Every Child Ministries
Spring 2017
“Perfect in God's Eyes”

Greetings!

In the small town of Kyengera, just south of Uganda’s capital city of Kampala, lives a cheerful girl known by those in the community as “Stella, the handicapped girl.”  Like most of the handicapped children in Uganda, Stella spent much of her life homebound and shunned, unable to walk.  Uganda’s physical and social environments are decidedly disability- unfriendly, highlighted by a lack of handicap-accessible amenities, including toilets, as well as unchecked discrimination.  Beliefs that handicaps are a result of curses and evil spirits, or are a punishment for wrongdoing, are prevalent in the culture.  Only limited basic human rights exist for persons with disabilities in Uganda, and many are left homeless on the streets, begging for their next meal.  Such is the world of Stella, “the handicapped girl.”   

Stella was fifteen years old when she saw ECM children gathering each week for Saturday Bible club.  As she watched from a distance, she saw something special going on, and asked if she could be a part of it. The program coordinator readily accepted her request, and now Stella attends as often as she can, loving the opportunities she has each week to learn from the Bible.  With help from ECM, Stella was able to gain admittance to a school where the headmaster was also disabled.  Though a teenager, she was placed in kindergarten, because she lacked any formal education.  Now nineteen, she has advanced to Primary 2 (second grade) and is in a boarding school.  She loves to learn and be with the other children!  The Kyengera project regularly provides Stella with transportation to and from her boarding school, and whenever possible helps with her school fees as well.  

In Psalm 139, the psalmist encourages us to praise God because we are wonderfully made. Physical and mental disabilities should not stand in the way of a child knowing his creator and experiencing the love of Jesus. Please join with us to make sure these precious children, who are perfect in God’s eyes, have every chance to know the God who made them.
How YOU can help!
ECM has made a significant effort over the past few years to bring hope and practical help to children with disabilities.  This often-overlooked group needs our help more than ever, as these children are not only discriminated against in their society, but also face serious challenges because of the lack of available handicap-accessible amenities.  We are working hard to care for these kids and to help make their lives better.  

Recently, Stella has faced some additional challenges in her life, and returning to school was difficult.  Her mother became ill and did not have the funds to both purchase her own medication and send Stella to school.  Stella also struggles to use the local transportation system because her wheelchair will not fold up.  Your gift today will help us provide for these and many other needs as we reach out to those with disabilities.  Click here to help children like Stella .  

To carry on our work in Africa, ECM needs YOUR help now more than ever! Our funds are low, and ministry is being affected. Your generous gift to Where Needed Most will allow us to continue bringing hope to forgotten children!
 
Planned Giving
Building a Bridge to ECM's Future

There are many ways to give to ECM.  Planned giving means that you have included ECM in your long-term plans for charitable giving. Review this list to learn about some creative ways to help  ensure that the ministry of ECM continues!

Bequests

Your family can make a gift in your will or trust to ECM of certain personal property or real estate, a specific sum of money or a percentage of estate assets. This can be for a designated purpose.

Retirement Funds

Retirement funds may be the most significant asset for your family. Individuals may name ECM as a beneficiary for all or any portion of funds remaining at death.

Life Insurance

ECM can be included as a beneficiary, contingency beneficiary, or owner of a new or existing policy. When the added protection of the policy is no longer needed, transferring the ownership to ECM can result in tax benefits for you and a generous gift for ECM.

Direct Gifts of Cash

A gift of cash, stock, or publicly traded securities can be given to the endowment fund. You may receive an income tax receipt for your donation and may save capital gains taxes.

Personal Benefits

You will benefit from planned giving by becoming eligible for tax and estate planning advantages. You also benefit from knowing that your gift will ensure the advancement of ECM.

Please contact our office for more information about planned giving and ECM’s newly established endowment fund. Gifts for the endowment fund given until early 2018 will be doubled, up to $50,000! Will you prayerfully consider helping us build this fund, which will provide financial resources to ECM for as long as the ministry exists?  

John and Lorella Rouster, founders of Every Child Ministries, have given their lives’ work to offering hope, practical help, and dignity to African children in the name of Jesus. It is their deepest desire to see the work of ECM continue.

The Rouster Legacy Circle is a group of supporters who have pledged to ensure that the Rouster’s dream continues for future generations. To become a part of the Legacy Circle or make a planned gift to ECM, contact our office or click here.  
In Memory/In Honor

In Memory

Mary Beth Hatcher
K. Marianne Adams
Pat Horner
Pat Randolph
Shirley Luckey
Weldon Luckey
Charles & Virginia Molitor
Gerard Molitor  
Jeanne Poulos
Sue Raven  
Bob & Billie Schneider
Robin Schneider  
Sandy Short
Michael Short  
John Stoner
Kathy Phillips
Dicey Lue Watson
K. Marianne Adams  
Fred Slosson
Cathy Bell
Bethel Church
James & Bonnie Escott
Tymon Herndon
Nancy Hoogewerf
Dennis & Lori Huddleston
Tracy & Kelly Jeremiah
Karen Kuyachich
Robert & Kathleen Lauer
Jay & Maryanna Lewis
Likas Limited Inc.
LK Properties LLC
Diana Mills
Thomas Pruzin
Craig Slosson
Michael & Annette Steiner
James & Nancy Zanellato
Richard & Kathleen Zondor
In Honor

Sharyl Albright
(mother)
Greg Albright
   
Dick & Medrith Bashore
(grandparents)
Rae Farra  
 
Dick & Medrith Bashore
(parents)
Forest & Kathy Rawlins    

Bob & Denise Elder
(aunt & uncle)
Rae Farra    

Marti Eriks
(mother)
Mark & Leigh Eriks

Chris & Michelle Fisher
Rebecca Magee  
 
Al Rickert
(Christmas)
Caroline Enderle-Barber    

John Rouster
(retirement)
Tom & Holly Keithley    

Lorella Rouster
(birthday)
Floyd & Jean Coffman  
 
Vance & Barb
(Christmas)
Brad & Ann Kirkpatrick
Prayer Points

  • Pray for Sophie, ECM’s Uganda Treasurer who runs the National Office in Uganda, for recovery after surgery.  

  • Pray that the importance of carrying the ministry into the future through ECM’s Endowment Fund and the John & Lorella Rouster Legacy Circle, will be communicated effectively and that the Lord will touch hearts to put ECM in their Planned Giving.

  • Pray for funds to help with shortfalls that ECM has been experiencing.  Gifts to Where Needed Most are greatly needed to help where project funds are low.

  • Pray that Ronald in Gulu, Uganda and his family come to know the Lord.  For ECM missionary Cathy Hayes, for additional financial support and increased energy.

  • Pray for Karamoja (Uganda), continuing to be affected by heat & famine.  This continues to drive families to Kampala, overcrowding homes and putting innocent children out on the streets.  Pray for relief from the high cost of living that plagues the country.

  • Pray for favor in a dispute raised over The Way Home's (missionary project) recent purchase of 16 acres intended for a tree farm. That the Way Home staff will continue in unity and integrity.  5-6 widowed Granny’s will be identified by local Pastors and will qualify after Russ Baugh’s interview to receive a new home.  Pray that they will find joy in this great gift and in regular Bible study with other widows, learning Farming God’s Way, and in other relationship services The Way Home will offer.  

  • Pray for the caregiver of Madina Birungi, who was featured in our Have a Heart appeal.  She doesn’t always bring Madina to Saturday Club.  The caregiver is elderly so this may be due to age or sickness.  

  • Pray for Muzafalu, a boy in Uganda who recently lost his mother, and now has lost his grandmother.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!
Stella
Beckam
Resty   
Triny
Recognizing the great needs of children with disabilities in Africa, ECM continues to reach out to these very special kids with the love of Jesus!  Here are just a few of the many children whose lives have been touched through your help!   Please consider a gift today which will enable ECM to continue to meet the needs of these children as well as many others.  Click here to Donate Now.
Hamidu
Regina
Pius
Jesca
Did You Know...
That a SPONSORED CHILD is less vulnerable to being trafficked?



 

On March 18, ECM honored founder John Rouster with a retirement dinner at the Maki Ballroom in Crown Point, IN, with nearly 100 friends in attendance (see photos above).  Here is a word of thanks from John:  

Lorella and I were thrilled and encouraged beyond words to see so many friends and family at my retirement dinner.  Many came from Michigan and other considerable distances.  It made us feel so loved and valued.  Special thanks to Mark, Monica, Sandi, Ira, and Becky, and the ECM Board for all their diligent work in the preparations.  It was truly a memorable evening for us.  Thank you to everyone who came, and also to those who were unable to attend but still extended warm wishes to us.  We love you all!
How Will ECM Use My Gift?
Your gift to ECM is critically important as we minister to children in need, and as always, will be used just exactly as you have designated it.  Because of a shortfall in our general operating budget, we are asking you to consider  a special gift this month, above your normal giving.  Just mark your gift as “Where Needed Most,” or leave it undesignated.

Thank you for your support!