He got there early, as you would if you were going to any wedding, and found the building empty. Because the traffic is so painfully slow in India, everyone was running late. When people did arrive, however, they flooded in. By the end, around 2,000 people were there to witness the ceremony.

The men wore collared shirts and suits, while the women wore traditional, brightly colored saris. Before the ceremony even officially got started, both bride and groom knelt down and prayed. From then on, the ceremony was Christ-centered, with prayer and scripture throughout.

In a culture where there is still violence toward Christianity, for Dr. Lange, this wedding was a joy to see. While 76% of people are Christian in America, in India, only 2.3% are.

Through our churches and Life Center’s in India, Childcare Worldwide is spreading the Word of God. At each Life Center, children come for free tutoring and to learn about Jesus. Our goal is not to make India’s culture and weddings more like our own. We don’t want to “Americanize” them. That’s why all of our staff and pastors in India are Indian’s themselves. What we do want to do, however, is improve education and give children and their families an understanding of the hope they can have in Jesus Christ.

As I flipped through the stories and photos of some of the women who have benefitted from Childcare’s programs, I began to lose any distinction between my task-oriented mindset, and my emotions. So many of the mothers in these stories have suffered so much and have watched their children suffer.

I read one story after another and looked into the eyes of mothers in Uganda, Kenya, Peru, Mexico and the Philippines. I couldn’t choose only one.

There was Alice in Kenya. Her husband and daughter died of AIDS and her son suffers from cancer and is too weak to work, leaving Alice with the responsibility of caring for her son and grandsons. She worked very hard growing and selling vegetables from her small garden, but too often it is not enough. When our staff met her, she graciously offered what little she had – a pot of tea.

“In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” -2 Corinthians 8:2

Makubwa lives in Uganda. She has two children, Viany and Nicholas. The father of her children abandoned her a long time. She catches and dries sardines to sell in order to buy food for her boys but usually is unable to make enough.

Ruth sells newspapers on the streets of Tijiuana, Mexico.  Her husband cannot walk and her oldest son, Jose is bedridden. She is the only one who is able to care for her grandchildren.

So often we talk about the needs of mothers in developing countries. In light of Mother’s Day, let us honor them for their generosity, sacrifices, and their strength, in spite of great suffering.

You can honor your mother this Mother’s Day by making a donation to bless mothers who are struggling to provide for their families, despite their best efforts.

I want to give a gift in honor of my mother.

It was about seven wet steps from the door to the kitchen and then an agonizing twenty to thirty seconds of waiting while our tanks filled up. That was the worst, standing there waiting while a stream of water, much larger than the hole in the water gun, spilled over the little containers.

When I was little, it never crossed my mind that there could be kids like me who didn’t even have access to clean water to drink, let alone to use for water gun fights.

The crazy truth is, the average African family survives on 5 gallons of water a day, which some have to walk for miles to get, while the average American family uses 100 to 175 gallons. And the big problem is, for many African families, the water they get is unclean. Over 3.5 million people die each year from water-related diseases and most of them are children in developing countries. Every 20 seconds a child dies from unclean water and poor sanitation.

Recently, at Childcare Worldwide’s clinic in Kenya, our medical worker Daniel Njuguna met many children who were sick from drinking unclean water. He did his best to treat them, but he couldn’t help one family’s child, who died after three days of severe vomiting and diarrhea. The parents were devastated. But this is not uncommon in the least. Every year, diarrhea kills more children than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined.

So should I feel bad about the water gun fights we had as a kid? Should I feel guilty every time I walk those seven steps and pour clean water? No, I don’t think so. But I can remember to thank God for the blessings He’s given me. And I can even use some of those gifts to help kids who don’t know what it’s like to have a water gun fight with their friends—children who don’t even have access to something as simple and necessary as clean water.

Click here to donate to help provide clean water for children who don’t have access to it.

When our president, Dr. Max Lange, was in Kenya visiting Childcare Worldwide’s different projects, he went to the Nakuru Lodge, which is in a beautiful location in Kenya, surrounded by vegetation and animals. The food, the atmosphere, and the service were all great, but perhaps the best part was meeting the waiter, James Njuguna, a bright and friendly young man whose life-story was a remarkable one.

James Njuguna used to live on the streets, now he has a good job and a bright future

James was six years old when his father and mother died, leaving him all alone to care for himself.  He lived on the streets in Nakuru, where he begged for money and ate out of garbage bins. Thankfully, at the age of ten, James was sponsored through Childcare Worldwide. All of James’ physical needs were met; he received an education and as a teenager, accepted Jesus into his heart.

When Max told James that he was the president of Childcare Worldwide, James was amazed and delighted. “I do not know what I would have done if I didn’t come to know Jesus!” James told Max.

Because he was sponsored, James is now able to support himself financially and is an active member of his church. He is living proof that child sponsorship really does transform lives.

If I were to meet James, I don’t think I would have guessed that he used to eat from a trash can. I suppose that’s the great thing about sponsorship. It brings children so far out of poverty that even when you look really hard, you can’t see the little boy going hungry on the streets anymore.

You can help a child escape from poverty today. Sponsor a child here.

The problem of poverty is so large that sometimes it seems too daunting to even try to do anything. But the truth is, anyone can make a difference, even the very young.

Nathan is eight years old and grew up in Uganda before he was adopted. Even though he lives in the US now, he hasn’t forgotten the poor children he knew in Uganda. He decided he wanted to help them by riding his bike.  So, he found supporters to pledge money for how far he could ride. He rode for five miles, raising $1,022 to purchase food, blankets and clothing for children in Uganda.

"Here I am, living the good life. Some kids aren’t like me. I want to ride my bike to help kids."

Sarah Woods (11 years old) came up with her idea last year. She decided that instead of a jog-a-thon to raise money, she would do a rock-a-thon. She and her friends stayed up all night rocking back and forth in rocking chairs in order to raise money for children in Africa. Last year she raised $627, and this year she raised $1,285.

Sarah and and her friends get ready to rock all night

Titus and Madeline’s two siblings, Daniel and Degitu (both 4 years old), were adopted from Ethiopia, one of the areas hit hard by drought and famine. Together they all saved up change in a jar to give to the poor. When they heard that Childcare Worldwide was raising money for famine relief in East Africa, they decided they wanted to help. They donated their $69.89, which was more than enough to help feed an entire family for two months!

Madeline, Titus, Daniel and Degitu learned about the importance of generosity

Two years ago Jackson, who was five, decided he wanted to do something after seeing the victims of the earthquake in Haiti on TV. He told his mother that he wanted to help and so the two of them baked and sold cookies. They raised $359 to help struggling families in Haiti survive.

Jackson may have tasted the dough when his mom wasn't looking

We are often amazed at the difference a single idea or rather a single individual, no matter how old, can make.

Click here for ideas on how you and your family or friends can help.

When she and her husband, Dr. Max Lange, started their work with the poor, their office was in their bedroom. Now, Childcare Worldwide has become a flourishing organization, which helps children all over the world. Marlies has contributed so much to Childcare, but perhaps the best and most lasting impact she’s had has been from the many children she’s sponsored and the people she’s personally ministered to over the years.

Dr. Max and Marlies Lange in the early days of Childcare Worldwide

For example, while she was traveling in Uganda, Marlies met Therese, a woman with AIDS. Marlies saw the hopelessness in her eyes and heard the despair in her voice. Through the help of a translator, Marlies was able to share the gospel with her. By the grace of God, Therese received Marlies’ words and accepted Christ into her heart that day.

Eventually Therese succumbed to her illness, but before she did, Childcare’s Ugandan Director sent Marlies a picture of her. In her eyes, Marlies saw a new hope and joy that hadn’t been there before. The Lord used Marlies that day and because of her kind heart and willingness to follow, Therese is now in the arms of Christ.

There are many other people and children that Marlies has supported and encouraged throughout the years. Some have already grown, graduated from university and started a successful life because of her help. Marlies keeps in contact with all of the kids she sponsors as they grow. One young man, Tadeo, who she has sponsored since he was eight, now teaches art in a high school and still calls her “Mother” to this day.

Tadeo and his family spend some time with Mother Marlies

Marlies has shown an abundance of love and compassion in the work she’s done for Childcare Worldwide. She has been an  inspirational leader, but has also been the one in charge of keeping her husband, the President of Childcare Worldwide, Dr. Lange, in line all of these years…we don’t know what we’ll do without her!

Come join us for a dessert open house on April 21st from 2:00-4:00 pm at Northwest Baptist Church as we celebrate Marlies and her work at Childcare Worldwide!

Dear Friends,

As Easter approaches, I have been thinking about why it is we do what we do. We feed hungry families and empower children through education, but most importantly, we spread the good news of the resurrected Christ. Recently, through one of the churches we support in India, Jesus saved a young man and his wife by the riverside.

Subramani and his wife Sudha are from a small fishing community where they fish in the nearby river and do quite well. Both of them worshiped a goddess they called Ongaliamman. One day, Subramani had a seizure, which left him horribly crippled. He prayed and offered sacrifices to his goddess, but nothing worked. He was full of despair and felt like he had no one to turn to, so he decided to commit suicide.

Leaving the house in secret, he limped toward the river to drown himself. His wife, however, saw him go and suspected something was wrong, so she followed him. When they both got to the river, Subramani was surprised to see his wife, but he was even more surprised by what he heard over the sound of the rushing water.

In the distance, they heard voices singing. They followed the sound and came to a building where people were gathered, worshiping the Lord. Both of them stayed and listened to the pastor, who spoke about a man named Jesus. Subramani and his wife were so moved by the message and the singing that they both knelt down, then and there, and accepted Christ into their hearts.

God used that moment of despair to shine His light into their lives and now they both regularly attend church and Subramani’s leg has even begun to feel better.

Friends, may you be encouraged by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ this Easter, knowing that with your help, we are able to spread the good news that Jesus Christ has risen!

Gratefully yours,

Max Lange Ph.D.
Founder, President

Click here to read more about our Spiritual Ministries.

Rosa prepares food with what little supplies she has.

Rosa lives in Mexico with her two daughters and an eight-month-old granddaughter. Her husband abandoned the family a long time ago. One of Rosa’s daughters, Jessica, is eight years old and has Down syndrome. Jessica requires constant attention and medication, which Rosa can hardly afford. Because there are so few jobs, Rosa is forced to leave her young girls at home to go out into the streets to beg. It is her only source of income.

Jessica is completely dependent upon Rosa.

Thankfully, Childcare Worldwide is helping families like Rosa’s. Through our Survival Pak Program, we are giving food to those in Mexico who are hanging on by a thin thread. The program is inexpensive too. Only $30 will help feed Rosa and her family for a whole month. For many mothers, this food allows them to use the small amount of money they do earn to go toward their children’s medical expenses. This way, Jessica, who is completely dependent on Rosa, can have the medicine and food that she needs to survive.

When I think about Rosa I can’t help but think of her unique shirt. “Keep smiling—I’m on a holiday.” I imagine her on some tropical beach with plenty of food and a warm bed to sleep in. Maybe her girls are playing in the water while she relaxes in the sun. Doesn’t everyone deserve a vacation? I wish I could give this to her, but I can’t. What I can do is give her a Survival Pak. I can scrounge together $30 and reach out across the border to make sure that she and her family don’t go hungry.

“Here’s food for a month,” I’ll say. “Keep smiling.”

Watch a video about Rosa and other families who receive Survival Paks

Give a Survival Pak

1. Get clean water to rural villages. Learn more

“Clean water can prevent legions of child health problems and dramatically reduce infant mortality.” -Christianity Today Read more

2. Provide mosquito nets. Learn more

“Modern nets last for years and are proven to reduce instances of malaria by 50 percent and malaria mortality by 20 percent.” -Christianity Today Read more

3. Sponsor a child. Learn more

“Of all the long-term development interventions, child sponsorship received the highest rating.” -Christianity Today Read more

The article also spoke about the use of funds donated for child sponsorship. We are glad to report that the money we receive from our generous sponsors is not divided up within our programs, or used to develop the area where the children live, but goes to helping each individual child directly. For Childcare Worldwide, we are daily seeing the ways in which our programs, our sponsorships, work!

Read the stories of children whose lives have been changed through sponsorship.

Read full story from Christianity Today

Poverty and hunger are often the result of corruption

In countries where corruption is so deeply embedded, making any type of change seems impossible. Murder, human trafficking, hunger and poverty are all effects of a corrupt government. Childcare Worldwide has sought to help the victims of tragedies such as these, but we also want to ask the question: how can we solve the problem? How can we make a lasting change in the future of a nation?

The answer, we believe, lies with the children. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Through our Christian Character Building Program (CCB), we seek to do just that.

CCB is an after-school program that teaches children Christ-like character traits based on stories from the Bible. Through sponsorship we seek to give kids an education and empower them to make for themselves a better future; through CCB, we want to develop in the children love, grace, forgiveness and humility that will help them become more like Christ. The hope is that, as they develop these character traits, their good examples will spread to their friends, families, and neighbors.

CCB is changing lives through the Word of God

Already, we have seen the success of CCB. After a while of being enrolled, some of the kids began to approach their teachers, seeking to return items that they had stolen prior to being in the program. Not only did they realize that their actions had been wrong, but they had the courage and quality of character to make things right. In fact, so many things that had been stolen were brought back that they had to create a Lost and Found for all of the returned items.

So how do we stop corruption? We give the children a life outside of poverty and desperation. We teach them about Jesus. We show them the way in which they should go, and pray they don’t depart from it. And in so doing, we hope that one day they, not us, can and will change a nation.

Click here to read more about Christian Character Building

Click here to help bring Christian Character Building to more children