The places where people meet in the name of God come in all shapes and sizes. Rural and urban, some are no more than four walls and a roof and others are architectural marvels. While they may be merely man-made constructs dotting the corners of
communities around the world, the influence of the people who inhabit them can be divine.
This is why we partner exclusively with local churches in developing communities around the world to fight poverty.
Our church partners KNOW their community. They KNOW their needs. They KNOW their children.
The buildings where children attend the Sponsorship Program and where mommas and babies are cared for in the Child Survival Program might be expansive or cozy, ornate or simple. But one thing is for certain, they are a loud-and-clear message to their communities that God truly cares about the “least of these.”
Enjoy these gorgeous pictures of churches across the globe!
St. Peters Kashenyi Church of Uganda (UG218) was founded in 1942 and has been a partner with us since 1999. Located in southwestern Uganda, the average age of a first-time mother in their community is 16 years old. This is why they’re working hard
to provide health care, education and vocational training for young mothers in the Child Survival Program.
Rather than just telling their pupils the importance of seeking education, the workers at Gor Mo Tha Church (TH376) in Umlo Village are showing them with their own lives that the poverty of education is a battle that can be won, no matter your age.
In order to truly care for the children and mothers, the workers are overcoming their own illiteracy from lack of access to education when they were young.
Giving birth at home is often a risk for mothers in this community in Mbulu, Tanzania. The homes are more than 10 kilometers away from a hospital and don’t have electricity or medicine. About 1,000 mothers out of 100,000 in this region will lose
their lives during childbirth. KKKT Usharika wa Mbulu mjini (TZ217) provides health care for mothers so that they and their precious little ones have every opportunity at life.
Although they’ve only been partners with us for five years, Presbyterian Church of Rwanda (RW554) has been standing on a firm foundation in Murambi since 1907!
“I encourage young girls to say no to early marriage, female genital mutilation and HIV/AIDs, and educate them about the harmful effects of these practices.” These are the words of Jennifer Sekeyian Kisurkat, a volunteer
at POMC Najile Church (KE901) and proud graduate of the Ewuaso Najile Girls school. By offering her time to the community, Jennifer is helping to shape the attitudes of the next generation of Maasai tribe children like the ones here in front of
POMC.
Located in rural Indonesia, Christian Church of Sumba Kanatang (IO697) ministers to a community where high school education opportunities are few and malnutrition is common but rarely talked about. This is why we’re grateful to be in partnership
with them. Not only do they help students with school, through a Complementary Intervention, they have been able to approach families regarding their undernourished children and educate them about solutions within a local context.
The mission statement at Evangelical Baptist Church of Marmont in Haiti, which has 507 students and caregivers enrolled in the programs, states that: The child development center exists as the defender of the most vulnerable children in her
community to enable them to develop spiritually, economically, socially, and physically and to make them become responsible adults.
Nazareno Church (GU870) in Coban, Guatemala, has been loving their community long before they became partners with us in 1991. They were founded in 1919 and currently see to the holistic development of 328 kids and teens!
Because of loving sponsors and donors, we are able to partner with over 6,900 churches worldwide. Investing in the futures of children through the local church enables a community to change at a foundational level.
When we are united together locally and globally to support each other’s communities, lasting change can happen.
Let’s be the Church and fight poverty together!
By Eryn Carman
