2021 has been an incredible year. At Forward Edge, our hearts swell with gratitude for all God has done. His awesome faithfulness through another difficult year has been such a blessing to witness. Children around the world are discovering their true worth and purpose and growing in intimacy with Jesus, and that is the greatest blessing of all.
Today, we celebrate some of the top highlights from this year:
Children help their families in Cuba – In Cuba, food and medicine costs have skyrocketed this year. As a response, several of the children in our program there decided to help their families by starting their own small businesses for extra income. Alexis is a young man who learned from a relative how to make aluminum rings out of useless coins. Once finished, he gives them to a friend to sell. María is a young woman and another shining example of generosity: She plants cactuses of different kinds in old containers, and once the plants are established, neighbors come buy them. María then joyfully gives the money to her grandma to buy the loaves of bread they need for the day. We’re inspired by the resourcefulness and generosity of these children!
Our preschool in Kijabe, Kenya has a new building and expanded. Thanks to Forward Edge partners, we were able to build a preschool building complete with two different classrooms and a teacher’s office this year! Before, the students were crammed in an old dining hall. This expansion has allowed the school to almost double in size. Our preschool welcomed 23 children over the summer and is equipping them with the vital early education needed to succeed in primary school and beyond!
Our first-ever “Over The Edge” event was a success – On August 21st, the Forward Edge family rappelled down the side of the Portland Astoria building in downtown Portland, OR to raise money for children in our programs. In total, there were 68 rappelers and a total of $195,000 raised. For those of you able to join in person, you know just how special this day was.
We had our best Worth & Purpose Virtual Banquet to date – In October, the Global Forward Edge Family gathered virtually and in-person to look back on the miraculous ways God has built the ministry of Forward Edge since 1983, hear the heartwarming story of Peter, and announce the new CEO of Forward Edge, Tim Ainley. Together, we raised over $400,000 to support and expand our programs for the vulnerable! Our deepest thanks to everyone who was able to join!
Siloé School opened in Oaxaca, Mexico! – Over the summer, Siloé School, a private Christian elementary school for children in our program officially opened. In November, the school hosted an Awards Ceremony to recognize students with the best bimonthly grade point average. Students have already improved a great deal academically since the school opened a few short months ago. Praise God!
Operation Enduring Homes is still thriving in Mexico – Missionaries Tom and Wendy Hogan lead this homebuilding ministry in conjunction with our Mexico children’s program. So far they have completed 11 new homes for families in most need! The block factory they manage along with the construction of homes provides jobs for 11 families in the community. We’re so thankful for this life-changing program.
Of course, there are many cherished and truly beautiful moments from this year, and we simply can’t count them all. We hope you enjoyed looking back on these moments as much as we did. Cheers to a fantastic year ahead in 2022!
Two Lives Forever Changed Adriana and Itzel both grew up with difficult home lives but everything changed for them when they joined Trigo y Miel, Forward Edge’s program in Oaxaca, Mexico. As children, they didn’t have many material possessions, but because of the program they were privileged to hear about
In the extremely poor village of Kijabe, Kenya, there lives a crippled widow named Mary. After her husband died of AIDS a few years ago, she struggled to find food. While she suffers from HIV, too, Mary’s greatest challenge is a nerve problem in her legs. She has to use crutches
Our children’s programs had wonderful Christmas programs full of food, music, celebration, and the true meaning of Christmas – in fact at least 13 people were saved through these programs! Oaxaca Haiti Kenya Uganda Ghana Cuba Oaxaca Haiti Kenya Uganda Ghana Cuba In Oaxaca, families were invited for a delicious
Three Team Members, a piece of cake, and Miss Bonnie It had been three days, and none of us had met Miss Bonnie. “We could see this small shed on the property as we were working, but weren’t sure if someone was actually in there. And then we heard that
16 yrs. old
Entered the program: October 2025
When not away at school studying music, Jeremy lives with his mom, his younger brother, his grandmother and an uncle at his grandmother’s house. He shares a bedroom with his mom and brother. Their home has a kitchen and a bathroom outside.
Jeremy´s dad passed away in 2020 due to cirrhosis. He had been struggling with alcoholism since he was a teenager. His mother takes care of the home and helps provides for the family by farming and doing embroidery.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
