You’ve probably received a “save the date” card at some point — maybe in the mail or via Evite. You know the kind: “It’s not time to send out invitations just yet, but something exciting is coming, so mark your calendar!” While not exactly new, this trend didn’t exist back in the ancient days of the 1900s.
Well, think of this post as the prequel to a save the date. That’s right — we’re telling you something big is coming, even though we don’t have an exact launch date yet. Consider this your friendly “heads up” that a formal announcement is on the horizon. Is your interest piqued? Excellent.
Here’s what’s coming down the pike:
That’s big news!
Currently, all of our sponsorship opportunities are closed programs, available only to members or individuals directly connected with one of our six sister churches in the U.S. But that’s about to change. This new program will open the door for anyone to become a sponsor.
When, you ask? S4P is aiming for early 2026, so go ahead and mentally highlight the tail end of 2025 and all of 2026. Your official save-the-date announcement is coming — soonish!
What’s Different About This Program?
A lot of people already know about S4P’s sponsorship efforts — adorable kids and big-hearted pastors are our social media MVPs, after all.
As Trish puts it, “Children are adorable, so those are the pictures that make a big splash on social media. But sometimes, people see those photos and don't realize (or forget) that our sponsorship program is set up to be a tool pastors can use to reach their communities, both physically and spiritually, in a big way. Funds from the sponsorship programs also help us train and equip pastors who are then prepared to run future sponsorship programs, in a 'pay it forward' sort of scenario.”
This new program follows the same basic format as the sister church sponsorship programs — but with a twist.
Because this is a public program, we won’t have the benefit of church foyers or Sunday morning announcements to help connect sponsors with kids. That means we’ll be relying more on digital outreach to match donors with children in need. That's a challenge — and we’re excited to see how God provides!
Where Are We in the Process?
As with any new sponsorship program, the first step is choosing the right location — a community with real need and a strong local pastor who’s ready to take on the responsibilities that come with running a program.
Currently, all of our programs operate through local schools. The pastor (or another trusted church leader) visits the school regularly to teach the Bible lessons. That means the program needs school, community, and parental support from day one.
- A pastor and location have been selected
- Approval from the community has been acquired.
- The children have been registered. (The profiles aren't available on the website yet . . . but that's coming!)
What Will a Sponsorship Provide?
If you’ve followed S4P’s work, you already know that a sponsorship provides much more than a monthly donation. Here’s what each child receives:
Enriched food to fight malnutrition
Regular Bible lessons through their local pastor
A backpack filled with school supplies, hygiene items, fun extras, and new shoes
Ongoing correspondence with their sponsor throughout the year
Each sponsorship supports the child — and, just as importantly, empowers a local pastor to serve his community more effectively. The special connection between that pastor (and the participating schools) and our ministry means that we are also able to assist with special issues (medical problems, for example) that come up in the community.
Final Thoughts (for Now)
Yes, we’re asking you to “hurry up and wait” a bit. But this is just the beginning of something wonderful — and you’re hearing about it first. What can you do in the meantime? The most important thing: you can join us in covering this new program with prayer!
So, keep your eyes peeled for the official save the date announcement coming soon!
- posted by Christi
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