Grace Rising

One of our four primary commitments at Grace Fellowship Church is to empower future generations. This means that we respond to that commitment by mobilizing the spiritual, human, and financial resources that will empower the generations that come after us.  As Bill Hegedus, Director of Children’s Ministry says, “It is critical that we take great care to empower our young people so that they may realize the fullness of God’s creative intent for them.”

Grace Rising has provided a wonderful opportunity to empower young people in a very concrete way. It has been our desire to make a significant contribution of at least $500,000 to at-risk children in impoverished areas, and because of our congregation’s faithfulness to the Lord through Grace Rising, this will become a reality.

We know that children are near and dear to the heart of God. Jesus Himself tells us that “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.” (Mark 9:37, NIV) Sadly, there are many children who may not hear that Jesus loves them, many who may not become all that God longs for them to become, because they are orphaned; because they are deprived of a childhood due to war, famine, disease, social standing, injustice, and economic circumstance; because they live in abject poverty and do not have enough to eat or a place to live. These are children who are vulnerable to falling very short of what God intends for them to become, and by no fault of their own.

Nearly every day 30,000 children die in our world, and most from causes which are preventable or treatable. And worldwide, almost half of our children live in poverty. Poverty stops children from receiving good health care; it prevents them from earning an education; it forces them to survive in toxic living environments; and it stunts their social development. These risk factors become an instrument of the enemy, attacking a child’s self-esteem, their concept of family, and their hope for their future.

As Christ-followers, we have a special responsibility to care for these children—the forgotten and overlooked. We are reminded that “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress …” (James1:27, NIV). We are also convicted that we are to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute…defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9, NIV)

Poverty and injustice do not have to win. We can make a difference, and one of those ways is through Grace Rising. With funds provided by Grace Rising, we will work through our existing partnership relationships to help children realize their God-given potential. We will sponsor:

• New Song Academy scholarships – In 2006, Grace Fellowship Church began by sponsoring the third grade class at New Song Academy by both mentoring each child in that class, and setting up a fund that will provide the financial resources/scholarships necessary to ensure that each of these children can attend college should they want to. Our desire is to do this for every single class at New Song.

• Sunda kids in Indonesia - Through a scholarship program (Transform Youth-Indonesia) middle and high school youth will be able to overcome financial roadblocks and continue their education past elementary school. They will be mentored spiritually, shown business techniques, tutored academically, and trained vocationally to produce a new generation of responsible providers and leaders for their country.

• Children in Malawi – Working with our partners in Malawi, children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic will be afforded holistic care (the good news that Jesus loves them, nutritious meals, education, and health screening) leading to hope and the opportunity for a future.

Through these three avenues, we trust that God will use us to demonstrate His love in tangible ways so that lives may be transformed for eternity. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.”  (Matthew 25:40, NIV)