When Restoring Hope was full of close to 100 cute, little kids, ages 5 – 12, starting 10 years ago, many early supporters were asked to help fund projects like painting the churches providing care to these children, or asked to provide some school uniforms and Christmas gifts.

The tradition of new clothes given to the children at Christmas begin in those early years. New clothes for young orphaned and  vulnerable children is so important for their sense of dignity and personal worth.

Back then we had dreams of sending these children to college one day… Fast forward 12 years and now 700 Restoring Hope children are living with biological family caregivers and over half of them are on the brink of that very dream – attending college and being the likely last person in their family to ever experience poverty.

After reintegrating children who once lived at the church, and are now back with their biological relatives, the biggest time of year to reconnect is over Christmas when their home churches celebrate together.

A Christmas celebration among multiple churches can become a “cluster” that Restoring Hope pastors and staff created for those benefiting from our programs. Through the cluster, the 2-3 churches can rotate the hosting church venue and provide a large point for gathering the village churches together. In this way, the children and families can find reunions with friends, church members, eat great food, sing/dance, pray and have a lot of exposure to the way the village church celebrates Christmas and invites new participants into their congregation.