Together We Made A Difference - 2016 in Review

God was on the move in 2016 in our little corner of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! Come with us for a journey in pictures as we remember, celebrate and continue to pray about what God did in and through The Forsaken Children and friends like you, in 2016!

We started 2016 celebrating Metu. This young lady continues to radiate the hope she did one year ago. She amazed us a month ago when she boldly stood before 10 boys about to be restored to their families and gave her testimony. She shared how she, like them, had lived on the streets, indulging in the freedoms found there. BUT, her story changed because of God, Onesimus, TFC, and many of you. Way to Go Metu! We celebrate you as we begin 2017.

There is always a good reason to celebrate these two, Beziyu and Nati. This brother and sister spent many of their formative years wandering the streets of Addis Ababa. We celebrated Beziyu and Nati last February and are thrilled to say they both continue to be the strong and resilient children they were then. We are proud of you, Beziyu and Nati. We pray that 2017 can be a year of continued restoration for both of you.

Last March we highlighted a training to many of the parents we minister to through the SAFE Project. These parents represent hope for Ethiopia. Here Nardos' mom joyfully expressed how grateful she is to friends like you, who provide the means to rebuild their families. We celebrate Nardos' mom and all the other parents involved in our SAFE Project today as we step into another year of serving and learning from them.

In April, 2016 we were privileged to welcome more than 250 women, children and men from the streets to hear and experience the Gospel. The Onesimus Street Conference is worth celebrating because it is a place of healing and hope for many who have previously given up on any other life than one on the streets. As God changes hearts, we see many leave the streets for good. Over 30 people have been reunified with families they left years before after hearing about and embracing Jesus.

We may be biased, but we think Berikut (young man in the black bow tie) is pretty amazing. We celebrated him in May and continue to do so today! His name means "blessing" and that he is. You would never now that he spent much of his young life on the streets. He is now in 8th grade and loves singing, drama, and of course, soccer. Berikut, thank you for being a blessing to us everyday of 2016. We pray 2017 will continue to shape you into the blessing you were created to be.

Last June we introduced you to Amon. This young man lived on the streets for many years. He came to the Onesimus Street Conference in 2015 to simply make fun of the event and to get some free food. Well, that day God called him by name and EVERYTHING changed. He had multiple addictions, all of which God delivered him from that day. Now, Amon is part of our Drop In Center team. He is able to truly understand the children we minister to because he has been there. We celebrate Amon and how God uses us despite where we came from!

Every summer we are blessed by Central Church's investment in our on the ground ministry in Ethiopia. Since 2009 Central church has been our partner, sending teams to minister to the amazing children we exist for. In July, 2016 Kelly Dawson led the Central team, celebrating her 7th year partnering with TFC on the ground in Ethiopia. So, today we celebrate partnership. Without partners we could not be a part of sharing lasting hope with the children and families of Ethiopia.

In August we celebrated a successful end to the school year in Addis Ababa. This pic of Tigist receiving her reward for performing so well in school is priceless. Why? Because the gift giver is her father. We celebrate Tigist and the fact that she has a dad who cares deeply for her.

How can we not celebrate our wonderful team on the ground in Ethiopia. Here is a pic we shared of our Ethiopian team in September. These men and women are the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you team!

In October our new Executive Director, Kelly McGugan visited our Ethiopian director, Nega Meaza and the team there. We are thrilled to be under the leadership of these two men who care so deeply for each other and for the street children of Ethiopia. May God bless you both in 2017!

In November we shared this picture of youth surviving on the streets. The man in the blue shirt - he's the one talking with his hands - is one of our team, Amon. Today we want to celebrate Amon and our other team members who go into places most of us would run from. We also celebrate the street children of Addis Ababa. These boys and girls are full of gifts and we are extremely blessed to be able to know these children.

You may remember Kenela, because we just shared his pic with you in December. Praise God that this young man was restored to his family (after being away for 4 years) just a few weeks back. Kenela's story is the perfect way to end our year in review, because he represents the children we serve and the outcome we strive for... He was RESCUED from the streets; He has been RESTORED to his family; We are diligently working to REBUILD aspects of his family that pushed him to leave home years ago. We celebrate Kenela and the future he has because of our work together.

These beautiful stories are possible because friends like you are willing to #MakeADifference through financial and prayer support. THANK YOU for an amazing 2016

Rescue, Restore Rebuild - Full to Overflowing!

A special word of hope in this new year, from The Forsaken Children's Co-Founders, Joe and Karyn Bridges...

As we start 2017, our hearts are full to overflowing!

You see, over the past 3 months we have had the privilege to RESCUE, with our wonderful Ethiopian team, 10 boys from the streets. This was the 13th group of boys to work with.  Day after day we worried about those who didn’t come to the center, we did internal summersaults when a missing child returned, and we prayed that each boy would be willing to do the hard heart work necessary to GO home and STAY there in the family God intended for them.

Just this week God started the process of RESTORING these boys to their families.

I (Joe) got to go with my sweet friend, Frazier, to find his mom. Kanu, a key part of our Ethiopian team, gracefully and skillfully lead us through this process and started to REBUILD this family that, believe me, has absorbed more than its share of blows from the enemy.

Here we are at Frazier's reunification with his mother.

Now, the work continues for all of us. Frazier, and his 9 friends, need our ongoing care and encouragement this new year. We have an obligation to continue to REBUILD these families that have cracks in their foundations. Karyn and I are all in this New Year! I hope each of you are with us.

Thank you for praying with us through every hardship and every victory in 2016. Happy New Year!

-Joe & Karyn

Hope in a Plastic House

Hope does live in Ethiopia.  It’s in Sara’s 1-room plastic house. This just in from our Field Director, Joe Bridges - it is an important story where we see what it looks like to help children (and their families) SURVIVE and THRIVE.

"I got to visit Sara and her mom the other day and sat in awe as her sweet mom described how she holds her precious family together in the midst of debilitating poverty.

'Where would my children go if I did not care for them?  I am all they have," she explained.  As I listened, I thought of the children I’ve recently come into contact with who, despite having adequate resources at home, were still on the streets.  You see, street life has become a cultural phenomenon that now seems to attract some that would seem to have no reason to be on the streets (obviously reasons are there and are deeper than the catch-all, poverty, but that’s for another blog).

Sara and her younger brother Abduselum, come home every night to a home made of plastic.  All their worldly posessions stuck in crevices here and there.  Do you think come home for this?  No - they come home for a mom who is committed to them; a mom who has been and is consistently a part of their lives.  Sara, Abduselum and their mom’s hope is not found in things, but rather in each other.  We can learn a lot from them."

Sara and Abduselum are beneficiaries of TFC/Onesimus.  They are in school and still in their home because of the work of our Ethiopian team, and it's ongoing help.  Rescue, Restore Rebuild - this process = LASTING HOPE in Ethiopia.

Prayer Points: September 2016

Pray for a true peace throughout Ethiopia that will help turn the nation into a place where LASTING HOPE has more space to take root, grow and flourish. 

Pray for upcoming leadership meetings within Ethiopia. The Forsaken Children's new Executive Director, Kelly McGugan is traveling in October to meet with Field Director, Joe Bridges and our Ethiopian team/Onesimus leadership, Nega Maeza and others. We look forward to their time together to reconnect as brothers in Christ who are passionate about the street children and children at-risk in Ethiopia and for time to plan for the upcoming year.

Pray for safe travels and for fruitful engagement. May God lead the vision and path of our pursuits ahead!Planning has begun for 2017 ministry pursuits and partnership needs.

Please pray for the Ethiopian team/Onesimus as they work hard to understand the needs of our beneficiaries and the aspects of ministry that need to be pursued in 2017.

Pray for their plans to be rooted in the Holy Spirit and His guidance throughout the process. We are thankful that our Ethiopian team is filled with believers and pray that they seek after the Holy Spirit as they plan. Our goal is to pursue His ways and not our own.

The new school year is quickly approaching. Pray for the children of Ethiopia as they start a new year and engage in the work of their new grade. Pray specifically for The Forsaken Children beneficiaries and their schooling. Pray that the children would be able to stay focused and excel in their grade.

What God can do in 10 years

See and hear directly from our founders and friends on this special edition Video Blog... (created by @Timothy_Reid )

Prayer Points: August 2016

This month on August 29-31, our Ethiopian Team will host a PRAYER AND FASTING PROGRAM in Addis Ababa. This will be a time for the team to intentionally look to the Lord for guidance and provision for the next steps of ministry. We know from James 5:16 that we out to pray for one another. If YOU would like to join in spirit with the team, YOU can follow in suite and fast each morning while also remembering our Ethiopian Team, Onesimus in prayer. Pray specifically for our beneficiaries and their families, the new school year beginning around September 12, and for our leadership and team on the ground in Addis Ababa. The Lord invites us to ask Him!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" - Ephesians 3:20. The Forsaken Children's ANNUAL LASTING HOPE GALA is around the corner! We are super excited about all that God is going to do in and through this event. Join us in prayer for this special and important night. This event is our largest fundraiser of the year, providing essential ministry funds. It's also a wonderful night of celebrating all that the Lord has done through the ministry over the last year.

Pray for all the details that need to continue to come together to prepare for this big night. Pray for everyone that will attend - that they may be blessed by the stories and testimonies they hear and also support the ministry financially as God calls them personally.

Tickets are FREE thanks to many amazing event sponsors. Click HERE to learn more.

This month our Ethiopian team hosted a Grade Promotion Celebration for the beneficiaries. The team did an amazing job honoring high performing students and encouraging the parents of the beneficiaries. In total, there were 89 beneficiaries and their parents in attendance for this celebration. It was a wonderful time to acknowledge the work done and encourage the work ahead.

Pray for these beneficiaries as they move forward in their schooling. Pray for focus and excellence. A new school year is quickly approaching. Pray for the families as well, the parents. Pray for wisdom to "parent" well and continue to encourage pursuits of education and life off the streets. 

Prayer Points: Summer 2016

In partnership with the 3rd Annual TFC #RunYourStreet5K (completed June 18-25), The Forsaken Children's Ethiopian Team hosts its annual street race for street children July 16th. Pray for all the details that must come together to prepare and complete the race in Addis Ababa. Pray for the children that will run the race. Pray that they have a beautiful opportunity to be childlike and simply enjoy the fun experience. Pray that they feel significant and loved as the TFC Ethiopian Team cheers them along the course. Pray that the street children who have not yet come to the TFC drop-in center gain an interest in the possibility of life off the streets. Pray for the future of each of the children running - pray for their salvation - that they meet Jesus in a personal way, pray for their families [known or unknown], their education, and the next steps to take. To learn more about why TFC's Ethiopian Team hosts a race in Ethiopia and/or the larger purpose behind TFC's virtual 5K, check out this blog post.

TFC Founder and current Field Director, Joe Bridges and family are in the United States visiting family and friends, following up with their sending missions agency for training, and recharging after a year and half of diligent ministry on the ground in Addis Ababa. Pray for this family. Pray for their time in the United States. Pray for fruitful relationship time with their immediate family and all the people they want and need to see. Pray for rest. Pray for their travels as they go to different locations throughout the United States during their time. Pray for the adorable kiddos, Jack, Mac, and Silas as they transition through their time in the United States. Pray for the upcoming goodbyes [see you laters] this family will have to say to their loved ones at the beginning of August as they make their way back to Ethiopia. Pray for the time Joe is able to spend with The Forsaken Children Board of Directors and staff while in Memphis, TN. Pray that the time would be fruitful and expand beyond the time of the meetings. Pray for God's guidance and provision during these times and determine any and all next steps.

Pray for Joe and Karyn's marriage, it's great but when you are doing work that the Lord is leading, the enemy is not happy and will surely attack. Pray for protection against the enemy's attacks and fruitful growth together.

Meet Zerihun. He is from a Christian family and is 13 years old. He is a 4th grade student. Zerihun was a street child and part of the most recent group of children invited by The Forsaken Children's Ethiopian team to the TFC Drop-In Center. At that time, Zerihun had stayed on the streets for 1 month.

His story is interesting, in that his reason for going to the streets was not due to some of the complicated and, honestly, justified reasons for leaving home. As he told our Ethiopian team, one day Zerihun's aunt told him not to write a letter for a girl. He became upset and went to the streets. He is now with his parents who live near to Addis Ababa [approximately 13km away]. While an easy reunification is a blessing, it is concerning that children are coming to the streets for such petty reasons. Pray for Ethiopia and the children, who step out of their doors to find a seemingly easy escape from their temporal problems at home.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

Prayer Points: May 2016

On May 9, our Ethiopian Team welcomed 21 new street kids into the Drop-In Center for the welcome ceremony to the Drop-In Center Program. This is very exciting! The team focused on boys this season under 12 years old who had been on the streets for less than one year and were from the Southern areas of Ethiopia - like most of our staff/team. Please pray for these boys and the Ethiopian Team as they minister to them. Pray that the all the layers for each child unfold in a timely manner and the Holy Spirit moves. Pray for trust and understanding to develop. We are excited to see how this group grows throughout the program and process.

Our founder and current Field Director, Joe Bridges and family are traveling to the United States this month for a period of training, meeting, and refreshing. Please pray for safe travels, easy transitions for the children, quality time with family and friends, and productive ministry opportunities. The last year in Ethiopia has been one filled with many obstacles for the Bridges. We are so thankful for God's faithfulness and provision along the way! We are confident that if the enemy has worked so hard to make life difficult at times, God must surely be on the move! Pray that this beautiful family is recharged in the specific ways they need during their time in the United States. . . that they will be perfectly primed for their return to Ethiopia with divine strength to continue to fight for the street children of Ethiopia and share the Gospel!

Registration is open through June 18th for our advocacy and fundraising event, the 3rd Annual Virtual RUN YOUR STREET 5K. As a virtual run, you can run anywhere, anytime, and involve anyone around the world in the fun! Run or walk with the street children of Ethiopia in spirit by completing a 5K (3.1 miles) at your own pace, on your own street, anytime between June 18-25.

Vital ministry dollars are raised through this event and it provides an awesome opportunity to spread the word regarding the street children of Ethiopia and The Forsaken Children's role as an organization. Pray that our participant goal of 300 is reached.

Most importantly, pray for the street children this event raises funds and awareness for - pray that they might know Jesus and experience LASTING HOPE through Him and be restored to family and school.

Registration and more detailed information can be found at runyourstreet5K.theforsakenchildren.org

Run your street... for their street!

Changing Seasons and an Unchanging God

By Britainy Sholl,U.S. Director of The Forsaken Children The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring. - Bernard Williams

I love this time of year.  Everything is in bloom, the sun shines brightly and every sunset looks like a painting.  I often wish the weather would stay just like this.  But we all know that summer comes, and then winter.  While I love Christmas time, I truly miss the beauty that spring brings.  That’s the time I begin to once again look forward to March and April.  And this cycle continues,  the beauty of spring and the grey of winter.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

We live in an ever-changing world.  What can we know for certain?  The Bible answers this question for us in Isaiah 40:8.  The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

The homeless children in Ethiopia are always on my mind.  Their lives are unstable and their futures are uncertain.  Like the changing seasons, these kids tend to go through ups and downs.  But thankfully, they can know that the promises of God stand forever.  His word is always true and never changes.  While everything else in this world may fall apart, God doesn’t.

When the kids walk through the doors of our TFC Drop-In center each day, this is the message that they are given over and over again, God’s love endures forever.  They receive meals, showers, clean clothes, tutoring, counseling, and care- but the most important thing we can offer, is the love of Christ.

Nothing else is certain and no one else can change our hearts like Jesus.  While the beauty of spring is on display now, we know this season will end.  But I’m glad my future is in the hands of my Lord and Savior.  That’s something I can count on.  And, that is what the kids in Ethiopia are counting on.  This is why TFC exists.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8

Team Ethiopia 2014 Day Seven

Team Ethiopia, a short-term missions group from Central Church in Collierville, TN, is now on the ground in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and ready to serve! Here is an update from Meme on Thursday, day seven of the trip.  Hello from Ethiopia!

Today was the last day for our program and sports camp.  We still have two days of fun planned with the kids, but we finished our structured program with a bang!

The program began with a welcome from Howard and enthusiastic music.  It felt like Camp Tsungani as 135 kids jumped and sang, pumping their fists in the air. Ben presented an amazing gospel presentation focused on forgiveness.  Each activity picked up where that left off and pressed the total understanding of the forgiveness of God over and over.

In arts and crafts Lana and Lauren had the kids make Salvation bracelets.  The materials had been put together in individual baggies by the campers at Camp Tsungani.  They even had the meaning of each bead written in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia.

Joe, Joyce and Anna (one of our interns) had letters written asking God for forgiveness. Joe explained that in order to be accepted by God, we must ask for forgiveness for our sins. He drew a cross on the chalkboard and put a garbage can under the cross (credit evans). He had the students tear up their letters with their sins and put them in the trash, representing how God sees our sin when we have asked for forgiveness.

During devotional Cathy knocked it out of the ballpark, with Liz fielding questions, applying the principal of forgiveness to their salvation.

Candice and Natalie had the kids playing with a beach ball, playing soccer and jumping rope.

We did get rained out of our sports camp in the afternoon, but we still had a chance for some personal and loving interaction as we walked to the soccer field with the kids holding our hands as they flocked around us, soaking in the sights, sounds and smells of Ethiopia!

Our debriefing periods have been very inspiring, encouraging and always full of laughter and tears. This has been our true bonding time. Our group is so diverse, but we have molded together as one body, serving God as a unit, incorporating each gift that we have been blessed with.

Thank you so much for all of the cards, letters, and notes. We absorb them and read them over and over, laughing, crying (we do a lot of both) and sharing your meaningful words of encouragement. Joe reads the blog and all of the comments to us every morning at breakfast. You will never know how moving your comments are. They are the best way to start the day.

We miss all of you and can’t wait to see you, but God is not finished with us here yet!

Love love, love, Team Ethiopia/Meme

Team Ethiopia 2014 Day Three

Team Ethiopia, a short-term missions group from Central Church in Collierville, TN, is now on the ground in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and ready to serve! Here is an update from Lana on Sunday, day three of the trip. I hate to admit this, especially being called to come on this trip, but in all honesty, I am not a pray-er. I do not pray much, and when I do, it is usually for others. I had a difficult time trying to decide on information to share with you. So while typing this, I asked God to help me push out my negative thinking at the moment and to help me organize my thoughts to share things about the whole team and not just about me and my selfish problems.

Thanks to Madison Frey’s and many others' prayers, the team was able to have a restful night, and we were all excited about the agenda for the day. This morning was sweet.  Each morning we enjoy the sound of a an unknown man singing his praises, a lullaby of words that I do not understand, but from the cry in his heart and the depth of his tone, I know it is one of love.

After eating a delicious breakfast of thick waffles, fruit, fluffy eggs, and buttered toast, we met together for our daily morning devotional led by Liz from 1 Samuel 3:8-9.  Joe and Kelly gave us the reminder to continue to challenge ourselves to focus on the reason why we are here and try our best to disconnect with the outside world, besides limited updates to family. I also discovered that during our morning devotional praise song, that Ben has a voice like Keith Urban.

The morning remained cool and crisp as we gathered together to attend worship service at the International Evangelical Church. We were all honored with the chance to see Dr. Ernie, Anne, Morgan, Meredith, and Madison Frey again. It was a joy to hear Dr. Frey speak the message to a church filled with different cultural backgrounds and walks of life; we met people from Australia, Asia, Europe, and other countries in Africa.

Dr. Frey’s message, titled, “More than Enough,” from Matthew 14:13-21, was passionately delivered and reminded us that we are “right in the middle of where God wants us to be.” “We have to conquer our lives with a childlike faith.” His message was perfect timing and just what Team Ethiopia needed to hear before we start our week of service and ministry to the children.

After service the team fellowshipped together for lunch. At our separate tables we were able to bond more with one another.

Afterwards, we headed on a search for a field to hold our bible school for the kids in tomorrow. The location God provided for us was more than we could imagine; a perfect size campus with two large play areas and several classrooms and a gorgeous sanctuary. This is my first mission trip, but I could feel Kelly’s excitement and thankfulness for God exceeding our expectations and needs for this mission.

After this amazing high, we returned to the guesthouse to rooms filled with our lost, late luggage. We finally had our supplies and equipment we needed, and we also received letters from our loved ones. We shared letters with one another, laughed and cried; the room was full of blessed feelings of love and gratitude.

After dinner together Ben led us in yet another emotional and reflective debriefing. These debriefings are the perfect part of the day; they are much needed. The team becomes organically honest and open to the questions asked each night. It’s a beautiful thing to see how different team members have been helpful towards one another during our journey with Christ. We are all on different spiritual levels but with the same purpose. Howard has been a father to all of us - his knowledge and encouragement has been instrumental to everyone on this team. The biggest inspiration to all is how amazing, the young ones (Lauren, Natalie, and Katie) are able to interpret their feelings and how awesome it is to see how mature they are in their passion and love for God mixed with their genuine bubbly personalities and laughter. During this night before our big day, we shared crazy moments, first time experiences, and heartaches. We were also blessed with three additional team members: Misty, Anna, and Liz #2; they will be joining us again tomorrow as we serve God and his children.

To end the night, we celebrated Meme, Ben, Ernie, and Nega’s birthday with a first class cake, baked by our one and only…Joyce!! We are now off to bed.... We are looking forward to loving on the kids tomorrow, allowing God to show his love through us. Thank you again for your many prayers and the ones you all will continue to say for us tonight. I am praying as well!

Love,

Team Ethiopia and Lana

Impact - A Conversation with Farm Hands

It is so exciting to see how the Kota Ganate Hatchery is impacting lives even before the first chick has been sold! This is exactly what the “Chicks for Change" campaign was all about.

Recently, we sat down and talked with the farm’s two hatchery technicians, Markos and Yacob, and asked them a bit about their lives and work. Both 22, their stories are common throughout the rural areas of Ethiopia.

Yacob, as the eldest child, quit school to help his family financially. He spent years doing strenuous farm labor for just 5 birr per day (5 birr equals a quarter in American money) before coming to Kota Ganate. He has worked with the farm for three years and is enthusiastic about his new position as hatchery technician.

However, it isn’t all about the money for Yacob. He is seeing his spiritual life changed as well. In his own words Yacob said, “Now I believe this will change my life. Not only the money, we (the staff) also do bible study and pray together, which will also change my life. It makes me closer with God.”

Markos also worked in agriculture before coming to Kota Ganate, and he prefers the atmosphere at this farm. He commented that because the work isn’t as laborious as what he has done before at other farms, he has strength for other activities and isn’t worn out at the end of the day. He enjoys this because it allows him time to read, both his Bible and other subjects of interest. Markos is excited about the impact the farm can have on the community. He sees the farm as a way to show God at work in the community. He commented, “Because the staff believes in God and pray, people who don’t know God from the community will come to know Him.”

Yacob and Markos have learned new skills in their new positions that will serve them both now and in the future. They understand and are excited about the impact that Kota Ganate can have on the community both financially and spiritually. Here are a few responses they gave to the question, “How will Kota Ganate benefit the community?”

• Direct support of beneficiaries – especially giving them access to education. (Something he missed out on)
• Increased job opportunities.
• People will learn about God through the example and witness of the staff.
• Provision of better, cheaper supply of poultry products – Chicks to raise, as well as, eggs and meat.
• Supply of other farm products – apples and seedlings, grass (used as hay for milk cows), electricity (we allow neighbors to tap into our electrical lines).

We are so thankful for the opportunity Kota Ganate affords us to invest in the spiritual and material lives of our farm hands as well as the community. And we couldn't do it without the support of people like you! Thank you for donating, and please pray for us as we share the Word and the love of Christ at Kota Ganate.