Children arrive here with few belongings but very many needs. Most have no “families” to support them. They have no money. God sends them to us. It is our joy to care for them.

Because of people just like you, these kids enter a place free of the physical and emotional abuse they have often suffered. Warm, sensitive and highly trained social workers and psychologists greet them and promptly assess their needs. They meet compassionate, experienced “houseparents” dedicated to their care. They are welcomed into a new, loving home.

These beautiful children now have a place for their little paper sack of belongings. They have a room, safe for sleeping without fear of sexual abuse in the night. There’s lots of good food on the dining table shared by other children who know how they feel. There are competent adults, watching over and protecting them. They are not alone in this world anymore.

The kids go to good schools, often in specialized programs with tutors to help them catch up with other children their age. They are encouraged to just be kids, to play in the yard, join the band, become a cheerleader, play baseball, etc. Perhaps for the first time in their short lives, they are experiencing what most kids may take for granted.

Of all we provide, the most important is a “Christian home” full of love and acceptance. Every child attends church with their new Christian City “family”. Their emotional, physical and spiritual needs are addressed in an appropriate and balanced way. They see, and experience, the unconditional love of Christ.

We can do all this because people...like you...send donations to help pay for food and clothes, medical care, school tuition, gas, etc. While Churches, civic clubs and businesses also help, our main support is from individuals like you. Will you prayerfully consider helping us with a donation? And if possible, commit to a monthly sponsorship for at least the next year?

This request comes with prayer for you and your family...that your hearts would hear the cry of abused and abandoned children here at The Children’s Village at Christian City.

—Bob Crutchfield
President, CEO

Save Oct. 19th!
Come help our efforts to sponsor the children at The Children’s Village at Christian City and enjoy a spectacular day of high level golfing, outstanding food, and the fun you’ve come to expect at our classic. There will be trophies for winners, prizes and special competitions, and of course, a live auction with some really exciting items this year.

Details:
Eagle’s Landing Country Club
11 am start, 9:30 am registration
Ft. Lauderdale scramble format
Details/Register - call 770-703-2636

Tourney Within a Tourney!!
New this year, trophies in 3 catagories!!

1 - General Entry Winners
2 - Church Challenge Traveling Trophy
3 - CorporateChallenge Trophy

Free VBS Helper
Are you looking for a good way to encourage your Vacation Bible School students to engage in missions this summer? Why not consider this free ready-to-go PowerPoint 5-day lesson pack this year. It fits right in with Standard Publishing’s material and makes your mission moment interesting and easy to do.

For your convenience, the lesson kit includes a VBS Resource disk with a PowerPoint program showing the faces of the children they will be supporting and a companion, easy-to-follow script is already printed for you. Additionally, the Resource Disk includes a 3-minute video about The Children’s Village so you can see firsthand the mission you are supporting.

The PowerPoint program features a new character trait each day, along with a personal story of a child who lived(s) at Christian City and will tell them a little about where their money will go as they bring their offerings each day. We have script for 5 days. Call 770-703-2636 for your free kit!

Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A, has helped the children at The Children’s Village in too many ways to count. Thank you Chick-fil-A!

The Hollingsworth House
Thanks to our friends Craig & Belinda Fitch, and their event facility in Fayetteville, for their support!

The Children’s Village offers an “investment” choice that, in a very real sense, is ironclad safe — the lives of abused and abandoned children! It’s an investment that can last literally forever. Stocks have struggled, the housing market has been reaching for the bottom, but providing for a child in need is an investment that yields immediate, long-term, and eternal dividends!

“It has been my pleasure to support Christian City for many years. The investment has paid great dividends.”
–Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A Founder

The children benefit immediately with food, shelter, clothing, and a safe and loving home. These provisions and the influence of kind and Godly houseparents, can change a child’s life for decades to come. Their children and children’s children will be positively influenced! And, when done out of love for Christ, this kind of giving even stores up treasure in heaven for you, the giver! What an opportunity!

The Children’s Village has a full spectrum of precious children to invest in: tall ones, short ones, small ones, older ones...each child is a rock solid opportunity to put your resources where they will not erode away. Sponsoring the Children’s Village is a way to put your funds to work in ways you can see immediately— and to lay up treasure for the life to come. Now that’s a great long-term investment. Will you invest in what matters today?

Our children benefit deeply from the loving investment of dedicated houseparents. They couldn't do what they do without YOUR investment.

God empowers our house parents to work through Him in every interaction they have with the children in their home. Through Him, houseparents provide the love and a solid foundation our children need for success. This success is portrayed daily in spiritual and social victories, educational achievements, and reunification of families.

Imagine a snapshot of children as they experience the joy and excitement of baptism. Or, the furrowed brow of a child contemplating the best way to give back to his community. Imagine a giddy young girl asking her houseparent to her school’s father-daughter dance. Or, the triumphant shout as a young lady opens a long-awaited envelope from a great college to discover she’s been accepted into the freshman class. These “Kodak moments” are not uncommon at The Children’s Village. We are fortunate to experience these life-changing events one child at a time.

When reflecting on success stories at The Children’s Village, one story that comes to mind is that of Porshia. (inset above, bottom photo) Her strength is visibly shown through her many successes as a young lady. Despite having survived many trials and tribulations, Porshia, now a senior in high school, has recently been accepted into the University of Tuskegee. This is a major triumph for her and was not any easy path. Porshia has been able to endure a childhood of abandonment, bouncing from one relative to the next until she came to The Children’s Village. While at Christian City, she was elected Captain of the Cheerleading Team her Junior and Senior years. She has worked tirelessly towards her future by researching the best Universities and scholarships to meet her needs. She shines through adversity and sheds light on all who are fortunate to know her.

Our success stories are also the success stories of our child sponsors. This ministry can’t go on without your investment. We are grateful to you for helping Porshia and many other children at the Children’s Village become shining stars!

(inset above, top photo)
Houseparent Mike Liles and Brittany pose for a snapshot on the occasion of her Father/Daughter dance at her school.

Two boys from The Children's Village enjoying swings and a blue sky.

Spring has arrived with storms and sunshine much like the life experiences of many of the children placed with us at The Children’s Village. Our children have often withstood the storms of abuse, neglect, and difficult home situations that most of us have never experienced. But now, they bask in the sunshine of love, security, and safety provided by Christian house parents and the programs of The Children’s Village.

The proverbial statement “It takes a village to raise a child” seems appropriate in describing our need for your partnership in the support of The Children’s Village. It takes all of us to provide the necessary funds and efforts that are needed to continue this successful ministry to help “raise a child” and most importantly, to raise children in a Christian environment.

The Children’s Village could not, nor would not, be possible without the generous support we receive from folks like you through our Child Sponsorship Program. We are deeply grateful for those who are current sponsors making monthly, quarterly, or yearly donations to help provide the basic need of food, shelter, clothing, and the ongoing operations of The Children’s Village.

If you have been looking for an easy way to get involved in helping a child in need, please consider becoming a child sponsor. Enroll in the Child Sponsorship Program and set aside at least a dollar a day that you contribute to The Children’s Village to care for a child.

The Child Sponsorship Program enables you to make a significant difference in the life of a child for less than the daily cost of a Coca-Cola or candy bar. Your enrollment as a child sponsor enables us to provide for our children for today and tomorrow.

As a child sponsor you will receive a brief biography and picture of a child, updates, and current news about our program. For more information about the Child Sponsorship Program, call The Children’s Village at 770-964-3309 or go to our website at www.christiancity.org. Check out our “needs list” while you are there, and come and see us at The Village…you are always welcome!

Thank you for helping us care for these children! May God’s best blessings be with you and your family.

—Philip E. Kouns
C.O.O. The Children's Village

Sponsorship helps bring hope

Abuse takes many forms but it always casts a shadow deep into the soul of the child struggling to make sense of it. Children coming to the Children’s Village at Christian City are too often familiar with the gnawing pain of abandonment, neglect, verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse — and the fear and hopelessness that usually tags along. Rare is the child who can remain strong in the face of such challenges. Some lose heart, wondering if God is good, if He really loves them, or if adults can be trusted.. . or if the sun will ever shine again. Some become downtrodden and defeated, others may lash out.

Because of your kindness as a sponsor, our compassionate houseparents at the Children’s Village can put their arms around these kids and welcome them into a safe, and loving home. They begin opening the windows to their world, letting the light of Christ’s love stream in. They speak kindly to them, give them hugs, worry over them, help them with their homework, and provide food, clothing, and guidance. They pray with them, and tell them that God loves them...and that they love them.

These precious ones who have sometimes experienced more pain in their short lives than many of us will know in a lifetime, can begin to lift their heads to the light of hope, provision, trust and a new day. Child Sponsors make it possible for the Children’s Village to effect meaningful change to their future, to impact them in ways that will last a lifetime.

Your sponsorship funds bring needy children the things every parent wants to provide their own child. Safety, security, trust, love, guidance and instruction and the boundaries children need to feel safe and protected.

For over 45 years, this ministry has received hurting children through it’s doors and embraced the privilege of parenting them as any Godly parent would their own. The changed lives that have resulted and continue to happen are a testament to God’s grace and the generosity of you who stand with these children, through your sacrificial giving. Please help us continue!

Shopping or donating goods at Graceland helps children

We have all heard the expression “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure” when folks are discussing their “finds” at yard sales, consignment shops, and thrift stores. Some even say that “Things are better the second time around”. Well, we think you will find “treasures” and “bargains galore” and be a blessing to the children in our care.

Perhaps one of the best “treasures” that you may not be aware of, is that the net proceeds from the sales at Graceland Thrift Store are used to help cover the educational costs of our children at The Children’s Village. Many of the children here come to us with educational, and emotional deprivation. They sometimes have experienced developmental and educational difficulties that require specialized educational settings and assistance to complete their basic education plan.

Graceland Thrift Store is open for donations Monday through Saturday from 9:00am-3:00pm, and for your shopping convenience Tues, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9:30am-2:00pm. For more information about Graceland Thrift Store visit our website at www.christiancity.org or call Marlond Fyffe, Graceland Director at 770-969-9957. Come find your treasure!

Train up a child in the way he should go ... and when he is old he will not depart from it. —Proverbs 22:6

These wonderful words of encouragement in parenting from God’s Word are part of the impetus for the development of The Children’s Village ‘servanthood project’ for our children.

In a day and time when children often receive more than they need, we want our children at The Children’s Village to not only be appreciative and respectful of their gifts and care they receive, but to also experience the blessing of reaching out to others. This is a type of “pay it forward” experience for each and every one of them.

We are taking this Bible verse seriously, and we have challenged our house parents in each cottage at The Village to identify a “servanthood project” for their cottage children to be completed no less than once every other month. The area of their service project is determined by the cottage family.

This project has turned into a wonderful opportunity for our children at The Village. They have not only embraced the idea, but it has now expanded into a monthly event for several of our cottages. We are seeing blessings both given and received through their efforts. One of our girls cottages adopted one of our Senior residents on campus and assisted with clean up around the inside and outside of the home.

Recently, several of the boys and their relief house parent volunteered at the FISH HOUSE. The FISH HOUSE is a ministry of Jesus’ Place in Atlanta, serving as a home for men who have been through a drug rehabilitation program, and have committed themselves to remain in the program for 6 months.

The boys from The Children’s Village helped prepare and pack lunch bags for 2 hours to help feed men, women and young people who live on the streets of Atlanta, homeless and hungry. The Director at the FISH HOUSE told house parent Mike Cater that our young men saved them approximately 8 hours of work, preparing just under 500 meals.

We are trusting God that He will use these servant-hood projects in our effort to “train up a child in the way he should go”, so that it will help instill in the hearts and minds of our children that it is indeed more “blessed to give than to receive”. It is our prayer that this might encourage our children to live a life of gratitude and service to others in HIS name, so that “when they are old they will not depart from it”.

“It has been my pleasure to support Christian City for many years. The investment has paid great dividends.”
–Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A Founder

"These kids are in the valley of their lives…this is where God is growing them. They have a mountain top to reach to one day.”
–Brandi Dabbs, Children’s Village House Parent

“I can’t think of a better place to invest your money than here at Christian City!"
–Michael Brisson, Child Sponsor

“Some of our children come from places where they don’t know where they are going to get their next meal, and they don’t have a bed to sleep in. Just by providing basic needs of everyday life, it shows them how much we care for them”
–Cheryl Cater, Children’s Village House Parent

“To see our children relax, smile and be able to be kids again is a wonderful experience”
–Noelle Porter, Program Director

“The bottom line is they just want a mom and dad and a safe home, because some of them have never had that”.
–Pam Ross, Church Relations

How will my sponsorship impact a child’s life?
Christian City will accept a child in our care regardless of the family’s ability to help pay. This includes providing for education, food, medical, clothing needs, and other expenses required to properly care for them. Your sponsorship helps make this possible.

How should I pray for the children at The Children’s Village?
Please pray for their physical and emotional needs as well as for their spiritual growth.

Will I receive a progress report?
You will receive periodic progress reports to include updated photographs, information about school progress and extracurricular acitivties and achievements. In the future, progress reports and updates will be available electronically.

Do children correspond with child sponsors?
Our policy is that the children are not allowed to write sponsors. Progress reports are sent out to keep you up to date. If you would like to receive more updates on the Children’s Village please visit our blog at:www.christiancitycv.blogspot.com

What is the benefit of giving my email address?
To be better stewards of our money, we will be using some electronic updates in lieu of regular mail. If you would like to receive electronic updates, please provide us with your current email address. You can sign up by calling the Children’s Village office at 770-964-3309 or sending an email to ccity@christian-city.org.

Can I send letters and birthday cards to The Children’s Village?
Yes, you may write and send special occasion cards. However, it is important for you to know that our children come from diverse backgrounds and often have experienced some type of trauma. Therefore, it is best not to ask questions regarding our children’s background and their family. Feel free to share about your own family, friends, and interests. You can always send a colorful postcard or photo, but we request that you do not include personal contact information, phone numbers, email address, etc, in your letters. Please do not send your sponsorship gift in a child’s card or letter. For the protection of our children, all correspondence may be read by The Children’s Village staff.

Can I send gifts and packages to The Children’s Village?
Yes. Birthdays and special holiday gifts are fine but not necessary. We attempt to ensure that all children are treated equally. If you would like to send a birthday or Christmas gift, please first call the Children’s Village to ensure what you are sending is appropriate and can be accepted. We request that all gifts be unwrapped but you may include gift wrapping with your gift.

What about child visitations?
Due to confidentiality and regulatory standards, we cannot allow anyone to visit with a child without first having completed a criminal records/background check. Please understand that the protection of the children is our first priority. If individual time with a child is your preference, please contact our Case Worker at 770-964-3134 and ask about our VIP Host Program.

How long will my sponsorship last?
You may remain a child sponsor as long as you like or are financially able. Our goal is to reunite the children with their families whenever possible. If that happens, we will gladly reassign you as a new child sponsor. If your sponsorship status changes, please call the Children’s Village office and let us know. We are happy to suggest other equally important ways you can help our children.

How do I make my monthly payments?
Check: Please make payable to The Children’s Village at Christian City. Automatic Payment: If you’d like to have your gifts automatically deducted from your credit or debit card call our Accounts Receivable Manager at 770-703-2759 and identify your payment as a child sponsorship or sign up on our secure website.

How can I help at Christian City?
Please let your family and friends know about The Children’s Village and our child sponsorship program! Perhaps you are part of a Sunday school, women’s group, or other group that could pitch in to become a child sponsor? We appreciate being invited to speak to your co-workers, church, civic group or anyone interested in our programs. There are volunteer opportunities at Graceland Thrift Store which is located on our campus and helps us pay for the educational needs of the children. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please call the Children’s Village. It’s so easy to make a difference!

Danny and Cheryl, (NOT shown - click the video clip above to hear another couple, Mike and Larisa Brisson's VIP story) 25 year veterans of the VIP Family Host program, “always assumed that when a child came to visit, they would become part of our family”. In a recent interview, Cheryl went on to say “...although we are not rich, the children who have come here have made us rich.” Her voice of sincerity touches on the heart of this program, which is to say, children truly matter and the relationships forged over time and effort not only makes a difference for the children, but also for the people who sacrifice their energies, possessions, and time to participate in it.

Much of what the VIP program consists of can be summarized from the above statements. This program is a very personal one where the participants can actually form a close and meaningful relationship with children who come into care. The reasons for their placement vary as much as the individual personalities of each child varies. Some come into care due to neglect on a caretakers part, some because of insufficient finances in the home, some as a result of the death or incarceration of a caretaker, and some due to a trauma that has occurred in a child’s life. The children that reside at Christian City carry with them the burdens placed on them from their life events and circumstances, and it becomes our mission to bring their young lives back to a place of equilibrium and normality. One way we do this is to enlist the services of families in the community who have a heart for children and who can catch hold of the vision and purpose of this program.

What is the purpose?
Simply stated in Cheryl’s own words “ It is a way to minister to children and teach who God is to them”. The VIP Family Host program allows families to open up their homes, their personal values, and life experiences and bestow them upon a child.

What’s the payoff for the Host Family?
The knowledge that one life can impact another positively and for good! Another gift as Cheryl put it, “It has opened up my own children to be accepting of others, whoever they may be!” Sometimes the best gifts are the intangible ones, where only we as Christians and as adults can see what God is doing through us.

VIP info? 770-964-3309 or www.christiancity.org

UGA Coach Mark Richt was the guest speaker at Christian City’s Night of Hope held at the Georgia International Convention Center on March 5th. Over 600 guests enjoyed inspiring words from Richt about his own life experiences and the joys he and his wife Katharyn have experienced while raising their four children. In 1999, the Richts adopted two children from an orphanage in the Ukraine and are raising them along with their two biological children. The evening was centered around Christian City’s Child Sponsorship Program where you can sponsor a child for less than a dollar a day. Coach Richt received a standing ovation when he announced he wanted to sponsor ten children! Following Richt’s lead, 70 guests signed up to become monthly child sponsors that evening.

Thank You Universal Forest Products
Barbara Greene is shown below with Christian City representatives and UFP employees. UFP made a major investment into the KOOL-AID/KaBOOM! Playground build event with time, money, and labor! Thanks so much!

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