Every Child Ministries Annual Report 2013 1

Keep On. Keep On. Keep On. Till God Tells Us to Stop, Keep On.

Every Child Ministries Annual Report to Partners 2013

Every Child Ministries PO Box 810 Hebron, IN 46341

Email: [email protected] Phone: 219-996-4201 www.ecmafrica.org

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ECM’s Vision:

Vision: Believing that children are Africa’s greatest resource, a precious treasure from God, we envision an Africa where children are valued, and respected, living lives of hope.

We work toward the vision of the African countries where we work becoming increasingly lands where children are valued, and respected, where they live lives of hope. Our vision is to build the lives of children in all possible ways, and to work against anything that detracts from the lives of children. Our vision is centered on African children and youth. However, children are connected to families, communities, schools, and faith communities. We can sometimes fulfill our vision best by helping and strengthening these groups.

Our organizational vision is that ECM becomes increasingly capable of and increasingly involved in offering hope, help, love and dignity through Jesus Christ to African children and that we become increasingly known and sought out for those purposes.

This vision is centered on our present areas of ministry for the present & near future, with intent in the future to withdraw from areas that are not effectively contributing to these goals, and expand gradually to other areas where we can meet these goals—not haphazardly, by prayerfully as God leads us, prepares us and opens doors.

ECM’s Mission:

To offer hope, love and dignity to African children and youth in the name of Jesus, with special emphasis on those who are outcast or marginalized for any reason—the forgotten children of Africa.

Some of these “forgotten children” groups are street children, orphans and abandoned children, trafficked and slave children, children displaced through war, prostituted children, children in prison, and children with albinism.

We offer hope, help, love and dignity through proclaiming the Gospel and showing God’s love in practical ways, and by working to remove children to safety from dangerous & debilitating situations, and working to change the thinking, practices and systems that marginalize some children. We serve all children in need without discrimination of any kind.

Goals:

The ultimate goals of the organization are to demonstrate the value of every child as created in the image of God, to show the love of Jesus Christ for every child in tangible, practical ways, and to provide every African child with an opportunity to make a life-changing decision for Jesus Christ by accepting Him as Savior and following Him as Lord. This opportunity is offered without coercion or pressure, and all help programs are open to all without reference to religious affiliation or ethnic heritage or any other discriminating factor.

Every Child Ministries maintains two basic kinds of program services—Education, Evangelism & Training Ministry, and Relief & Rehabilitation. While these are distinguished from one another on the organization’s functional allocation sheets to meet standard labeling procedures for

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charitable organizations, it must be remembered that they are very tightly intertwined and mutually supportive. All the organization’s relief and rehabilitation programs contain large elements of education and training. Likewise, the organization’s education, evangelism and training programs also have elements of relief and rehabilitation. In reality, the organization aims at a comprehensive and holistic approach to the needs of Africa’s children.

To achieve its goal of uplifting these children, ECM trains teachers and leaders for children and youth and seeks to encourage, empower, and provide resources for African churches to evangelize and disciple the new generation of their continent for Jesus Christ. In 2013, Every Child Ministries celebrated its 28th anniversary of service to African children. ECM now has offices and established works in DR Congo (28 years), Ghana (14 years), and Uganda (7 years), and from these three bases its ministries have also reached out to Congo Brazzaville, Angola, Central African Republic, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

In 2013, ECM pressed forward toward its goal in the face of three huge challenges: 1) Funding challenges mid-year, 2) Staff changes & challenges, and 3) Ghana’s “Care Reform Initiative” which directly affects Haven of Hope (more about this on page 7).

Educational, Evangelism & Training programs:

 Haven of Hope Academy, Ghana (HHA)

HHA is a school designed to meet the needs of those who have been educationally deprived because of homelessness or other debilitating situations. HHA caters first to the children living at Haven of Hope, but in addition to those children, other needy children from the surrounding area attended this year as well for a total enrollment of 240. The school opened in January of 2005 and completed its first full year of classes in July of 2006. The school has gradually added classes, so that classes are offered through 9th grade. (High school in Ghana begins with 10th grade.) In Ghana, students completing Junior High School must successfully complete a qualifying exam called the BECE in order to be able to go on to high school. This year, five students sat for the BECE from Haven of Hope Academy and all qualified to go on to high school. One other former student attended a nearby local Senior High School this year and is doing well under the direction of HHA. Haven of Hope Academy employs 12 full-time teachers, plus an education director. An American volunteer also helped out as a teacher during the year.

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The school has two permanent buildings and utilizes parts of other buildings at Haven of Hope. One of those is a two-story building in process of construction. Much work was completed on that structure during the year, the top story was finished, and computer technology and educational projectors were added to the classrooms, through the faithfulness of our partners and our new partnership with Girls for Africa. At the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, the top story was ready for use. However, installation of toilets and a septic system remain to be done.

Electricity was installed in the Activity Center so that it could be used for study and other activities during evening hours.

During the 2012-2013 school year, children who gave evidence of learning difficulties were tested and a special educational needs class was begun under the leadership of Sally Wayner, a Master educator. A computer lab was developed and regular hands-on computer classes begun.

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During the month of July, Cheryl Bockstahler, an experienced master teacher of early elementary students, brought her “Science in a Suitcase” to Haven of Hope Academy, sharing the wonders of science and hands-on science equipment and supplies with our students. This was made possible through a creative teacher grant from the Eli Lilly Foundation.

During the summer, a team from an organization called Girls for Africa also helped by constructing the framework of a greenhouse, giving welding classes to some of the boys, installing eaves troughs at the home, cleaning the teeth of the children and the staff, and training teachers to use the new technology they installed in the classrooms.

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During the year, the popular cadet program continued at the school. This Ghanaian organization is somewhere between American Boy Scouts and ROTC. Many of the children participated and some attended Cadet Camp.

This year, two key changes were made in direction at the school. One, because Ghana’s Care Reform Initiative is making it difficult for children’s homes, it was decided to gradually phase out the home aspect of Haven of Hope (beginning next year), and to open a boarding section at Haven of Hope, where the organization hopes to be able to provide the same kind of opportunities to children in crisis situations as we formerly provided through the home. Second, in an effort to help better prepare resident children for life in Ghana, the organization decided to move toward more Ghanaian influence and leadership at the home. In this light, a Ghanaian was hired as Assistant Director and a male resident teacher was also hired.

 “Character Building from the Bible” Program for Schools, Ghana

“Character Building from the Bible” was a 45 minute special program helping students develop good character traits that was taught monthly in 129 schools in Ghana. This monthly program reached approximately 51,600 elementary and junior high students. During the year, the International Director conducted a one-day training for school associates in each of the regions where the program was operative. The program was directed by four Ghanaian missionaries in various regions and is assisted by 19 part- time Ghanaian associates. This program continued through the school year but due to financial constraints was cut back drastically at the beginning of the Fall 2013 school year.

 “Afayo” Village Education Project in Uganda

An ECM missionary family, the Luckeys, head up a program in Jinja District helping local Christian schools improve their teaching from a Christian world view. This includes teacher training workshops, training in and plans for provision of scholarships for orphans. This year, 30 desks were built for St. Paul’s school, a pit latrine dug, chalkboards provided and the school painted to benefit 220 students who attend the school. Women of the community were trained in the making of faux papier beads and 60 local farmers were trained in “Farming God’s Way”.

 Mbale Village Education Project in Uganda

An ECM missionary family, the Baughs, working with The Way Home Project (see their information under Relief & Rehabilitation Ministries), raised funds for a new five- room brick school building at Mbale in Mbale District, replacing the dilapidated and dangerous wooden buildings that had been eaten by termites. Construction has begun on the project and is slated to be completed in April 2014. The new school services 250 students.

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 Training in Children’s Ministries, DR Congo, Angola, Ghana --

Congo, Angola Children’s Ministry Survey

The Kinshasa staff in Congo continued their efforts on a multi-year survey of the city’s Protestant churches, neighborhood by neighborhood. The organization is seeking to know which churches are already doing something to reach children and youth, and which would welcome training to enable them to do this. Following the survey of each neighborhood, training seminars have been offered which have enabled many churches to establish new children’s ministries. The Master List of Sunday schools or other children’s ministries started through ECM training was purged during the year of records of ministries that the organization believes are no longer operative. With those changes, the list now stands at 2,812 believed to be active. These include 27 schools in Angola, started by one of the graduates of ECM’s African Leadership Training Schools.

African Leadership Training Centers, DR Congo

This year ECM operated two centers in Congo where “Teachers of Teachers” were developed in nine-month intensive programs. Specialty in Christian Education (SEC) Kinshasa gave training for urban ministries and SEC Garizim developed trainers for rural ministries. Seven students were given intensive training in each of these programs. The SEC Garizim program staff was increased to four during the year, aided by other visiting teachers.

About 15 workers and staff members maintain Mission Garizim, with seven permanent buildings. SEC Kinshasa was held in buildings rented from the University Center of Missiology.

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Teachers’ Resource Libraries & Public Reading Rooms, Ghana DR Congo

As a follow up to training done previously for children’s ministries, active libraries were maintained in three locations in Ghana (Accra, Koforidua, Sogakope) and in four locations in DR Congo (Kinshasa, Kikwit, Garizim, Kasangalunda) to provide resources for teachers and Christian leaders. Two of these in Ghana also maintain a public reading room oriented to youth. The center at Kikwit was reorganized and expanded during the year.

Teaching for Africa website (Geared to Africans worldwide)

The organization maintained the website, www.teachingforafrica.com, to provide free downloadable teaching and training resources to African churches, teachers and missionaries in a variety of languages used in Africa. Many resources were again added to the site during the year, utilizing the volunteer efforts of translators in Brazil, Germany, Kenya, U.K. and the U.S. Resources are now available in 14 languages— Acholi, Amharic, Chichewa, Chitumbuka, English, French, Kiteke, Kituba, Lingala, Luganda, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, and Tshiluba. Translators are sought who can translate from English into other major languages of Africa.

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o Anti-Slavery websites

The organization maintained websites dedicated to disseminating information and influencing public opinion concerning the practice of ritual servitude. These included www.trokosidictionary.com, www.truthforafricalovers.com, and www.esclavagemodern.com (in French). Many new resources were added to these sites during the year. A significant portion of the organization’s main website, www.ecmafrica.org, is also devoted to anti-slavery and anti-trafficking issues.

o Disseminating Information/ Training on Child Trafficking

The organization’s International Director again taught a seminar at Moody Bible Institute’s 2013 Missions Conference on a topic related to Child Trafficking, “Keys to the Idolator’s Heart”. She also taught a seminar on “Course Corrections in the Slave Ministry” at the 2013 STEER convention in Bismarck, ND.

Relief & Rehabilitation Programs:

 Initiative vs. Child Slavery & Child Trafficking: Ghana, Uganda, Togo, Benin:

The organization is heading up an initiative to end the practice of ritual servitude in West Africa one shrine at a time through prayer, education and dissemination of information about the practice, and through the liberation of ritual slaves, some of which are known as trokosi or yevesi. This year the staff discontinued active liberation efforts for a time in order to take time to evaluate the project. Some months later, active liberation efforts were resumed, trying out a variety of new approaches.

Follow-up teaching efforts continued with the former priest of the thunder god cult who liberated his 52 shrine slaves in 2010.

The rehabilitation of former shrine slaves continued in three major areas—the Agave area, the Adidome area, and the Aflao area. Some of the former slaves made handbags called “Freedom Bags,” while others created necklaces called “Freedom Beads.” These were sold at “African Freedom Boutique” which the organization developed in Sogakope, by the women themselves, and in the U.S. A small boutique was also developed in the organization’s office at Aflao. Staff was increased this year to six African workers, supported by one missionary couple.

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During the year, the organization moved the Sogakope office into a larger, expanded site and prepared the new property purchased near Aflao for use as a Rehab Center. A team of three American men worked with Ghanaians in February to reroof three of the buildings on the site, and a team of five American women opened the center in July with two weeks of training including craft skills and Bible teaching. A contest was held for the naming of the Center and the name “New Life Center”—Egbeyeye Kpodzi (in Ewe) was chosen. The American women’s team also purchased some furnishings for the center. The ECM Aflao office was moved to the Center, and weekly “women’s training day” sessions were begun at New Life. Early in the year, an American woman offered short follow-up classes in bag making at both sites.

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Visits were made to several shrines in Ghana to share the Gospel in a way in which the shrine devotees could understand and relate. Bibles were supplied to the organization’s offices for sale in the slave area. Continuing assistance was given to many of the women through the distribution of quilts, used clothing, and medicines. Counselors visited the women individually and in small groups throughout the year.

With the help of Ghana’s Dept. of Social Welfare, ECM continued its intervention on behalf of two children of a former slave who were in physical danger, by providing safe shelter.

Most of the above work was done in Ghana. The organization is also concerned with the practice of ritual servitude called “voodoosi” (voundounsi, vudusi, voudousi, etc.) in Togo and Benin. Efforts this year included the development/translation of literature and the already mentioned internet site www.esclavagemodern.com.

Contacts continued to be developed with child laborers in stone quarries in the Eastern Region of Ghana, which it is believed could be possible sites of child trafficking. It was found that the children may be illegally employed in child labor, but they appeared to be with their families and no evidence of trafficking was found. Due to budget constraints, contacts at the quarry will be discontinued next year.

Development continued on a center to coordinate the organization’s efforts against child trafficking in the Central Region of Ghana. The organization’s leaders felt that the most effective way to combat child trafficking in the area was to seek educational sponsorship for the neediest children of the area. The organization now has one worker in the area and 14 children have been enrolled in child sponsorship and are attending school. ECM helped with medical intervention on behalf of several of the children and provided needed clothing.

A local church fellowship meets in the ECM office on Sundays.

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 Street children, Ghana, DR Congo, Uganda:

ECM’s programs for street children consist of Bible teaching, friendship evangelism, counseling, direct aid for basic needs, hot meals once or twice a week, and in some locations, literacy, sports and gardening. Three sites are worked regularly in Ghana – the Kantamanto Central Railway Station area and the Agblobloshie Market area, which are continuing ministries, and the Koforidua bus station. One major site is worked in Congo – the Kinshasa Binza IPN Market area. About 290 children are assisted weekly through these efforts. The Ghana street ministry is sustained by one full-time African missionary and ten part-time team members. In Congo it is sustained by two full-time African missionaries aided by part-time efforts of other staff members. At the Kantamanto area and its environs, the organization’s worker visited families three days a week to provide additional support and counseling. In Koforidua, three street boys working as load porters were started back to school.

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In Congo, the street children continued their highly successful efforts to sensitize the public to the problems of street life by singing and putting on skits at local churches and talking on the radio. The organization continued its efforts to expand this program during the year. All street children in Congo attended weekly literacy classes to teach them basic literacy and math skills necessary for life and participated in sports events with youth from the local university.

In Uganda, the organization does not have an organized program on the streets, but has become involved with individual cases of street children through their OVC (orphan & vulnerable children) sponsorship program. This year, ECM intervened on behalf of three runaways with efforts to help them remain in school.

 Restore a Family Project, DR Congo:

The “Restore a Family” Project was begun as an outgrowth of the street ministry in Congo. The success of the programs put on by the street youth in local churches led us to expand that program, for virtually every time the street youth show the realities of street life in the churches, parents in the congregation who have their own children on the streets are touched and motivated to seek them out and to work harder to work through family problems that led the youth out to the streets. During the year, 8 street youth were found by their parents and reconciled to their families. The organization’s staff also placed 12 former street youth with members of their extended families, at the same time providing counseling to both the youth and their families.

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 Street Youth Vocational Training, Ghana, DR Congo:

One street girl in Ghana is continuing vocational training in hairdressing and one boy in body work, restoring automobiles.

 Haven of Hope, Ghana –

Haven of Hope is a set or a village of homes—one for girls and one for boys, that provides a safe shelter or haven and a loving substitute family for children rescued from desperate, dangerous and debilitating situations. It also directs an auxiliary program of support for youth “graduates” in high school or vocational training. Through most of 2013, Haven of Hope was home to 57 children ages 1 to 18 years. Of these, many were formerly homeless street children, some were children from devastating situations brought to us by the Ghana Social Welfare Department, two were victims of ritual servitude in traditional shrines, two victims of child sacrifice who were left for dead, and one a victim of child trafficking. Others were placed at Haven of Hope because of abusive and dangerous family situations. The home provides complete care for the children including supervision, medical and dental care, counseling, recreational and developmental activities. One former resident has reached adulthood and is now attending a vocational training program at BREDA, Frankadua, in the Eastern Region of Ghana, with ECM support, one special needs girl was sponsored to a special school, and one youth is attending vocational training in Nsawam.

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Haven of Hope is supported by the efforts of one long-term American missionary couple and two single missionary women. The home employs 24 full-time workers. Haven of Hope also has nine permanent buildings, a playground, tractor, truck and two small vans. A cement security wall topped with barbed wire, a metal gate and guard house protects the organization’s 8 acres of property. Haven of Hope is supervised by a four- member board of Ghanaian staff members.

Although the home is gated and guarded for the children’s protection, they are exposed to many activities outside the home. They take regular walks around the area, supervised by the caregivers and missionaries. They have visited national parks and monuments, participated in outside worship services, learned to swim at a swimming pool in town, participated in weddings, funerals, and other community events. Inside the home, too, they learn to participate in daily chores and take responsibilities similar to other Ghanaian children, they read from the home’s extensive library, watch TV and videos, take dance and drumming classes, learn a variety of crafts, play games, learn gardening and care of small animals, and participate in many kinds of sports, their favorite being football (soccer). Daily morning devotions are held in each dorm, weekly Bible studies, and weekly worship services are held for the children. Sometimes the group visits other local churches for worship. Some of the boys are learning to care for the guard dogs and to drive tractor.

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Haven of Hope has always emphasized family solutions for children in difficult situations wherever possible, and through the years, numerous children have been reunited with families, even before the Reform Care Initiative began. During the year, comprehensive reintegration plans were begun for every child, according to the Care Reform Initiative. Efforts were renewed to encourage family visits. Two children were reunited happily with their family. Due to pressures from the CRI, the home has begun initial phasing out, which will be completed next year. The organization hopes to continue to offer care to children who need such intervention through our boarding section at Haven of Hope Academy.

Special assistance was given to two families to enable them to stay together without sending their children to Haven of Hope. Hospice care was provided for a boy dying of AIDS, and a boy with a life-threatening severely curved spine was sponsored to surgery and cared for afterwards with very positive results. One child received orthopedic intervention for a deformed hip.

Counseling sessions for children were given by the Dept. of Social Welfare and by Mama Lorella Rouster, a certified Christian counselor with the NCCC.

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 Orphan Project, DR Congo:

Twelve children are being assisted in the Kikwit area (Bandundu Province). The assistance consists of educational assistance (paying school fees), high-protein supplemental feeding and character-building teaching three times a week. The program is supported through child sponsorship. The orphan Center suffered a setback during the year when thieves broke in and vandalized parts of it. Staff was also reorganized during the year.

 Initiative for Orphans & Vulnerable Children, Uganda:

The organization’s Child & Family Advocate intervened in several cases of children in trouble. She has been especially effective in intervening on behalf of runaways and in counseling the families of children facing parental rejection for various reasons.

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The Uganda Initiative for orphans & vulnerable children now has five sponsorship projects, with 187 children sponsored in Uganda.

 Sponsorship Programs, Uganda:

Five sponsorship programs enable children to attend school and upgrade their standards of living--Gayaza in Wakiso District, Kamwokya Kampala, Karimojong children in Kitwe & Kisenyi Kampala, Masaka in Lwengo District, and Tegot Atoo resettlement area in Gulu District. Despite the continuing struggle with losing sponsors due to economic conditions in the U.S. the number of sponsored children grew slightly. Sponsorship clubs were held for the sponsored children, involving Bible teaching, health and other practical matters, sports and other activities and a nutritious meal. A program of weekly family visitation was instituted in all projects and much appreciated by all the families involved. A reading and activity room was provided for the Gayaza sponsorship project and children were welcomed after school hours for reading, help with homework, games and other activities.

The program in Katwe & Kisenyi Kampala took 14 Karimojong beggar children off the streets in the past year and enrolled them in boarding school, where they are all making excellent progress, despite the fact that they had no previous schooling to prepare them for their entry into school. A weekly club continues with their mothers and other mothers

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of the communities to teach basic hygiene, family living skills, and to give spiritual counsel. It was determined that it was not safe for the Karimojong children to return home during holidays, so the organization provided the means for them to remain at boarding school during that time. An American team provided holiday activities over New Year 2013 with sports and learning activities. Plans to find additional sponsors for Karimojong children were put on hold when the organization learned that Uganda’s first lady had announced plans to remove the Kampala Karimojong back to their homeland.

Five children of the Gayaza sponsorship program joined vocational training—one training as a mechanic, one learning automotive body work, one learning tailoring, and two in hairdressing.

Children in the Kamwokya and Karimojong Kampala projects took an educational day trip to the source of the Nile and a sugar factory. The Kamwokya children have also been learning to make faux papier beads, and several albino children came into the project this year.

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 The Way Home for AIDS Orphans Project, Uganda:

The Way Home project is based in Jinja, Uganda, led by missionaries Russ and Marcia Baugh. This year, staff selected and helped 15 grandmothers who were widowed, very poor, and raising 85 grandchildren whose parents died of AIDS. This brought the number of those receiving ongoing help to 55 grannies raising 300 orphan children. The project’s support enabled these struggling families to stay together. Homes were repaired and rebuilt, hygienic latrines were constructed, the children were sent to school, and instruction and tools for more effective gardening were given. All grannies and children in the program receive monthly nursing assessments and medical oversight with emphasis on preventative care.

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The Way Home Project also sponsored 3 seminars of 3 days each reaching a total of 150 farmers in Nakabugu and Namutumba , and mentored 65 new farmers in improved agricultural methods through a program called “Farming God’s Way.” Because these methods result in improved harvests, the Project built ten storehouse additions to the homes of grannies in the program, enabling them to store surplus crops for future sale or use and to store seeds for the next harvest.

 Resettlement of Internally Displaced Children, Uganda:

Three American missionaries served in Gulu District during the year. One is heading a sewing project, teaching the Tegot Atoo mothers quilting skills. The Tegot women have begun to sell their quilts to add to their family’s income, and the ability to make beautiful items that are valued by others is increasing their self-confidence.

Another missionary, a registered nurse, has been helping resettling families with health issues and conducting a weekly clinic in conjunction with Gulu Bible Church. A third worked with Tegot Atoo Primary School to help children preparing for school and struggling in school.

In the Tegot Atoo project, staff was able to aid resettlement efforts for families formerly in the Tegot IDP camp, by providing toilets to 5 families and complete resettlement aid to two needy families, including huts, toilets, animals for sustenance and tools.

One teenage girl from the area was sent to the U.K. in 2012 for removal of a large, disfiguring facial tumor. She has now returned home and has recovered well.

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 Initiative vs. Child Sacrifice, Uganda, Ghana:

In Uganda, the organization continued assisting the family who rescued a preschool girl who had been ritually sacrificed and discarded and another girl who was left abandoned on a family’s doorstep. ECM staff also had an opportunity to discuss the issue of child sacrifice on several radio programs.

 Project in Support of Children with Albinism (Ghana, Uganda, DR Congo):

Children with the genetic condition called albinism are often rejected, ostracized, ridiculed and feared. In East Africa, they are in danger of being sought out and even killed by traditional shrines who believe that their body parts make powerful medicine. In addition, they face health challenges such as very poor eyesight (which often becomes an educational challenge as well), and tendency to skin cancer. The project was continued this year in all three countries where the organization works—Ghana, Uganda, and DR Congo. Sunscreen and sunglasses were provided in all three countries, and professional eye exams were given in Uganda, along with other forms of direct aid. In DR Congo, the simple expressions of love given by ECM staff members resulted in one albino child coming to Christ.

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 Initiative vs. Child Prostitution, Ghana, Congo:

In Congo, one girl was rescued from prostitution through the “Restore a Family” Project and returned to her family. All concerned were helped with counseling.

 Ministry to Child Prisoners, DR Congo:

The organization’s street workers in Congo made visits to child prisoners there to counsel them and encourage them in the Word of God, also offering practical helps, since conditions in the prison are abysmal. This project proceeds as special gifts are designated for this purpose.

 Reorganization of African boards:

For several years the organization has been working toward a reorganization of its African boards. That reorganization was completed this year in both Ghana and Uganda, providing a wider base of expertise and oversight for the work.

Supporting Ministries

 Definition & expansion of “Mission Central”:

The International Office acts as a Mission Mobilization Center and a hub of operations supporting all the African ministries. Many activities are performed at Mission Central for

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the benefit of the organization’s ministry programs, including development and production of African literature and teaching materials, sorting and packing supplies for African ministries, enlistment of supporters and child sponsors, gift receipting and processing, and communicating with the organization’s constituency and with African staff and volunteer workers. Mission Central sponsors two garage sales a year to pay for the audit & other administrative expenses and two fund-raising banquets a year. This year, the IN banquet raised funds for a school bus for Haven of Hope. The project was completed with private donations.

 Recruiting & Training Missionaries:

The organization is a recruiting and sending organization for missionaries. Both career and short-term missionaries are recruited through the organization’s website, through speaking engagements, through mission conferences and contacts at colleges. Missionaries raise their own support and work as volunteers alongside African staff and volunteers on the various projects the organization supports. Oversight, training and emotional support is provided by the organization, sometimes in cooperative effort with other organizations.

At the end of the fiscal year, the organization had on staff two couples and one single lady for Ghana, and three families with children, four single ladies, and one couple for Uganda, including those raising support.

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Missionary training is in constant process of development by the International Directors. This year the organization subscribed to the “Go to Meeting” program and began using this medium of communication for preparation of missionaries.

 Volunteers:

The organization relies on the efforts of many volunteers serving at Mission Central, from their homes, in a virtual capacity, and in small groups. During the year, 5,629 hours of volunteer labor were registered, with two volunteers who donated over 800 hours each. This does not include the volunteer hours donated by volunteer missionary hours overseas.

Volunteers serve in many capacities at the International Office in Hebron, IN, such as preparing for special events, organizing garage sales, preparing mailings, representing the mission at conventions, compiling research results, translating literature, packing boxes for Africa, sewing, and creating teaching aids and gifts to encourage students.

The organization recognizes that it is only through the efforts of its many partners and friends volunteering a part of their lives that administrative and fundraising costs are able to be kept so low and so much ministry is able to be accomplished with so little.

 Oversight/development of African ministry:

Ordinarily one or both of the International Directors visits each of the African field projects each year for purposes of supervision, evaluation, reporting, and prayer. This year Lorella began the New Year with the American team visiting Uganda and traveled to Congo for staff and project evaluations in March. She spent 7 weeks in Ghana during the summer. John headed up a construction/repair team to Ghana in February.

In addition to these annual visits, the International Directors receive monthly reports by e-mail from Ghana and Uganda. Reports from Congo are compiled and sent quarterly by DHL, with some communication by email. The Directors are in communication with African projects on an almost daily basis by e-mail.

 Sea Container of supplies to Uganda:

One of the activities that goes on at Mission Central is the collecting and sorting of goods to support the African ministries, including preparing them for shipping. Collecting and boxing of goods actively continued during the year to provide for a sea container to Uganda.

 Websites:

In addition to the specialized educational websites already mentioned, the organization maintains www.ecmafrica.org as its main website.

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Background Information

 Memberships:

The organization is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1988 and meets all of their accountability standards. The organization is also an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, meeting all their standards for charitable organizations. Every Child Ministries is recognized in each of its three major African centers: DR Congo, Ghana, and Uganda. During 2013, ECM was also recognized for the third consecutive year by GreatNonprofits as a “Top-Rated Charity”, based on voluntary on-line reviews by those who have had experience with the organization.

 Tax Exempt Status:

The organization is exempt from income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and comparable state law, and contributions to it are tax deductible within the limitation prescribed by the code.

Personnel

Board of Directors:

David Bryant, Chair Joseph Joniec, Vice Chair Carl Lane, 2nd Vice Chair Wally Wyman, Treasurer Ella Wyman, Secretary Leslie Bailey Kenneth Dawson Lee Lane Greg Obi Myron Pincomb John Rouster

International Co-Directors: John & Lorella Rouster

Mission Central Staff: Monica Miles, Office Manager Becky Crum, Bookkeeper Sandi Enyeart, Donor Relations, Missionary Relations Ira Taylor, Sponsorship Relations Denise Elder & Pat Horner (Volunteers), Donor Relations

Missionary Staff: Jim & Carolyn Driscoll, Ghana Evangelism Doug & Sally Wayner, Ghana Haven of Hope CaSandra Williams, Ghana Initiative vs Ritual Servitude & Abuse

Every Child Ministries Annual Report 2013 28

Russ & Marcia Baugh & family, Uganda The Way Home Project for widows & orphans Nancy Cardoza, Uganda Tegot Mother’s Quilting & Fellowship Project Bruce & Janine Coker & family, Uganda Afayo Village Education Project Chris & Michelle Fisher & family, Uganda Afayo Village Education Project Catherine Hayes, Uganda Tegot Sponsorship/Resettlement Project (Medical) Mark & Stacey Luckey & family, Uganda Afayo Village Education Project Melissa Rogers, Uganda Tegot Sponsorship/Resettlement Project (Nonformal Education) Courtney Wrinkle, Uganda Afayo Village Education Project

Country Leadership: DR Congo— Pastor Mayele Kilele, National Director Pastor Mala Mubietan, National Controller

Ghana— Thompson (Tommy) Afari, National Coordinator (Mrs.) Abigail Mensah, National Controller

Uganda— (Mrs.) Resty Kawalya, National Coordinator, Child & Family Advocate (Mrs.) Sophie Owor, National Controller

QUICK STATISTICS FOR 2013—Your partnership at work

Haven of Hope Academy, Ghana-- 240 children Haven of Hope for children in crisis 57 children Character Building from the Bible, Ghana 51,600 children Afayo Village Education Project, Uganda 220 children Mbale Village Education Project, Uganda 250 children Farming God’s Way, Uganda 210 families Sunday School Children, Congo 224,960 children Readers in reading rooms, Ghana 50 children Families kept together after AIDS, Uganda 55 families Schools built, improved, Uganda 2 schools Street children taught weekly 290 children Runaways returned to school , Uganda 3 children Survivors of ritual servitude & abuse helped 200 families Serious medical intervention 3 children Hospice intervention 1 child Street children restored to families, Congo 20 children Children sponsored 256 children

Sunday School trainers developed 14 trainers Sunday School teachers trained 205 teachers Sunday School lessons loaned 3,380 lessons Sunday School lessons taught 146,224 lessons Page views on main website 1,380,000 views (average 154/hour) Major seminars taught on slavery 2 seminars Vocational training seminars taught 3 seminars Meals served to street children 8,180 meals

Every Child Ministries Annual Report 2013 29

YOU were a part of it all each time you prayed, gave, volunteered, encouraged! THANK YOU and TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

 ECM’s single greatest need is God’s help. We need guidance for decisions, strength to maintain integrity in every area, His working in hearts for real change, His strength to keep on, His provision. If you are a praying person, we invite you to pray for ECM regularly.

 You can make a big difference through regular, monthly giving at whatever level is right for you. Undesignated gifts to our “Where Needed Most” fund enable us to meet many strategic opportunities. When gifts are designated, 100% goes exactly where the donor requests. That means that often we need to “fill in the holes” for regular, important ministries that do not get enough designated gifts. Giving to “Where Needed Most” lets your gift impact the areas of greatest need.

 Sign up for our email communications. African Jewels e-magazine, Prayer Calendar, &/or “Insider Scoop” update on our “Initiative against Ritual Servitude & Abuse”.

 If you live within driving distance of our “Mission Central” office in NW Indiana, we can use volunteer help from time to time. Send us your email address & request volunteer information. We’ll keep you informed whenever we’re looking for a group to help with a mailing, a garage sale, or anything else. Also, no matter where you live, let us know if you are willing to represent ECM on occasion as needed at Mission Fairs or other events in your area. (Let us know of your interest at [email protected])

 Sponsor a child and let your friends know about this opportunity.

 Make GoodSearch your primary search engine & designate Every Child Ministries as your charity of choice. We get money every time you search or shop online. www.GoodSearch.com.

 Check out our website for other ways to give without cash & for current project needs & ideas.

 Pass on our communications to your church & ask leaders about supporting ECM or inviting an ECM guest speaker.

Every Child Ministries Annual Report 2013 30

Financial Summary (complete audit available on request)

Total Income:

$1,320,441

Total Expenses: $1,313,240

Note: No debt has ever been incurred by this organization.

THANKS to all our friends and partners who gave so generously to make this all possible! You are the greatest.

To GOD be the glory for all He has done in 2013.

Every Child Ministries Annual Report 2013 31

Total Supporting Expenses:

$62,282

Total Ministry Expenses: $1,250,958

Ghana

DR Congo

Uganda

Web for All Africa

Other African

Ministry to Constituency

Total Ghana Expenses: $522,041 1 Missionaries $170,278 2 Haven of Hope Academy $123,543 3 Haven of Hope$93,962 4 Public school ministry $23,780 5 Initiative vs. Slavery & Trafficking $86,604 6 Street Children $13,357

7 OVC Sponsorship $1,071

8 Child Rescue $9,446

Every Child Ministries Annual Report 2013 32

Total DR Congo Expenses: $77,497

1 Christian Education & Evangelism $54,549 2 Street Children $11,956 3 OVC Sponsorship $10,992

Total Uganda Expenses: $515,987

1 Missionaries $220,281 2 Christian Education & Evangelism $5,850 3 Afayo Project $37,938 4 Way Home Project $119,670 5 OVC Sponsorship $132,248

Net Assets, beginning of year 2013: $524,862 Net Assets, end of year 2013: $532,063

28 Years