Build Relationships. Break Poverty.

Join Will Crooks and Pastor Jim Cords from St. Timothy in San Jose, California, as they celebrate the journey of CarePoint graduation. From igniting leadership in adolescents to inspiring generosity and discipleship in a congregation, this episode shows how communities can transform when faith, vision, and intentional relationships come together. Hear stories of children finding confidence, communities embracing sustainability, and the powerful ripple effects of walking the long haul together. As Ephesians 3 reminds us, God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine—and this episode brings that promise to life. Learn more about CarePoint graduation at hopechest.org/carepoint-graduation. Support the show

In this episode of Build Relationships. Break Poverty., we continue our Path to Graduation series with Partner Krista Carver from Core Community Church in Shelby, Ohio. Krista shares how her church, though small in size, has built two thriving partnerships—one in Guatemala and one in Uganda—through obedience, relationship, and a vision for sustainability. Together, we explore what it means to start a partnership with the end in mind, how true transformation happens through relationship, and how the journey toward CarePoint graduation is about mutual impact. Support the show

What does it take for a CarePoint to transition from external support to local leadership? In this roundtable conversation, HopeChest brings together Tenbit (Ethiopia), Isaac (Uganda), and Sam (Guatemala) alongside CEO Ken Sparks to share insights from the frontlines of CarePoint graduation. From building strong community leadership teams to empowering youth through alumni networks, they discuss the challenges, lessons, and successes of preparing communities to sustain their own programs. Hear how cross-cultural learning, revenue-generating initiatives, and intentional discipleship come together to create lasting impact. Join the conversation and discover how graduation isn’t the end but the beginning of a new chapter for communities, leaders, and the children they serve. Support the show

Jen deBruin has walked alongside three CarePoints for over a decade. In this episode, she shares what graduation means for the communities, children, and families she loves—and how relationships and transformation make it all possible. Learn more about CarePoint Graduation by visiting hopechest.org/carepoint-graduation. Want to catch up on our full #PathToGraduation series? Check out our blog and podcast at hopechest.org/blog-and-podcast! Support the show

Hear powerful stories from Kabermaido CarePoint, located in Eastern Uganda. This conversation features two graduates from the CarePoint: Richard and Alice. Be inspired as they describe the impact that the CarePoint has had on their lives, from supporting them through loss, to providing them with an education, and more. They also share about how they found their passions for giving back to their community. Community Relationship Manager, Isaac, also explains the rewarding development that he sees daily through the children at the CarePoint, from first joining the CarePoint, to participating in different programs, to eventually pouring back into others. Join us for this encouraging 20-minute conversation about hope, determination, and leadership! To watch Community Building Event with Richard and Alice, click here. For next steps, click here. For the full transcript of this podcast episode, click here. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Wil Crooks: Welcome to build relationships break poverty, a podcast hosted by children's Hope Chest. This podcast challenges the Western perception of international poverty by elevating the voices of local leaders each month. It's our desire to share stories from people around the globe who work tirelessly to see vulnerable communities transformed. We believe that building two way relationships will break the cycle of poverty. I'm well Crookes, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Hope Chest. For nearly 15 years, I've had the privilege of fostering relationships with churches and businesses to create global impact. And again, joined by the host of greatness. Anna, welcome. Anna Kerr: Thanks to well, it's so good to be back. Our show today is going to be awesome. You guys, our listeners are going to love it. We talked to three storytellers from the Hope Beyond Borders event last week, and it was a really good conversation, we got to dive a little deeper than the event covered. So it was a fun conversation. And we'll actually be posting the link to the recording of the event and next steps in the show notes if you guys want to hear more from them. So without further ado, here is our conversation! Anna: Today, we are joined with three guests, Isaac, Richard and Alice from Uganda. And two of these guests are actually graduates of Coppermine auto CarePoint in Uganda. And we are looking forward to hearing their stories and how they were impacted from the chair point and how they're taking that impact and multiplying it in our community. And we're just really excited. So hey, Richard, how are you doing? How do you feel being on the podcast today? Richard: I'm really upbeat because little did I know that I was going to share my success story with all the world today! Because I used to be seen in our community as someone who would not succeed...but through their support and from HopeChest and Kaberamaido CarePoint; it has made me to be who I am today. Wil: Tell us a little bit about your story. You know, you had some challenges growing up, didn't you? Richard: I had a lot and a lot of stories I had a lot and a lot of challenge in my life. I lost my father in 2006 when I was very very before I started is calling. And that time I started living with my mother alone. And since my mom is a PISA is the farmer, she does the most skilled farming not even a big farming because we are a small piece of land, whereby when whatever she could apply cannot manage to raise my school face. Whenever I try to go to school, until the time of examinatio Support the Show.

Discover the inspiring work of I Care for the Nation CarePoint in our conversation with founder Ayneabeba "Ayni" Maru. Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the CarePoint focuses on sustainable development, providing holistic care and job training to vulnerable women and children. Ayni discusses their advocacy efforts in policymaking, promoting emotional well-being, and their overarching goal to end gender-based violence and poverty through girls' education. Join us for this insightful 30-minute conversation filled with inspiring concepts and real stories! Learn more about I Care For the Nation: Next Steps Support the Show.

In the grand finale of our "Fueling the Future" series, we're honored to have Atkelt Simon, an extraordinary individual who once benefited from sponsorship and is now a vital part of the HopeChest team. Join us as Atkelt shares his remarkable journey from being a sponsored child to a dedicated employee, shedding light on the transformative power of sponsorship for young adults during this pivotal stage of life. Support the Show.

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In this episode, we hear the inspiring story of a couple who decided to sponsor a child in need, not just for a short-term period, but until the child became an adult and achieved success. We explore how the relationship between the couple and the child grew over the years and how they provided not just financial support, but also emotional support and guidance. We learn about the accountability that the couple held the child to, and how it encouraged the child to take ownership of their own success. Ultimately, we see how the power of love and relationship transformed the life of this child, and how it can do the same for others. We discuss the importance of long-term commitment and the impact it can have, not just on the individual being sponsored, but on the sponsor as well. This episode highlights the transformative power of relationship, accountability, and love, and encourages us to consider how we can make a difference in the lives of those around us. Support the Show.

Welcome to the launch of "Fueling the Future," a new series by Children's HopeChest that's all about investing in today's teens and young adults to empower tomorrow's leaders. In this episode, we're thrilled to be joined by four of our own employees, including Rachel Andrews, VP of International Operations, as well as Masha, Yana, and Tanya from our team in Russia. Together, we'll explore the transformative impact of investing in young adults, and dive into the roots of Children's HopeChest and where we're headed as an organization. Join us as we kick off this exciting new series and discover the incredible value and importance of working with young adults to fuel sustainable development around the world. Join us in the fight to end the cycle of poverty: www.hopechest.org/give Support the Show.

Community-to-community relationships are an important part of the HopeChest approach. We share lots of incredible transformation stories from the countries where we work, but what is the transformation like for the communities here in the United States? We are so excited to be sharing a series that features our partners in the United States! In this series, we’ll be hearing from former and current HopeChest Partnership Leaders, pastors and church leaders, business leaders, and other partners talk about their own personal experiences and the most moving stories from within their own communities. In the final episode of this series, we are featuring one of our partners, Tri County Air Conditioning and Heating in Venice, FL. In this episode, Jim Foubister and Billy Swanson talk about their business’ partnership with Puerta de Esperanza CarePoint in Guatemala. You'll enjoy listening to his stories and experience with building a relationship with a community in a different country! Support the Show.

Community-to-community relationships are an important part of the HopeChest approach. We share lots of incredible transformation stories from the countries where we work, but what is the transformation like for the communities here in the United States? We are so excited to be sharing a series that features our partners in the United States! In this series, we’ll be hearing from former and current HopeChest Partnership Leaders, pastors and church leaders, and other partners talk about their own personal experiences and the most moving stories from within their own communities. In the first episode of this series, we are featuring one of our partners, The River Church in Kalamazoo, MI. In this episode, John Sparks talks about his church's partnership with Oditel CarePoint in Uganda. You'll enjoy listening to his stories and experience with building a relationship with a community on the other side of the world! Support the Show.

Community-to-community relationships are an important part of the HopeChest approach. We share lots of incredible transformation stories from the countries where we work, but what is the transformation like for the communities here in the United States? We are so excited to be sharing a series that features our partners in the United States! In this series, we’ll be hearing from former and current HopeChest Partnership Leaders, pastors and church leaders, and other partners talk about their own personal experiences and the most moving stories from within their own communities. In the first episode of this series, we are featuring one of our partners, Faith & Zion Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO. In this episode, Brandon Boos talks about his church's partnership with AMBI CarePoint in Guatemala. You'll enjoy listening to his stories and experience with building a relationship with a community on the other side of the world! Support the Show.

Community-to-community relationships are an important part of the HopeChest approach. We share lots of incredible transformation stories from the countries where we work, but what is the transformation like for the communities here in the United States? We are so excited to be sharing a series that features our partners in the United States! In this series, we’ll be hearing from former and current HopeChest Partnership Leaders, pastors and church leaders, and other partners talk about their own personal experiences and the most moving stories from within their own communities. In the first episode of this series, we are featuring one of our partners, the Orphans of Teso Connect Community in Iowa. In this episode, Jen Debruin talks about her community’s partnership with three CarePoints in Uganda. You'll enjoy listening to her stories and experience with building a relationship with a community on the other side of the world! Support the Show.

Community-to-community relationships are an important part of the HopeChest approach. We share lots of incredible transformation stories from the countries where we work, but what is the transformation like for the communities here in the United States? We are so excited to be sharing a series that features our partners in the United States! In this series, we’ll be hearing from former and current HopeChest Partnership Leaders, pastors and church leaders, and other partners talk about their own personal experiences and the most moving stories from within their own communities. In the first episode of this series, we are featuring one of our partners, All Shores Wesleyan Church in Spring Lake, Michigan. In this episode, Thad Spring talks about his church's partnership with Shashemene Wondo Ber CarePoint in Ethiopia. You'll enjoy listening to his stories and experience with building a relationship with a community on the other side of the world! Support the Show.

Community-to-community relationships are an important part of the HopeChest approach. We share lots of incredible transformation stories from the countries where we work, but what is the transformation like for the communities here in the United States? We are so excited to be sharing a brand new series on our podcast, “Build Relationships, Break Poverty” featuring our partners in the United States! In this series, we’ll be hearing from former and current HopeChest Partnership Leaders, pastors and church leaders, and other partners talk about their own personal experiences and the most moving stories from within their own communities. In the first episode of this series, we are featuring one of our partners, Watermark Church in West Michigan. In this episode, Steven Deur talks about his church's partnership with Shone Gerbe CarePoint in Ethiopia. You'll enjoy listening to his stories and experience with building a relationship with a community on the other side of the world! Support the Show.

In October, we asked you, our thoughtful and curious community, what questions you had for Children’s HopeChest Guatemala Country Director, Carolina Cardona. You asked, and Carolina answered! In this month’s unique episode, we are featuring your fantastic questions for Carolina. Support the show (http://www.hopechest.org) Support the Show.

In August, we asked you, our thoughtful and curious community, what questions you had for Children’s HopeChest Uganda Country Director, Milkias "Mickey" Taye. You asked, and Mickey answered! In this month’s unique episode, we are featuring your fantastic questions for Mickey. Support the show (www.hopechest.org) Support the Show.