Christmas special Offering To Benefit
Fotokids and Children of Faith

This Christmas Special Offering we are highlighting two partners that focus on Children’s education in India and in Guatemala. Both of these longtime LOPC partners truly change the trajectory of children’s futures. Through education children with Fotokids and Children of Faith can secure better futures for themselves and begin to break the cycle of poverty for them and their families. Please join us this Christmas season by helping children get access to quality education with Fotokids and Children of Faith!

Fotokids

Nancy McGirr, founder of Fotokids began her journey as a Reuter’s photographer in Guatemala and was compelled to help children living in the Guatemala Dump dream of a brighter future.  She started Fotokids as a means of using photography, graphic design, and media technology as tools for self-expression and ultimately a way to rise up out of poverty. Fotokids is so thankful for LOPC’s many years of support during the 33 years we have worked together to empower children from vulnerable communities through photography, design, and the latest in media technology. Families in both Guatemala City and Santiago Atitlán are facing huge challenges, but their struggles look different. In the city, people are crammed into tiny spaces, dealing with rising food costs, unstable jobs, and gang violence that makes even going to school dangerous. In rural Santiago Atitlán, many homes lack reliable water, electricity, or sanitation. Families there rely on seasonal farming and traditional crafts like beadwork and embroidery, but income is scarce and unpredictable. Despite all this, parents everywhere are deeply committed to their kids’ education, seeing it as the key to a better future. Fotokids works with these families, offering creative and vocational training that gives kids the skills and hope they need to overcome obstacles and aim for a brighter future. This year, we’re excited to welcome 85 new students, each one ready to unlock their potential and creativity. But we need your support to make this happen! Your help doesn’t just teach skills—it opens doors, builds confidence, and transforms lives. Thank you for your continued support in changing lives and capturing dreams.

Children of Faith

Children of Faith Missions (COF) provides a secure home and valuable education to 120 vulnerable school-age children in Visakhapatnam, India.  Many of the children served by Children of Faith come from broken homes and are at risk of living on the street.  Most are orphans or semi-orphans (meaning they have just one parent) and were in the care of extended family prior to being welcomed at COF.  Shelter, nutrition, healthcare and education are the primary services of COF, all of which are offered in a loving Christian environment. The program was founded by Rosie and Anand Thandu in 2004, who felt God calling them to return to their home country and help children. This past winter, 15 adults from LOPC visited the COF, the first visitors from LOPC since the pandemic.  Among these visitors was Carrie Wiseman, a retired elementary school teacher.  Carrie led the team in several classroom projects that augmented the student’s curriculum. This included science projects, writing, and reading.  Carrie observed how well the children work together and care for each other, in addition they appreciate the opportunity to learn.  Graduated children have gone onto careers in nursing, engineering, operating their own small business and more. Carrie said, “They wouldn’t have the opportunities for successful careers that lift them out of poverty if not for Children of Faith.”  Children of Faith couldn’t continue to transform the lives of young people in India without the generous support of donors like LOPC.

Our goal this Christmas season is to raise $20,000 to support children’s education in both of these organizations! Thank you so much in advance for your generosity!

Three Ways to Give  Beginning 12/1-12/31

Give Online Look for “Christmas Offering” in the dropdown menu.

Write a check to LOPC with “Christmas Fotokids/COF” in the memo and place in the collection box in the Narthex or the black mailbox in front of the Ministry Center.

To donate cash during Worship, please use a pew envelope and label it “Christmas Fotokids/COF”.