Sep 8 2010

CFCA invites you to take the Hope Challenge

Posted on September 8, 2010 by admin

We have many children, youth and elderly friends waiting for sponsors through CFCA. Weíve promised to do our best to help them, but itís been tough finding new sponsors in the current economic climate.

So how do we answer this challenge? With hope and your help.

We need your help getting the word out to people in your community. Here is what we are asking you to do from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15:

1. Ask us for a sponsorship kit. Contact the outreach volunteer team at 800.875.6564 or cfcaoutreach@cfcausa.org. The kit includes folders (let us know how many youíd like), a CFCA tablecloth, a tabletop sign and a promotional poster. The folders each include a family profile and photo of a child, youth and aging friend waiting for sponsorship, along with information about CFCA.

2. Host a sponsorship table. Where? At your church, civic group meeting or book club gathering ó wherever you find people of good will.

3. Host a sponsorship party. Invite friends and family to your home and introduce them to sponsorship. You can tell them about your own experience and share your pictures and letters received from your sponsored friend.

4. Take this challenge using social media. Pass along the word about CFCA through your Facebook page, blog site, Twitter account and any other social media outlets youíre using.

5. Try. Thatís all we ask. One, two, five or 10 new sponsors make a huge difference when we all put forth an effort!

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May 7 2009

A duet in the Philippines

Posted on May 7, 2009 by admin

Blog and video by Paul Pearce, director of international programs department

On a recent visit to our programs in the Philippines, I was invited to spend the afternoon with a group of sponsored aging persons in the Antipolo project. The program organizes sponsored members into small groups called ìKapitbahayanî (neighbor in the Filipino language).

The groups of 15 to 20 members meet regularly, and this afternoon was one of such Kapitbahayan meetings held in the ruins of a small, uncompleted building.

The meetings are a source of camaraderie, support and planning among the sponsored members. They share with each other how things are going in their home life, study scriptures and coordinate project activities.

During the meeting, I asked if they have recreation or talent development activities. That’s when the smiles really emerged on these beautiful faces. Wenceslao quickly stood and said that he would like to sing out of great gratitude to his sponsor and the CFCA program. CFCA staff member Nell joins him as a duet part way through the popular and historic song.

I was now immersed in Filipino pride, beauty and spirit through song. Many in attendance took turns singing. They had turned this ramshackle, tattered shell of a building into a fine concert hall and given our meeting its wings.

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Apr 2 2009

CFCA projects roll out the red carpet for sponsors

Posted on April 2, 2009 by admin

Colleen Gawley and her daughter, Elizabeth, were overwhelmed and honored when they were entertained by a community of 400 sponsored members and their families during a trip to the Philippines.

Watch more trip testimonials
Margaret Looper discovers how important a bag of groceries really is.
Hunter Hardin get to know his friend during a day of fun in Honduras.

Learn how you can go on a CFCA mission awareness trip and what to expect.

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Mar 18 2009

Concern for the whole person

Posted on March 18, 2009 by admin

Lenten reflection: Week 4
By Rev. Kelly Demo, CFCA preacher

Lent, as we know, is a time of preparation and self-reflection. It is a time set aside to examine our relationship with God and our need for healing in our own lives. Scripture shows us time and again that God is greatly concerned with our wholeness, in mind, body and spirit. In fact, ìwholenessî and ìholinessî come from the same word that means ìcompleteness.î

In 2 Kings, Chapter 4, we hear a strange and wonderful story of Elisha bringing a family back to wellness and wholeness. Like Sarah before her, God promised a Shunammite woman a son in her old age. God kept that promise but years later the young boy died. However, God would not forget his promise and, through Elisha, brought the boy back to life, restoring the faith of the mother.

CFCAís benefits are structured to follow this guideline of concern for the whole person and the family. We do not simply feed children. Nor do we just educate them or see to their medical concerns. We are concerned for the whole person and we walk with them and bring others along to do the same.

Take, for instance, a widow in Guatemala whose son was sponsored through CFCA. The woman was suffering from depression and because of her†illness she was unable to move forward in her life. She was unable even to address the health concerns of her son. He began to have trouble in school, and it was believed to be because of hearing loss.

CFCA was helping this family financially, but it was not until we brought in another CFCA mother to minister to the little boyís mother that changes started happening. It took more than just the CFCA staff to help this woman back to health in mind, body and spirit. It took God working through someone who was not that different from her, to help heal her.

God, as the ultimate and perfect parent, is deeply concerned for the wholeness of each of his†6-billion-plus children. We need only open ourselves to the Spirit and to our fellow travelers through whom the Spirit works.

Reflection questions:
1. Where do you need healing in your life in mind, body or spirit?
2. Who might God be placing in your path who needs the gifts you have to offer for their healing?

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Mar 11 2009

Finding our voice

Posted on March 11, 2009 by admin

Lenten reflection: Week 3
By Rev. Kelly Demo, CFCA preacher

In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus entering the Temple in a fury of righteous anger at the unjust practices of Temple and driving out the money changers and vendors. He knew his fellow Jews had to pay to buy Temple sacrifices. Thus, a system of commerce had been established for Temple worship that would exclude the poor who could not pay to worship. (John 2:13-22)

At CFCA, we do not get involved in the politics of the countries or local areas where we work. However, just as Jesus became a voice for the poor and took on those who would keep them subjugated so, too, when poor find they have a voice (both personally and as a community), they discover the strength to take on the powers that keep them oppressed.

In Hyderabad, India, there is a CFCA community called Church Colony. It is about half a mile from the main road, so everyone walked that unpaved distance to catch a bus or get anywhere. The women in the CFCA mothers groups went to the local officials to demand that the city pave their “road” so vehicles could get to their community and walking would be easier. The local officials agreed. Then, the mothers asked the officials to pay their community members to do the construction, instead of outside laborers. Again, they agreed. So, Church Colony got a road as well as some temporary employment.

After some time, the women returned to the officials to say that the road was great, but they needed it to be well-lit at night for safety reasons. They got their lights.

The women then turned their attention to water. The community only had access to water a few hours a day, but the adjacent neighborhood (which is slightly better off) had water all day, every day. The women realized that, because of the way the local roads were laid out, people from the neighboring community often used the new road the women had petitioned for.

They organized a blockade of the road, aimed at people from the neighboring community and said that they would share the use of the road if the neighboring community would share its water. Now Church Colony has water all day, too.

Sometimes making changes in society requires righteous anger, marching, protesting and turning over tables, like Jesus did in the Temple. But not always. Creative community building, tapping into gifts of the individuals in the group, and a little non-violent opposition can go a long way toward changing opinions.

Reflection questions:
1. When have you ever felt indignation or anger? Looking back, was it warranted or were there other motives?
2. What are the elements in our society that do (or should) make us angry, and what does God require of us at such times?

Watch a video about this community in India >

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Dec 29 2008

Rewards from 2008; blessings for 2009

Posted on December 29, 2008 by admin

Thank you, CFCA sponsors and donors, for all of the support youíve provided this year to our friends and families around the world. The gifts youíve given and love youíve shown to the children, youth and elderly living in poverty have made an enormous difference in their lives, the lives of their families and in our own lives. Itís a success that the whole CFCA community can share

To qualify for a 2008 tax deduction…

Online credit card contributions:
Midnight Central time, Dec. 31

Automatic bank withdrawal, online or by phone:
2 p.m. Central time, Dec. 30

What weíve done together
Even in the face of the economic downturn, we have achieved so much. With your support, weíve helped children go to school for the first time, and weíve helped older youth finish school. Weíve helped mothers give their families nutritious food to eat. Weíve provided roofs for houses, and materials for home repairs. Grandparents receive vital health care, children get to visit the dentist, and communities of CFCA parents are strengthened by the opportunity to learn income-generating skills or start small businesses.

We have partnered with our friends through sponsorship. Weíve also helped through donations to special funds. And through the Sponsorship Assistance Fund, weíve helped fellow sponsors continue their sponsorships during rough times like job loss and health issues.

Good news from 2008
We began 2008 with good news. Together, we reached the $100 million revenue milestone — a testament to the trust sponsors place in CFCA as good stewards. Itís really remarkable that each of us giving about $30 a month can make such a huge impact.

CFCA is also recognized for our commitment to responsible stewardship by three of the leading nonprofit watchdog agencies. We received the highest rating (four stars) from Charity Navigator; we met all 20 of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Allianceís rigorous Standards for Charity Accountability; and we earned the American Institute of Philanthropyís A+ rating, the only organization listed in the child-sponsorship category to receive an A+.

And another achievement we can all feel especially good about: We will begin 2009 with more sponsors and more sponsored friends being helped than we had a year ago.

Year-end contribution deadlines
As much as we have done, there is more that we can and will do together. To celebrate the end of the year with a contribution and qualify for a 2008 tax deduction, here are the deadlines:

Online credit card contributions: Midnight Central time, Dec. 31
Automatic bank withdrawal, online or by phone: 2 p.m. Central time, Dec. 30

A blessed new year ahead
We are grateful for your compassion and partnership with CFCA. Together, we are making a difference in each life we touch. Together, we make the world a better place for everyone.

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Dec 12 2008

CFCA Walk with the Poor brochure wins top honor at Philly Awards

Posted on December 12, 2008 by admin

CFCA†received the Best of Show honor at the sixth annual Philly Awards for our Walk with the Poor brochure.

The awards are presented by Nonprofit Connect, recognizing excellence in Kansas City nonprofit communications. CFCA also won first place for the Walk with the Poor brochure in the informational brochure category and second-place honors for the CFCA sponsorship brochure in the membership appeal category.

The Walk with the Poor brochure was created to encourage young people to go to the Walk with the Poor section on our website and learn how they can impact global poverty by helping a student finish school.

The Best of Show Award is selected from the first-place winners in 11 categories.

We created a video of the multi-fold Walk with the Poor brochure. Watch it unfold as it connects the dots…