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2021: A Year to Celebrate

2021 has been an incredible year. At Forward Edge, our hearts swell with gratitude for all God has done. His awesome faithfulness through another difficult year has been such a blessing to witness. Children around the world are discovering their true worth and purpose and growing in intimacy with Jesus, and that is the greatest blessing of all. 

Today, we celebrate some of the top highlights from this year:  

Children help their families in Cuba – In Cuba, food and medicine costs have skyrocketed this year. As a response, several of the children in our program there decided to help their families by starting their own small businesses for extra income. Alexis is a young man who learned from a relative how to make aluminum rings out of useless coins. Once finished, he gives them to a friend to sell. María is a young woman and another shining example of generosity: She plants cactuses of different kinds in old containers, and once the plants are established, neighbors come buy them. María then joyfully gives the money to her grandma to buy the loaves of bread they need for the day. We’re inspired by the resourcefulness and generosity of these children! 

Our preschool in Kijabe, Kenya has a new building and expanded. Thanks to Forward Edge partners, we were able to build a preschool building complete with two different classrooms and a teacher’s office this year! Before, the students were crammed in an old dining hall. This expansion has allowed the school to almost double in size. Our preschool welcomed 23 children over the summer and is equipping them with the vital early education needed to succeed in primary school and beyond!  

Our first-ever “Over The Edge” event was a success – On August 21st, the Forward Edge family rappelled down the side of the Portland Astoria building in downtown Portland, OR to raise money for children in our programs. In total, there were 68 rappelers and a total of $195,000 raised. For those of you able to join in person, you know just how special this day was.

We had our best Worth & Purpose Virtual Banquet to date – In October, the Global Forward Edge Family gathered virtually and in-person to look back on the miraculous ways God has built the ministry of Forward Edge since 1983, hear the heartwarming story of Peter, and announce the new CEO of Forward Edge, Tim Ainley. Together, we raised over $400,000 to support and expand our programs for the vulnerable! Our deepest thanks to everyone who was able to join!  

Siloé School opened in Oaxaca, Mexico! – Over the summer, Siloé School, a private Christian elementary school for children in our program officially opened. In November, the school hosted an Awards Ceremony to recognize students with the best bimonthly grade point average. Students have already improved a great deal academically since the school opened a few short months ago. Praise God!  

Operation Enduring Homes is still thriving in Mexico – Missionaries Tom and Wendy Hogan lead this homebuilding ministry in conjunction with our Mexico children’s program. So far they have completed 11 new homes for families in most need! The block factory they manage along with the construction of homes provides jobs for 11 families in the community. We’re so thankful for this life-changing program.  

Of course, there are many cherished and truly beautiful moments from this year, and we simply can’t count them all. We hope you enjoyed looking back on these moments as much as we did. Cheers to a fantastic year ahead in 2022! 
child discipleship

Faith, Family, and the Drumbeat of Ramadan

What does it look like to follow Jesus in a culture where most of your community—and even your own family—follows a different faith? In Kosova, where Ramadan is a time of fasting and nightly celebration, young believers often feel the tension deeply.

This blog, written by our Kosova program directors Nora and Metush, shares the powerful story of Ymer—a boy learning to hold onto Jesus in the middle of cultural and spiritual pressure.

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children's programs

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

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nicaragua

Discovering His Worth: Medardo’s Story

“If I look back and see what I was, I can see a nefarious, and even a little perverted, young man. I was someone aimless, without knowledge and without any foundation.” Medardo grew up in an open-air garbage dump called La Chureca in Managua, Nicaragua, and then later, in Villa

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Bringing Hope

Elvin’s Journey of Hope

“Every Saturday, my heart was filled with joy,” says Elvin, reflecting on the love and care he found at Cornerstone Kosova. Growing up in the harsh realities of Kosova, Elvin once faced a life full of hardship. But through the community’s love and the teachings of Jesus, his life was transformed. Now 15, Elvin’s journey of hope continues, and he’s sharing that same love with others.

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Transform a Child's Life Through Sponsorship

Bonjou (hello), my name is Slowens

  • location

    Haiti

  • 13 yrs. old

    12-02-2011

Entered the program: August 2021

Slowens lives with his parents and younger sister in a two-room sheet metal house with electricity but no water. They use an outdoor latrine. His mother was a street vendor selling used clothing and his father does masonry when he finds work. Currently, his mother is unemployed and there may not be enough money for Slowens to return to school.

His sister, Habigael, is also in the Kids Club Program.

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.