World Vision
World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God. They pursue this mission through integrated, holistic commitment to:
- Transformational development that is community-based and sustainable, focused especially on the needs of children.
- Emergency relief that assists people afflicted by conflict or disaster.
- Promotion of justice that seeks to change unjust structures affecting the poor among whom we work.
- Partnerships with churches to contribute to spiritual and social transformation.
- Public awareness that leads to informed understanding, giving, involvement, and prayer.
- Witness to Jesus Christ by life, deed, word, and sign that encourages people to respond to the Gospel.
The World Vision "Chosen" program offers a new approach to child sponsorship, where instead of sponsors choosing a child, the child has the power to choose. In January 2024, SOTV hosted a World Vision Chosen launch weekend to find sponsors for children living in Sembradores de Paz, El Salvador. During this weekend and the following, a total of 73 SOTV families signed up to sponsor a child and had their photos taken. The following week, World Vision staff and Pastor John David met with these children in El Salvador and shared these photos, giving the children the chance to choose their sponsors.
The next weekend each person who signed up found out which child chose them. They received a photo of their new sponsored child and relationships began! Since then, the joy has traveled both ways through love, prayers and letters as we have shared the journey with these sponsored children and their families. Our monthly gifts help empower the community of Sembradores de Paz to lift themselves out of poverty. Learn more about World Vision at www.worldvision.org.
Chosen Launch Weekend
Chosen Reveal Weekend
AGAPE Pregnancy Resource Center
AGAPE's mission is to demonstrate the truth and unconditional love of Jesus in a safe and confidential environment to women, men and families experiencing pregnancy or the effects of sexual relationships. Since 1985, AGAPE has faithfully served the people in the Des Moines area offering hope, support and care through the front lines of pregnancy services and beyond. AGAPE is continually expands its services to serve more and to serve better! They offer offer pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STD testing, as well as more classes, life-skills services and job training support than ever before. They also provide ongoing support to help change the quality of life for the child that will be growing up in the home. It’s not only about being on the front lines in the crisis moments but also about changing and making a better life and future for parents and children.
YMCA Supportive Housing Campus
The YMCA Supportive Housing Campus helps people experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness move into stable and secure permanent housing supplemented by supportive services. Wrap-around services help people meet their basic needs and reach their life goals. A team from SOTV volunteers regularly to help serve meals to the residents. For more information about the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus, view their website at www.dmymca.org/locations/supportive-housing-campus.
Together For Good
Founded in 2017, Together for Good connects volunteers from local churches with isolated parents and vulnerable children. Together For Good (TFG) provides wrap-around, relational care that helps to stabilize families, so that they can move beyond a crisis. There are four primary ways their volunteers serve: hosting children during a crisis (hosting timeframes range from one day to one year); hosting children for shorter periods (typically a weekend) so parents are able to experience respite relief; building relationships with parents through parent advocacy; and meeting the practical needs of parents, such as meals or transportation. TFG has four locations in three states and a team of professional staff that train volunteers in culturally-competent, trauma-informed caregiving, and who manage each case. Learn more by visiting their website https://www.tfgood.org.
Central Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is making a profound impact, touching millions of lives—one heart at a time. Since its inception in 1954, FCA has been dedicated to inspiring coaches and athletes across various levels, from professional and college to high school, junior high, and youth, to leverage the influential platform of sports for sharing the transformative power of Jesus Christ.
In Central Iowa, FCA prioritizes serving local communities by actively involving, preparing, and empowering coaches and athletes to come together, inspire, and bring positive change to their community through the gospel. SOTV has an active partnership with the representative for our local high schools, Willie Cashmore. CLICK HERE to help support Willie's FCA ministry.