Unexpected tears flowed at the Children of Promise conference Tuesday morning as those in attendance listened to dramatic stories of children whose lives have been transformed through the Anderson-based international child sponsorship program.

Hope was the overarching theme as leaders from the countries of Rwanda, Ecuador, Honduras, the Philippines and Russia shared personal accounts of working with sponsored children and their families.

Rev. Charles Nsengiyumva, whose own family was slaughtered during Rwanda’s genocidal 100 days of horror, detailed contrastingly beautiful stories of hope that are now taking place through the Children of Promise program there.  He explained there are three types of orphans in Rwanda:  those who are parentless due to the genocide, those orphaned by the HIV/aids epidemic, and those who have become orphaned through more “normal” circumstances.

“Many children will try to hide the fact that they are orphaned because they receive so much rejection when it becomes known,” Rev. Nsengiyumva stated.  He shared the story of a group of children who walked 18 miles for the chance to be included in the Children of Promise program.  “At first, they lied about having parents because they were afraid that they would not be accepted if the truth were known,” said Rev. Nsengiyumva.  These children are now part of the Children of Promise program in Rwanda, known as “Ejo Heza,” which translated means “Bright Future.”  He shared that child sponsors for Rwanda are delivering a message to the children there that unlike their past, their future will be a bright one—full of light and hope.

In Ecuador, Church of God missionary Karen Lambert helps oversee the Children of Promise program, the Hope of Ecuador.  Among the stories she shared was that of Danny, a young boy who came from a home where an abusive, alcoholic father told him, “You’ll never be more than I am.  I will destroy you.”  Danny, once known as “poor boy” in his community, was sponsored through Children of Promise and now at the age of 22 is at the top of his class, studying to be a physician.  He has even dined with the President.  Now a successful young Christian man, Danny’s response is, “Where would I be if others hadn’t been faithful to God’s call to intervene in my life?  I am so grateful.”

“Violence is a response to hopelessness,” Honduras’ Pastor Donny Allen explained, and Honduras is ripe with it.  He went on to share that Children of Promise sponsors for Honduras are doing much more than providing for children’s basic needs.  “You are providing hope.  You are creating a new generation,” Pastor Allen asserted.  “It’s a way to change the world,” he said.

In Russia, where freedom of religion has found new roots, a young Church of God in Chelyabinsk has recently been added to the Children of Promise family.  Pastor Andrei Kolegov spoke of families being transformed by the hope born of active compassion expressed from across the world to provide for the needs of their children.  He further shared that when the church in Chelyabinsk was exposed to the caring response from Christians in the United States, they were galvanized to increased involvement in providing help for their friends and neighbors in meager and miserable circumstances.  “It’s a ripple effect.  Hope gives birth to more hope,” he said.

“A land full of irony,” is how Dr. Ofelia Viray describes her homeland, the Philippines, where she actively oversees Children of Promise’s Grace Family Helper Project.  In a country where the awe-inspiring beauty of its landscape contrasts starkly with the extreme poverty of a large percentage of its population, success stories of sponsored children shine brightly and provide hope not just for the children and their families, but for the surrounding communities, as well.  In addition to providing for the physical, educational and spiritual needs of the children sponsored through Children of Promise, the Grace Family Helper Project is going the extra mile with established programs in community development.  Working cooperatively with government organizations and select international non-profit agencies such as the American Cancer Society, they regularly conduct health seminars, health clinics, responsible parenting seminars, blood banks, and livelihood programs that enable parents to earn decent family incomes.

“The love of Christ expressed through the international Children of Promise program is transforming lives, even generations,” declared Dr. Viray.  She shared stories of sponsored children who have excelled spiritually, academically, and now as young adults—professionally, as well—all because someone from across the world cared enough to send a message of hope through a small check each month and their regular prayers.

Dr. Paul Maxfield, Executive Director of Children of Promise, closed the program with prayer, and then thanked attendees and the international participants.  Those in attendance were treated to a preview of (Anderson University) Covenant Production’s “Journey of the Heart,” which chronicles the trip of Andersonians Keith and Melanie Musser to meet their sponsored child in the Philippines.  The video will be released this fall.

Those interested in more information about Children of Promise can call 800-848-2464, Ext. 2190, or visit their web site at www.echildrenofpromise.org.