Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM121121S
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00:01 Child Impact International is an organization
00:03 that gives hope and fosters permanent, 00:05 positive change in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:08 and their communities. 00:11 Countries include Zambia, Kenya, India, 00:16 Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. 00:20 Child Impact's investment in the lives 00:22 of more than 3,500 children 00:24 continues to yield infinite returns. 00:27 Outreach spans from child rescue operations 00:30 to providing an education and a home for deaf 00:33 and blind children and orphans. 00:35 Above all, Child Impact's sponsors give hope 00:39 to the ones who need it the most. 00:46 Hi, I'm Jim Rennie from Child Impact International. 00:50 And I just wanted to take a moment 00:51 to update you on the field in regards to the challenges 00:56 that we face with COVID. 00:58 In India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, unfortunately, 01:03 it's been pretty bad and it's still is. 01:06 Many of our staff and teachers in the schools 01:09 that we serve and also church pastors 01:12 and church workers have caught the virus. 01:15 And sadly, some have passed away. 01:18 To be honest, it's been a real challenge. 01:21 Most of the schools are still closed. 01:24 But I'm excited to announce that in the next two weeks, 01:27 the schools in India are starting to reopen. 01:31 Your ongoing support during this crisis has made 01:35 a real difference. 01:37 It's made a difference in the lives of the children. 01:40 It's made a difference in the lives of the teachers. 01:42 But your ongoing support is really going to ensure 01:46 that some of these mission schools do remain open. 01:52 Your contribution to the Rice, 01:54 Health and Education appeal has had a big impact. 01:58 It has enabled us to distribute over 20,000 sacks 02:02 of rice to our children, 02:05 to the teaching staff and to the pastors. 02:08 Many of these workers have not been paid or are on half wages. 02:13 So your generous giving has had a real impact on their lives. 02:19 During this time 02:20 The Where Needed Most Fund has been very well supported. 02:24 And it's enabled us 02:26 to keep working in these difficult areas 02:29 during the virus crisis. 02:31 And just at our last meeting, 02:33 last Sunday, we voted $90,000 02:37 to help some urgently needed projects 02:40 for Adventist mission schools in Bangladesh. 02:43 We will implement these when the schools open. 02:47 And we're now seeing the side effects 02:49 or the downside of COVID. 02:51 And in India, 02:53 there are thousands of COVID orphans. 02:56 These are children who have lost both parents 02:59 or one parent and are unable to cope anymore. 03:04 These kids are often rejected by the rest of the society 03:08 or the village. 03:09 And we're just so excited 03:10 that we've been able to take 40 of these COVID orphans 03:15 into our home at Sunrise. 03:17 And we're looking at ways of working with the government 03:20 to support many more of them. 03:22 We see it as a big opportunity 03:24 and a new project for Operation Child Rescue. 03:28 And we're just so excited about this. 03:31 Some of you may know 03:33 that I'm stepping down as CEO, 03:35 and I'll be returning to my home country in New Zealand. 03:39 And I just want to thank you each one for the support 03:42 that you have given me and Child Impact over 14 years. 03:47 You've seen the organization grow 03:50 and we simply couldn't have done it 03:52 without you the donor, you the sponsor. 03:55 And I'm just so proud of what we've achieved. 03:58 But I'm just so grateful to your generosity 04:02 and the blessings of the Lord. 04:05 Well, today I'm very excited 04:07 that I can introduce the new Child Impact 04:10 International CEO, Tom Evans. 04:13 Tom, welcome to Child Impact. 04:16 Thank you, Jim. 04:17 I just want to clarify something though. 04:19 You said that you're stepping down, 04:21 but you're actually not stepping away. 04:23 We have met as a board and we would really like 04:26 to have you continue in a role in particular 04:29 with India and Bangladesh. 04:30 Can you share a little bit about that? 04:33 Yes, in these countries, we are facing a lot of change, 04:37 a lot of challenges. 04:39 And so we want to conduct a full review 04:42 of our education program, of our sponsorship program. 04:47 There are challenges with government regulation, 04:51 with standards of education, political issues. 04:55 And so my job will be to conduct a review 05:00 and to make recommendations to the Child Impact board. 05:04 I've been operating in those field now for 14 years. 05:07 And so I'm excited to take on this challenge 05:10 because it's really needed at this time. 05:13 And, Jim, I'm looking forward to journeying with you in that 05:17 and having the benefit of all of your knowledge 05:20 of each of these projects. 05:21 Thanks, Tom. 05:22 And I can continue to support you in your role as well. 05:28 So tell us about Tom Evans? 05:30 Sure. 05:32 Look, I always start out by saying I was born in Texas. 05:36 You know, because everything's bigger in Texas, right? 05:39 But grew up in the northwest. 05:41 So that's where the accent is from and had an opportunity 05:44 to attend Adventist schools. 05:47 What a blessing. 05:48 I remember I went to public school for one day, 05:50 Jim and I got kicked out the first day of school. 05:53 So they called my parents to come pick him up. 05:55 So that's when I started my Adventist education. 05:57 So it's a big story, but I won't go there. 05:59 But in any case, it's a blessing. 06:01 And we're so blessed to have those opportunities. 06:04 I was able to attend Newbold College over in England as well 06:07 and graduated from Walla Walla University 06:10 and then also a couple times from Andrews University. 06:13 Right. And tell us about your family? 06:15 Sure, that's the most important part. 06:18 I have three grown daughters. 06:20 And we have, they live in Texas 06:22 and I have two boys that are both in high school, 06:26 in academy. 06:28 But that wasn't enough. 06:29 We just adopted two boys from an orphanage in Latvia. 06:31 Wow. Yeah. 06:33 And we really went out because they're both, 06:37 one is 13, and one's 12. 06:38 So we get to enjoy them for their whole teenage years. 06:42 We've known the boys for a while, 06:44 they visited during Christmas and summers. 06:47 And we finally have been able to get that adoption 06:50 pulled together. 06:51 Tom, tell us about the roles 06:53 that you've held before coming into this new position? 06:56 Sure. 06:57 I've been a pastor, local church pastor. 06:59 Church planting has been a big passion of mine, 07:02 starting new churches. 07:03 And during our time in Texas there as a departmental leader, 07:07 we planted 114 churches in nine years. 07:09 So that was quite an adventure and exciting. 07:12 But I went from there to teach at the seminary 07:14 at Andrews University. 07:16 The interesting thing, though 07:17 and how does that all relate to Child Impact 07:20 is whatever role that I've been in, 07:22 I've really, my desire, 07:24 my heart is to look for those individuals 07:26 that are marginalized, neglected. 07:29 And so working with refugees or single moms 07:33 or sponsoring children, whatever that may be. 07:36 That's always been part of my heart 07:37 and part of the ministry I've been involved in. 07:40 Wow. 07:41 And what do you see as the future? 07:44 What excites you about Child Impact? 07:46 And what do you see as the future? 07:49 First of all, I think Child Impact is a great name. 07:52 I also like the name Operation Child Rescue 07:54 because I think in the name Child Impact, 07:56 it really encapsulates what is being done. 08:00 It's making a difference in the life of a child. 08:03 And that difference begins, you know, 08:05 with their Adventist Mission School experience, 08:07 but it extends to their family and it gives them 08:10 a whole different direction for their life. 08:13 So I'm very excited about the mission 08:15 what Child Impact represents. 08:18 In terms of coming to this role, for me, 08:21 it's exciting to see an alignment 08:23 between my personal passion, my personal life 08:26 and my family and what we represent 08:28 and believe in and the professional experience 08:32 of working with Child Impact. 08:33 So that alignment is very exciting to be able 08:36 to spend time doing ministry in a way that makes 08:41 a difference for children. 08:43 I'm excited about that. 08:45 And Operation Child Rescue is going to be a key part 08:49 of our growth moving forward. 08:52 Just tell us about what do you think of Operation Child Rescue 08:56 and where it'll go? 08:57 Well, it's very interesting, because as I took on this role, 09:01 people would be asking me, 09:03 well, what does Child Impact do? 09:04 And I would talk about sponsorship and the schools 09:07 and different countries. 09:09 But as soon as I mentioned, human trafficking, 09:12 that Child Impact is involved in helping 09:14 to stop these injustice, 09:16 this blight on our planet of human trafficking. 09:20 The level of interest in that is extremely high. 09:23 And I find even young adults, college students, 09:27 this is something that they want to make 09:29 a difference with this particular area. 09:31 And so the fact that Child Impact 09:33 is involved in human trafficking in various ways, 09:36 whether it be slave labor or abandoned babies 09:39 or vulnerable children, due to being COVID orphans 09:41 or even more specifically, sex trafficking. 09:45 The fact that we're involved in those areas, 09:48 I think, really is a chance 09:51 to raise public awareness to this need 09:56 and to begin to see it make a difference for these kids 09:59 that really had been imprisoned against their will, 10:02 and to bring them freedom. 10:03 I mean, what a biblical responsibility 10:06 we have to look out for this kind of children. 10:10 That's right. 10:11 Well, the board are very excited, 10:13 the staff are very excited, 10:15 the field are very excited 10:17 that Tom has come on board. 10:18 And it will allow me to focus on a big need 10:22 of the challenges we face in the field. 10:25 And it will also give you, 10:27 the supporters' confidence that we're adding resources 10:31 and that we're going to continue to grow. 10:34 We live in difficult times 10:35 and we just ask for your prayers, 10:38 as we face new challenges, 10:40 new leadership and especially for the field 10:43 and where we operate. 10:45 Jim, I want to say a special thank you to you 10:47 for your leadership with Child Impact. 10:51 I've come to an organization to be a part of it 10:53 that is well run, ministry focused, 10:57 putting resources into the field 10:59 where it matters most. 11:00 I'm so excited for the various projects that Child Impact 11:04 is involved in helping blind children, 11:06 deaf children, orphans, COVID orphans, 11:09 Operation Child Rescue. 11:10 There's so much happening 11:12 and there's so much more that can happen. 11:14 So I want to just take this moment to say thank you 11:18 to you as donors, 11:19 you have made all this possible. 11:21 There's so much more we can do. 11:23 But it isn't possible without your support and help. 11:25 So thank you for your generosity over the years. 11:28 I pray that will continue and we will keep you updated 11:31 as we see many more opportunities 11:33 to make a difference in the life of children. 12:12 It's hard to believe that Christmas time 12:14 is approaching again. 12:16 I'm Tom Evans, CEO of Child Impact International. 12:19 Every Christmas we feature our very important major appeal, 12:23 which we call impact gifts. 12:26 This year, we are focusing on three significant opportunities 12:30 to make a difference. 12:32 The challenge that COVID has left us within 12:34 the third world countries where Child Impact operates 12:37 continues to pose many difficulties. 12:40 Their tremendous needs are compounded by shortages 12:43 and cost increases. 12:45 The most tragic of all is human loss due to the pandemic. 12:50 It feels overwhelming 12:51 and almost insurmountable at times. 12:54 I'm very grateful for the Lord's blessing 12:56 and the generosity of Child Impact's supporters 12:59 and I'm proud of the work that this has allowed us to do. 13:02 Impact gifts is our most important appeal for the year 13:05 and now has an extra sense of urgency. 13:09 During this Christmas season, we would like to invite you 13:12 to partner with us in the following three ways. 13:15 First is The Where Needed Most Fund. 13:17 This not only supports our operation, 13:20 but also allows us to support urgent requests we receive. 13:24 Unexpected challenges arise 13:25 and we want to be prepared for this. 13:28 Where Needed Most is the key fund 13:30 to running our organization and helping others. 13:33 The next fund is the Blind, Deaf and Orphan Fund, 13:36 which is a key program 13:38 to help serve the special needs children 13:40 who we support. 13:41 These precious children 13:43 with special needs are a significant focus 13:46 of our ministry at Child Impact. 13:48 Our third appeal is Operation Child Rescue 13:51 which is doing such an amazing work in rescuing, 13:54 rehabilitating and simply giving hope 13:57 to many trafficked and vulnerable children. 14:00 Please give thought to how you can support us 14:03 at this critical time. 14:05 You can go to our website at childimpact.org 14:08 That's childimpact.org 14:10 I'm thankful for the Lord's blessing and for your support. 14:14 May God bless you. |
Revised 2022-01-04