Here's a picture of members at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Racine, Wisconsin participating in their first "Change 4 Children Sunday" offering which totaled $1,106.50! We are a relatively small congregation of approximately 235 members, but God is doing big things in our hearts.

This month our children learned the difference between being "rich" and "poor" as they compared themselves to the entire world's population. They now know that they are all some of the richest children in the world and that the money they give to Change 4 Children will go to some of the poorest.

God has blessed each of us with the power to make a positive change in the world and we are doing that by participating in the Change 4 Children program.

Maureen Potter
Elder for Christian Formation
Covenant Presbyterian Church

Posted by ACE Staff at 9:43 AM | Permalink

Coins tumbled from baskets as a seemingly endless stream of delighted children flowed forward in the church service, eager to pour out their love along with the pennies, nickels and dimes they'd collected.

When our Children's Ministries team at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Washington, learned of the children in Zambia who have no chance for an education, it captured our hearts. As we shared the story with the children in our area, it captured theirs as well. For two months after the children in our Sunday morning program were given a Zambian basket to take home, they did odd jobs, saved birthday money, and scoured couches and car seats for coins in an attempt to fill their baskets and help children half a world away realize the dream of learning at school.

Then an amazing thing happened. Many asked if they could continue to collect change in their baskets after the project had "officially" ended. In the end, these preschool to 5th graders collected far more than we imagined possible—just under $10,000!

It was decided a team of us would visit the school in Lusaka, Zambia. Children enthusiastically collected pencils, pens, crayons, toothbrushes, soap and washcloths so that we could give each child in the Garden School a packet of school and hygiene supplies. When we learned that many children in Zambia have never celebrated their birthday, we included birthday items. In August, a team of five women and two students delivered the school packs to 600 cheering Garden Hill School children and their teachers!

Now, February 2005, interest is expanding. Middle schoolers and some adults have joined the children in collecting school supplies! This summer we hope to deliver more gifts of love to the Garden Hill School. Our Sunday morning and Mission Club kids are including postcards with photos and self-portraits for the kids, making a personal connection.

Change 4 Children has given our kids a very real way to make a positive life changing difference in the world.

Debbie Robertson
Director of Children's Ministries
Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church

Posted by ACE Staff at 12:51 PM | Permalink

First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, Georgia, is starting their third year with Change 4 Children. as we near the time to distribute the 2005 African baskets, the excitement is building every week. Not only do the congregants look forward to receiving another beautiful basket for their three-basket collection, they know they will be introduced to more of the infants and children living at the crisis nurseries in Zambia. "How is Ruth doing?" "Has Evans been placed in a foster home?" are questions the coordinator hears every week. change 4 Children has brought the children into our lives and into our hearts. We feel privileged to do our part to ensure the crisis nurseries will be there for them.

Jean Roberts
Coordinator
First Presbyterian Church