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A Recipe for Transformation

When I introduce new people to Forward Edge, I’ll often describe what we do this way: we help children around the world overcome poverty, discover their true worth, and pursue God’s extraordinary purpose for their lives. 

I believe these three descriptors are distinct and important. Let me explain a little deeper what I mean by them. 

Overcoming Poverty  

Across the world, about 1 billion children are multidimensionally poor, meaning they lack basic necessities like nutrition or safe drinking water. Moreover, 150 million more children were plunged into poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In Haiti, children are being sold as property…in Mexico, teens search for hope through violent gangs…in Africa, AIDS orphans are abandoned in slums…and in Nicaragua, teen girls think pregnancy will put food on the table. My friend, this should not be. 

Jesus taught us to always remember the poor (Gal. 2:10) and to let the children come to him (Matt. 19:14). Equipping and empowering children and families to overcome poverty is how we can demonstrate God’s great love to a world in desperate need.  

Our dream is to see millions of children around the world freed from spiritual and material poverty and pursuing God’s extraordinary purpose for their lives. We believe that by equipping and empowering them, we’re investing in God’s Kingdom, both today and tomorrow. 

Read how Caleb, Hannah and their parents are overcoming poverty >>

Discovering Their True Worth 

Poverty isn’t solved only by meeting external needs. While we can increase a child’s chances of flourishing by providing nutritious meals, safe drinking water, quality education and access to health care, to fully overcome poverty, change must also happen on the inside. 

Internal change starts and ends with Jesus Christ. Every human being is spiritually bankrupt without him, and that’s the most important thing we teach every child we serve. Jesus is their only hope, but in him there’s more hope than one could ever need or imagine.  

By Christ and for Christ, every child was beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) with immense value and purpose. Until they can truly believe this, the symptoms of internal poverty – fear, self-loathing, apathy, anger, shame, and depression – will continue to hold them back from true flourishing. 

Discovering their true worth takes a long time for any child, but especially those coming from oppressive and impoverished environments. We’re committed to the long-term, consistent care of mind, body and soul that it takes to fully break the cycle of poverty for a new generation. 

Read how Medardo discovered his true worth >> 

Pursuing God’s Extraordinary Purpose for Their Lives 

Over the years, children in our programs experience transformation internally and externally, ultimately getting what they need to thrive and carry the Gospel into their families and communities with great influence and opportunity.  

But this looks different for each child because each child is unique. There’s no one size fits all. Think about your own children (if you have them). They are likely each gifted in different ways, and as their parent, I’m sure your desire is to help them discover and develop those unique gifts to build a fruitful life. 

That’s why our programs invest deeply in each child, discipling them along the way, and helping them each discover God’s unique and extraordinary purpose for their lives. 

To do this well, we must provide opportunities for them to jump the final hurdle in overcoming poverty: entering the workplace. Helping children obtain marketable skills through vocational training or university education – whatever fits best for each unique child – is an extra layer of support that sets Forward Edge apart from many other relief and development organizations serving children. 

Read how Job is pursuing God’s purpose for him >>

All poverty breaks God’s heart. In fact, that’s why Christ came – he became poor so that in him, we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). By joining together to help children overcome poverty, discover their true worth, and pursue God’s extraordinary purpose for their lives, we join Christ in His great work to redeem this world, for His glory and our good! 

Picture of Timothy Ainley
Timothy Ainley
Tim is passionate about Jesus and people. As his wife says, he gives his heart with his handshake. He enjoys a full gambit of conversation from lighthearted fun, jokes and games to the deeper discussions about life, faith and purpose. As the CEO, Tim's deep love for Jesus, the global Church, and children fuels his passion for the mission of Forward Edge.
child discipleship

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community

Pilau with Beef Recipe from Kenya

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Transform a Child's Life Through Sponsorship

Ka wula (hello), my name is Hawa Wunimi

  • location

    Ghana

  • 12 yrs. old

    06-01-2013

Entered the program: November 2025

Hawa lives with her mother and 3 siblings in one room of a rental house. The home is constructed of cement blocks, roofed with aluminum and has a concrete floor. They cook outdoors with wood and share a latrine with the other tenants.

Hawa’s mother is a single parent. She is unemployed and relies on assistance from other people to take care of herself and her children. They sometimes have only one meal a day. Hawa’s father abandoned the family, re-married, and moved to a another community. He doesn’t support his children, and meeting their needs, especially educational, is very challenging. On several occasions, Hawa has been sent home for non-payment of fees. She often does not have food to take to school. Hawa’s performance is affected due to the lack of textbooks for studying.

Sponsorship Level What's this?

Three $38 sponsorships are needed to cover the complete holistic care of one child. Cover one, two, or three sponsorships.