Childcare Worldwide

CHILDCARE WORLDWIDE TRANSFORMS CHILDREN'S LIVES BY EXPOSING THEM TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, PROVIDING FOR THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS, AND SPONSORING THEIR EDUCATION.

A NOTE ABOUT 2021:THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO HAVE HUGE IMPACT ON OUR FINANCIALS IN 2021, WITH TWO SPECIFIC IMPACTS WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. THE FIRST WAS THAT, AS IN 2020, IT CONTINUED TO BE DIFFICULT TO MOBILIZE FUNDING IN OUR FIELD PROGRAMS. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES WERE CLOSED FOR LARGE CHUNKS OF THE YEAR AND FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR IN SOME AREAS. THEREFORE, WE ONCE AGAIN WERE HAMPERED IN OUR EFFORTS TO FUND SCHOOL FEES AND EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES, AS WELL AS TO FEED KIDS SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY AT LIFE CENTERS. OTHER EFFORTS WE REGULARLY ENGAGE IN SUCH AS WATER SYSTEMS AND SHELTER CONSTRUCTION WERE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOBILIZE BECAUSE OF CONSTRAINTS WITHIN THE COUNTRIES DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)ALL OF THIS MEANS THAT 2021 SAW US ONCE AGAIN STRUGGLING TO GET FUNDS OUT TO THE CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, FORCING US TO STOCKPILE DONATIONS FOR BRIGHTER DAYS. A SECOND MAJOR FINANCIAL IMPACT OCCURRED DUE TO A DECISION WE MADE TO SELL OUR OFFICE BUILDING. THE PANDEMIC HAD FORCED US ALL TO EXPERIENCE WORKING FROM HOME, AND MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE WE DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL FIT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. MANY EMPLOYEES THRIVED IN THE WFH SCENARIO, AND OUR OPERATIONS BECAME MORE EFFICIENT AND STREAMLINED. ALL THE WHILE OUR BUILDING WAS SITTING EMPTY WHILE WE CONTINUED TO MAKE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS. THEREFORE, WE MADE THE DECISION TO CUT OUR LOSSES AND SELL THE BUILDING MID-YEAR. IT WAS A HUGE BLESSING FOR US TO UNLOAD THE BURDEN OF THAT BUILDING. IT ALLOWED US TO FIND A SMALL, REASONABLY PRICED OFFICE LEASE THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE A FEW STAFF PLUS GROUP MEETINGS AND RELIEVED US OF THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSES. HOWEVER, ON PAPER, THE SALE WAS A MAJOR LOSS, MOSTLY DUE TO THE BUILDING HAVING BEEN VALUED DURING A REAL ESTATE BOOM WHEN PRICES WERE AT THEIR HIGHEST. SO, WHILE WE ENDED UP IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE IN OUR MONTHLY BUDGET WITH EXTRA CASH IN OUR WHERE MOST NEEDED FUND, THE YEAR-END FINANCIALS SHOW A LARGE LOSS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY, AFFECTING OUR PROGRAM VS. SUPPORT PERCENTAGES SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE LIFE CENTER - OUR CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE LIFE CENTER. BASED IN LOCAL CHURCHES, LIFE CENTERS ARE WHERE CHILDREN RECEIVE A CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED GOSPEL MESSAGE EVERY WEEKEND. A STRONG BIBLE CURRICULUM IS USED BY OUR TRAINED TEACHERS TO GUIDE CHILDREN THROUGH WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAVED BY JESUS CHRIST. BIBLES ARE READILY AVAILABLE AT LIFE CENTER LOCATIONS, AND CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING THEIR OWN COPIES OR USE THE PROVIDED COPIES. LIFE CENTER ACTIVITIES RUN FOR 3 HOURS AND INCLUDE A GROUP BIBLE LESSON, BIBLE MEMORIZATION EXERCISES, SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, FOOD, CRAFTS, AND ORGANIZED GAMES. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)LIFE CENTER CHURCH PARTNERSHIPS ARE CHOSEN BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:> THE CHURCH AND PASTOR'S STATEMENT OF FAITH (SOF) ALIGNS WITH CW'S.> THE CHURCH AND PASTOR AFFIRM ALIGNMENT TO THE SOF ANNUALLY.> THE CHURCH AND PASTOR HAVE A COMMITMENT TO GOSPEL EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP.> THE PASTOR AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSE CW'S VISION FOR LCS, AND ARE WILLING TO GET INVOLVED TO MINISTER TO THE FAMILIES OF SPONSORED CHILDREN.> THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO A LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP.> THE PASTOR AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP EMBRACE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING AN LC IN THEIR CHURCH:> AN EXCELLENT EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITY.> A WAY FOR THE CHURCH TO BE "SALT AND LIGHT" TO THEIR COMMUNITY.> THE CHURCH IS SEEN AS HAVING AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORHOOD.> A WAY TO HELP SOME OF THEIR CONGREGATION'S FAMILIES, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY.> AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE FOR THEIR MEMBERS.> A SHEPHERDING MINISTRY FOR PASTORS, LEADERS, AND FUTURE LEADERS.> AN ADDITIONAL DISCIPLESHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR SPONSORED CHILDREN.> A NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED PASTORS AND CHURCHES.> A TRAINING CENTER FOR LEADERS AND CONGREGATION ON MINISTRY TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.> MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION ARE AVAILABLE TO VOLUNTEER. IN SERVING AT THE LC, THEY ARE MINISTERING ON BEHALF OF CW, UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE CHURCH'S LEADERSHIP, AND UNTO THE LORD.> CHURCH VOLUNTEERS ARE LED BY THE LEAD-TEACHER EMPLOYED BY CW.> VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THE LC.CHILDREN MEET AT A SINGLE LIFE CENTER AND ARE TAUGHT BY ONE TEACHER WHO IS SUPPORTED BY TWO OR MORE LOCAL CHURCH VOLUNTEERS. STAFF OF CW MAKE MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY CHECKS ON THE LIFE CENTERS TO ENSURE THAT THE CURRICULUM IS BEING PRESENTED WELL, CHECK ON THE CHILDREN, AND HELP THE CHILDREN WRITE LETTERS TO THEIR SPONSORS.

HOLISTIC CARE - PHYSICAL BARRIERS CAN PREVENT CHILDREN FROM INTERNALIZING THE LIFESAVING MESSAGE OF JESUS. CW STRIVES TO REMOVE THE MOST BASIC PHYSICAL BARRIERS KIDS FACE BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, MEDICINE AND EDUCATION.WHENEVER POSSIBLE, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL CHURCHES TO DELIVER RELIEF. IF ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER IS THE GREATEST NEED IN A COMMUNITY, CW WILL INSTALL A WATER CATCHMENT SYSTEM ON CHURCH PROPERTY WHERE WE OPERATE A LIFE CENTER. THE SYSTEM IS REPLENISHED DURING RAINY SEASONS AND SERVES THE CHURCH COMMUNITY WITH THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF RAINWATER. THE WATER IS FILTERED TO STRAIN AWAY DIRT AND DANGEROUS PATHOGENS. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)A CENTRALLY LOCATED WATER SYSTEM REMOVES THE NEED FOR CHILDREN TO WALK MILES TO COLLECT WATER FROM CONTAMINATED SOURCES. CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES STAY HEALTHY WHEN THEY CAN ACCESS CLEAN WATER FROM A CHURCH WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.THE FAMILIES OF SPONSORED CHILDREN OFTEN DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO ADEQUATELY FEED THEMSELVES. KIDS COME TO THE LIFE CENTER HUNGRY AND IN NEED OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD. CW PREPARES AND SERVES FOOD TO THE KIDS AT THEIR LIFE CENTER EACH WEEKEND. OTHER CW FOOD PROGRAMS EXIST TO ENSURE THE MOST IMPOVERISHED FAMILIES HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.ACCESS TO EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR SPONSORED CHILDREN. CW PAYS A PORTION OF THE SCHOOL FEES CHARGED BY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO KIDS CAN STAY ENROLLED.OTHER PROGRAMS HELP CW PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE, CLOTHING AND SHELTER FOR THEIR FAMILIES.