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.
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 >>
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.
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.
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!
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,
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.
A Birthday with a Purpose Rappel down the side of a building to raise money for children?! I’d never heard of such an idea, but it sounded great to me! I’d get to challenge myself, do something fun, and help children all at the same time. My fundraising goal was
Looking For Joy? Have you ever felt like you were on a hunt for joy? An 18-year-old boy was surprised to find it surrounded by people who had very little. He found it where you’d assume you’d find sadness. He went on a trip unsure of what he would experience
4 yrs. old
Entered the program: May 2025
Reagan lives with his parents and little sister in a rented two-room sheet metal house with a cement floor. The house has electrical lighting and water is drawn from a well. The family as an outdoor kitchen that uses firewood and charcoal for cooking. They also have a well-constructed bathroom and pit latrine that is in good condition.
Reagan’s parents are both casual laborers that rely on odd jobs; they struggle to provide for all of their children needs. The little income they earn pays the rent and food but is not enough to supply school fees and medical expenses that arise.
