Understanding the Urgency
by Dave Clark
Sunshine Gospel Ministries is a para-church ministry located in the inner-city on Chicago’s Southside. Our mission is to seek the renewal of the city through ministries of discipleship, mercy, and justice. I oversee the youth outreach programs. During the month of December we (the staff and the young people) began a “fundraising campaign” to raise money for the “Life House” that AR and Power House Church are collaborating to build in the township of Mamelodi, South Africa. When we began the campaign we explained to the kids where South Africa is located using maps and a globe, as well as some of the challenges of life in the townships there. We further discussed how abortions there are on the rise, and that recently babies have even been discovered in dumpsters. Our kids really understood the urgency of the matter, and that the Life House would be built to care for babies who otherwise might not have a chance. We then encouraged them to bring their spare change each time they come to Sunshine to give towards this worthy cause. We bought a clear container to fill with change so that they could see the progress/increase we had made each week. Every week during the month of December our kids brought pocket change and dollar bills for what they often referred to as “the kids in Africa.”
Dave and some of the fellas from Sunshine
One of our 3rd grade students, Michelle, told her mother that she wanted to take her $5 allowance and put it in the “Life House jar” to help the kids. She proudly brought her allowance and placed it in the jar the next week. At the end of the month we had raised $75, primarily in loose change! Our desire is to see our kids develop a global vision, and to view the world through Kingdom lenses. We are grateful for the opportunity to give what we can towards the work that God is doing through our brothers and sisters in South Africa.
Dave Clark serves with Sunshine Gospel Ministries and is also a Board Member of Africa Revolution. Dave has been to Africa twice and plans on taking inner city youth to Africa in his quest to help them develop a global vision and view of the world through Kingdom lenses. p.s. Dave is also the author of the insightful blog Continuing Education
