A sponsorship program in collaboration with
global churches in parternship with WCC
global churches in parternship with WCC
FAQ
About Imagine 3:20 (I-320)
About Child Sponsorship
- What is an I-320 sponsor?
- What specific benefits will the child I sponsor receive?
- Will I be the only person sponsoring the child I’m helping?
- How long should my child sponsorship last?
- How can I renew my sponsorship with each school year?
- How much does it cost to sponsor a child?
- May I spread the cost of sponsorship into more than one payment?
- What do I do if I am considering canceling my child sponsorship?
- If I must discontinue my child sponsorship, what happens to the child I’m helping?
- May I send gifts to my child?
- As a sponsor, how else can I learn about the child I am helping?
- How important is prayer in I-320 sponsorship?
- Must I hold and practice specific Christian beliefs to sponsor a child through I-320?
About communicating with your sponsored child
- How can I communicate with the child I sponsor?
- Will my child write to me?
- Is there anything I cannot send to my sponsored child?
About I-320’s Financial Integrity
- How does I-320 ensure that my support actually benefits the child I sponsor?
- What percentage of expenditures are spent on program activities?
- Are my contributions to I-320, including my child sponsorship support and gifts, tax-deductible?
About Imagine 3:20 (I-320)
What is the vision of I-320?
I-320 is based on the Ephesians 3:20 which says, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”
We believe that if we allow God’s power to work within us and through us that we can do more than we can imagine. Thus Imagine 3:20 or I-320. We have seen the work that God can do through local ministries in the Philippines to impact children and their families who are in poverty. Through education and faith based ministries these children can come to meet, know and follow Jesus. Having the hope that comes through their faith, combined with the education they receive, they are able to grow up into professions far exceeding what they can imagine!
How does I-320 work?
We recognize that the children we serve have unique needs and unique gifts. Therefore, we work at the grassroots level to identify and meet the specific needs of the poorest children through church partnership. In doing so, we address the spiritual, economic, social and physical aspects of poverty so that children may become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.
In addressing the many needs of children by partnering with the local church, we also rely heavily on the relational aspect of child sponsorship. We encourage you to have a close relationship with your sponsored children through consistent correspondence and communication, as well as personal visits. This separates us from other organizations.
We are a Christian ministry that works through the local church, and therefore we do not accept government funds. This also distinguishes us from other child sponsorship organizations.
Our holistic ministry is:
- Child focused – We are committed to making a difference in each child’s life. Local staff is personally acquainted with each child to minister to his or her unique needs. We believe in ministering to individual children because they will be the ones to better their communities and nations in the future.
- Christ centered – We commit to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do. Every child who participates in the I-320 program is given the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ and discover how to develop a lifelong relationship with God.
- Church based – We work exclusively through indigenous churches to create child development ministries so that church leaders and members around the world can become effective child advocates in their communities. Instead of throwing money at a problem, we believe in bringing long-term change.
How is the I-320 project team organized?
The I-320 project team is made up of volunteer leaders who are members of Woodbridge Community Church and regularly attend Woodbridge Community Church. The project team is overseen by the Woodbridge Community Church Missions Committee.
About Child Sponsorship
What is an I-320 sponsor?
A sponsor is someone like you who has made the decision to personally invest in the life of a child in need. As a sponsor, you enable your sponsored child to participate in a church-based program that offers life-changing benefits including help with:
- education
- health care
- social skills development
- Christian training
And more than this, you can help your sponsored child develop a sense of confidence and self-worth with the love you express through letters and prayers.
As a sponsor, you are assured that there is a real connection between you and the specific child you support. The child you sponsor will know your name, write to you and benefit directly from your sponsorship.
Your relationship with your sponsored child makes you a very important person who has a significant role in his or her development. You stand alongside parents, pastors, teachers, family and friends who are taking an active role in encouraging and developing the child.
What specific benefits will the child I sponsor receive?
The child you sponsor will receive opportunities and services that most of the world’s poorest children never see. These opportunities and services include:
- The opportunity to receive an education: This means providing the cost of school fees, clothing and supplies. Your sponsorship will allow one special child to attend school and get the most out of his or her education.
- The opportunity to be healthy: The health of the child you sponsor will be monitored and care will be provided as needed. Children are taught about hygiene and how to maintain personal health. In addition, and according to their needs, many of the children we assist receive supplementary food.
- The opportunity to develop self-confidence and social skills: The child you sponsor will be part of a church-based program where Christian adults offer love, guidance, personal attention, guided recreation and safety.
- The opportunity to hear the gospel and learn about Jesus: Most important, your sponsorship provides the child you sponsor with regular Bible training and encouragement through a local church committed to Christ and the children in its community.
Will I be the only person sponsoring the child I’m helping?
Yes. The child you’re helping has just one sponsor: you. That’s why your prayers, letters and support mean so much to your sponsored child. Even if you choose to sponsor a child as a family or a group (for example, a youth group, a growth group, or a Sunday school class), the child you help will still be relating to your family or group as his or her only sponsor. No other group or individual will also sponsor the child you help.
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How long should my child sponsorship last?
Our Child Sponsorship Program offers you the opportunity to stay with a child for a number of years, usually through the school year in which the child reaches the age of 16 to 20.
While we hope that you will be able to continue your support of your sponsored child until he or she completes the program, we recognize that circumstances sometimes change. You may discontinue your child sponsorship at any time.
Please understand that a sponsored child’s circumstances may change, too. For example, sometimes families move beyond the reach of our program and children no longer have the opportunity to participate.
We will inform you as quickly as possible if any such circumstance affects the child you sponsor, and we’ll offer you the opportunity to support another child in need of your help.
How can I renew my sponsorship with each school year?
A few months before each school year we will communicate to you and give you the opportunity to affirm your continued sponsorship of your child.
How much does it cost to sponsor a child?
If you choose to sponsor a child, the cost is $400 for the entire school year.
May I spread the cost of sponsorship into more than one payment?
It is simpler to account for the sponsorship in a single payment. A single payment also allows the school to budget for the entire year’s schooling for your sponsored child. However, if your financial circumstances do not allow you to make a single payment we will of course work with you to customize a multiple payment plan.
What do I do if I am considering canceling my child sponsorship?
To inquire about canceling your child sponsorship, please contact our I-320 project team. You may discontinue your sponsorship at any time.
If I must discontinue my child sponsorship, what happens to the child I’m helping?
Prior to the start of each school year, which in the Philippines is in June, we will communicate with you and ask you to recommit your sponsorship of the child for the coming school year. If you need to discontinue your child sponsorship, we will immediately look for a new sponsor for your child and continue the child’s sponsorship support without interruption. You can discontinue your child sponsorship at any time.
May I send gifts to my child?
Yes. Due to limited shipping logistics we ask that you please send monetary gifts only. We encourage you to give additional monetary gifts for special occasions, to address specific needs, or simply as an act of love. These gifts are another effective way for you to reinforce your care and commitment to your sponsored child.
The local child development center workers purchase gifts on your behalf and make certain that these funds are used appropriately.
You may also send a gift to your sponsored child’s family. With your monetary gift, the child development center staff will buy items your sponsored child’s family needs, such as food supplies. The local church organization will work closely with the family to determine the greatest need and then purchase items accordingly.
To send a gift simply your contribution to Woodbridge Community Church. Put I-320 on the memo line of the check. Put your check in an offering envelope and designate your gift to missions and write “Special Gift for Student; I-320” next to it. Doing this will ensure all of your contributions are tax-deductible and you will be provided with an end of year contribution statement from Woodbridge Community Church.
As a sponsor, how else can I learn about the child I am helping?
In addition to letters from your sponsored child, we will ensure you are sent periodic updates about your child’s progress. Through the letters and periodic updates you’ll have a better understanding of your sponsored child’s culture and life. It’s quite likely that your vision of God’s kingdom will expand. You may even decide to visit your child by participating in a mission trip with Woodbridge Community Church.
How important is prayer in I-320?
Prayer is a critical. Your sponsored child is in need and vulnerable. Your prayers for the health, safety, education and spiritual development of your child are critical. Sponsored children are greatly encouraged when they hear that their sponsors are praying for them.
Remember that the child you sponsor will likely pray for you, too. Often, a sponsored child’s family and church join in prayer with the child on behalf of a sponsor. As you share your own family and personal concerns with the child you support, you’ll probably discover that he or she is consistently praying for you.
Must I hold and practice specific Christian beliefs to sponsor a child through I-320?
We do not require you to sign a statement of faith or a statement regarding your religious beliefs and practices. We do, however, seek sponsors who are aligned with our ministry approach and philosophy.
We are an evangelical Christian ministry dedicated to the holistic development of children in poverty. We carry out our programs by partnering with local Christian churches who share our vision for ministry and conduct Christian outreach to local children and families.
Communicating with my sponsored child
How can I communicate with the child I sponsor?
Once you’ve become a sponsor, we provide you with a special email address and practical suggestions about writing the child you’re helping. We encourage you to send your sponsored child a personal or family photograph and a short letter of introduction. English is understood by your child and the local staff. Your emails will be printed and delivered to the child you support. Sponsored children typically keep their sponsors’ photos and letters in their homes as treasured possessions.
You may write to the child you sponsor as often as you like. When you write, your sponsored child will benefit from knowing that someone in addition to his or her family really cares. Your words of encouragement will make a big difference to your child.
Correspondence between sponsors and the children they support is truly developmental. The more you write the child you sponsor, the more he or she will reap the benefits of your relationship.
Will my child write to me?
Your child will write to you at least twice a year — and up to six times per year depending on the frequency of your letters. A teacher or staff person will help children who have yet to fully learn how to read and write in English.
As you share your own family and personal concerns with the child you support, you’ll probably discover that he or she is consistently praying for you.
You will also be receiving annual correspondence from the child’s teacher to help you learn even more about your sponsored child.
Is there anything I cannot send to my sponsored child?
As a sponsor, you have many opportunities to communicate with the child you sponsor and we encourage you to do so. When you communicate with him or her, however, we ask you to provide comments and materials consistent with the Christian values and philosophies we share with our partnering churches. We will not forward photographs and other materials depicting activities that:
- Might be considered inappropriate in another culture.
- Promote lifestyle choices that we view as unhealthy and inconsistent with Biblically based lifestyles or otherwise inappropriate for sponsored children.
- Might threaten the safety of the sponsored children in any way.
For example, we will not forward materials that depict or describe the use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, unlawful drugs and materials or activities that we regard as dangerous or unsafe. We will not forward materials or communications that advocate another religious worldview. In addition, we will not forward materials depicting persons dressed in immodest clothing or engaging in activities inconsistent with our ministry values and beliefs.
Financial Integrity
How does I-320 ensure that my support actually benefits the child I sponsor?
We work exclusively through local Christian organizations to assist children and 100% of your sponsorship funds go to the local organization. But it’s not enough to ensure that funds are reaching your child’s development center and being spent on planned activities. Like you, we want to be sure that real development is taking place in the life of every sponsored child. Our annual mission trips will also serve to monitor and evaluate each local center in terms of program effectiveness and long-term impact — right down to the individual child.
What percentage of expenditures are spent on program activities?
100% of your sponsorship funds will be applied to your sponsored child’s education and program activities. I-320 fundraising and other material costs are covered by a separate fund. Also, the annual mission team’s expenses are covered by separate fund raising. 100% of your sponsorship is applied to your child’s education and program activities!
Are my contributions to I-320, including my child sponsorship support and gifts, tax-deductible?
Yes. Make all of your contributions to Woodbridge Community Church. Put I-320 on the memo line of the check. Put your check in an offering envelope and designate your gift to missions and write “I-320” next to it. Doing this will ensure all of your contributions are tax-deductible and you will be provided with an end of year contribution statement from Woodbridge Community Church.