Summer 2019
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Greetings!

"Thank you to our sponsors for everything you have done in my life."

"I thank God that I became a part of ECM."

"If I start talking about ECM, I start crying because it has brought me so far...thank you!"

"Thank you, and may God bless you abundantly."

Thank You.  Though you often hear it from us, I thought you might like to hear it directly from the kids. But I wish you could look each one of them in their blood-shot eyes when they speak these words of gratitude. I wish you could hold their dirty hands or wrap your arms around them in an ocean sized hug. I wish your ears could hear the emotion in every word. I wish you could experience what it's like to walk their streets, smell their smells, and yes, suffer as they have.

It is precisely because most of us have not suffered as they have, that their words lack deep significance. It's not really that I wish we could all suffer as they have. On the contrary, I realize how incredibly blessed we are, and am deeply thankful for what God has provided.

Yet, because of our blessings, we can easily lack empathy for those in more difficult situations. We don't really understand what these kids have been through, and though we know we are supposed to help them, we may wonder sometimes just how serious the need is.

I hope that the stories in this newsletter will remind you of the impact you are having through ECM, of how much difference your prayers and financial support really make, of how much these kids need you, and how much they need to hear about Jesus.

The thanks they give - which I am privileged to hear on a regular basis - is heartfelt. There is nothing coerced, memorized or remotely phony about it. It comes from deep within, simply because their lives have been  changed from deep within .

So let me say it again, on behalf of thousands of children whose lives are forever made better because of your love:

Thank you.
Did You Know...

Each of our Hope Centers and projects is designed to meet specific needs in a community?

Congo Impact Report--
The Deep Reach of One Training Seminar

When ECM Congo worker Pastor Mupepe visited traditional Teke villages toward the end of 2018,  he found three villages entirely taken over by a religious group that many of us would probably call a cult .   The cult leader was called Papa Floribert .  Papa Floribert had never heard straight, untwisted Biblical teaching, but he was spiritually hungry and eager to learn.   When Pastor Mupepe tried to organize Sunday school training in his village, he asked to come .  Though his attendance as a cult leader would be out of the ordinary, it was allowed. Who could tell what God might do?
 
When Papa Floribert heard the Good News during the training, he knew it was something he wanted for himself .  After the training, he came to Pastor Mupepe of his own volition, declaring that he was repenting of his sins, he was trusting Christ as Savior, and he also wanted to follow Christ in baptism.
He explained that his heart had been touched by the truth of John 1:12, where the Apostle John explains that those who receive Christ are born again and become children of God.  He realized that his religious group had not told him how he could be saved and have his sins forgiven.  He said he was ready to leave that teaching and identify himself with the little band of Christians that Pastor Mupepe was trying to form in his village.   When he made it known publicly that he was no longer with the cult, half of his former members followed his example and declared their faith in Christ as well .  They all brought big dishes of manioc to sell to raise funds to construct a simple shelter in which they could meet.
 
The last reports show that the new church is doing well, and everyone is living in peace.  There is now even a small Teachers’ Resource Library in the village of Lunda.   The village that spread false teaching is now a fountainhead of truth, distributing Bible lessons to the surrounding area.
 
The children of those three villages and beyond are now hearing the truth of God’s Word every week in Sunday school , from their teacher named Jean.  To think that all this happened through ONE Sunday school training seminar!
Ghana Impact Report--
ECM's First University Graduate

Bernice Dogbey came to Haven of Hope in 2007 from one of the shrines liberated through ECM . Then, she was known as Adzo Kwamlavi, but Bernice later changed her name to break her ties with the shrine.

In 2007 Bernice was enrolled in junior high school. She was older than the other kids at Haven of Hope, and the junior high building had not yet been built, so she took a taxi into Medie and walked to school from there . From the early years at Haven of Hope, Bernice liked to help with the younger kids, learn, share the Bible, recite verses and pray. In late 2007 Bernice helped provide first aid to kids in ECM’s street ministry, and in December 2007 she was baptized into Christ. In 2008 Bernice became the leader of the worship group at Haven of Hope

In June 2011, she graduated from high school and began taking courses such as typing to help prepare her for university . Last month in April, Bernice turned 26 and this month, she graduates from university with a degree in journalism . After graduation Bernice wants to use her journalism skills to work in radio or television.

We know that with her focus on the Lord, in the future Bernice will continue to do great things!
Uganda Impact Report--
Maria Batarisa: From Ghetto to CEO

At the tender age of 2 years, Maria lost her father to the HIV/AIDs epidemic. At that time, Maria and her family were living in a Kampala slum area called Kilangira . Maria says,  “My mother, brother and I used to stay in a one room dilapidated rented house and we all slept on one single bed. Whenever it rained, the situation was unbearable since the house had leakages.”
 
In 2007, ECM accepted Maria under the child sponsorship program when she was in Primary 4, and was about 10 years old.  Her performance was tremendous throughout primary education as she was often among the first three high-performing students in her class.
 
In 2012, Maria’s mother fell critically ill  and remained bedridden for two years. During this period, life became agonizing for the young Maria and her little brother.
 
Justice Maruda, the ECM Uganda Kamwokya Hope Center coordinator explained that, “In ghettos, girls begin engaging in sexual intercourse at the age of 10 or even less and most of the rape cases in these ghettos remain un-reported to police as the society considers it normal.”   Unfortunately, Maria had fallen into this trap.  Justice shares that, “After learning of Maria’s behavior, we held regular counselling sessions with her highlighting the dangers of sexual practices and the existence of the HIV/AIDS disease.”
 
After much prayer, the constant counseling yielded results!  Maria was able to stay in school and  in 2016, after completing her vocational training, Maria gave her life to Jesus . She started attending church regularly and in due course, she met a godly man whom she later married.
 
Today, Maria runs an education center in Kampala named “Miles of Smiles Kindergarten & Junior School,” which she co-founded with her husband .
 
Her mother is living a healthy life while the brother is currently at university under Maria’s sponsorship.
 
We give the glory to God!
Prayer Points
  • Pray for John and Lorella Rouster to receive their visas for Congo. The Congo election earlier this year caused a slow down in the government. The planning of travel schedules for various Congo staff is dependent on the visa approvals and the Rousters ability to arrive as scheduled.

  • Pray for the lost in Africa, that God would continue to provide ways for them to hear the gospel. Pray for those that ECM's African staff and volunteers come into contact with, that they will take every opportunity to make Jesus known. Pray for wisdom for each staff member to use the financial resources at their disposal to bring God glory.
Fundraisers
ECM’s 2019 Bunco fundraiser raised $2,198 after expenses. Thank you to everyone that attended, and to our volunteers, without whom we could not be so successful! It also resulted in 10 new child sponsorships !
 
Thank you to our partners that supported the Michigan Banquet - because of you $4,410 was raised this year!

Despite all the rain, we did very well at the spring garage sale, bringing in just over $2,200 !! Thank you for all the donations, and to our volunteers who worked so hard!
Save the date - Indiana Banquet - October 12
A BIG Thanks to Alice Chegwidden, who designed ECM's Easter card. Alice is just finishing up 7th grade. There's no age minimum or maximum when it comes to volunteering!
Child Sponsorship
Above you've seen some of the ways you've helped. Now, won't you pray about the opportunity to help one or more specific children who are in need of sponsorship? Simply contact our office for more information, or visit our website to search for one of many other children needing sponsorship.
Sponsor Me!
$37/month
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Yasin was born Feb. 7, 2007. He loves school but hasn't been able to continue since his father was killed several years ago. Yasin was raised Muslim but after his father's death his mother became Christian. His mother farms to make ends meet.

Uganda Naigobya
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Erick was born Dec. 12, 2008. His father died during the attacks by Joseph Kony. His mother remarried then moved away, leaving her children. Erick is being raised by his grandmother. She has no land, so makes a living helping work other people's gardens.

Uganda Tegotatoo
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Paul was born Apr. 24, 2006. He is one of nine children. They suffered poor harvests due to famine and often eat only one meal a day, and sometimes go a whole day without food. The family of eleven live in two small stick and mud huts with grass-thatched roofs.

Uganda Karamoja Homeland
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