At Forward Edge, our story is more than 40 years in the making. It’s a tapestry of lives transformed, faith in action, and a mission shaped by prayerful listening to God’s call. Today, we want to take you behind the scenes and into the why behind every word of our Vision and Mission Statements—because every phrase was chosen with care, prayer, and purpose.
Our mission and vision aren’t just statements on paper. They’re the foundation for everything we do, pointing us—and everyone who partners with us—toward God’s heart for transformation. Here’s what each word truly means, and why it matters for every child, family, and supporter in the Forward Edge Family.
“Our vision is to see people around the world overcome spiritual and material poverty through Jesus Christ.”
People:
We chose “people” because our vision includes everyone touched by Forward Edge—not just children in our programs, but their families, staff, volunteers, donors, and mission team members. Every person matters, and every life has God-given worth and purpose.
Around the world:
Our hope is for global impact. Forward Edge works in several countries, and our heart is for transformation to reach every culture, every community—including our own.
Overcome spiritual and material poverty:
Poverty is more than physical need; it’s also spiritual. Jesus taught that true transformation starts in the heart (see Matthew 5:3). That’s why we care for both material and spiritual needs—helping children and families move beyond survival to flourishing.
Overcome:
We chose “overcome” because it speaks to hope and resilience. Even if poverty isn’t completely erased, through Christ, it doesn’t have to hold someone back from joy or purpose (see John 16:33).
Through Jesus Christ:
Transformation starts and ends with Jesus. Every gift, every act of service, every changed life points back to Him as the source of hope and the author of every good story (James 1:17).
“Our mission is to transform the lives of children trapped in poverty through Christ-centered, holistic care.”
Children:
God has led us to focus on children, because reaching them transforms generations. Our mission is about empowering children to step into their God-given future.
Transform:
We’re not about quick fixes or surface change. We invest for the long haul—helping children experience growth in every area of life: education, faith, health, dreams, and character.
Trapped in poverty:
“Trapped” acknowledges the hard reality children face—born into circumstances they didn’t choose, unable to break free alone. Our mission is to come alongside, break cycles, and open new possibilities.
Christ-centered:
Jesus is at the heart of everything we do. Our programs share His love in both word and deed, and every child is encouraged to discover their identity in Him.
Holistic care:
We care for the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. That means meals, education, medical care, emotional support, and spiritual discipleship. Our aim: children who are healthy, confident, and ready to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.
At Forward Edge, we put this vision and mission into action through three distinctives:
Pearl Partners: Local leaders, rooted in their own communities, guide and grow every program—making change personal and lasting.
Mission Teams: We invite others to serve, learn, and grow alongside our international partners, building lifelong relationships.
Child Sponsorship: We connect supporters with real children, creating opportunities for dignity, hope, and transformation on both sides.
Every word in our mission and vision was chosen to reflect God’s call and the kind of transformation we long to see in the world. Thank you for joining us on this journey—because together, we’re making a difference that lasts for generations.
One of the most impactful things I learned as a teenager was that God will do extraordinary things through you whether you are 5 or 45, 15 or 52; He has no age restrictions and certainly does not follow the boundaries that we build up ourselves. Even now, at 21,
Most families living in extreme poverty have very little opportunity to grow economically. Even if the will and grit to persue entrepeneurship is there, the start-up funds are not. Micro-lending is an increasingly integral part of international community development. Individuals wanting to start a small business are able to borrow
Bold Obedience In life, some moments stand out as divine interventions, where God’s hand is unmistakably at work. Mission trips are often such moments, where lives intersect with purpose, and hearts are transformed in ways beyond measure. Jilese’s recent journey to Oaxaca, Mexico, serves as a testament to this truth.
It started with a simple nudge—a last-minute feeling that I was forgetting something important. Rushing through the airport, I couldn’t shake the urge to buy a Bible. I didn’t know why, or who it was for, but I trusted the feeling. A week later, in a small village in Ghana, that Bible found its way into the hands of Talata, a girl who had never heard of Jesus. This is the story of how God’s quiet whispers and a small act of obedience became part of something much bigger than we could have imagined.
7 yrs. old
Entered the program: May 2024
Fabrice lives with his parents and sister in a tent located in an area where there are several houses. They have no bed and the family sleeps on the ground. They cook with a campfire and use a public restroom. His father is unemployed and his mother tries to sell bananas as a street vendor. The family has one meal a day.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
