“If only 7 percent of the 2 billion Christians in the world would care for a single orphan in distress, there would effectively be no more orphans. If everybody would be willing to simply do something to care for one of these precious treasures, I think we would be amazed by just how much we could change the world.” – Steven Curtis Chapman
To make this a reality, we have to equip the Church.
At Patch Our Planet, we are working to change this world one church, one community, one child at a time. We’re getting ready to begin our 4th year of orphan care ministry in 2015 and we want it to be the best yet. You can help.
We’re asking for you to take a quick look at our journey and then consider joining the I am #4PatchOurPlanet year-end campaign. We’re encouraging supporters to donate with any combination of the number “4” as we celebrate four years of ministry ($4, $44, $440, etc.).
Why Patch Our Planet?
We are a critical orphan care resource for every church. Patch Our Planet is a Kingdom-minded, non-competing ministry. We try to add value to other orphan care organizations by strategically equipping church leaders in their own community. This enables churches to have determined support from its leaders and a compelling, long-term strategy. We’re not fighting for everyone else’s dollar. We’re fighting for churches to have a long-term strategy of care and for these churches to know how to work with other orphan care organizations. That’s good for everybody, especially the children who will benefit because of these values!
What does the journey look like?
Phase 1 (2011-2013) – Test partnerships phase. Now we’ve established foundational best practices.
Phase 2 (2013-2014) – Developed comprehensive orphan care strategies for every church. Online curriculum rolled out May 2014.
Phase 3 (2014-2015) – Set the stage to train/equip churches through Children’s Hope Chest’s existing partnerships (plus our own). Partnerships like this one are allowing Patch to broaden its reach, influencing more churches, helping more children in foster care and orphans globally.
Phase 4 (2016+) – Exponential growth through network partnerships. Organizations realizing the value of training church leaders begin to desire that training for their own networks in order to care more effectively for orphans both locally and globally.
A New Partnership in 2015?
Last month, our board officially confirmed a partnership with Children’s Hope Chest out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. This partnership has been in the works since we met at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Conference in Chicago back in May. It was obvious that we each had something that the other really needed.
In short, it was a great match.
Children’s Hope Chest is an established ministry with a world-wide reach.
They have over 100 church partnerships and are involved in places like Swaziland, India, Haiti, Moldova, Russia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Guatamala and the United States.
What does that mean for Patch? We will have more churches to equip, more opportunities to make an impact in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children, and we will now have a global partner who already encompasses what we teach in our global curriculum. We don’t care who gets the credit as long as we can see the Church rise up to care for orphans and vulnerable children here in the US and around the world.
This is the next obvious, exciting step for Patch Our Planet.
Free Training, really?
(Thus, the emphasis on the year-end campaign!)
We’ve decided to offer the on-site orphan care training to churches for FREE in 2015 (we ask for churches to simply cover our travel expenses). No consulting/coaching fees. Just get us there.
Why would you do this when you know you need money to operate your ministry?
We believe SO much that the Church is the best answer to the orphan crisis that we are willing to take that step of faith and trust God to provide for every step. After all, no one has a greater burden for orphans than the Father to the fatherless.
What can I do to make an impact?
1. Tell church leaders in your community and within your influence to contact us to set up their on-site orphan care training (get them on the calendar before it fills up!) Your email or phone call could be the key that unlocks that incredible care potential in your community.
2. Support the “I am #4PatchOurPlanet Campaign” (#4PatchOurPlanet on Twitter) with a tax-deductible gift so we can continue to offer the on-site training to churches for free (churches cover travel expenses only). By giving to Patch Our Planet, your investment will serve to equip a church (or churches) to care for orphans locally and globally. We’ll also train these churches to pay it forward by equipping other churches in their community.
Imagine the impact.
3. Maybe you know an orphan care organization who would like to partner with this effort. There are many organizations who could benefit from having access to a step-by-step orphan care strategy for their church partners. We are a Kingdom-focused, non competing ministry. We don’t care who gets the credit. We are here to serve.
Thank you for helping us make an eternal impact for orphans and vulnerable children!
Will you share your support and join our year-end campaign?
Use the “share buttons” above or share the blog url link with your friends, family and social network.
Thank you for advocating on behalf of the voiceless.
Better together,
Steve Gillis Founder | Exec. Director www.patchourplanet.org I am an orphan advocate. I am #4PatchOurPlanet.Donate by check:
P.O. Box 841 Placida, FL 33946 *Please postmark envelopes by Dec. 31, 2014 – thank you!-OR-
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