Covenant children have various opportunities throughout the church to donate funds for missions.
Since its inception in 2002, the annual Children’s Service Project has raised one-quarter of the total amount. That $100,000 figure does not include the current project “Caring for the Children” to benefit children in India who support their families by picking items out of garbage that they might sell for a small amount (those funds are received through May; totals for this year will be available after that). The project is a partnership of the Department of Christian Formation and Covenant World Relief. Previous projects have benefited children in Sudan, Congo, and Colombia.
The Department of Covenant World Mission (CWM) summer Vacation Bible School projects have raised close to $120,000 since they began in 2004, according to Patty Shepherd of CWM. Last year, children gave $52,000 for the “Sandals and Bibles for Sudan” project. That amount far exceeded the $27,000 organizers had hoped to raise and more than doubled the funds collected in any previous year. Previous projects benefited children in Congo, Colombia, and China.
“We have been blessed and left in awe by the Covenant children who have donated to these projects,” says Shepherd. “Their concern and generosity for the needs of children around the world have been inspiring.”
In partnership with CWM, Covenant campers donated $170,468 to international camp projects between 2004 and 2006. Last year, $49,000 was raised to benefit Covenant Bible Camp of Alaska. Camps in Mexico, South Africa, and Russia also have benefited from campers’ generosity. The project does not keep totals of money given specifically by children but significant amounts have been given through the “Kids Helping Kids” program started in 2004.
“I’m just impressed how children have stepped up to care for suffering and struggling neighbors and peers,” says Jim Sundholm, director of Covenant World Relief and former executive director of the Paul Carlson Project. “I’m really pleased at this startling stewardship.”
Cathy Neal, who serves on the Southeast Conference Camping Committee, wrote to the Paul Carlson Project about an eight-year-old camper who had inspired her after a chapel service in which the needs of children in Congo were discussed. The boy had a $10 bill stuffed in his wallet because he thought he needed the money to buy necessities at camp, not knowing that private donations make everything free for the kids.
“I could tell that was probably the most money he had ever had in that wallet so I gave him two of the dollar bills I had for the offering,” Neal recalled. “After chapel had ended, and we were all saying our goodbyes and packing up for home, this same little boy came up to me, opened his wallet, and handed me that $10 bill. He said he wanted a little girl to be able to go to school in the Congo and to please see that she got it! God is good and moments like that bring it all home for me!”
Byron Amundsen, CWM director of administration and finance, says the children have a lot to teach adults. “Our kids’ quality of heart and generosity express a kind of simple discipleship that we should honor, celebrate, and even emulate. As Jesus said, ‘For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ ”
