Donations 2014

It has been quite the year! Thank you to all who have supported my shop. Now comes the fun part - donating!

This year I will again be donating a significant portion to Voice of the Martyrs "Christmas Blessing" fund. The Christmas Blessing fund provides packages of necessities such as food, clothing, medicine, toiletries and literature to help meet the basic needs of the recipients. Each year a different country is chosen to distribute these gifts. This year Nigeria is the recipient. There has been much on the news about the hostility in Nigeria, including the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls (which sparked the BringBackOurGirls campaign), but sadly that is just a small snippet of the violence which has and is occurring in that region. (For those of you who don't know, the village of the targeted school was known as a Christian village, and approx 90% of the kidnapped girls are Christian.)

Also to receive donations are the Families of Martyrs fund, which is designated to the families who have had one or both parents incarcerated or killed because of their faith. As well, donations were made to the Women's Ministry Fund.  (From the Voice of the Martyrs Canada website) "Christian women, particularly pastors' wives and children, are suffering for their witness in nations hostile to Christ. Some are incarcerated in prison cells, without their basic needs being met. Others are forced to labour under great duress. Still, many are subordinated and sexually abused, discriminated against and mistreated. VOM's Women's Ministry Fund addresses the unique needs of Christian women who suffer for their faith by providing assistance and support to them."

Another organization to receive donations this year is Open Doors. In this years gift catalogue, the gifts I choose focused on helping trauma victims. Both gifts #4 (Bring hope to traumatized believers) and Gift #10 (Encourage Trauma Victims) focus on helping believers heal and rebuild their lives, with Gift #10 providing a safe house.

Once again, I thank you all for your support and am looking forward to what 2015 may bring!