I hope you all had a Happy Mother’s Day! CFO International is a mother to a daughter organization, Spirit in Action. Read on to learn more! This post is from Tanya Cothran, Adminsitrator of SIA and Board Member of CFOI. Tanya shares:
“As hard as I try, it’s hard to keep the ‘further out’ feeling of a CFO camp lasting all year. As much as I try to stay positive about the day-to-day problems that come up after I leave camp, I wrestle to stay in that place of resting in the everlasting arms of God.
“For some people, the challenges facing us after we ‘come down the mountain’ after camp are about our basic needs. When Del Anderson was CFOI President in 1973-83 (CFOI was called Foundation Furthest Out at that time), he started the Resource (Self-Help) Committee to provide resources to people about projects that would improve their daily lives. The committee sent seeds and information about growing more food, making soap, and starting fish ponds. Now a separate organization, Spirit in Action continues this work and often partners with CFOers around the world.
“As the Administrator for Spirit in Action, it is a daily joy and blessing to connect with CFOers in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda to help people in their communities start small businesses. I also write and receive emails from CFOers in Sri Lanka, India, and Australia on a regular basis.
“Last month Ofonime Nkoko, the CFOI West Africa Regional Vice President and a Spirit in Action local coordinator in Nigeria, wrote to me about how Spirit in Action is helping Nigeria CFOers meet their daily needs. ‘I shared the business group grants to four camps. The camp chairmen selected the poorest of the poor in the local government areas of Orukanam, Abak, Etimekpo and Ukanafun.’ Since 2003, Ofonime has helped eighty-five families start businesses. Some enterprises include producing palm oil, growing cassava or plantain, and selling petrol, kerosene, soda or rice. With the profits from their businesses families often pay for education, lease or buy land to grow food, and improve their houses.
“This is just a peak into the ways that CFO and Spirit in Action are working side-by-side to help people feel comfort and encouragement throughout the year, even after they leave camp.”
What a blessing to be working side by side in God’s Kingdom!
SIA Small Business: Usoro’s Plantains
