly… I am grateful for my mother. She gave and sacrificed much for the sake of our family.

The mothers that I meet in Africa matter, too. Their lives are difficult. Yet they give and sacrifice just like our mothers do. 

From my most recent trip to Cote d’Ivoire to train people for community transformation, I met Bertine. She is a dynamic mother caring for her children and grandchildren in one of the poverty infested neighborhoods of Abidjan. Two years ago she caught a vision for transformation to come to her community.  She prayed about what she could do to make life better for all. After some searching, she learned how to start a neighborhood savings and credit association. Her conviction was that if the people pulled together to save of their meager income, they could create an investment fund.  With the pooled resources, they would be able to work to make their community better. Today, 2,000 people participate in a community credit association run by Bertine and her team of 10 others. Jobs are being created. Children are being immunized. The schools now are filled with students. Unity and trust is being fostered among the citizens. Churches are becoming self-supporting. Crime is declining. Bertine matters.

This month thank mothers for the enormous role they play to make life better. And if you are able, contribute to an organization that strengthens mothers to impact impoverished communities in ways that will never be reported in our newspapers. Mothers matter!

 Gary Edmonds

Hope for Life Ministry

March 19, 2009 in Building Leaders, Children, Rwanda | No comments

Megan and Hilliary, two blond college girls with wild dreams of changing a few lives, have in fact done just that! Last summer, the two of them went to Rwanda as interns with Breakthrough Partners. Life hasn’t been the same since they returned.

 

Boys with Josiane and ChantalThough they are both in school, their time has been filled with planning, praying, emailing and speaking on behalf of eleven street boys that they met in Rwanda. These boys captured their hearts. Over the past months, Megan and Hilliary have raised funds, hired staff, rented a house, drawn up long-term plans, partnered with local Rwandans, and now have officially rescued ten street boys from jail!

 

To quote from their latest update, “These efforts are promoting the self-sufficiency and local community involvement we are aiming for!” Indeed, this is what Breakthrough Partners is aiming for as well - building young leaders who will see the possibilities that can be accomplished when we are opened to God’s leading and His purposes! Great job, Megan and Hilliary!

 

For more information about this remarkable new ministry, or to help and encourage them, please check out their website, www.hopeforlifeministry.org.


Guest blogger, Kari Fordice

A New Blessing!

February 4, 2009 in Children | No comments

There is so much that is new. Today Tricia and I became grandparents for the 7th time. Born to Andrew and Jennifer in Panama today is Abigail Grace. The entire family rejoices in this little girl. As her little brother says, “Baby Abi is here!”

Gary Edmonds

Precious Little Ones

December 5, 2008 in Children, Rwanda | No comments

Last month we spent time with one ministry we work with in Rwanda that reaches out to orphaned and neglected children. They are just starting to work with prostitutes’ children. Already 35 little ones come to the gatherings and are fed, bathed and taught about Jesus. They hope to start a pre-school, giving the children the basics in education. The motivation is to keep these precious children from following in their mothers’ footsteps. Several children gave testimonies at our meeting, saying such things as, “My mommy used to leave me alone at night and I was so scared. And then she always came home drunk and was so angry. But now she has prayed to Jesus and she doesn’t drink anymore and takes better care of me. So I want to pray to Jesus, too.” 

Tricia Edmonds

Tricia with Rwandan Children

Tricia with Rwandan Children

 

 

 

Cape Town

October 23, 2008 in Children, South Africa, Transformation | No comments

Last week, Charles George, one of the two lead pastors in the Safe Havens Initiative in Cape Town, reported that after my visit one of the area’s chief drug lords attended the Sunday service asking how he could find peace and deliverance. The church leaders in the most violent and impoverished slums are now working together to proclaim and demonstrate the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. Tens of thousands of children and adults are being served and helped daily.

Gary Edmonds