You know, I usually try to tell you what is happening in the 11 nations served through the One Child Fund. But today, I want to take you down a different road—and it may be a hard one to travel.
Over the past year, several of our monthly donors have passed away. One in particular stands out to me. She would call us every month. And as she was hanging up, she would always say, “I love you.”
I am not going to lie—the first time she said it, I thought, “Wait. . . . What?” Then I wondered if it was habit, like when you finish a call with a family member and say “I love you,” and then you accidentally say it to the next person you call.
But then I went back to that first thought . . . a family member. That’s who we were. From then on, when she said it, I said it back.
I miss that call.
I never met her in person, but that monthly conversation mattered to me. It was not about updates or long discussions, just her calling to give her donation. And when those calls stopped, I mourned—not because of the money, but because she had become part of my life.
Toward the end of the year, as I realized how many of our donors had passed away, I started asking myself a hard question: Will the One Child Fund still exist five years from now?
The reason for that question is simple. Most of our faithful donors are older. When we ran the numbers, less than 12 percent of our donors are under the age of 50. If more Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z don’t step in, the One Child Fund, which currently touches the lives of over 400 children, could cease to exist.
So, I want to start here. I am asking you, no matter your age, to pray for the One Child Fund.Pray for the students, teachers, leaders, host homes, governments, and for God to raise up more donors. If you want specific prayer requests or even the names of children to pray for, please contact me. I would truly love to share them with you.
And now, I am going to ask you to give.
You don’t have to give a lot. I know some of you are just getting started in life. Others are paying off student loans, raising families, or living paycheck to paycheck just trying to keep your head above water. I also know there are many good causes asking for your support.
So even if you can’t give $50 a month (even split between paychecks), start with $10 a month. Faithful, consistent giving, no matter the amount, changes lives.
There are several ways to give, but the easiest (and my personal favorite) is automatic withdrawal, so you don’t even have to think about it. You can get started at globalcogop.org/donate.
And if you have questions, “Call me, beep me, if ya wanna reach me” because I know the “sitch” [situation].
Shelly Wilbanks
One Child Fund
P.O. Box 2910
Cleveland, TN 37320-2910
423.559.5209
swilbanks@cogop.org
onechildfund@cogop.org
