From Andrew: 90 days in

"Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see."

I've sung those words for as long as I can remember. They have always reminded me that God is faithful through every season of life.

As I reflect on my first ninety days as Executive Director of encompassKids, I find myself hearing that hymn in a new way.

When I accepted this role, I knew encompassKids served vulnerable children, youth, and families in South Africa. I knew the ministry had a faithful history and a strong reputation. What I didn't fully appreciate was just how much God had been doing over the past twenty-five years and how many remarkable stories were waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest privileges of these first few months has been listening. I've met supporters who have faithfully prayed for this ministry for years, talked with board members who have watched it grow from the beginning, and spent time with our South African leaders learning not just what they do, but why they do it. Every conversation has reminded me of the same thing: God's faithfulness has been evident every step of the way.

I've spent my career serving in nonprofit ministry, and I'm also someone who gives. Our family supports ministries, missionaries, and individuals whom we believe God has called us to invest in because we want to see God glorified, lives transformed, and His Kingdom advance. Like many of you, I want to know that my giving is making a difference. 

Whenever I'm asked to support or become involved with a ministry, I find myself asking questions like these: Is it biblically grounded? Does it steward its resources well? Is it sustainable? Is it producing lasting transformation rather than temporary results? 

Those questions matter because we all want confidence that the gifts God has entrusted to us are being used faithfully and making a real difference for His Kingdom.

Over these past ninety days, I've had the opportunity to ask those very questions about encompassKids. Stepping into the team means I've had the privilege of seeing it from the inside. What I've found has only strengthened my confidence in this ministry and increased my excitement for what God has in store!

One of the things I've come to appreciate most is how deeply rooted this ministry is in South Africa itself. Every day, South African Christians faithfully serve their own communities with compassion, wisdom, and perseverance. From our office in Holland, we have the privilege of coming alongside them through accountability, governance, communications, fundraising, encouragement, and strategic support. It is a model that allows local leaders to flourish while ensuring the ministry remains healthy, sustainable, and focused on its mission for generations to come.

I've also gained a greater appreciation for the scale of the work. Nearly 50 full-time South African staff members, 16 school-based life coaches, and 370 trained care workers and program staff serve every day across 35 communities. In 2025 alone, they served 15,624 children and youth and 8,620 adults and family members. That's 24,244 people, about the population of Grand Haven, Michigan! As I considered that number, I hear, "Great is Thy faithfulness!"

Another aspect of encompassKids that has inspired me is the creativity with which our teams share both practical help and the hope of Christ. I was fascinated to learn that our social workers regularly appear on community radio stations, discussing parenting, child protection, adoption, domestic violence, and where struggling families can find help. Every broadcast extends the reach of the ministry far beyond the walls of an office, connecting families with resources, offering hope, and reminding listeners that they are not alone. It is a beautiful example of using every available opportunity to serve others and share Christ's love.

I have also been deeply encouraged by how God has transformed attitudes toward adoption. In many of the communities where our ministry first began, adoption once carried significant cultural stigma. Through patient work alongside churches and community leaders, our staff helped people see adoption through the lens of Scripture instead of tradition. Today, families are stepping forward to adopt children who need permanent, loving homes, and churches are celebrating those decisions. Watching God change hearts and culture over time is a powerful reminder that ministry is about far more than programs. It is about transformation through Christ.

There have been many other moments that have encouraged me. I learned that our partner, Setshabelo Family and Child Services, operates one of the few safe houses in its region for women and children escaping abuse. When my wife Abby and I learned that just $30 provides one night of safety for a woman or child fleeing violence, signing up to provide shelter was an easy decision!

I was equally encouraged by the remarkable trust our teams have earned over decades of faithful service. South African government leaders continue to invite Courage Youth's Christian life coaches into public schools because of the quality and integrity of their work. At a time when opportunities to openly share the Gospel in public schools are becoming increasingly limited, our teams continue to mentor students, teach life skills, build meaningful relationships, and point young people toward Christ. That opportunity is not something we take for granted. It is another reminder of God's faithfulness.

As I look back on these first ninety days, I'm simply thankful. Thankful to God for His unchanging faithfulness. Thankful for the South African leaders who continue to carry this ministry forward with excellence and humility. And thankful for supporters like you whose prayers and generosity make all of this possible. Looking back on God's faithfulness over the past twenty-five years, I can't help but sing:

"All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me."

Thank you for being part of what God is doing through encompassKids.