Transformation Of Hearts And Minds

As a young Filipino’s eyes are opened to biblical principles, he abandons fatalistic beliefs about poverty.

Franklin Catapang became a sponsored child when he was 9 years old. Now 20 and about to graduate from college, he boasts, “I had an American sponsor who sponsored me until I finished high school. He always wrote me letters and sent me pictures.”

As a young beneficiary of the Child Sponsorship Program of Food for the Hungry, Franklin was interested only in the material benefits of sponsorship. He was not too excited about attending Bible studies or going to church. He doubted if God existed or if He was even concerned about his life.

But Food for the Hungry walked alongside church and community leaders to patiently demonstrate God’s love to young Franklin, even encouraging him to help out in the children’s ministry. Slowly, the shy Franklin gained self-confidence and began to understand that God loved him and wanted him to reach his full potential as a human being.

Franklin vowed to pursue a college education even though he knew his parents couldn’t support him financially. “God provided the means,” Franklin says. Franklin was appointed to a community youth counselor position, and with the responsibility came the privilege to enroll at a nearby university for free.

Franklin also applied for assistance through Food for the Hungry’s Child Vocational Scholarship Fund (CVSF), which helped subsidize other expenses. He also received a government scholarship that he used to help his siblings with their school needs.

Clearly, Franklin is a powerful example of the transformation of heart and mind. Once an insecure young man and now a vibrant believer and soon-to-be teacher, Franklin promises, “I cannot pay Food for the Hungry for all its help,” he says, “but I can help make a difference in another person’s life. I can be a child sponsor – first to my siblings, then hopefully to other children too.”

What We Do

• Equip parents, churches and community leaders to fulfill their God-given responsibilities in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of their children.
• Address the most critical needs – which vary in each community – facing children, helping them overcome barriers that keep them from their God-given potential.
• Focus on bringing about transformation of the heart and mind of the child and community – leading to a sustainable change that breaks the cycle and bonds of poverty. For instance, we share about the nature of God, His creation, the affects of sin, and God’s work to redeem and reconcile all things. We share the truth that God loves each person and has a good plan and purpose for each child. We lift each child up with God’s truth, that they are uniquely made in His image, and given a mind, body and gifts from God to develop and use to serve others.
• We reach out to all poor children in a community – unsponsored as well as sponsored, not discriminating or leaving any children out.

 

Children in impoverished countries are vulnerable to the cruel realities surrounding them. They are often forced to fight as child soldiers, taken as wives, shunned as AIDS orphans and taken out of school to fetch water and scrounge for food.

The Goal
The goal is for children to grow as God intends, and for the parents, community leaders and churches to satisfy the needs of their children.

Food for the Hungry’s Child Sponsorship program is a unique, child-focused community transformation program that connects children in poor communities with a sponsor in the states, bringing physical and spiritual transformation to many.