Holistic Child Development

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Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala

aheckman — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:46:43 +0000

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala aheckman Fri, 04/28/2023 - 17:46

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala

APRIL 28, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

Evan*is a 7th grader in Guatemala who attends the child development center in his town. Evan’s mother experienced complications with childbirth and passed away four years ago. Since then, Evan and his seven siblings have had to face life without her love and care. The teachers at Evan’s center report that despite this tragedy marking his life, Evan is a hard worker who loves to improve. He strives diligently to overcome the obstacles he faces. Evan also attends the local Nazarene church that hosts the child development center, where he participates in children’s church and youth services.

Making ends meet is not easy for Evan’s family. Evan is one of the ten percent of children in Guatemala who work in order to help out at home. He spends a few hours each day in a local bakery to cover his educational costs, as school is only free in Guatemala through the 6th grade. Sometimes, Evan uses his income to help pay for the needs of his younger siblings. To balance all of his responsibilities, Evan goes to work in the morning before school. After work, he goes to school, then to his center in the afternoon, and studies in the evenings.

Being part of the child sponsorship program means that Evan is able to attend the development center for free. There, he receives help with his homework after school, along with spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social care that is designed to develop all aspects of his life. Evan’s sponsor is a Nazarene church in Wisconsin, and Evan regularly writes notes to the church to shares gratitude and updates. In a recent letter, he expressed how happy he was to be a part of the center.

“I thank God first of all for putting in your hearts the will to help me,” he wrote. “I know that our God will multiply you in abundance.” Evan is not the only one in his family to benefit from sponsorship; two of his younger sisters attend the center as well.

The care given by the staff is impacting each of Evan's family members with the help needed to thrive despite both grief and economic challenges. In a country where only 79% of children complete primary school, the center’s activities help keep children engaged and learning. Most importantly, the center is built on a foundation of faith.

“We take the opportunity to pray with [students] and remind them of how important they are to us, to the church, and above all to God,” said Arnoldo, center coordinator. This kind of encouragement can give children confidence and a reason to hope for a bright future, no matter their current circumstances.

That encouragement is echoed in the care felt through the sponsorship relationship. “I am very grateful to my sponsor,” said Evan. “Even though I do not know them, I feel a great love for them because of the support I have received.”

When you sponsor a child like Evan, committing your financial resources and prayer support, you are making a tangible difference. Learn more here.

*Child’s name is changed for protection.

Caring for Children Around the World

aheckman — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:27:14 +0000

Caring for Children Around the World aheckman Wed, 04/05/2023 - 19:27

Caring for Children Around the World

APRIL 5, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

In Nepal, the children at one Nazarene child development center share a common experience—many have never celebrated their own birthdays. For families in this area who struggle with ongoing poverty, there’s no time or money to spend on play or celebrations. Instead, parents have to stay focused on earning enough to eat and have housing. Many of the children have worked alongside their parents to support the families’ needs. When they are enrolled in the center, though, not only are children given opportunities to grow spiritually, educationally, and physically, but special moments like birthday and Christmas celebrations with their classmates help shape their emotional development.

The local church that hosts the center has noticed an increase in relationships between community members and their members thanks to this ministry.

A child development center in Romania provides a safe environment so children and teens can develop positive self-esteem, grow spiritually, and improve their academic skills. The center provides Bible teaching, meals, clothing, tutoring, access to health care, and a place for kids to play together.

Sometimes the benefits a child takes home from their center are intangible, yet no less impactful. “To be part of this program helped me to see myself with different eyes,” said one teenager who attends the Romanian center. “I learned to control my emotions.”

Life in Nicaragua can be difficult for children. At least 42 percent of the population lives in poverty, and that widespread unemployment, poor infrastructure, and other stressors leave many families struggling to survive. At one child development center, parents are educated on helping their children grow through proper nutrition and food preparation. A water well provides clean water for children and their families to use. Younger children receive academic coaching, and teens are supplied with vocational training. These activities are in addition to the regular spiritual guidance and extracurriculars like music and art lessons that make up the rest of the center’s activities.

Still, the stressors outside the center are sometimes a strong pull. Because of this, last year, several teens stopped attending. The center staff are committed to praying for the teens' safety and that they would be able to make wise choices for their futures. Due to work shortages in the area, some families had to leave for a season to harvest coffee in the mountains, taking their children with them. Other parents were concerned with earning enough money to pay fees for their children to graduate from school.

“God supplied all the needs,” reported one leader.

Last May, two teens who also attend the church graduated from a baptism class. After their baptism in a nearby lake, the church and center community enjoyed a celebration together.

The center staff continues to press into their mission to help children and teens develop and grow. “The task ahead of us is very challenging,” said the leader. “We are praying and fasting that the Lord will help us continue in the race of compassion. We have seen God's support in everything we have done for his work and for his beloved children.”

When you sponsor a child, you help them attend a child development center like these. To learn more about making a difference for children living in poverty, visit ncm.org/sponsor.

What Was Sown

aheckman — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:24:05 +0000

What Was Sown aheckman Thu, 01/26/2023 - 15:24

What Was Sown

JANUARY 26, 2023 · RONI GUNAWAN, NCM COORDINATOR SEALANDS

On the outermost edge of Indonesia sits an island called Nias, a land that has suffered various blows from many natural disasters.

Nias Island is part of the Eurasian plate that collides with the India-Australia plate. As a result of this, earthquakes are a regular occurrence. One of the major disasters that occurred was a magnitude 8.7 earthquake on March 28, 2005, only three months after a different earthquake and massive tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia. At that time, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries became involved by sending a disaster response team to distribute aid for short-term relief as well as developing a long-term ministry to children who were victims of disasters.

Seventeen years have passed since the disaster occurred. Since then, what has God done through the ministry of NCM in Nias? Remarkable things. A large number of young people from the NCM efforts in Nias became students at the Indonesian Nazarene Theological College (INTC). Through INTC's ministry, some of them have become pastors and leaders.

Three local churches on Nias and neighboring islands are still growing today are a result of the initial NCM ministry. It turns out that in all things, truly God brings good; even in catastrophic situations, God is still at work. What was sown 17 years ago is producing the harvest we are seeing today.

Since the children’s ministry was originally part of long-term disaster response, it eventually was phased out. However, God did not stop working in the lives of those who were served in those early years. A year and a half ago, God created an opportunity to restart the holistic child development ministry on Nias, and around 40 children regularly participate. The need remains.

Today, a large number of children on Nias don’t have access to a high-quality education. The new ministry will create academic growth through supplemental learning assistance. The goal has always been holistic care—helping children grow spiritually, educationally, emotionally, and physically. Tutoring for children is also a way to build relationships in the local community. In that way, the five staff members on Nias can visit, pray, and give counsel to the parents of these children. In a small group, people hold regular Sunday worship.

It is a joy to see how God has used past ministry efforts to produce long term results. Through God’s grace, what is sown today will be reaped in the future, just as it was 17 years ago.

This story taken from the most recent issue of NCM Magazine. Click here to read.

Emergency Relief

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Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday

aheckman — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:18:02 +0000

Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday aheckman Thu, 05/19/2022 - 19:18

Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday

Every year, Nazarene churches around the world extend compassion by highlighting the ministry of Nazarene child sponsorship. While this event has traditionally been held in the spring, we invite your congregation to choose any weekend that is most convenient to host Child Sponsorship Sunday!

“I hope that in the year that comes, many more children and people can benefit from this wonderful program and receive great opportunities for life and education.” - A sponsored child in Colombia

Child Sponsorship changes the lives of children living in poverty. Children who attend child development centers benefit from caring teachers and comprehensive programming that nurtures children by assisting their academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth. In addition, parents are released from the fear of being unable to provide for their children’s needs. Children of Nazarene pastors receive assistance with educational costs, and all sponsored children are connected to caring sponsors who encourage them through financial support, prayer, and letters.

"Receiving a letter makes me very happy, it makes me feel that there are people thinking about me and that I have friends who love me. When a letter arrives, I like to read it first in English and then in Spanish because that's how I'm learning. I [read] with my parents and then I keep it in a place of memories of mine." -A sponsored child

Child Sponsorship is also an investment in the community. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partners with local congregations to operate child development programs. This partnership resources churches as they seek to serve others, introduce change to their communities, and point people to the love of God in Christ. Many child development centers offer savings groups and financial training for parents and guardians of enrolled children.

Right now, there are 240 child development centers in 37 countries around the world. These centers currently care for 17,163 children.

“The CDC has changed my life. Since I was in CDC, I [did] well in my studies and after graduation, now am helping my parents by earning.” – Graduate of a Nazarene Child Development Center in India

Why should your church host a Child Sponsorship Sunday?

Many do not know about child sponsorship. This is an opportunity to educate your congregation on the ministry of child sponsorship.

Many do not realize that there is a uniquely Nazarene child sponsorship program. This is an opportunity to highlight child sponsorship through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday is itself an act of compassion to care for “the least of these.”

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday provides an opportunity for current sponsors to share how sponsorship has blessed them.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday creates an occasion to pray for children living in poverty (consider using this prayer video - click HERE to download video directly to your computer.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday gives children waiting for a sponsor the chance to become sponsored. Church members can choose a child to sponsor right after the service.

"For the future, I would like to be a great businesswoman and to help other children the same way I have been helped.” - A sponsored child from Bolivia

Free resources for promoting Child Sponsorship Sunday are available on our website. There, you can order profile cards of children waiting to be sponsored, posters, brochures, talking points, and more. If you have any questions, we’d love to help. Drop us a note at cs@ncm.org.

"I pray for you. Thank you for all the support you gave me during these years. You will be in my heart forever." - A sponsored child in Panama

“Dear Sponsor, thank you for all you have done for me, because of your love and kindness I feel so much blessed and positive for my future.” – A sponsored child in Rwanda

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Child Development Update: Peru

aheckman — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 18:19:38 +0000

Child Development Update: Peru aheckman Wed, 01/12/2022 - 18:19

Child Development Update: Peru

JANUARY 12, 2021 · NCM STAFF

As 2021 came to an end, the staff of child development centers in Peru provided this update for those who sponsor children in the country. Sponsorship provides a child living in poverty with educational, physical, emotional, and spiritual support, and connects them to caring adults in a local Nazarene child development center.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child from Peru, or another country, visit ncm.org/sponsor.

In Peru, families received food donations during pandemic lockdowns.

We want to thank all the sponsors for your continued support during this hard time. We know that the pandemic has affected everyone around the world, some more than others, so we are grateful that you continue to love and pray for the kids here in Peru.

This year (2021) has been another one of ups and downs. Things were starting to open back up when the next wave of COVID-19 infections hit. The hospitals filled up and the healthcare system wasn’t able to keep up. Many have lost friends and family members. Slowly things are opening back up again.

Thanks be to God, many of the parents of children enrolled in child development centers have been able to go back to work. However, with the schools still being closed, that creates its own set of challenges. Many parents are taking their younger kids to work with them if they able to do so, enabling the kids to do their online classes. Others try to find a family member who can stay with them, or if the child is old enough, they stay home to do their classes.

The government plans to open some universities and schools this month, if they meet certain regulations. Even so, many parents are still afraid to send their kids back to school for fear of getting COVID-19. Many kids want to go back due to the challenges of online learning. Not everyone has internet, a computer, or even a cell phone to be able to do the classes, so they have to share with someone else. The children also miss being with their friends and having that interaction.

This year Peru held presidential elections. After the voting, there was another surge in COVID-19 numbers. In addition to the problems of political uncertainty, inflation, and COVID-19, people in remote jungle areas have suffered from illnesses such as dengue and malaria, made worse by heavy rains.

Food packages continue to be distributed to families enrolled in child development centers. The children receive educational support with their online studies from the center workers. The support of their sponsors is helping many children to get through the challenges that they continue to face, especially when they receive letters that let them know that there is someone who cares and is praying for them. It brightens their day, and makes a time that is bleak a little less so.

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors. God bless you and keep you.

Recent artwork by a sponsored child in Peru.

Peru

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Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal

aheckman — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:21:48 +0000

Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal aheckman Wed, 09/29/2021 - 05:21

Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal

Being a teenager anywhere in the world can be a challenge. For Siva*, a 16-year-old boy who attends a child development center in Nepal, the last year and a half has been in and out of restrictive lockdowns.

Instead of growing frustrated, Siva wrote to his sponsor to tell her that he was using the time in lockdown, “as a great opportunity to learn creative things.” So, always a creative soul, Siva is teaching himself how to play the ukulele.

Siva*

In Nepal, most children have had the same uncertain experience Siva had. Schools were closed for much of 2020 and had only just reopened when they shut down again in April of 2021 during a second surge of the virus. Many children couldn’t access the remote lessons that the government provided.

According to groups like the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, the numbers of children in the labor market in Nepal increased when schools closed; instead of going to school, children were working (often in dangerous jobs like making bricks, crushing stones, weaving carpets, or collecting recyclable waste) to try to contribute at home. Not all of them were able to channel the lockdown into something creative.

The Church of the Nazarene in Nepal operates six Nazarene child development programs that care for close to 400 children. Five of these programs are child development centers that are open during after-school hours to provide educational, spiritual, physical, and emotional support. With the guidance of trained teachers, children who otherwise might struggle to stay in school are encouraged to continue learning.

Students studying quietly in a child development center

The centers provide uniforms, school supplies, homework assistance, food, medical care, enrichment activities, and more. Instead of having to leave school to work, these children are able to focus on school and the doors it will open for their futures.

Sunit also attends a Nazarene child development center. Before the pandemic, the 14-year-old wrote that she loves it when it snows, mostly because she loves to play in it. “Nepal is small in size, but it [has] a lot of beautiful places …” she wrote.

Sunit*

Since the pandemic started, Sunit has worried about school and the safety of her family. While Sunit’s father is an officer, Siva is like many of the other children at the center whose parents are small-scale farmers or day laborers, earning what they can each day. Other parents work as housekeepers for wealthy families, and in some families, one parent will travel to a city or even another country to find higher-paying work, leaving families separated for long periods of times. The pandemic has been disproportionately stressful for these low-income households. In many cases, their sources of income were lost once the first lockdown went into effect.

During the closures, child development centers continued to care for the children enrolled in their programs. Center staff trained parents to access the government lessons that were broadcast online and on television and radio stations, supplementing the training with home tutoring for children who didn’t have enough support at home. On top of regular educational activities, the staff members also made health education calls covering topics like disease transmission, hygiene practices, and how children could stay safe from infection. And to make sure the children and their families had enough to eat, they distributed food packs containing staples like rice, lentils, salt, and sugar.

CDC teacher home visit

Child development centers provide space for children like Siva and Sunit to nourish the things that spark their curiosity and joy, affirming their dignity and helping them grow in Christ.

Sunit wrote that she was very thankful for her center, where she has attended since she was a young child. “Now, I am happy because the [center] and school has been opened,” she said. “I am learning new and different things with [my friends]. … I like to go to the CDC and learn new things and teach my juniors.”

*Children’s names are changed for safety.

Learn how you can sponsor a child on our website.

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Holistic Child Development: Making a Difference for Children in Need

Grace Tia — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 04:12:43 +0000

Holistic Child Development: Making a Difference for Children in Need Grace Tia Thu, 09/24/2020 - 04:12

Holistic Child Development: Making a Difference for Children in Need

All around the world, the Church of the Nazarene operates child development programs that provide emotional, spiritual, educational, and physical care for children living in poverty. These programs unite children with sponsors who agree to provide financial support and encourage the child as she or he grows and learns. Keep reading to learn more about a few of those places where holistic child development programs are making a difference.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is located on the Horn of Africa and is home to 109.2 million people. In Ethiopia, one child development project ministers to 70 children of Nazarene pastors in the country. Many pastors struggle to afford school fees, uniforms, and transportation costs so their children can easily attend school. Through this project, children receive support to attend school, and pastoral families find encouragement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children have been unable to attend in-person classes since March. One child recently wrote her sponsor about how the virus is impacting her, “Due to the virus outbreak I’m constantly at home, but I’m praying for you and everybody so that God protects during such harsh times.”

Armenia

A landlocked country with Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east, Armenia has a population of 3 million people. After a 6-month shutdown, schools in Armenia opened to all grades on September 15. In Armenia, 121 children are cared for across four Nazarene after-school child development centers. These centers provide children with English language and computer classes, homework help, spiritual guidance and care, and physical outlets like PE classes and activities. One older student shared recently with her sponsor, “I am a minister in the kids’ ministry and it’s not just a ministry for me, but something more. I would like you to keep me and my family in your prayers. I’m grateful for you being with me. May God bless you and your family.”

Mexico

The Church of the Nazarene has had an active presence in Mexico since the founding of the denomination. Today, 78 children of pastors are cared for in two holistic child development programs. These programs assist pastoral families with primary and secondary educational costs for their children. Recently, one graduated student wrote to his sponsor, “I wanted to inform you that I will soon be graduating from the child sponsorship program. It is for that reason that I am writing this letter to say goodbye and thank you. I am very grateful to this ministry and to you, for demonstrating God's love, for your willingness to bless my life and family. For me it has been a great blessing, both the economic assistance and the support to my person, beyond the economic side. Thank you!”

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, and home to 18.1 million people. In Malawi, three holistic child development programs serve 316 children from both the community and pastors’ families. During pandemic lockdowns, program staff have been delivering food packages to children and their families. Teachers have also prepared Bible lessons for the children to encourage them while they are stuck at home.

One staff member says, “We tell our kids that we are all together as a global village in the same battle, resisting the attack of the virus. The guardians have a big task to help kids take responsibility for protecting others, which is the best way to love others during this time and keep themselves protected as well.”

Holistic child development ministries exist to make a difference for children in need. Would you join us in prayer for the children in the countries listed above, and the 58 other countries that host Nazarene child development centers and programs? Pray with us using the video below.

If you’d like to learn more about making an impact in the life of a child in need, visit ncm.org/sponsor.