Dear Cornerstone family,
How long has it been since you’ve visited our mission support page online? If it’s been a while, venture over there sometime soon. We have a growing slate of new mission partners from England, Scotland, and South Asia just to name a few. You can click on pictures of our mission partners and learn about their work, organization, or agency. Also, don’t forget to read the Mission Prayer Focus in the bulletin each week! Mrs. Molly Banks helps pull that together for us, and it’s one of the best ways to stay up to date on the latest news and needs from our mission partners.
Thankfully, it’s not just mission giving that’s happening at Cornerstone. There is also mission going that’s happening! Just this week, several of our youth were serving in national and international settings. And just this week, two other members shared with me their plans for taking a foreign mission trip later this year. I love seeing the Lord firing up the hearts of his people for the call of global missions!
Speaking of global missions, another member, Mrs. Lindsey Elliot, recently traveled to Belize with Oaks of Righteousness, a nonprofit organization she founded. Oaks of Righteousness exists to support children in Belize through a sponsorship program that allows them to receive an education, the necessary school supplies and uniform, and, most importantly, learn about the love and grace of God.
I asked Lindsey if she would be willing to tell us about her trip, and how we can continue to pray and support this vital work. Here’s what she wrote:
“I traveled to Belize along with 16 others to care for, love on, and serve children who received a scholarship through our organization, Oaks of Righteousness.
School in Belize is not free. These families are faced with the decision to send their children to school or put food on the table. Single moms often have to take undesirable jobs in order to provide for their families. Children are not able to finish school because they need to work in order to help take care of their siblings. Most children do not make it past 8th grade.
We traveled to three different communities where we gave out 180 school scholarships! While there, we had the opportunity to visit with families in their homes, hear their stories, and pray with them. We held an awards ceremony in each community where we gave the children a certificate and a new backpack full of school supplies. It was such a joyous occasion to call them each by name, cheer them on, and pray over them. The outpouring of gratitude from each family was overwhelming.
We would love your prayers. In just a couple of months, we will have 50 additional children who need sponsors. Please pray that they will be chosen quickly. Pray that we would seek God’s wisdom and guidance as we grow. And pray this ministry would bless the lives of the sponsored children as well as their sponsors.
We are so grateful to Cornerstone and this body for supporting our ministry and these children in Belize. Seeds are being planted and hope is being stirred up. Thank you for your prayers and support.”
If you would like to learn more about Oaks of Righteousness, feel free to reach out to Lindsey directly at lindsey@oaksofhope.org or visit them online at oaksofhope.org.
