Mission Update from One More Child
Every week, the leadership and staff of One More Child come together for prayer and devotion to celebrate the encouraging development in our ongoing mission to serve vulnerable children and struggling families, all for the glory of God.
Here is a glimpse into the good news of the recent activities and accomplishments at One More Child:
Child Hunger
In Ohio, we were grateful when we received a phone call informing us that a truckload from Pennsylvania containing 30,000 pounds of shelf-stable food, a rarity, was headed our way. Maize Road Baptist Church, one of our newest food partners, received this donation and expressed extreme gratitude. The pastor said they had given away 30,000 pounds of food the previous year, making this donation an absolute blessing. But the church was not prepared to receive it. But God. Within 24 hours, they had secured a dock, a box truck with a lift gate, volunteers, and a pallet jack. Within 36 hours, the shipment came in. “God was in it every step of the way…32,715 pounds of food arrived, thanks to our friends at ‘One More Child!” the pastor shared.
Family Support
Our services reach far and wide with multiple resource partners to ensure we are helping those through our own organization and other ministries and resources. One resource partner is the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County. Here’s what they had to say: “Our main focus is elementary-aged children from 6 years of age to 14 years of age. Students are at school from 7:30 am to 4 pm at the Middle School. Lunches vary across grade levels, but some of our members eat lunch at 10 am. with no further snacks throughout the school day. When we pick up our members, it may have been 5 hours since they last ate. Many of our kids do not make the healthiest choices for breakfast, do not make it to school breakfast in time, and skip it altogether.
Boys & Girls Club has not always been able to provide our kids with a snack when they get off the bus. However, thanks to One More Child, our members have had a steady supply of snacks. We were blessed with crackers, chips, yogurts, bananas, grapes, and cheese this past month. Our kids are ready and excited to get off the bus because of our program, and the first thing they ask when they come through the door is, What’s for snack?’ These children are more than statistics—they are potential astronauts, doctors, and artists. And it all begins with a simple act of kindness: a healthy snack after a long day at school.”
Foster Care
Our Foster Crew program helps to support those standing in the gap, helping foster children, adopt children, and become licensed to help in this area of critical need. In fact, one family was so impacted by the Foster Crew program at First Baptist Church of Bayshore that they invited some of the Foster Crew members to attend the adoption of one of their foster children. You can start a Foster Crew Program in your church. It is easy – we are with you every step of the way!
Global
Our Missions Team had a great time taking a group to Uganda, where they were able to help feed over 1,500 (typically 600-800) due to it being Easter weekend, teach to over 1,00 kids in the Awana Bible club program using some of our Maker’s Box crafts, and visit the homes of some of the groups sponsored children. This was also the 2nd year we could host a Goat & Chicken Run! This fun event is two-fold – have fun while meeting your needs. We gave them 50 female goats (to reproduce) and 70 chickens to help families without sponsored children through us.
“This was my second visit to Uganda and I knew I wanted to take a Bible to each of the two girls I sponsor. On the last day in the village of Kamonkoli, we were scheduled for home visits. Unfortunately, we woke up that day to dark clouds and torrential rain. So, wearing rain boots and with my skirt knotted so it didn’t drag in the mud, I jumped out of the van to hug a precious young lady who was also excited to see me. We stepped into her home where she lives with her grandparents, sister, and cousins. It was an honor to present her with a purse and a dress, but I was completely unprepared for her reaction to receiving a Bible. I will always remember the pure joy and excitement she exhibited as if it were a treasure to her. In that moment, I understood how blessed I am to have access to multiple Bibles. The opportunity to bring hope and joy was worth the weight of a heavy suitcase, and the mud on my skirt and shoes was easily washed away, but the experience will always be imprinted on my heart.”
Thank you for your continued prayer and consistent support as we strive to provide Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families.