Edom church assists African children
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Courtesy Photo Marion Kirkpatrick is welcomed by students of the Sekou school (Benin, West Africa) where there are 25 children sponsored and many more on a waiting list.

Pastors from Flatwood Assembly of God in Edom have organized a program designed to help African children get through school. The program, Future4Kids, operates mainly in Africa.

Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, who began the program together with co-pastor and wife Marion Kirkpatrick, said the program began three or four years ago when ten African children were sponsored by Flatwood.

In a press release Monday, November 26, Marion said the program is built to give poor and orphaned children the opportunity to go to school.

"The idea is that if a child can be given the opportunity to receive at least a basic education there is more of a chance that he will be able to find employment and break the poverty cycle," Marion said.

Future4Kids now sponsors 108 kids through over 60 sponsors, Marion said. The program has expanded from Africa and now assists kids in Peru as well.

"About a third of the 108 kids are sponsored by Flatwood families," Marion said. Flatwood is a church of about 50 people, Marion also said.

There are still 250 applications for children without a sponsor.

"This Christmas we are looking for people who want to give a lasting gift," Marion said, "one that will keep on giving, by making a difference in the life of a child."

Money can be donated for two projects.

The first is Child Sponsorship; for either $18 per month or $216 for a year, donors can pay for a child's school fees, uniform and supplies. Food costs are usually covered by this donation.

The second program is the Gifts for Orphanage program, which entails a one-time gift for the New Ark School and Orphanage in Koufara, Northern Benin. This gift, Marion said, will help keep the orphanage open and the 135 kids within off the streets. It is currently in danger of closing.

Mike Kirkpatrick said he and Marion visited Ghana and Benin, West Africa from October 28 to November 11.

Mike said they try to visit Africa every year. This year cards were delivered to children with a photo of the respective child's sponsor and a Christmas present.

"We go to a village and identify the kids with the greatest need," Mike said of the yearly visits.

Marion said there are many donation organizations to choose from, but Future4Kids is one which sends all of the donated money to the recipients, keeping the sponsor's cost lower.