New Pictures

http://picasaweb.google.com/KidsUnitedInChrist/SummerVerano2009?feat=directlink

Summer Update

With a few months of teaching and ministry under our belts, Kids United in Christ has decided to change things a little to better educate and utilize time and resources.

Our previous format of having two inexperienced teachers teach a whole group of kids from the ages of preschool up through teenage is obviously not the best way to do things.
About five weeks ago we talked a teacher to lend her services Saturday mornings to KUIC and teach three different groups based on age level. These Saturday morning classes will help students learn to read and write better, which will strengthen the foundation of current and future learning of both English and the Bible.

We have purchased a location in the center of the village that we can now call our own, and continue to provide the kids with sustenance by providing meals on Saturdays.

In the near future we hope to offer classes weekday afternoons in English to further the studies of our students.

Kids United in Christ | Vision | Mission | How to Help

Our Vision

Our vision at Kids United in Christ is to empower children have a vibrant spiritual life and lead them down the path of Christ. With God's help and provision we will offer Bible teaching and English classes along with other opportunities to grow children up in wisdom and stature to be like Jesus. Starting by offering Biblical teaching and English lessons on Saturday mornings, we will follow God if and when he leads us and gives us opportunities to expand.

This idea was birthed in Paul when he was at a microfinance bank meeting in the community where we serve and he saw the great need. Paul had a yearing in his heart to make a difference with his life and to share what God has given him.

Our Mission

The mission of Kids United in Christ is to show God's love and help children escape the side effects of poverty through Biblical teaching, educational services, and health services because we know the children of today are the adults and leaders of the future. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." We hope to lead children down the path of God's will and give them opportunities they would not normally have. We also know that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4) and hope to enrich the spiritual lives of the children through the Word of God.

What we are doing now

We are taking things one step at a time in the infant stages of this ministry. As of right now, we are going to a community near Imbert, Puerto Plata, of the Dominican Republic on Saturday mornings to teach the Bible and teach beginners English.

What we would like to eventually do

With the help of God and a lot of hard work, Kids United in Christ would like to:
-purchase English books for each student
-provide meals for the students
-have our own building in the local community
-provide clothing and uniforms for the students
-provide medical care for the students

We aspire to partner with various ministries in the Dominican Republic to provide services to these children.

Our Testimonies

All of our pasts have a huge impact on our future. The same is true for Paul Chemond. Paul, born in Haiti, was an orphan at the age of 4 which is when he moved in with his aunt and uncle who would treat him horribly, eventually kicking him out of the house when Paul was 11. At the age of 11, with no parents and no home, Paul was discriminated against so severely that people wouldn't let their children play with him because of he was an orphan.

With no where to go and no one to turn to, Paul attempted suicide twice before someone he knew introduced him to a friend. This friend was Jesus Christ and Paul has never been the same since. From that day on, Paul has been learning more and more about God's plan and purpose for his life. After immigrating to the Dominican Republic, Paul has worked as a mechanic and studied theology. Paul is married and lives with his wife and her daughter Fabiola. Paul now wants to help the children who are like he was; poor and without opportunity.

Kevin Halloran's testimony is not as dramatic as Paul's but is still characterized by the faithfulness and love of God. Native to the Chicago area, Kevin was born into a Christian family and remembers going to church every Sunday as a child. Through seeing the faith of his parents, Kevin knew that Christianity was the truth but did not start seeking to grow his faith up until his first year in college. While at Taylor University studying International Business and Spanish, Kevin went to Daytona Beach, FL during his Spring Break three times to evangelize and share the love of Christ. Kevin attributes much of his passion and spiritual growth to those trips. Kevin also studied in Ecuador where he learned Spanish and volunteered at Esperanza International in the Dominican Republic, where he and Paul met.
(Pictured above is Kevin (left), Fabiola (middle), and Paul (right)

How to Help Out

Pray for us!
We have a feeling God is going to do some awesome things with this ministry and we hope you will keep us in prayer.

Volunteer!
If you are in the Puerto Plata area and can donate time and talents to our ministry, let us know!

Tell people you know who may be interested!
If you know any teacher or ministry who can lend us a hand we would gratelly appreciate any contact information we can receive with which to build a network of supporters.

Donate!
We realize we are a young ministry without any means of financial accountability with potential donors. Anybody can open a Gmail Account and start a blog and there are many deceivers out there so we understand any possible apprehension. If you want to help us, you can contact us at kidsunitedinChrist@gmail.com and we will discuss how you can help us. Some possible ways are to have donors contribute is for them to buy supplies we need and have them shipped to the Dominican Republic. At this point we are just two men who have a heart to help people. So far we go each Saturday and teach the Bible and English.

We hope to hear from you!