BRAZIL — Joni and Friends aims to provide wheelchairs to respond to Jesus’s command in Luke 14 to “Go out quickly…and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame…so that my house will be full.” Their Wheels for the World program is just one of the ways they seek to answer that… Continue reading Providing Vital Wheelchairs in Brazil
Tag: Abject Poverty
An estimated 767 million people lived below the abject poverty line of $1.90 per day in 2013, according to the UN.
In 2014, some 263 million children and youth were not attending school, and more than 70 percent of the out-of-school children who should have been in primary or secondary education lived in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.
In the United States, a report revealed that in 2014, “approximately 15 million children under the age of 18 were in families living in abject poverty.”
Many impoverished families know education is the long-term solution to their financial troubles, but it is out of reach. A family’s financial position influences more than you might think upon initial consideration.
The father who works from sunup to sundown seven days a week will have little time to mentor his children. The same could be said of the mother who labors in the fields all day. During their most formative and vulnerable years, millions of children are left alone during the day to wander in their villages. Many will adopt poor social habits and learn nothing of respect or self-discipline. School is out of the picture for them; all the family’s energy must be focused on providing food and shelter.
Andre’s Story: Finding Acceptance in the Body of Christ in El Salvador
EL SALVADOR — Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. They bring this vision to reality through programs like International Family Retreat. Andre’s family in El Salvador experienced finding inclusion in Christ, transforming acceptance and love through family retreat… Continue reading Andre’s Story: Finding Acceptance in the Body of Christ in El Salvador
Wheelchair Allows Didina to See the Sky for the First Time in 30 Years
ROMANIA — Didina was paralyzed at age 22 due to an unknown condition. Then for 30 years she lay in a small dark bedroom wanting to die to get free from the bed that felt like a prison.Joni and Friends Wheels for the World volunteers heard Didina’s story and came to provide her with physical… Continue reading Wheelchair Allows Didina to See the Sky for the First Time in 30 Years
Ian’s Perfect Gift: A Pediatric Wheelchair and Gospel Hope
EL SALVADOR — Four-year-old Ian from El Salvador was born prematurely. Lack of oxygen at birth caused a brain injury, leaving Ian with cerebral palsy. Living under the double weight of poverty and disability, Ian’s parents couldn’t afford a wheelchair for their son. Then, at a Joni and Friends Wheels for the World™ outreach in… Continue reading Ian’s Perfect Gift: A Pediatric Wheelchair and Gospel Hope
From Exhaustion to Rest at Joni and Friends Family Retreat
JACKSON, MS — Reyna is a mother to four children in Jackson, Mississippi. Her oldest kids, Belen (19) and Leonardo (16), have disabilities that require the use of wheelchairs and around-the-clock care. Even with the help of her 10-year-old son, Yahir, to feed and change his siblings, Reyna lives in a state of mental and… Continue reading From Exhaustion to Rest at Joni and Friends Family Retreat
Marcela’s Wheelchair in El Salvador: For Every Wheelchair Given, Millions are Needed
EL SALVADOR — The World Health Organization estimates that over 75 million people in the world today need a wheelchair, and more than 85% of them can’t access one*. The brunt of these unmet needs hits people in developing nations, like Marcela in El Salvador. Marcela suffered cardio-respiratory arrest at birth, which caused cerebral palsy.… Continue reading Marcela’s Wheelchair in El Salvador: For Every Wheelchair Given, Millions are Needed
Wheelchair Distribution Delivers the Hope of the Gospel in Thailand
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND — Namthan has cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. She cannot walk or even sit on her own and has a permanent shunt surgically implanted in her brain. Raised Buddhist, Namthan’s parents believed that bad karma caused Namthan’s disability. But when Joni and Friends brought Namthan a wheelchair through our Wheels for the World… Continue reading Wheelchair Distribution Delivers the Hope of the Gospel in Thailand
Joni and Friends Delivers Wheelchairs and Christ’s Love in Thailand
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND — 12-year-old Pleng was born with cerebral palsy. Unable to afford a wheelchair for Pleng, her family resorted to carrying her, or just staying home. In addition to struggles with immobility, Pleng’s family suffered from shame, believing Pleng’s disability came from bad karma—a deserved punishment, or curse. When Pleng arrived at the… Continue reading Joni and Friends Delivers Wheelchairs and Christ’s Love in Thailand
GFA World is Providing Free Health Care in Remote Areas of Asia
WILLS POINT, TX – GFA World (Gospel for Asia) founded by K.P. Yohannan, has been the model for numerous charities like GFA World Canada, to help the poor and deprived worldwide. Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported medical ministry is helping thousands who are in need of medical attention, all the while displaying the love of Christ.… Continue reading GFA World is Providing Free Health Care in Remote Areas of Asia
Joni’s House is a Lifeline for Mother with Two Disabled Sons
SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR — Esmerelda’s pregnancy was typical and uneventful, but while carrying her son, she was a victim of domestic violence. Esmerelda worried that the abuse she suffered at her husband’s hand would cause their new baby to be born with a disability. At five months, Kevin was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. When… Continue reading Joni’s House is a Lifeline for Mother with Two Disabled Sons
Mobile Food Drive, Sponsored by Nations Church in Partnership with One Heart for Women and Children
ORLANDO, FL — Nations Church, one of the fastest-growing churches in America, based in Central Florida, recently partnered with One Heart for Women and Children to assist families and individuals struggling with food insecurity in the local community. On March 16th, Nations Church and One Heart combined their teams, arriving at the Christ for all… Continue reading Mobile Food Drive, Sponsored by Nations Church in Partnership with One Heart for Women and Children
Christian Aid Mission Helps Desperate Single Mother in North Africa
AFRICA — A single mother of three in dire need, Shahd* was desperate when she called the national missionary supported by Christian Aid Mission. The missionary responded with compassionate aid and support, providing Shahd with the means to establish her own business and empowering her to provide for her family. According to the mission organization,… Continue reading Christian Aid Mission Helps Desperate Single Mother in North Africa
Richmond’s Story: From Poverty to Pastor in Uganda
KAMPALA, UGANDA – Richmond’s childhood was a painful and challenging one, marked by extreme poverty, illness, loss and hopelessness. His family often went without food. He suffered from malaria almost a dozen times, and his father was murdered. When he was sponsored and began attending Compassion’s child development center at a local church, the healthcare,… Continue reading Richmond’s Story: From Poverty to Pastor in Uganda
Brian’s Story of Transformation Through London City Mission
ENGLAND, LONDON — A series of bad choices led Brian to the streets of London, England. It was chaotic and destructive, and Brian was desperate. After a day of heavy drinking in Trafalgar Square, Brian was at rock bottom. He woke to find his trainers and trousers had been stolen. With nowhere else to turn,… Continue reading Brian’s Story of Transformation Through London City Mission
Compassion International’s Fill the Stadium Initiative Announces $35 Million Goal Surpassed
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Members of Compassion International’s Fill the Stadium team are extremely grateful and honor those who have participated in this life-saving initiative as they share remarkable news: this week, the $35 million goal has been surpassed for the Fill the Stadium effort, which has provided critical food, medical care and support for… Continue reading Compassion International’s Fill the Stadium Initiative Announces $35 Million Goal Surpassed
As Severe Winter Storms Strike Israel, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Is Providing Critical, Lifesaving Care to Israel’s Most Vulnerable Citizens
JERUSALEM — Winter storm Carmel has ravaged Israel, and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), in collaboration with Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, has immediately responded to assist the vulnerable sectors of Israeli society – in particular, the elderly and people with disabilities living alone, the homeless, and impoverished families… Continue reading As Severe Winter Storms Strike Israel, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Is Providing Critical, Lifesaving Care to Israel’s Most Vulnerable Citizens
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Celebrates a Milestone, Serving More Than 2 Million People in 2021
JERUSALEM — In 2021, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) helped more than 2 million people by supplying basic essentials and financial assistance to 1 million people, providing security to more than 800,000 people encountering threats of terrorism and anti-Semitism, and helping more than 5,000 Jews return home to Israel. Throughout this… Continue reading The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Celebrates a Milestone, Serving More Than 2 Million People in 2021
GFA World and Believers Eastern Church Help Bring the Joy of Christmas to Children
STONEY CREEK, ONTARIO – One of the core values of GFA World (Gospel for Asia) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like GFA World Canada, is being a people who work together with the body of Christ. In the week of November 15-22, 2021, GFA World was able to demonstrate this value by… Continue reading GFA World and Believers Eastern Church Help Bring the Joy of Christmas to Children
Ahead of ‘Giving Tuesday,’ on November 30, The Los Angeles Dream Center Kicks Off Their ‘Make 30 Matter’ Campaign
LOS ANGELES — As “Giving Tuesday” is coming up on November 30, the Los Angeles Dream Center is encouraging Americans in their city and throughout the country to join the global effort of showing gratitude by giving back. They will be kicking off their “Make 30 Matter” campaign on November 30, reminding current and potential… Continue reading Ahead of ‘Giving Tuesday,’ on November 30, The Los Angeles Dream Center Kicks Off Their ‘Make 30 Matter’ Campaign
$3 Million for the Benefit of Thousands of Impoverished Israeli Families
JERUSALEM — The coronavirus crisis has greatly impacted many families in Israel. To alleviate the overwhelming need, Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, together with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship), has decided to provide more than $3 million for the benefit of individuals and families needing additional support. This will… Continue reading $3 Million for the Benefit of Thousands of Impoverished Israeli Families
Togo Doctor Answers Call to Give Sight To His Own People
TOGO — Dr. Abram Wodomé could’ve left this own country of Togo in West Africa to pursue a successful medical career abroad. But thanks to support from the Christian charity Mercy Ships Dr. Wodomé has chosen to provide vital cataract surgery and medical training in his home nation. As the country’s leading cataract surgeon, he… Continue reading Togo Doctor Answers Call to Give Sight To His Own People
GFA World Staff Run for COVID-19 Relief
STONEY CREEK, ON — Gospel for Asia Canada (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan shares how the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing death and destruction to millions around the globe. For many in Asia, the affect of the virus is felt in more ways than one as they struggle to make ends meet during the lockdown.… Continue reading GFA World Staff Run for COVID-19 Relief
Who Is This Man Called Mully?
NAIROBI, KENYA – The title question is not one that needs to be asked in Kenya. Everyone there knows who Mully is. I had never heard about Mully until I watched the Mully Movie last evening. I immediately knew that I had to introduce our readers to Mr. Charles Mully. He is a man whose… Continue reading Who Is This Man Called Mully?
Major Announcement on GCU Partnership with CityServe
PHOENIX, AZ – Grand Canyon University and CityServe are announcing the creation of a major distribution hub on the GCU campus that will provide thousands of household goods to needy families in Arizona. A 35,000-square-foot warehouse on campus will house products such as clothing, heaters, fans, blankets, furniture, mattresses, food boxes and other essential items… Continue reading Major Announcement on GCU Partnership with CityServe
Sewing Machine from Gospel for Asia Was Truly a Gift from God
SOUTH ASIA – Lalita is a widow who was struggling to make ends meet after her husband passed away. Through its Christmas Gift Catalog GFA World (Gospel for Asia) gave her a sewing machine which enabled her to earn a living through tailoring work. How one simple tool provided income for a family in desperate… Continue reading Sewing Machine from Gospel for Asia Was Truly a Gift from God
Outside the Bowl
PAARL, SOUTH AFRICA – There are essentially two major problems when it comes to hunger among impoverished families. First, there is food scarcity. That doesn’t mean that there is not an adequate global supply of food to feed everyone. There is. The problem is that the food is not readily available to the hungry people… Continue reading Outside the Bowl
The Story of Heartbeat International
TAMPA, FL – The vision for Heartbeat International formed when Federico Alfaro, a young doctor who had recently completed his residency at Baylor University, was in Guatemala and presented the case of a 17-year-old boy who had a serious heart block. A heart block occurs when the electrical signals that control your heartbeat malfunction. That… Continue reading The Story of Heartbeat International
For Haiti With Love Finds a New Way to Love Haiti
PALM HARBOR, FL – For Haiti With Love is the exact representation of a faith mission. It has no plans for building bigger barns. (See Luke 12:18) It does what it can with what the Lord provides. The on-the-ground work of For Haiti With Love consists of four primary elements. Offering nutritious, balanced meals to… Continue reading For Haiti With Love Finds a New Way to Love Haiti
Wheelchair Gives Brazilian Boy Mobility, Opportunity, and Access
BRAZIL — Six-year-old Miguel has spina bifida and lives with his grandparents in a tiny home, far from everything in a remote village in Brazil. Unable to afford a wheelchair, Miguel’s only means of transportation through the dirty paths of his village is a rusty wheelbarrow. In poverty and desperation, their family cried out to God… Continue reading Wheelchair Gives Brazilian Boy Mobility, Opportunity, and Access
As COVID Worsens the Church Aids the Needy in Wanhua
TAIWAN — Wanhua District in Taipei, Taiwan has the city’s highest concentration of low income residents. During the COVID pandemic, many become nervous when Wanhua is mentioned. But while most people want to leave, there are some who feel compassion for the people there. Pastor Wen is preparing supplies for Wanhua residents who were caught… Continue reading As COVID Worsens the Church Aids the Needy in Wanhua
Relief Supplies Airlifted to Nepal as South Asia Battles COVID-19
GREENSBORO, NC — A second wave in the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading throughout Nepal with over 34,000 new cases reported in just the last week. The true number may be much higher because virus testing is inadequate across most of the impoverished nation of 30 million people. Sadly, hardest hit areas are the remote… Continue reading Relief Supplies Airlifted to Nepal as South Asia Battles COVID-19
Join CMM Global Missions Family Urgently Feeding Lockdown Members and Providing Wells in Many Nations — Two Urgent Needs
CHARLOTTE, NC — Christ’s Mandate for Missions, (www.cmm.world) formerly Correll Missionary Ministries, and CMM College of Theology (www.cmmtheology.org) are expanding globally as more people are hearing about their unique style of ‘team ministry’ empowering many to discover their God given identities we each have in Christ as we go higher and deeper in intimacy. During… Continue reading Join CMM Global Missions Family Urgently Feeding Lockdown Members and Providing Wells in Many Nations — Two Urgent Needs
Reflective Thoughts on the World Day Against Child Labor
NEW YORK, NY – Not only is June 12 the World Day Against Child Labor, but 2021 has also been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. The United Nations Global Compact is focusing on the issue of child labor. The Compact is a voluntary… Continue reading Reflective Thoughts on the World Day Against Child Labor
Transforming Lives Through Farming in Democratic Republic of Congo
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — Samaritan’s Purse is providing tools, seeds, and agricultural training to farmers living with disabilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nicole Solvig, Samaritan’s Purse: We’re heading to one of our farmer’s fields to see the progress of their work. This is a group of farmers who are all living… Continue reading Transforming Lives Through Farming in Democratic Republic of Congo
Providing Shelter and a Refuge in Tigray, Ethiopia
TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA — Samaritan’s Purse is building emergency shelters in the Tigray region of Ethiopia for hundreds of families who were forcibly displaced from their homes due to armed conflict. In the past month, their staff designed a basic emergency shelter that can largely be built from local materials. After securing a site, teams started… Continue reading Providing Shelter and a Refuge in Tigray, Ethiopia
Battling Hunger in Ethiopia
TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA — As hundreds of thousands of people fled to more populated areas of Tigray in Ethiopia last fall, there were many stories of suffering and hunger. Thousands of children and nursing and pregnant mothers were increasingly at risk of malnutrition. Some families were reduced to begging for food, and many simply went days… Continue reading Battling Hunger in Ethiopia
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty on World Hunger Day
KOLKATA, INDIA — As we observe World Hunger Day this week (Fri May 28), a recent report from the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) predicts a steep increase in food insecurity over the coming months across 20 ‘hotspot’ nations – with more than 270 million people at risk of starvation – doubling the pre-pandemic figure.… Continue reading Breaking the Cycle of Poverty on World Hunger Day
Hunger Grips COVID-Ravaged India; GFA World Responds
WILLS POINT, TX — India’s devastating “second wave” of COVID-19 is overshadowing another deadly tsunami of suffering — rampant hunger. Global humanitarian agency Gospel for Asia (GFA World) reports growing desperation across India as it supports efforts to feed those facing starvation amid the pandemic’s continuing onslaught. The Texas-based organization has helped feed hundreds of thousands… Continue reading Hunger Grips COVID-Ravaged India; GFA World Responds
City on a Hill: A Place of Transformation
MILWAUKEE, WI – City on a Hill is a faith-based organization located near the center of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is, according to an article in Time Magazine published on September 17, 2015, the 5th poorest city in the United States. City on a Hill’s mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty and bring… Continue reading City on a Hill: A Place of Transformation
Canadian Christian Organization to Help Prevent COVID-19 Deaths Among India’s Most Vulnerable
ONTARIO, CANADA — As COVID-19 deaths continue to grow exponentially in India, one Canadian NGO is stepping up to help that country’s most vulnerable people access the life-saving jab. Effect Hope is a Canadian Christian global health organization that supports people with neglected tropical diseases. Effect Hope will help Indians affected by leprosy and lymphatic… Continue reading Canadian Christian Organization to Help Prevent COVID-19 Deaths Among India’s Most Vulnerable
Bringing Medical Care to Suffering Families in Ethiopia
ETHIOPIA — The weight of the humanitarian crisis in Tigray is palpable, but it’s rarely in the news—even as urban areas in northern Ethiopia swell with traumatized families living in schools and tarp shelters. Samaritan’s Purse has been working in this region since February providing emergency food, cooking kits, and other relief. They have airlifted more… Continue reading Bringing Medical Care to Suffering Families in Ethiopia
GCU & CityServe Create Distribution System to Aid Arizona Families in Need
PHOENIX, AZ – Grand Canyon University (GCU) and CityServe released a joint media advisory today announcing a new collaborative service to aid needy families in Arizona. A 35,000-square-foot warehouse on the university campus will be converted to become a distribution hub for food and essential household items for more than 100 points of distribution (PODS).… Continue reading GCU & CityServe Create Distribution System to Aid Arizona Families in Need