Heart Connections Made and Funds Raised

Sometimes making an impact can start with the youngest ones around us. That’s exactly what happened with the elementary students at Southwest Florida Christian Academy (SFCA) a ministry of McGregor Baptist Church (MBC) in Ft. Myers, FL.  [McGregor Baptist is one of the newest C3 partner churches.]  Each year SFCA organizes a 5-day emphasis on Christian Missions around the world. 

In February 2019, SFCA selected the Christian school at Cote-de-Fer Baptist Church (CDF) (McGregor's C3 partner church) in Haiti for this year's missions partner. During the week-long daily missions chapel, the SFCA elementary students learned about the school and nearly 300 students at CDF and how they are part of the Sister Church partnership.

Daily missions chapel with a life-size replica of
 a Haitian school room.

The SFCA students recognized the physical and spiritual needs of the same age students in Haiti.  Students learned that the students at CDF have a Hot Lunch Program available through sponsorships.  While this is a great blessing, students are required to bring their own bowl and spoon for lunch.  Having a dedicated bowl and a spoon is more of a luxury item, as most use what they can, such as a lid to a container or part of a pencil box as a bowl.  In recognizing this and other physical needs, the SFCA students and their families collected funds to purchase stainless steel bowls and spoons for each student at CDF. 

SFCA student helps prepare a packet of food just like the
kids at the Cote de Fer school get for lunch every day.

The SFCA students had a special chance to connect with the students in a fun and interactive way.  Through the help of RMI and Feed My Starving Children, SFCA provided a package of the nutritious MannaPack™ meals that are part of the Hot Lunch  Program that RMI offers.  Students and their families were encouraged to prepare these yummy rice packets at home and include it as part of a family meal.  Families and students were able to continue the conversation about the students in Haiti during meals and family devotion times.  Parents posted on social media the excitement of the students to eat the same meal as the students in Haiti.  One mother commented that her son wanted to have some of the rice included in his lunch so he could have rice for lunch just like the other boys and girls when they have lunch.  This was a special and tangible way to make a heart connection.

In addition to the bowls and spoons, enough funds were raised to purchase chalkboards for each classroom, school supply kits, water filters, and some additional food boxes. In fact, the SFCA students raised over $6,000 to help the students at CDF with educational and physical needs. It was clear that God had provided the means to help meet these needs. At the same time, SFCA students were able to share and demonstrate the love of God for the students and staff at the CDF school. The students in Haiti know that God has not forgotten them.

The Gospel message is for everyone. This includes addressing both physical and spiritual needs to those around us. SFCA students were challenged to “dive in” and share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and to be part of missions wherever they are. SFCA strives to equip its students' as godly leaders and engage cultures around the world. These students showed that no matter the age, sharing the hope of Jesus Christ can impact an impact for eternity.

The bowls and spoons arrive in Cote de Fer