Mary’s Story

In the extremely poor village of Kijabe, Kenya, there lives a crippled widow named Mary. After her husband died of AIDS a few years ago, she struggled to find food.

While she suffers from HIV, too, Mary’s greatest challenge is a nerve problem in her legs. She has to use crutches to walk and can’t move very far. Most of the day, the pain keeps her seated, so she spends hours reading her Bible while her children are at school.

Mary’s two young children, Robert and Elizabeth, were getting a meal every day through Forward Edge’s feeding program at the local primary school. Every once in a while, there were enough leftovers to bring some home for Mary. 

Most days, though, Mary went hungry. She had become stick thin and constantly worried where she’d find her next meal.

Then came the pandemic. Quarantine measures forced our program to pivot from its normal food service at schools to delivering food packages to homes. That’s how we discovered Mary. God used the pandemic to bring us to her.

Immediately, our staff made sure Mary had consistent, nutritious meals. In time, they were even able to build the family a new home and buy Mary a new stove.

Today, months later, Mary’s anxiety is gone. She’s much healthier, has regained lost weight, and is happy again. She even has the strength to go sit outside her home and bask in the sun.

God reached out to Mary with His tangible love not just in spite of this horrible pandemic, but through it. A sweet reminder that no matter what hardships you face, God will work through them.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
-Romans 8:28

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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mission trips

My Forward Edge Story

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sheri Stanley, our Director of Operations & Mobilization, to hear her Forward Edge Story. While what we spoke about was only a fraction of God’s incredible works in her life, these significant moments were an inspiration to me, and I hope they

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child sponsorship

This is What Success Looks Like

A special message from our Program Directors in Mexico, Victor and Lety Velasco: Hola and Feliz Navidad from Forward Edge and our program down here in Oaxaca, Mexico. We want to tell you a story of the impact you’re making. One of the first families to join our program 10

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community support

When God Provides: A Widows Prayer Answered

Meet Madam Matha from the Naamu community in northern Ghana. Her faith was put to the test when her daughter worried about going to school without supplies. What happened next? A miracle of unexpected generosity. Dive into this incredible story and witness how God’s love and provision are making a real difference in their lives through our work.

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Transform a Child's Life Through Sponsorship

Habari (hello), my name is Jeff

  • location

    Kenya

  • 7 yrs. old

    10-06-2018

Entered the program: February 2026

Jeff lives with his mother in a rented one-room wood house with a corrugated metal roof and a cement floor. The house has access to electricity for purchase and they fetch water from a tap that they boil for drinking. The family cooks with propane in an outdoor kitchen and they share a communal pit latrine with their neighbors.

Jeff is the youngest of three children; his older sisters are young adults who live with their father. Jeff’s mother is a single parent who struggles to raise him alone. She separated from his father due to physical abuse and alcoholism. She is in poor health and suffers from seizures, diabetes and spinal problems. Jeff’s mom is usually unable to work and depends on the goodwill of others, like MBCP, for food and support.

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.