Coins for Kids sets record
By Lori Van Veen
Over the past 16 years, Girls Ministries has given almost $1.5 million through the Coins for Kids Fund to assist U.S. and World Missions missionaries in their efforts to meet needs and reach children and families for Christ.
Coins for Kids Fund is the missions arm of Girls Ministries. Each year the national Girls Ministries Department selects a project that specifically affects children. The Coins for Kids offering is a partnership with Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC).
This past fiscal year, which concluded April 1, 2009, Girls Ministries groups from across the country joined together to give a record-breaking $178,200 towards this year’s targeted ministry, Bolivian Hope Center. Just last year girls smashed the previous record by more than $50,000 — giving $169,000 to Touched Romania.
“In spite of record giving in 2007, economic instability and a previous giving record of $114,844 led us to set what we believed was a more reasonable goal this year — $125,000,” states Girls Ministries Director Candy Tolbert. “God proved to us that He is the great Provider. I believe the Holy Spirit gave our leaders and girls a sense of urgency and true compassion for the children and mothers who will benefit from the Bolivian Hope Center.”
Tolbert summed up the ministry of the Bolivian Hope Center with three words — safety, nutrition and education.
Rich and Sandee Farthing, AG world missionaries, are directors and founders of the Bolivian Hope Center. “Over 15 years ago, the Lord put a seed in our heart to build a children’s home in Bolivia,” says Sandee. “Several years ago we began ministering to nearly 100 children who are living with their mothers inside the prison walls in Cochabamba. We saw the huge need for a safe and loving home for these kids.”
Rich continues, “In 2004, the seed God had placed in our hearts began to become a reality as we were able to begin construction on the Bolivian Hope Center.”
When told of the giving total the Farthings responded, “Wow! Praise the Lord! We are overwhelmed by this wonderful offering and praise God for Coins for Kids! God has once again shown us what can be done when we work together.”
The Coins for Kids gift will be enough for the Farthings to finish the Hope Center home. They are hopeful that they can begin welcoming children to the home by October 2009.
“We want to thank each girl and leader for their hard work and sacrificial giving,” adds Sandee. “They are a part of changing the lives of the prison kids. Thank you for making the Bolivian Hope Center a reality!”
“We are blown away by God’s faithfulness,” Tolbert says. “Seeing the evidence that girls are catching the vision to show God’s love by giving to the less fortunate is so rewarding. We can’t wait to see what God will lead them to do in 2009.”
For more information on the Bolivian Hope Center, see the Farthings’ Web site at www.bolivianhopecenter.com/BHC/Home.html. To learn more about AG Girls Ministries, see www.ngm.ag.org.