| One Child at a Time |
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Feed My Lambs models our vision after the life of Jesus. Jesus went to the children and the poor to build relationships founded on love and hope. In order to break this hideous cycle, we must be deliberate with our love. Over 15 years ago, FML founder, Elizabeth Weatherby, felt called to show the love of Christ to children in impoverished areas. Her specific desire was to educate and provide nutrition to preschool aged kids. We, literally, are breaking the cycle of poverty through children under the age of five. Our goal is to teach the children, who, in turn, will teach their parents, who, in turn, will change their communities into communities that are Jesus – followers. The research is both staggering and undeniable. Children who are not properly fed will develop far less intellectually than those who receive proper nutrition. On average, children who face poverty on a daily basis report I.Q.s 13 points lower than the national average, which equates to almost three grade levels lower. The long-term effect also gives fuel to the poverty cycle because children born into poverty are 20 times less likely to go to college. The statistics for homeless children are far less hopeful. Only four percent of the permanent homeless graduate high school. Despair is their reality. So why battle? The answer is quite easy for Feed My Lambs, because it is the fight that encourages and empowers people. Children under the age of five, who receive nutrition and education are nine times more likely to graduate high school and five times more likely to go to college. For the homeless children, the number of high school graduates increases from 4% to 50%. As we begin a new year, help us fight despair... one child at a time.
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Ten percent of Americans are under the poverty line and under the age of 18. For most who are considered poor, their motto is simple, ‘Why wage a war that can never be won?’ This motto is an anthem of despair. For many, despair continues to win over each generation thereby creating a hopeless cycle of people who have no purpose.
Stats on Poverty