VISIONTRUST CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2017
visiontrust.org/christmas
Come Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Last year, I asked a friend of mine, “What are you celebrating this Christmas?” She replied, “I’m not celebrating anything, I’m just trying to survive!” Her response caused me to truly think about what I was really celebrating. Was it family coming together? Giving and receiving from others? As I thought about my answer, I realized that I am celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The magi that brought gifts to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus understood the magnitude of the birth of Jesus. Their celebration included significant gifts that were both useful and sacrificial of their time and wealth. Scholars estimate that they traveled nearly 1,000 miles, which would take around 33 days. What a commitment! When they finally arrived, they gave high value gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts provided the financial means for Mary and Joseph to flee Egypt to save Jesus’ life. This Christmas, I invite you to celebrate the birth of Jesus like the magi did, by sacrificially giving. In this edition of our VisionTrust Giving Guide, we have selected the most practical items that will make a transformational impact in the lives of extremely impoverished children and their communities. Let’s work together this Christmas to join in the magi’s example of celebrating the birth of Jesus! Thank you for making this Christmas merry for children around the world,
Matt Storer, President
IT’S EASY TO GIVE ONLINE! De
Just click on any of the items in this elopment guide to make your one-time or annually recurring gift today! THE STORY OF JESUS (10pk) You may also call 719.268.2943 to speak with a friendly VisionTrust representative.
Share the truth of Jesus Christ in a simple and fun way through this short, comic-style booklet.
PACK OF 100
$ 20 ONE-TIME GIFT
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
$200
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
ONE-TIME GIFT
SPIRITUAL GROWTH KIT Help children build a relationship with God by giving them a useful tote bag filled with their very own Bible and devotional materials.
All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. VisionTrust will distribute any excess funds where needed most.
$ 35
ONE-TIME GIFT
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
P.S. The special items designated as a “Great Group Gift” provide a wonderful opportunity to invite your friends, family, church, and co-workers to make a difference together this Christmas!
Who is VisionTrust? “We are a growing group of people with a passion to love the neediest children around the world. By providing thoughtful interventions like safe water, nutritious food, health care, spiritual mentoring, and education, together we can end the cycle of poverty and see these children live for God and love others.”
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS
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Spiritual De elopment
We believe it is essential to share the life-changing love of Jesus with children. By partnering with and investing in local Christians, we ensure each child has the opportunity to hear the Word of God and be discipled.
4 To give: Click on the items in this guide • Visit visiontrust.org/christmas • Call 719.268.2943
THE STORY OF JESUS (10pk) Share the truth of Jesus Christ in a simple and fun way through this short, comic-style booklet.
PACK OF 100
$ 20 ONE-TIME GIFT
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
$200
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
ONE-TIME GIFT
SPIRITUAL GROWTH KIT Help children build a relationship with God by giving them a useful tote bag filled with their very own Bible and devotional materials.
$ 35
ONE-TIME GIFT
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
DISCIPLESHIP TEACHER SALARY Invest in the Local Heroes who teach God’s Word and help students grow in their relationship with Christ.
$ 3000
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
ONE-TIME GIFT
Gr G R ou E A pG T ift
“Even though we teach them about their school lessons, I believe that sharing about God’s love and teaching them about Jesus is the most vital and important thing that we are doing here right now.” — Sattur, Local Hero, India
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS
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Education
Our desire is for every child to receive an education, despite the financial and cultural barriers many in poverty face. By providing necessary things like uniforms, supplies, tutoring, and caring teachers who share God’s love every day, we ensure that children are able to enroll and be successful in school. 6 To give: Click on the items in this guide • Visit visiontrust.org/christmas • Call 719.268.2943
SCHOOL SUPPLIES Many families cannot afford to purchase simple items like notebooks, pencils, and a backpack. These items can help set up a child for academic success.
$ 35 ONE-TIME GIFT
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
CLASSROOM MATERIALS Provide classroom necessities such as a blackboard and chalk or furniture like benches, tables, and chairs.
$ 250
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
$ 60
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
ONE-TIME GIFT
ACCESS TO EDUCATION Without the ability to pay for school fees or a uniform, many children around the world cannot attend school. Give a child the opportunity to learn by helping to overcome these barriers.
ONE-TIME GIFT
OUTSTANDING STUDENT: We are so proud of our hard-working kids around the world. This year, Sumitra*, a VisionTrust student in India, placed 10th out of 850,000 students on her high school exam. Congrats, Sumitra!
*name changed for safety www.visiontrust.org/christmas 719.268.2943 GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS
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8 To give: Click on the items in this guide • Visit visiontrust.org/christmas • Call 719.268.2943
e p o H
IN THE MIDST OF HEARTBREAK
ROSA* is a 10-year-old who has attended one of our Learning Centers for over two years. Her story is one of heartbreak coupled with resounding hope and triumph found in Christ. You would never imagine, when seeing her contagious, joyful smile, the horrific experience she’s been through. While walking to the Learning Center one day, two men pulled up alongside Rosa and kidnapped her. They held her hostage in their vehicle for over an hour, driving around the city until they found an abandoned building where one of them began assaulting her. Thankfully, the men heard a noise and left, allowing Rosa to escape. In the following weeks, Rosa couldn’t sleep due to the terrible nightmares that plagued her. However, by God’s grace and with help from counselors, Rosa found hope again, and her joyful smile slowly returned. Now she rests in the comfort of Christ, knowing that while she will have trouble in this world, He has overcome. What happened to Rosa is tragic, but her story is not finished. Rosa is passionate about using her testimony to share the hope she’s found. She has big dreams of becoming a missionary to teach others to live for God and love others—and we can’t wait to see God’s plan for her. She is a living, breathing example of the hope, joy, and comfort that can be found in Christ.
*name has been changed to protect the child’s privacy
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS
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Health
A healthy child is able to grow, learn, and play, but a child battling hunger or disease is forced to focus on one thing: survival. We help children reach their full potential by providing preventative care and health interventions, including nutritious meals, clean water, hygiene training, antiretroviral drugs, and emergency medical care. 10 To give: Click on the items in this guide • Visit visiontrust.org/christmas • Call 719.268.2943
NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR ONE YEAR A bag of rice alone can provide for over 300 meals, and balancing a child’s diet with protein is vital for healthy development. Help provide a daily, protein-rich meal to nourish a child for a year. ONE-TIME GIFT
$ 65
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
HANDWASHING STATION Handwashing is one of the most important public health interventions. Improve the health of up to 200 children through hygiene education and the infrastructure to facilitate regular handwashing with soap and clean water.
$ 500
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
$ 30
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
ONE-TIME GIFT
MEDICAL CARE Access to health care is extremely limited for children living in poverty. Give the gift of health through preventative services like deworming, health screenings, and other basic medical treatments.
ONE-TIME GIFT
Did you know? Every week we serve 45,000 + nutritious meals to kids around the world! Feeding kids protein-rich meals gives them the ability to fight disease and the energy they need to focus in school.
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS
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Community De elopment A child’s surroundings play a vital role in his or her future. By addressing needs with things like safe water, mentoring programs, and sustainable agriculture, we’re able to empower both children and their communities.
12 To give: Click on the items in this guide • Visit visiontrust.org/christmas • Call 719.268.2943
FAMILY WATER FILTER VisionTrust serves thousands of families without a protected water source. Provide a family with the filter, supplies, and training necessary for consistent ONE-TIME GIFT access to clean water.
$150
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
$ 1000
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
SUPPORT A CHICKEN FARM Chicken farms provide a sustainable and nutritious food source for children in our programs and benefit the entire community through egg sales and job opportunities.
LAUNCH A NEW PROGRAM VisionTrust programs begin with local leaders who have a vision to reach the children suffering most in their community. Partner with us to establish a new program and holistically meet the needs of the children for the first six months.
ONE-TIME GIFT
Gr G R ou E A pG T ift
$5000
ONE-TIME GIFT
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL GIFT
Gr G R ou E A pG T ift
“I wanted to show my appreciation for what’s been done for me and go into something that would not just help myself but would help others.” — Emmanuel, HELP student and practicing nurse in Togo
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS
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1,974
Every dollar received is purposefully used to bring about real and lasting change in this world and for eternity
2017 IMPACT REPORT
45,000
NEW CHILDREN IN PROGRAMS
194
PROGRAMS IN OPERATION
WEEKLY MEALS S AROUND THE W
730 +
CHILDREN ACCEPTED CHRIST
14 Give in honor of your family and friends. Download a card at visiontrust.org/christmas/cards
e s o p Pur
A LIFE OF
IT’S INCREDIBLE TO SEE what can happen when the people of God band together to love children around the world. Our heart at VisionTrust is to see impoverished, orphaned, and neglected children grow up to live for God and love others—and we are so proud to see that mission embodied in a young Dominican woman named Ivelisse. Growing up in the impoverished community of Herrera, Ivelisse’s childhood was far from carefree. As the eleventh child registered in our very first Learning Center in the Dominican Republic, however, she always had a place to experience God’s unconditional love. With help from our Local Heroes, Ivelisse developed essential life skills and deepened her relationship with God.
0+
483
SERVED WORLD
MISSION TEAM MEMBERS SENT
18,123 +
TOTAL CHILDREN SERVED
Flash-forward 20 years, and the transformation in Ivelisse’s life is evident. She has not only completed her primary and secondary education, but also obtained an advanced degree in accounting. The sky is now the limit for Ivelisse, a young woman who truly loves God and wants to serve Him through a career in professional accounting and volunteer work with her church’s youth group.
Will you join us in praying for Ivelisse as she continues to follow God and serve her community faithfully?
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visiontrust.org/christmas
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