Information for Churches
Thank you so much for your interest in learning more about Potter's House Ministries in Romania and our plans for the children's homes and social programs.
All of our social programs will have evangelistic elements to them. We believe that changing lives does start with the Gospel, and we also know that the current situations need to change delicately. When children are sent on the streets to beg for money, it's hard to get them into the schools because that's one of their main ways of making money for the family. One major reason that Rroma parents don't work (besides a lack of or low education) is the way that they are treated within society. We want to change the next generation of Rroma children, but the major way to do that is to allow them to go to school. When they are their family's source of income, if they attend school to better their education, their family will suffer. Therefore, we are also creating a food distribution program, where we will be providing food for their families. Another thing we don't want is to create dependence. So, this food distribution program has to come with conditions. These conditions are:
Another main section of our programs is the children's homes. There are a lot of children who have been abandoned by their parents for many different reasons. A lot of that can be that they couldn't afford another child (they may already have 6, 7, or even 8 children). We will be starting 3 children's homes, with a total capacity of 18 children. We will need to purchase land and build the homes (we want it on the same land since it will become our main headquarters/campus). In each phase, we will build one children's home. We will also build an office on the land (with space for the founders to live in a house that is directly attached to the office). Also, in this first phase, we will build a playground for the children (it will be the same playground for the other two children's homes eventually as well).
We would love Churches to join us on this mission, not just in giving but also in going (short-term, mid-term, and long-term missions). For this first phase, we have an idea of how we'd love Churches to get involved in giving.
All of our social programs will have evangelistic elements to them. We believe that changing lives does start with the Gospel, and we also know that the current situations need to change delicately. When children are sent on the streets to beg for money, it's hard to get them into the schools because that's one of their main ways of making money for the family. One major reason that Rroma parents don't work (besides a lack of or low education) is the way that they are treated within society. We want to change the next generation of Rroma children, but the major way to do that is to allow them to go to school. When they are their family's source of income, if they attend school to better their education, their family will suffer. Therefore, we are also creating a food distribution program, where we will be providing food for their families. Another thing we don't want is to create dependence. So, this food distribution program has to come with conditions. These conditions are:
- Their children must attend school
- Their children must attend our afterschool program
- The family will receive food until the parents are supporting the family
- This means at least the father should get a job (and perhaps the mother)
- If they don't meet most qualifications to get a job, we will help them qualify through a job preparation program
- This job preparation program includes job etiquette, literacy (if needed), CV preparation, interview preparation, and access to work clothes (at least for the interview, and if they still need clothes for the job, we will help them get it).
- After a few months of them being on the job, their food distribution will be decreased or removed because they are able to support their family on their own and so we can help even more.
Another main section of our programs is the children's homes. There are a lot of children who have been abandoned by their parents for many different reasons. A lot of that can be that they couldn't afford another child (they may already have 6, 7, or even 8 children). We will be starting 3 children's homes, with a total capacity of 18 children. We will need to purchase land and build the homes (we want it on the same land since it will become our main headquarters/campus). In each phase, we will build one children's home. We will also build an office on the land (with space for the founders to live in a house that is directly attached to the office). Also, in this first phase, we will build a playground for the children (it will be the same playground for the other two children's homes eventually as well).
We would love Churches to join us on this mission, not just in giving but also in going (short-term, mid-term, and long-term missions). For this first phase, we have an idea of how we'd love Churches to get involved in giving.
