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Schools for the Fulani – What’s the Story?

by AfricaBlogNigeria

Our story of ICCM schools for Fulani children first began in Elaite, a small town in Kogi State overlooking Emiworo Village more than 10 years ago!

I’ll never forget these words from the first Fulani man we met, a true ‘man of peace’, Chief Bature. “My grandfather cheated my father when he gave him cows and wives but wouldn’t send him to school. And my father cheated me. He gave me cows and wives, but not an education. I don’t want to cheat my children that way. Please, won’t you open a school for my children?”

And that was when the Free Methodist Church and International Child Care Ministries stepped in with full support, sponsoring hundreds of Fulani children and opening four schools for them in three states, blessing these children, their parents and entire communities with not only the highest standard of education but also with the Good News of Jesus Christ, Who loves them, Who died for them and Who gives them eternal
life with Him in Heaven.

Today, the story continues! All four of the ICCM schools continue to provide an excellent Christian education to Fulani children! There are definitely challenges. More ICCM sponsors are needed, but there are great victories too. In July, Bright Hope Christian Academy, Emiworo, graduated the first class of students with all students writing and passing their college entrance exams!

It all began with, “Please open a school for my children!”

International Child Care Ministries and Schools for Africa, a Global Partner of Free
Methodist World Missions, are planting seeds of peace and the Gospel among the
Fulani people through education, healthcare and more. This is work God loves, and His
promise is for us and for the Fulani.

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18, NIV).

Written by Phyllis Sortor, retired ICCM National Coordinator

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Grandma Nana’s Corner

by AmericasBlogBrazil

For several years I have been looking for an opportunity to visit Cantinho da Vovó Naná (Grandma Nana’s Corner – named after the woman who donated the original house and land), in Ibirité, Minas Gerais, Brazil. My opportunity came in August. This child development center is also located in an area plagued by drug trafficking.  Grandma Nana’s Corner is a place of refuge. The children are offered excellent nutrition, age-appropriate education by a caring staff, and the knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is another ministry where a child’s participation greatly reduces his or her risk of sexual abuse and forced labor in drug trafficking. Sponsorship for these at-risk children changes their world.

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Amazing Ministry to Children

by AmericasBlogBrazil

I spent two days at Todo Mundo Feliz (Everyone’s Happy) in late August.  This top-notch child development center was started by the Mirandopolis Free Methodist Church in São Paulo, Brazil.  It was deliberately established right on the edge of a slum area where drug traffickers are the law.  Todo Mundo Feliz (TMF) was begun in 2002.  It later gained funding through the local municipality of Santo André and now also has a partnership with ICCM as a Connected Community with Cape Coral Community Church (FL).  At the time of my visit, 151 children were enrolled, not a few of whose parents are involved with drugs.  Younger children spend the whole day at TMF.  Older children spend half a day, and the other half attending public school.

While visiting the classrooms, I talked with the children and answered their questions.  One afternoon I put puzzles together with 3-year-olds for maybe 15 minutes. A teacher of one little boy who talked with me remarked, “He hardly ever talks to anyone!”  The meals are wonderfully nutritious.  I ate my lunch right along with the children.  (I love the way rice and beans are seasoned in Brazil.)  The good health and mental development the children enjoy can, in many cases, be directly attributed to the healthy meals and loving care they receive at Todo Mundo Feliz.

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A Sponsor’s Blessing

by AmericasBlogBrazil

Valquiria was among a group of adolescent girls peppering me with questions just before classes began one morning. Valquiria suffers the effects of Albinism – the absence of the pigment melanin in her skin. This condition is especially challenging in the dry, hot climate, 10 degrees south of the Equator, where the sun shines in punishing brilliance nearly every day. Valquiria needs a prescription lotion to protect her skin. Several times this has been supplied through gifts from her sponsor. In this recent photo, she is pictured with other students receiving gifts from sponsors and the school’s assistant director. Because of sponsorship, Valquiria studies at our ICCM school, which is readily recognized as the best in the region. The students are taught to value, respect and love each other. Your prayers for her are much appreciated, especially because her father recently passed away after a three-year battle with cancer. It was a delight to learn both the director and assistant director of our school were themselves sponsored through ICCM. Every sponsorship of a student at our Monte Santo school is an answer to prayer.

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Making a Difference in Brazil

by AmericasBlogBrazil

I met Andrei when I visited our ICCM school in Monte Santo, Bahia, Brazil, in September. I asked if I could get a picture with him because I knew his sponsors. After we had our picture taken together and he had returned to class, Sirlene, the school’s assistant director, told me more about him. Andrei’s behavior at school had been poor. The staff noticed he was eating as much as possible at meal and snack times. His teacher thought his behavior would improve if he could come to school early and have breakfast before class. She suspected he was coming to school very hungry – possibly without breakfast and or no dinner the night before. Gilson, the school’s director, arranged for Andrei to be among the students who arrive at school early to eat breakfast, due to nutritional concerns. Andrei’s behavior improved markedly. When I saw Andrei during another visit, he proudly showed me the shoes that had been purchased, with a gift sent by his sponsor, to replace the tattered ones he’d been wearing.

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Light and Life Christian School

by AmericasBlogConnected CommunityParaguay

God gave school director Jonathan Da Cunha a vision for the city of Encarnación. There was only one Christian school in town at the time. Jonathan felt led of God to start Light and Life Free Methodist School with the vision of reaching families for Christ and providing the opportunity for academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment. The school opened in 2002, offering Pre-K through 1st grade. Other grades were quickly added and 2011 marked the first high school graduating class. These graduates, many of whom go on to university, are finding marvelous ways to give back to the program that gave them a good start.

  • Encarnación is a border town, central to commerce. In recent years, a major financial crisis drove away families in search of work. God has been faithful to sustain the school through hardships and challenges.
  • The school ministers to many students from humble, single parent homes where it is difficult to make ends meet.
  • Light and Life Christian School beautifully ministers to parents as well as students. Throughout the year, parenting classes, workshops, and retreats are offered. The focus is on strengthening the parent-child bond, helping family members connect and relate well with each other, and assisting in their spiritual growth.
  • The school seeks to be a light and bring life to the children and families of Encarnación.
  • The home began with 10 children on January 6, 2003. It quickly grew to a group of 30, including some mothers.
  • Currently, there are 17 children living at the children’s home, the maximum number allowed according to current government regulations for the size of the building.
  • Four of the 17 are orphans whose parents have died.
  • The father of 4 siblings (a different group of siblings) is in jail for murdering their mother.
  • They have begun adding a second floor for more bedrooms. They lack $8,000 to finish remodeling to government standards so more children can be added. They feel a sense of urgency, having to now turn away children.

[scp_block_quote_alt width=”70%” float=”left”]This school is eligible to be a Connected Community. This new additional sponsorship model allows a church in the U.S. to come alongside as a partner to impact the lives of ICCM children. Contact ICCM Church Relations Director, Jen Finley, 1-800-342-5531 ext. 228, for information on connecting with them.[/scp_block_quote_alt]

Gifts to help complete the expansion that would allow Light and Life Children’s Home to accommodate more children may be sent to ICCM, or give to this need on the ICCM website. (Write Light and Life PA in the comments section or memo line.)

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Light and Life for María

by AmericasBlogParaguay

ICCM sponsorship has truly brought light and life to 14-year-old María in Paraguay! Today her beautiful smile and outgoing spirit give testimony to the marvelous ministry of our Free Methodist Light and Life Children’s Home and Light and Life Christian School in the city of Encarnación.

Abandoned by their father at an early age, María and her three siblings found themselves in a desperate downward spiral. Their mother, who was suffering from lung cancer, had made the difficult decision to move to Argentina to find better work in order to support the family. María and her three siblings (2 brothers, 1 sister) were left in the care of their grandmother, who found it impossible to provide for their needs. Light and Life Children’s Home opened their doors and hearts to the children, forever changing the course of their childhood and future.

The Lord, in His loving care for this dear family, quickly provided sponsors and the children were immediately enrolled in nearby Free Methodist Light and Life Christian School. They began to enjoy and deeply appreciate all that sponsorship offers. The physical, cognitive, emotional/social, and spiritual well-being of each child became a priority.

Many positive influences helped each one move from darkness to light and from despair to life. Character building classes at school, a loving Christ-centered environment in their new home and caring Sunday school teachers at church, who took a personal interest in their growth and development, all helped lead María and her siblings to faith in Jesus, which has made all the difference.

María’s transformation is remarkable! No longer painfully shy, fearful or insecure, she is now a confident, happy, active 6th grader. A good student, she has a knack for sports and enjoys music. María’s thankful heart for what God has done, and is doing, in her life leads her to enthusiastically bring friends to church so they too, can meet Jesus.

In October 2016, María’s 32-year-old mother succumbed to lung cancer in Argentina. The news of her death deeply affected María, who is the eldest. Through it all, María’s testimony is a beautiful one: “God gives me the strength I need each day to move forward. He has great plans for my life! Jeremiah 29:11 tells me so!”

Recently, Pastor Luz, Director of Light and Life Children’s Home, took María to visit some of her relatives. Upon seeing the changes in María, the whole family decided to follow Jesus as well and experience His transformation for themselves.

The small seed of sponsorship is bearing great fruit in the lives of María, her siblings, and many other children in Paraguay and around the world.

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Kenya Boys School

by AfricaBlogKenya

At long last, the dream is a reality! Phase 1 of the Dr. Buconyori Free Methodist Boys Boarding School in Kenya is complete. Classrooms, dorms, dining hall, soccer field, and other essentials are ready to go. The first 80 boys are being selected.

The keys are being received by the leaders of ICCM and the FMC in Kenya. The leaders are overflowing with gratitude to God and to all the generous donors, prayer warriors and work teams who made this a reality. We have never been able to offer students a secondary school education. This historic “first” is worth celebrating!

With Phase 1 complete, it’s time to get ready for Phase 2! By early 2018, these freshmen will be sophomores, and 80 new freshmen will arrive. How can we keep the momentum going and be ready for that exciting day? It’s essential for us to move forward! How could we not choose to provide life-altering opportunities for another batch of boys? (And yes, the girls will be next, after Phase 4 of this project. …)

Daniel Shanzuh, ICCM’s National Coordinator for Kenya, gives us these architects’ estimates for Phase 2:

Classrooms and Bathrooms $54,069
Dormitories $59,052
Faculty/Staff Housing $61,123
TOTAL ESTIMATE $174,244

Would you help us launch the second essential stage of this huge undertaking? A generation of students with very few options for a good education are hoping and praying that we’ll be there for them yet again. Please consider a generous gift to Kenya Boys School Phase 2. Thank you!

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Stand Tall

by AsiaBlogPhilippines

In a few countries, ICCM sponsors children of pastors (PKs). One of our most vibrant, successful programs for PK’s is in the Philippines. Pastors’ families deeply value the encouragement and practical assistance of sponsorship because of the financial hardship and the stigma of being Protestant PKs in a Catholic-dominated culture.

For several years, ICCM Philippines has conducted leadership development camps for ICCM sponsored PK teenagers. April 2017 saw the very first camp for 9-12-year-olds. Sixty-eight PKs at the “Stand Tall” themed event shouted, “#ProudtoBeAPastorsKid!”

Group activities and speakers helped these children see themselves as God sees them. The goal was to help them learn to appreciate their worth and realize their potential as participants in their families’ ministries. They also learned about human trafficking, children’s rights, and online safety and boundaries.

Fun-packed days began with group devotions and presentations by ICCM alumni and staff. Kids made up their own dramas and showed great creativity in crafts.
Singing lively action songs, playing games, making new friends, learning how to swim — what’s not to love? Stand Tall Camp was a roaring success!

ICCM in the Philippines has often led the way for our global team, envisioning and implementing great ministries. Youth camp for teens led by ICCM alumni was one such innovation, resulting in many teens committing their lives to Christ and embracing their calling to serve Him in ministry. Now younger children are benefiting from the special love and intervention of our excellent team, led by Pastora Charita Encarnado (pictured below not in green T-shirt). We salute you, Charita!

I learned that it is really important to have a devotional time with God. … I now understand why I need to be filled with God’s word every day.”

– Jan Angel, 12

 

 

I enjoyed the camp so much. I learned about human trafficking and how important it is to protect myself, knowing I can use my voice.”

– Angel Janen, 9

We sponsor PK’s in some “Creative Access” countries. Ministers of the gospel in those countries are often interrogated, harassed, arrested and even imprisoned. Children in those settings who experience this trauma gain strength from meeting other children with similar struggles.
In other countries, the biggest concern is extreme poverty. Pastors in places with virtually no cash economy rely on small gifts of produce from church members and often must work in other jobs to keep food on the table. ICCM sponsors’ support for their children’s education and essential needs is a much-appreciated blessing.

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To a Child, Five Years is a Long Time!

by AsiaBlogThailand

Freedom Sunday 2011 featured our first anti-trafficking project, the Lahu Hostel in Thailand. For five years, 20 vulnerable children have lived together in safety, learned about life and God, attended school and experienced a future and a hope they would not have known without our care.

This was my first visit to meet the children and get better acquainted with the house parents, Pastor Anan and Nanci. I was accompanied by Belle Villanueva, ICCM Regional Coordinator for Southeast Asia, and Americans Corey and Connie Persing, who live and work in Thailand.

The children greeted us by performing beautiful songs and presenting us with gifts of woven bags, handmade by Nanci, which involved several months of painstaking work.

Nanci is also a great cook. When I asked what the kids love about being at the hostel, they said “The food!” And … “Singing!” Nanci loves to cook and Pastor Anan loves to lead singing with his guitar, so their gifts suit their roles well.

Everyone chipped in — older kids helped to prepare the meal.  Younger kids lined up to get their photos updated to send to sponsors — and they smiled! We all got in on the feasting, picture-taking, gift-giving, soccer-playing and all-around fun of a day together as family.

FMWM personnel Corey and Connie Persing and their daughter Ikaiasha have visited the hostel several times over the ­years. Corey will now begin his role as Acting National Coordinator for ICCM Thailand. They are excited to be a part of this great work of blessing and protecting children.