Campaign, Page 5

Day 5 of

Literacy: Every Child, Every Adult

Today we continue to explore the four ways anyone can play an essential role in the Bonding With Children Foundation support community. Yesterday we looked at getting involved as a Prayer Partner or Volunteer. Today we will look at "Investing In Our Mission"

Investing In Our Mission

Bonding With Children Foundation is working to support the cost of education for our children, Kindergarten through Eight grade in Kouve. The West African government covers the cost of the buildings and the salary of the teacher. But each family must come up with the additional funds needed for tuition, school supplies, and other out-of-pocket expenses throughout the school year.

Our goal for the 2021-2022 school year is to raise enough funds to cover the expenses for 100 students.

How much is needed?

A student's family must pay $120.00 per child if their children are to attend school. For many that is simply impossible. For others they can come up with part of the money but not all of it. That makes the total needed for 100 students $12,000.00.

When I think about the amount of money we are trying to raise and the amount most of us can afford to give, it's going to take a lot of us to reach this goal. But then I am reminded of the story of Jesus, found in John 6:1-14, feeding five-thousand plus people with just fives loaves of bread and two fish .

Jesus just finished crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat. He went to a mountainside and began teaching his disciples. When He looks up, He sees this great crowd coming. He then tasks His disciples to go buy food for the great crowd that had been following them. When they inventoried what they had, considered where they were (out in the middle of nowhere),  and then calculated what would be needed, they were overwhelmed. They told Jesus, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Now I don't know what Andrew's tone of voice was, I don't know his motive, and, the passage of Scripture doesn't tell us either. But he brakes into the debate about buying lunch for the crowd, and says, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Jesus doesn't hesitate. He instructs the disciples to have everyone take a seat on the ground. He takes the boy's lunch, lifts it in the air as an offering to God, and gives thanks. Then He starts braking off pieces of bread and fish and gives them to the disciples to distribute to the people. By the time they are done, all 5,000 men plus their families have all eaten their fill. And, when they go back through the crowd, they collect twelve baskets of leftovers.

Wow!

I guess what I am asking is that you consider joining me in bringing our two fish and five loaves to Jesus and let's watch Him bless it, divide it among the families of Kouve that need help with their $120 in school costs, and let's see how many of the 100 children get exactly what they need ... oh yah, and maybe there will be twelve baskets left over.

When we take what we have, and

place it in the hands of Jesus,

to do the work He wants to do through us,

Nothing is too small or insignificant!

Thank You, in advance for your GIFT! 

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