Dear Arm of Hope Family,

What a wonderful month it has been for Arm of Hope!  We have been privileged to have Philip and Hannah Darko as our guests for the past few weeks, and it has been a busy, productive, and fulfilling time for the ministry.  My husband, Mike, and I cannot even express how privileged we are to partner with the Darkos!

A huge thank you to all who came out for our annual banquet (turned picnic) fundraiser on October 2.  There were nearly 300 people in attendance enjoying food and activities, followed by an update on the amazing ways God is changing lives in Ghana. Tears came to my eyes, as I heard the video testimonies of our college students who testify that Arm of Hope has changed their lives in ways they could never imagine.  It is truly an honor to see how God has worked over the past 10 years!

If you were not able to attend the picnic, you can go to our Facebook page and scroll back to October 2 to watch the event.  If you would still like to get in on supporting Arm of Hope, we invite you to go to our website at armofhopeinghana.org to give!  You are also welcome to write a check and send it to Arm of Hope, 1708 Ridge Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

There are several ways you can give to Arm of Hope.  You can sponsor a child or a college student, you can support our missionary, or you can give to the Development Fund.  In the past year, I’ve had several people ask me why anyone would give to the Development Fund when they could sponsor a child and change a life.  Great question!  Sponsorship provides a child with everything they need to attend school. These are very important materials needed to change a life!  The Development Fund is our general fund that covers our day to expenses. The Development Fund keeps the doors to our office open, so that Philip and his assistant, Diana, can meet with children every day.  It provides for the computer lab and library as a place for our students to learn and grow.  It is a safe place in the midst of a difficult community, where children can come and receive care, as well as attend Bible Club.  The Development Fund keeps the Arm of Hope building open and provides salaries for 6 our our Arm of Hope gradates who work for us, as well as our female social worker.  The Sponsorship Fund provides the needed supplies, but the Development Fund provides the relationships! Please consider giving to the Development Fund and supporting Philip and his team as they minister to children day in and day out in the slum community.

In addition to the picnic, Arm of Hope was able to partner with three churches while the Darkos were here.  Many thanks to the Alliance Church and Lifegate for welcoming us into their church families and to Hope Community Church for always standing by our side and cheering us on.

Last Friday, our house held nearly 50 people, all of whom support the Darko family.  We ate delicious Ghanaian food made by Mrs. Darko, and tried to express our thanks and appreciation to all who have come alongside the Darkos as they serve Arm of Hope.  The Darko family is growing and is always in need of our support.  With the addition of their twin daughters last year, their house is quite full, so they are hoping to build an addition to accommodate their growing family.  Investing in the Darko family is vital, as they are the daily hands and feet of the ministry.

At the banquet I shared a story from Jim Daily, president of Focus on the Family.  He said he was taken aback, when he once expressed appreciation to a donor who had contributed to the ministry. The donor said, “Thank you for serving the Lord effectively and efficiently, so we can do ministry through you!”  Wow! This is my prayer – that Arm of Hope can be effective and efficient in serving the children in Ghana, so you can minister through us!  You may never go to Ghana, but you can do ministry by using your talents to go to work today and sharing your earnings with the children in Ghana. We all minister in different ways, but together, God can use us to do great things!

It is an incredible privilege to serve with you, our Arm of Hope family.

Cheryl

US Arm of Hope Director

Cheryl Zimmerman

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