The Motivation

Our aim is to provide a context in which children can first and foremost experience God’s love.  When that happens, it impacts all other relationships, enabling them to enjoy positive relationships with peers, family, and community members.  Furthermore, they learn about and appropriate their role as stewards of God’s creation.

The Challenge

Extremely poor children may have parents who love the Lord but are functionally illiterate.  Such children especially benefit from others’ investments in their spiritual development.

The Opportunity

ASM partners with the local church and existing Christian schools so the children’s primary mentors are those from the community.

The Means

Asset-based: rooted in local institutions – ASM works in partnership with local churches, families and school and community leaders because we believe that lasting holistic child development takes place in the context of the family, church and community.

ASM’s asset-based partnerships with existing schools and churches include the following:

  1. Saturday Bible Clubs: Each child attends Saturday Bible Clubs which include age-relevant learning activities as well as a nutritious meal.
  2. Vacation Bible Camps: Vacation Bible Camps are offered during school breaks to enhance their spiritual growth.
  3. Christian Schools: Daily spiritual formation and other activities such as singing, dancing and sports ministries are offered at Christian Schools with which ASM partners.  These activities encourage children to serve God, enhance their self-worth, and provide a context for social skills development.
  4. Local Church: ASM’s Church Engagement and Empowerment program equips local churches to invest in the lives of the community’s children in a holistic manner.