The first step is to select the child that you wish to sponsor. You can do that on the website by clicking here then simply follow the instructions for "adopting" your child. If you do not have access to the internet, please feel free to call our office at 506-8993 to make the arrangements. If you have no preference as to which child you will sponsor, we would love to match you with the child that has the greatest need. Within 1-2 weeks after your initial contact, you will receive a packet of information confirming the sponsorship.
Q.
When do I begin sponsoring the child that I selected?
A.
You can start right away! You can either pay your monthly support of $30.00 through Pay Pal on our website (Go to Contact Us/Online Giving/Recurring Payment) or mail your monthly check to Heart Cry International, P.O. Box 207, Mt.Pleasant, MI 48804 using the envelopes that are provided. Checks shouldbe made payable to Heart Cry International. Please specify your child's name and code number on the bottom left corner of your check. Sponsorship payments may be sent at any time throughout the month and then fees from all sponsors are sent collectively to the partner ministry at the beginning of the following month.
Q.
How much of the $30 sponsorship fee actually goes to my child?
A.
Twenty five dollars of your fees are sent each month for the child. We keep only $5 of your donation to cover postage, wiring funds, yearly updates and pictures, and administrative costs.
Q.
How is my sponsorship money used and how is it distributed?
A.
Your finances will allow the child to attend school by helping to pay for his/her tuition, school uniform, and books. It will provide for Christian discipleship, one healthy meal each day, and basic health care.
We send your donation to the approved ministry partner that represents Heart Cry International, usually a native pastor or missionary of long-standing relationship with our founders. The partner distributes the funds to the appropriate agents. Sponsored children do not receive the money directly. This protects your money from being used on other things by family members or friends.
Q.
How can I be sure the funds are being used properly?
A.
Each of our ministry partners is required to send a monthly financial report to Heart Cry International. You are welcome to see a copy of these reports at any time.
Q.
May I write to my child?
A.
We would love for you to write to your child! You can submit a letter or card with your monthly donation anytime you wish. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN YOUR LAST NAME OR GIVE YOUR ADDRESS TO YOUR CHILD. This will protect you from harassment from others who might read the child's mail. We send your cards and letters to the partner ministry the first week of each month. Remember that it takes time to get there!
Q.
May my sponsored child write to me?
A.
Yes!! If the child does not speak English, we will have our host ministry interpret and write for him/her. Please do not be offended if your child does not write back, however. This is a new concept for many of our children. Any letters from the child will be sent to our office and we will forward them to you. This is to protect you as well as the children.
Q.
May I send gifts to my child?
A.
You can give an extra cash donation with your monthly support at any time. Specify that the extra amount is a gift for your sponsored child. It will be sent with your monthly payment the first week of the following month. Our partner will give the cash to the child (or to the parent or care giver for the child, depending on the situation) in a private setting. You could also include stickers, paper dolls or planes, balloons, etc. in a card or letter. Remember, lightweight and compact is best!
Q.
Is it possible for me to visit my sponsored child?
A.
In some cases, the child may live in an area that is unsafe for you to visit. However, if the child lives in a safe zone, you could join a Heart Cry Short-term Mission Team when it visits the host ministry of your child. If you wish to do this, you will need to contact our office to find out about cost, training, and practical preparation necessary to participate on one of our short-term teams. Keep in mind that visiting your child will only be a part of what you will do. You will have an opportunity to bless that nation in other ways as the team labors together in ministry, building projects, training, and medical missions.
Q.
How often will I receive updates about my child?
A.
You can expect an update and current photo at least once a year. The update will include information about the child's health, progress in school, family situation, etc. Updates will be sent through the mail, but you can also access the information from our website by clicking on What We Do/Sponsorship Programs/Sponsor Login, then click on Find Your Child. As a security measure, you must log in before going to Find Your Child. Don't forget to log out after ending your session.
Q.
May I sponsor more than one child?
A.
Of course! We would be delighted to have you support as many children as you can reasonably afford, however, please do not over-commit yourself. Sometimes our hearts are bigger than our income! Begin with one or two children that you can nurture through grade school and high school and add one at a time. We are seeking sponsors who are willing to make a long time commitment to the child and the relationship. Please be sure you can afford the sponsorship before you commit to it, as it can sometimes be difficult later to find new sponsors for the children. To prevent disappointment, we ask that you only make commitments that you can keep.
Q.
What if I can no longer sponsor the child that I selected?
A.
If something unexpected happens and you can no longer support your child, we will understand. We pray you would only discontinue sponsorship in the event of unexpected financial problems or an emergency or some sort. Your child depends on your support to enable him or her to continue receiving the help that is needed. If you do need to discontinue support, please contact our office as soon as possible. We will do our best to find a new sponsor for your child.
The first step is to select the sister you wish to sponsor. You can do that on the website by clicking here, then simply follow the website instructions for "adopting" the chosen mother. You will be notified of the approval of sponsorship within a short period of time (usually 1-2 weeks). If you do not have access to the internet, please feel free to call our office. We will help match you with a woman that fulfills your requirements.
Q.
When do I begin sponsoring the woman that I selected?
A.
You can start right away! You can either pay your monthly support of $30 at our webiste using Pay Pal (there are instructions to guide you through the process) or mail your monthly check or money order to our office. All checks and money orders must be made out to Heart Cry Ministries. Simply specify the sponsored woman's name and code number in the bottom left-hand corner of your check.
Q.
How much of my $30 sponsorship actually goes to my selected sister?
A.
We are able to send $25 of your sponsorship fee to the mother to assist with her and her children's education/discipleship/shelter each month. We keep only $5 of your donation to cover postage, wiring of funds, and administrative costs.
Q.
What is my sponsorship used for and how is it distributed?
A.
When you read your selected mother's biography, you will learn exactly how the finances will be used. In almost every case, your finances will pay for your mother's children to attend school, will pay for his/her school uniform and books, provide Christian discipleship, one healthy meal a day, and basic health care. In some cases, your dollars will be stretched to provide shelter as well.
We send your donation to our approved partner of Heart Cry International - usually a native pastor or missionary of long-standing relationship with the founders of Heart Cry International. The partner then distributes the funds. No woman or her children receives the finances directly. This protects the finances from being used on other things by family members or friends.
Q.
May I write to my sponsored sister?
A.
We would love for you to write to your sponsored sister! You can submit a printed letter or card with your monthly donation anytime you wish! PLEASE DO NOT SIGN YOUR LAST NAME OR GIVE YOUR ADDRESS TO THE WOMAN. This will protect you from harassment from others who might read the woman's mail. We will send your card or letter the first week of each month. Remember that it takes time to get there!
Q.
May my sponsored sister write to me?
A.
Yes!! If the woman does not speak English, we will have our host ministry interpret and write for her. Please do not be offended if your sister does not write, however. This is a new concept to many of our women. The woman's letter will be sent to our office and we will forward it to you. This is for your protection as well as that of the sponsored women.
Q.
May I send gifts to my newly sponsored friend?
A.
You can send an extra cash donation with your monthly support at any time. Specify that the extra amount is a gift for your sponsored woman. It will be sent with the monthly sum the first week of the following month. Our host partner will give the cash to the woman in a private setting. You can also include small items (stickers, bookmarks, balloons) in your card or letter. These are treats that your new friend may never experienced and she will enjoy them with her family!
Q.
Would it be possible for me to one day visit my sponsored friend?
A.
In some cases, the woman may live in an area unsafe for you to visit. However, if the woman lives in a safe zone, you could join a Heart Cry Short-Term Mission Team when it visits the ministry your woman is a part of. If you wish to do this, you will need to contact our office to find out the cost, training, and practical preparation necessary to participate on one of our short-term teams. Keep in mind that visiting your mother will only be a part of what you will do. You will have an opportunity to bless that nation in other ways as the team labors together in ministry, building projects, training, and medical missions.
Q.
What if I can no longer sponsor the woman that I selected?
A.
If something unexpected happens and you can no longer support the woman, we will understand. We pray you would only discontinue sponsorship in an event of unexpected financial problems or an emergency of some sort. Your new friend depends on your support to enable her to continue receiving the help she needs. If you need to discontinue support, please contact our office as soon as possible. We will do our best to find a new sponsor for your friend.
Q.
May I sponsor more than one woman?
A.
Of course! We would be delighted to have you support as many overcoming women as you can reasonably afford. Please do not over-commit yourself. Sometimes our hearts are bigger than our income! Begin with one or two women, and add one at a time. Make sure you can definitely afford the sponsorship before you commit to it. It can sometimes be difficult to find new sponsors for our friends, so we ask that you only make commitments you can keep.
Q.
Why was the program started?
A.
The "Woman to Woman" ministry began as an effort to support impoverished women as they worked to provide for their families and keep them together in extremely difficult situations. Women were deserted, widowed by AIDS, some living with it themselves. Many were faced with the prospect of placing their children in an orphanage. Pastor Carla's heart was to help them become independent and self-sufficient to create a better life for themselves and their children.
Copyright 2008, Heart Cry International PO Box 207, Mt.Pleasant MI 48804, 989-506-8993
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