Foundation Support Covers the Overhead
A foundation is the basis upon which something stands. For Sister Connection, the ministry that God has called us to stands on the strength of our foundational supporters.
The story of Sister Connection’s commitment to give 100% of sponsorship money to widows is a story of obedience and faith. We have a confident belief in and loyal allegiance to a God who cares deeply for widows. This ministry is anchored in the conviction (now backed by amazing experiences) that God speaks and leads. He initiates and we follow.
Organizations similar to Sister Connection allocate an average 15% of every donation to administrative overhead.
If Sister Connection did the same, $13.50 of every $90 quarterly sponsorship would go to overhead. That might not sound like much, but consider this:
Price of a hoe $3.00
Chicken $5 (eggs, fertilizer)
Beans $1 per kilo
Fertilizer $1.70 per kilo
Water can $2.50
Notebook for school $.50
School bag $5.00
What a difference 100% makes!
We stand in awe of what our Lord has done. In 18 months time, Sister Connection sponsorships have grown from several dozen to over 290 widows, most with several children and orphans. Over 190 homes have been built. Our Sister Connection Sponsors are supporting a growing network of some of the neediest and most traumatized families in the world. There is no doubt that this ministry is an answer to the prayers of thousands of widows, whose cries have reached the ears of a loving and protective heavenly Father.
During this time not a penny of sponsorship money for widows has been taken for ministry overhead. In this following of God’s call one of the Board’s first -- and most fundamental -- commitments at Sister Connection, is that every penny a Sister Connection sponsor gives to a widow goes directly to that widow!
While our U.S. work is largely accomplished through donations of time and materials, our National Team in Burundi has an entire staff of five social workers, a gifted National Director, Joy Buconyori, an accountant/administrative assistant and a secretary who both assist with translation of widow letters to U.S. supporters, a diesel truck to make distributions, and a national office on the campus of Hope Africa University, where widows visit daily for health care needs and counseling. And we are now developing a training center for widows on Mount Hope near the city of Gitega.
Sister Connection is providing employment for a growing number of people in Burundi. The total current cost of Sister Connection’s national team in Burundi is $2,050 dollars per month ($24,600 annually). The monthly salary of a Sister Connection social worker is $40 dollars. Through this employment, Sister Connection furthers its ministry while offering dignity and hope to its employees. The Sister Connection national team builds homes for $600, hiring local builders and thus providing employment to even more Burundians who build strong, cost-effective homes with rock foundations and metal or tile roofs.
Sister Connection has no debt. We have never sought or received a major gift from any foundation. We want to express our gratitude to the Lord and the growing number of foundational supporters who make all this possible, as the ministry continues to grow. Not only are all Sister Connection Board members foundational supporters, the Lord has called many sponsors to give regularly as foundational supporters as well.
An Indiana company has made several generous gifts over the last 3 years, and most recently, business founder and owner Daryl Miller of Seattle partnered with us in monthly support of $250. Mr. Miller expressed these thoughts on his decision to become a Sister Connection foundational supporter:
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"An inherent characteristic of business, is the process of making money. God needs people with all kinds of gifts, to lend those gifts to His projects. He needs some people who make money, to make some for Him, and direct it to His uses.
Sister Connection is clearly a place where money is needed, and will leverage itself into amazing results for His purposes, in ways we cannot even conceive. How can I know of such a need, then not participate using some of the money He has shown me how to make....? If as a businessperson, I show God that I stand open to direct money to His purposes, He will use me to be a source for more and more of His needs for money. Even though I may not have the gifts that others may have from which to give...financially giving is something I can do." |
Much can be done with seemingly little, and your partnership with us empowers us to greater and greater outreach into the wounded lives of Burundi’s widows and orphans of war. A monthly gift of $10 or $20 or $50 or $100 dollars makes an enormous difference in an economy where a trained social worker can be employed for $40 per month. Financially giving may be something that you can do. For businesses who want to promote their support of Sister Connection, we will provide a small display and brochures, tailored to your needs.
To become a Sister Connection Foundational Supporter, please get in touch with either: Denise Patch, President (ph. 317-517-5881; denise@sisterconnection.org) or Dan Kurtz, Treasurer, (ph. 517-841-5808; dan@sisterconnection.org.)
