In Matthew 13, Jesus is sitting in his friend’s home, after a long day of teaching parables to the crowds. His disciples ask him about the Kingdom of Heaven, and he shares another story with them, to help them understand: “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Pearls have been considered one of the most valuable gemstones for thousands of years and across cultures around the world. Jesus knew that his disciples would immediately understand the value of a pearl – and the dedication a merchant would endure to find one.
The fascinating part about pearls is that they are an object of beauty, value and worth that is hidden from plain sight. Finding a pearl requires hard work, and an investment of one’s time, resources and energy. But when you find a pearl of great value, all the sacrifice is worth it in an instant.
At Forward Edge, we have set out to find “pearls” among the nations: men and women who love Jesus, love their neighbors, and have made an incredible impact through their ministry. We seek to partner with them so that the lives of children in their communities can be transformed through Christ-centered, holistic care.
And like the merchants from Jesus’ day, we have a thorough and dedicated process to finding our Pearl Partners. The six key characteristics that every Pearl Partner needs are:
Finding leaders who fit these core characteristics requires patience, a listening ear and discernment of the Holy Spirit’s leading… but it is abundantly worth it.
We have found Pearl Partners in Oaxaca, Mexico: Victor and Lety Velasco, who feed 120 children every day through their feeding program, while equipping young people with educational tools through the Siloe School and sharing the Gospel through their ministry at Trigo y Miel.
We have found Pearl Partners in Tamale, Ghana: Jonathan and Rhoda Haruna, who have provided children with access to school, safe water, food resourcing, and critical healthcare needs while proclaiming the good news of Jesus in a predominantly Muslim community.
And by the grace of God, we’ve found many more over the years – in Nicaragua, Kenya, Uganda, Haiti, Cuba and Kosovo. Each of these treasured partners were already doing impactful and sustainable work for the Kingdom when we discovered them ourselves; but their work was already being molded and formed by the Holy Spirit and their dedication to loving God and their neighbors.
Pearls are created by oysters as a natural defense against an irritant or parasite which threatens to enter their body. In the same way, each of our Pearl Partners has experienced a moment where they rose up to defend, care for and protect children in their community who have been affected by poverty. They saw how a lack of food, clean water, healthcare and education can damage a young person’s future, and they made sacrifices to help meet their needs. They have created a ministry that is like a pearl for their community, shining brightly amongst the darkness of poverty
When Forward Edge meets a potential Pearl Partner, we undergo a strategic process that includes meeting the leaders virtually, hearing their story, and then reporting back to Forward Edge’s leadership team and board. If this process is bearing fruit, our Director of Programs will conduct a “site visit” to connect with them in their context, identify key data points and then prayerfully submit these findings to the board.
This process takes time, but has produced deep, trustworthy partnerships with leaders who align with the mission of Forward Edge. We feel incredibly grateful to have found these partners and are praying that God would lead us to even more!
Have you ever experienced an offer of generosity from a family member, friend, or acquaintance that was well-intentioned, but…misplaced? Perhaps a friend making you a meal you’re allergic to or a parent buying you a piece of furniture you have no room for. Of course you say thank you, but
Photography is more than just a way to document your mission trip—it’s a bridge to connection, a chance to honor the stories of those you encounter. As you step into communities, camera in hand, pause to reflect. Are you capturing moments with care and respect? Are your photos fostering dignity rather than reducing people to subjects?
This blog is a part of an ongoing series on Forward Edge’s Pearl Partners. Check out our highlights on Cuba and Haiti and enjoy this interview with Jane Wathagana. 20 years ago, Jane Wathagana was a successful businesswoman in Kenya, the Director of Animal World Safaris and Elangata Luxury
Jesus calls us to step outside of ourselves—our own ways of viewing and doing things—if we are to follow him, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself” Matthew 16:24. The same is true when ministering cross-culturally. Ministering to those in a culture different from your own is
5 yrs. old
Entered the program: November 2025
Skymillan lives with her father’s cousin, his wife, and their son in a three-room plastered house that has a cemented floor and a corrugated roof. They have electricity for purchase and fetch water from a borehole that they boil for drinking. They have an outdoor kitchen and use firewood and sometimes charcoal or propane for cooking. The family has a good bathroom facility and a pit latrine.
Skymillan is the only child to her parents who separated after she was born. Her parents are both addicts and that, plus the constant conflicts between them, led Skymillan’s mother to attempt drowning her in a tank full of water when she was a baby. Luckily, she was rescued by her father’s cousin, who took her into his home. Her parents are not in contact with her. Skymillan’s guardians are casual laborers and they go out each day to search for work to provide for their family’s needs.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
