“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
(1 John 3:18)
Many people have asked the question, “What can I do? How can I help?” So here is an incredible opportunity, and we need people to act FAST!
Three years ago in college I went overseas for the very first time to New Delhi, India. This is where I fell in love with Asia and all its chaos, mysteries, and culture. My heart broke when I saw poverty and injustice in a way I can’t formulate in words except gut-wrenching. I also witnessed their joy that was far beyond proportion to their circumstances, and that’s what changed me. India was the beginning spark and catalyst for my passion for missions. I worked alongside and photographed for an organization called Cooperative Outreach of India (COI). Their leadership team hosted me and extended so much love and hospitality.
Fast forward to last month in India when I reached out to my friends at COI again, and they welcomed me and my World Race team to stay with them in New Delhi. It was surreal and a surprising blessings to be back in the same city with familiar faces. As I spent the week there going back to their programs in the slum communities, I saw first hand the impactful work COI had done over 3 years!
Back in 2007, COI partnered with the well known organization Compassion International to bring support to the children and families in the community. Unfortunately this past February, the government of India banned Compassion from the entire country and over 145,000 children lost that support! With this new crisis sweeping over the local community, COI immediately stepped up and began building a solution. They developed a new Christian sponsorship program called “Genesis of Hope” to help as many children as possible have access to their basic physical, mental, and spiritual needs. When a child gains a supporter they receive access to medical care, nutrition, education, skill development, and other areas of needs that arise within the child’s life.
Genesis of Hope is still growing and establishing itself within the community. But with the team of COI standing firm behind it, I am so eager to see the amazing impact it has on these children, their family, and the Kingdom. And this is where the cry for help from the Church comes in!
Friends, this team is doing what we are all called to do. They are loving the least of these and laying themselves down to share the Good News of Jesus with everyone they meet. I’m so blown away by this organization and the people who are apart of it, and I can only hope to one day reflect Jesus as much as they do everyday in their lives. There are 250 kids in the sponsorship program but only 50 of those kids have sponsors at this point. For only $1 a day we can help a child receive their everyday, basic needs. To sponsor a child, go to www.genesisofhope.org!
This is also a call to action for my prayer warriors to step in and pray for this organization and this team. Please pray for strength and encouragement to surround this team. Pray Genesis of Hope finds its immovable foothold in the community. Pray for 200 sponsors to step up and not just give but pray for their sponsor child. Furthermore, pray for the Church, for unity in mind and action for one goal. We deeply desire to see this miracle of all 200 children sponsored as soon as possible! Will you consider sponsoring a child? $1 a day can change a life!
Special thank you to my teammate Dakota for helping write and document their stories. Check out her page to read more blog posts about the organization! http://dakotawelker.theworldrace.org
Photography Copyright: Elizabeth Bacon, EB Photography + Artistry
