Nicole on the day she arrived at Kids Alive, and today. (Photos courtesy Kids Alive International)
International (KAI/MNN) ― In a child sponsorship program, there's often the question of timing. Do coordinators wait until they have sponsors to take in the children, or do they intervene first and hope for the sponsors to roll in?
According to Kids Alive International, it's the latter. The reality is this: for some of the children, if Kids Alive doesn't intervene immediately, they might not be able to come back and ask for help.
These kids are in a desperate battle to survive every day. They are the most vulnerable people in a population. Family might move out of the area--either fleeing oncoming war or seeking a better life somewhere else. For those fending for themselves, they are at risk of abuse, abduction, or worse. Or some could contract an illness and die.
In many developing countries, there is no "safety net" to protect children. While there are sincere efforts on the parts of individuals and government agencies, the needs are overwhelming, and resources are not keeping up.
That's why the Kids Alive ministry plan is to accept as many of the hurting, desperate children as they can while trusting God for their care. Some of their project directors confess that selecting which kids they accept into their children's homes, care centers, and schools is "the single hardest thing that we face."
Their hearts break every time they realize another child needs help. They pray, lose sleep, and wrestle with the monumental decisions they must make.
Today, there are desperate children who need to be rescued from the streets and cared for as Jesus cares.
Kids Alive's primary mission every day is to make sure that every child in their care knows that Jesus loves them and has a special purpose for their lives. Ministry sites are spread across five continents in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim.
Funding is the only thing holding the ministry back. Please help those children who are desperate for a chance to survive and thrive.
