Frequently Asked Questions
Our mission is to be used by God as He answers the cry of the lost and helpless children of the world.
(Psalm 72:12-14)
Under the care and teaching of strong national partners, children in our programs are growing in faith.
What a privilege it is to serve alongside them for the Lord’s kingdom.
- Are you the child's only sponsor?
- What happens if a sponsor misses a month?
- Does the sponsorship support cover EVERYTHING the child needs?
- Does the support go to the individual child?
- How much of your gifts reach the children?
- May I send letters and gifts for my child?
- What accountability is in place for the sponsorship program?
Q: Are you the child's only sponsor?
A: The great majority of our children have only one sponsor. We try to assign a second sponsor for those who have a special need, such as an on going medical problem. Our children's homes have a set operating budget. We try to assign sponsors per child as needed to meet these very modest budgets, but many children still have only one and some have none at all.
Q: What happens if a sponsor misses a month?
A: Once a child has been sponsored in our program, the family depends upon that support. If a sponsor misses a month, we cover the need from our general fund. Our children's homes require help from the general giving every month. We wire the support to the countries about every three months. It is not important for your gift to reach us by any certain day of the month. Paying several months or a year ahead, as many sponsors do, helps us in several ways, but any schedule works. "Making up" for missed months also helps us, but the child receives the support in any case.
Q: Does the sponsorship support cover EVERYTHING the child needs?
A: No, it doesn't. The parents are still contributing to the child's needs in most cases. It covers all of the school fees and most of the children in our program cannot attend school without it. It covers basic medical needs and many of our children receive vaccinations (for example) only because of the sponsorship help. It is not enough to cover the expenses of a hospitalization. Some of our pastors allow the family to use any remaining funds each month for food for the whole family. One church keeps each child's funds in an individual account from which the parents must present receipts for reimbursement of the needs of the specific child only. For our children's homes, we are covering all of the child's needs from the time he enters the home, but several sponsors or general fund giving is needed to accomplish this.
Q: Does the support go to the individual child?
A: In a children's home, the sponsorship support goes into the general operating account from which all the children's needs are met. Sponsored and un-sponsored children receive the same food and clothing. Any who need medical care, receive it. The only difference comes in the event that if there are not enough funds to send all of the children to school, sponsored children are the ones who will go. For a child who lives in a family-his own family or an orphan taken in by a family-yes, the sponsorship is going specifically for him/her.
Q: How much of your gifts reach the children?
A: .Currently, 100% of gifts designated for the children are sent to the field. Less than 5% of general giving is used for ministry needs in the United States. None of donor gifts are used for marketing, salaries, etc. unless designated for these things. We are fervently committed to keeping "overhead" costs to the minimum.
Q: May I send letters and gifts for my child?
A: Letters can be exchanged once or twice a year, which we hand carry in to the country and distribute to the children. However, we cannot take gifts for a specific child because of the luggage space, and...... just imagine the difficulties in a children's home or family if only one or a few children receive gifts.
Special information for writing letters to your child
Q: What accountability is in place for the sponsorship program?
A: Our in-country partners guard the integrity of our program very carefully. Our children's homes are operated by partners we know well and personally trust. Supervision, usually the family's pastor is in place for the family programs. And - we make frequent trips into the countries ourselves, visiting homes, and meeting with the children.