Child Impact
International is an organization
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.30
that gives hope
and fosters permanent,
00:00:03.33\00:00:05.60
positive change in the
lives of disadvantaged children
00:00:05.63\00:00:08.64
and their communities.
00:00:08.67\00:00:11.34
Countries include
Zambia, Kenya, India, Nepal,
00:00:11.37\00:00:17.25
Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, and Myanmar.
00:00:17.28\00:00:20.65
Child impacts
investment in the lives
00:00:20.68\00:00:22.65
of more than 3,500 children
00:00:22.68\00:00:24.95
continues to
yield infinite returns.
00:00:24.99\00:00:27.86
Outreach spans from child
rescue operations to providing
00:00:27.89\00:00:30.83
an education and a home
for deaf and blind children
00:00:30.86\00:00:34.06
and orphans.
00:00:34.10\00:00:35.43
Above all, Child Impacts
sponsors give hope to the ones
00:00:35.46\00:00:39.53
who need it the most.
00:00:39.57\00:00:40.90
Hi. I'm Jim Rennie from
Child Impact International.
00:00:46.07\00:00:50.21
And I just wanted to
take a moment to update
00:00:50.25\00:00:52.61
you on the field in regards
to the challenges that we faced
00:00:52.65\00:00:56.92
with COVID.
00:00:56.95\00:00:58.42
In India,
Bangladesh, and Myanmar,
00:00:58.45\00:01:01.99
unfortunately,
it's been pretty bad.
00:01:02.02\00:01:04.19
And it's still is.
00:01:04.23\00:01:06.09
Many of our staff and teachers
in the schools that we serve
00:01:06.13\00:01:10.63
and also church
pastors and church workers
00:01:10.67\00:01:13.77
have caught the virus.
00:01:13.80\00:01:15.40
And sadly, some are passed away.
00:01:15.44\00:01:18.44
To be honest, it's
been a real challenge.
00:01:18.47\00:01:21.88
Most of the
schools are still closed.
00:01:21.91\00:01:24.58
But I'm excited to announce
that in the next two weeks,
00:01:24.61\00:01:27.78
the schools in India
are starting to reopen.
00:01:27.82\00:01:31.55
Your ongoing support
during this crisis has made
00:01:31.59\00:01:35.56
a real difference.
00:01:35.59\00:01:37.09
It's made a difference in
the lives of the children.
00:01:37.13\00:01:40.06
It's made a difference in
the lives of the teachers.
00:01:40.10\00:01:42.80
But your ongoing support
00:01:42.83\00:01:44.77
is really going to ensure
that some of these mission
00:01:44.80\00:01:48.07
schools do remain open.
00:01:48.10\00:01:51.94
Your contribution
to the Rice, Health,
00:01:51.97\00:01:54.44
and Education appeal
has had a big impact.
00:01:54.48\00:01:58.21
It has enabled us to
distribute over 20,000 sacks
00:01:58.25\00:02:02.92
of rice to our
children, to the teaching staff,
00:02:02.95\00:02:07.06
and to the pastors.
00:02:07.09\00:02:08.82
Many of these workers have not
been paid or are on half wages.
00:02:08.86\00:02:13.50
So your generous giving
00:02:13.53\00:02:16.53
has had a real
impact on their lives.
00:02:16.56\00:02:19.13
During this time,
00:02:19.17\00:02:20.64
the where needed most fund
has been very well supported.
00:02:20.67\00:02:24.57
And it's enabled us to
keep working in these difficult
00:02:24.61\00:02:28.28
areas during the virus crisis.
00:02:28.31\00:02:31.58
And just at our last meeting,
00:02:31.61\00:02:33.82
last Sunday,
00:02:33.85\00:02:35.18
we voted $90,000 to
help some urgently needed
00:02:35.22\00:02:39.62
projects for our
mission schools in Bangladesh,
00:02:39.65\00:02:43.79
we will implement
these when the schools open.
00:02:43.83\00:02:47.00
And we're now
seeing the side effects
00:02:47.03\00:02:49.06
or the downside of COVID.
00:02:49.10\00:02:51.70
And in India,
there are thousands
00:02:51.73\00:02:54.00
of COVID orphans.
00:02:54.04\00:02:56.10
These are children
00:02:56.14\00:02:57.47
who have lost both
parents or one parent,
00:02:57.51\00:03:00.31
and they're
unable to cope anymore.
00:03:00.34\00:03:04.41
These kids are
often rejected by the rest
00:03:04.45\00:03:06.92
of the society or the village.
00:03:06.95\00:03:09.42
And we're just so excited
that we've been able to take
00:03:09.45\00:03:12.52
40 of these COVID orphans
into our home at Sunrise,
00:03:12.55\00:03:17.36
and we're looking
at ways of working
00:03:17.39\00:03:19.09
with the government to
support many more of them.
00:03:19.13\00:03:22.93
We see it as a big opportunity
00:03:22.96\00:03:24.63
and a new project for
Operation Child Rescue,
00:03:24.67\00:03:28.17
and we're just so
excited about this.
00:03:28.20\00:03:31.91
Some of you may know
that I'm stepping down as CEO,
00:03:31.94\00:03:35.94
and I'll be returning to my
home country in New Zealand.
00:03:35.98\00:03:39.61
And I just want to thank
you each one for the support
00:03:39.65\00:03:42.75
that you have given me and
Child Impact over 14 years,
00:03:42.78\00:03:47.62
you've seen the
organization grow,
00:03:47.66\00:03:50.13
and we simply couldn't
have done it without you,
00:03:50.16\00:03:53.09
the donor, you the sponsor.
00:03:53.13\00:03:55.50
And I'm just so proud
of what we've achieved.
00:03:55.53\00:03:58.90
But I'm just so
grateful to your generosity,
00:03:58.93\00:04:02.60
and the blessings of the Lord.
00:04:02.64\00:04:05.31
Well, today, I'm very
excited that I can introduce
00:04:05.34\00:04:08.51
the new Child Impact
international CEO, Tom Evans.
00:04:08.54\00:04:13.92
Tom, welcome to Child Impact.
00:04:13.95\00:04:16.05
Thank you, Jim.
00:04:16.08\00:04:17.42
I just want to
clarify something though.
00:04:17.45\00:04:19.45
You said that
you're stepping down,
00:04:19.49\00:04:21.19
but you're
actually not stepping away.
00:04:21.22\00:04:23.86
We have met as a board
00:04:23.89\00:04:25.29
and we would
really like to have you
00:04:25.33\00:04:26.86
continue in a
role in particularly
00:04:26.90\00:04:29.23
with India and Bangladesh.
00:04:29.26\00:04:30.87
Can you share a
little bit about that?
00:04:30.90\00:04:33.27
Yes, in these countries,
00:04:33.30\00:04:35.10
we are facing a lot of
change a lot of challenges.
00:04:35.14\00:04:39.04
And so we want to
conduct a full review
00:04:39.07\00:04:42.34
of our education program
of our sponsorship program.
00:04:42.38\00:04:47.52
There are challenges
with government regulation,
00:04:47.55\00:04:51.32
with standards of
education, political issues.
00:04:51.35\00:04:55.66
And so my job will
be to conduct a review
00:04:55.69\00:05:00.00
and to make recommendations
to the Child Impact board.
00:05:00.03\00:05:04.30
I've been operating in
those fields now for 14 years.
00:05:04.33\00:05:07.64
And so I'm excited to
take on this challenge
00:05:07.67\00:05:10.64
because it's really
needed at this time.
00:05:10.67\00:05:13.11
And, Jim, I'm looking
forward to journeying with
00:05:13.14\00:05:16.04
you in that and
having the benefit
00:05:16.08\00:05:18.55
of all of your knowledge
of each of these projects.
00:05:18.58\00:05:21.78
Thanks, Tom, and I can
continue to support you
00:05:21.82\00:05:26.19
and your role as well.
00:05:26.22\00:05:28.29
So tell us about Tom Evans.
00:05:28.32\00:05:30.66
Sure.
00:05:30.69\00:05:32.49
Look, I always start out
by saying I was born in Texas,
00:05:32.53\00:05:35.93
you know, because everything's
bigger in Texas, right?
00:05:35.96\00:05:39.07
But grew up in the Northwest.
00:05:39.10\00:05:41.10
So that's where
the accent is from
00:05:41.14\00:05:43.00
and had an opportunity
to attend Adventist schools.
00:05:43.04\00:05:47.08
What a blessing.
00:05:47.11\00:05:48.44
I remember, I went to
public school for one day, Jim,
00:05:48.48\00:05:51.08
and I got kicked out
the first day of school.
00:05:51.11\00:05:53.42
So they called my
parents to come pick him up.
00:05:53.45\00:05:55.18
So that's when I
started my Adventist education.
00:05:55.22\00:05:57.69
It's a big story,
but I won't go there.
00:05:57.72\00:05:59.59
But in any
case, it's a blessing.
00:05:59.62\00:06:01.56
And we're so blessed to
have those opportunities.
00:06:01.59\00:06:04.33
I was able to
attend Newbold College
00:06:04.36\00:06:05.93
over in England as well,
00:06:05.96\00:06:07.63
and graduated from
Walla Walla University,
00:06:07.66\00:06:10.53
and then also a couple
times from Andrews University.
00:06:10.57\00:06:12.87
Right.
00:06:12.90\00:06:14.24
And tell us about your family.
00:06:14.27\00:06:15.70
Sure. That's the
most important part.
00:06:15.74\00:06:18.57
I have three grown
daughters. And we have...
00:06:18.61\00:06:21.01
They live in
Texas, and I have two boys
00:06:21.04\00:06:24.15
that are both in
high school in academy.
00:06:24.18\00:06:28.12
But that wasn't enough.
00:06:28.15\00:06:29.48
We just adopted two boys
from an orphanage in Latvia.
00:06:29.52\00:06:31.89
Wow. Yeah.
00:06:31.92\00:06:33.29
And we really went out
because they're both...
00:06:33.32\00:06:37.03
One is 13 and one is 12.
00:06:37.06\00:06:38.59
So we get to enjoy them
for their whole teenage years.
00:06:38.63\00:06:42.50
We've known the
boys for a while,
00:06:42.53\00:06:44.63
they visited during
Christmas and summers.
00:06:44.67\00:06:47.70
And we finally been able to get
that adoption pulled together.
00:06:47.74\00:06:51.57
Tom, tell us about
the roles that you've held
00:06:51.61\00:06:54.08
before coming
into this new position.
00:06:54.11\00:06:56.08
Sure.
00:06:56.11\00:06:57.45
I've been a pastor,
local church pastor,
00:06:57.48\00:06:59.58
church planting has
been a big passion of mine,
00:06:59.61\00:07:01.92
starting new churches.
00:07:01.95\00:07:03.28
And during our time in Texas,
there as a departmental leader,
00:07:03.32\00:07:07.02
we planted 114
churches in nine years.
00:07:07.06\00:07:09.89
So that was quite an
adventure and exciting.
00:07:09.92\00:07:12.43
But I went from there
to teach at the seminary
00:07:12.46\00:07:14.40
at Andrews University.
00:07:14.43\00:07:16.50
The interesting thing though,
00:07:16.53\00:07:17.87
and how does that all
relate to Child Impact
00:07:17.90\00:07:19.97
is whatever role
that I've been in,
00:07:20.00\00:07:22.24
I've really, my desire, my heart
00:07:22.27\00:07:24.97
is to look for those individuals
00:07:25.01\00:07:26.81
that are
marginalized, neglected.
00:07:26.84\00:07:29.71
And so working with
refugees or single moms
00:07:29.74\00:07:33.62
or sponsoring
children, whatever that may be.
00:07:33.65\00:07:35.98
That's always
been part of my heart
00:07:36.02\00:07:37.92
and part of the
ministry I've been involved in.
00:07:37.95\00:07:40.36
Wow.
00:07:40.39\00:07:41.72
And what do you
see is the future?
00:07:41.76\00:07:44.36
What excites you
about Child Impact?
00:07:44.39\00:07:46.80
And what do you
see as the future?
00:07:46.83\00:07:49.43
First of all, I think
Child Impact is a great name.
00:07:49.46\00:07:52.03
I also like the name Operation
Child Rescue because I think
00:07:52.07\00:07:55.14
in the name Child
Impact, it really encapsulates
00:07:55.17\00:07:59.14
what is being done,
00:07:59.17\00:08:00.51
it's making a difference
in the life of a child.
00:08:00.54\00:08:03.11
And that difference begins,
00:08:03.14\00:08:05.11
you know, with their Adventist
Mission School experience,
00:08:05.15\00:08:07.48
but it extends to their family,
and it gives them a whole
00:08:07.52\00:08:11.02
different
direction for their life.
00:08:11.05\00:08:13.02
So I'm very
excited about the mission,
00:08:13.05\00:08:15.59
what Child Impact
represents in terms
00:08:15.62\00:08:18.96
of coming to this role.
00:08:18.99\00:08:21.46
For me, it's exciting
to see an alignment between
00:08:21.50\00:08:24.40
my personal passion, my
personal life, and my family
00:08:24.43\00:08:27.44
and what we
represent and believe in,
00:08:27.47\00:08:30.24
and the professional experience
of working with Child Impact.
00:08:30.27\00:08:33.24
So that alignment is very
exciting to be able to spend
00:08:33.27\00:08:37.85
time doing
ministry in a way that makes
00:08:37.88\00:08:41.48
a difference for children.
00:08:41.52\00:08:43.62
I'm excited about that. And
00:08:43.65\00:08:45.35
Operation Child Rescue
is going to be a key part
00:08:45.39\00:08:49.49
of our growth moving forward.
00:08:49.52\00:08:52.69
Just tell us
about what do you think
00:08:52.73\00:08:54.83
of Operation Child
Rescue and where it will go?
00:08:54.86\00:08:57.83
Well, it was very interesting
because as I took on this role,
00:08:57.87\00:09:01.54
people will be asking me,
00:09:01.57\00:09:02.90
"Well, what does
Child Impact do?"
00:09:02.94\00:09:04.27
And I would talk
about sponsorship
00:09:04.31\00:09:05.74
and the schools in
different countries.
00:09:05.77\00:09:09.81
But as soon as I
mentioned, human trafficking,
00:09:09.84\00:09:12.01
the Child Impact is
involved in helping to stop
00:09:12.05\00:09:15.88
these injustices,
this blight on our planet
00:09:15.92\00:09:18.69
of human trafficking.
00:09:18.72\00:09:20.59
The level of interest
in that is extremely high.
00:09:20.62\00:09:23.36
And I find even young
adults, college students,
00:09:23.39\00:09:27.46
this is something that
they want to make a difference
00:09:27.50\00:09:29.96
with this particular area.
00:09:30.00\00:09:31.80
And so the fact
that Child Impact
00:09:31.83\00:09:33.27
is involved in human
trafficking in various ways,
00:09:33.30\00:09:36.60
whether it be slave
labor or abandoned babies
00:09:36.64\00:09:39.11
or vulnerable children,
due to being COVID orphans
00:09:39.14\00:09:41.81
or even more
specifically, sex trafficking.
00:09:41.84\00:09:45.61
The fact that we're
involved in those areas,
00:09:45.65\00:09:48.18
I think, really is a
chance to raise public
00:09:48.22\00:09:53.12
awareness to this
need, and to begin to see it
00:09:53.15\00:09:57.29
and make a difference
for these kids that really
00:09:57.33\00:09:59.89
have been
imprisoned against their will
00:09:59.93\00:10:02.26
and to bring them freedom.
00:10:02.30\00:10:03.77
I mean, what a
biblical responsibility,
00:10:03.80\00:10:06.40
we have to look out for
these kinds of children.
00:10:06.43\00:10:10.17
That's right.
00:10:10.21\00:10:11.64
Well, the board
are very excited,
00:10:11.67\00:10:13.84
the staff are very excited,
00:10:13.88\00:10:15.31
the field are very excited
that Tom's come on board.
00:10:15.34\00:10:18.88
And it will allow me
to focus on a big need
00:10:18.91\00:10:22.35
of the challenges
we face in the field.
00:10:22.38\00:10:25.22
And I will also give you,
00:10:25.25\00:10:27.16
the supporter's confidence
that we're adding resources,
00:10:27.19\00:10:31.19
and then we're
going to continue to grow.
00:10:31.23\00:10:34.00
We live in difficult times,
00:10:34.03\00:10:35.56
and we just ask
for your prayers,
00:10:35.60\00:10:38.07
as we face new
challenges, new leadership,
00:10:38.10\00:10:41.94
and especially for the
appealed and where we operate.
00:10:41.97\00:10:45.27
Jim, I want to say a special
00:10:45.31\00:10:46.68
thank you to you
for your leadership
00:10:46.71\00:10:49.18
with Child Impact.
00:10:49.21\00:10:51.18
I've come to an organization
to be a part of it that is,
00:10:51.21\00:10:54.22
well run, ministry-focused,
00:10:54.25\00:10:57.15
putting resources into the field
00:10:57.19\00:10:58.99
where it matters most.
00:10:59.02\00:11:00.66
I'm so excited for the various
projects that Child Impact
00:11:00.69\00:11:04.26
is involved in helping
blind children, deaf children,
00:11:04.29\00:11:07.20
orphans, COVID
orphans, Operation Child Rescue.
00:11:07.23\00:11:10.77
There's so much happening,
00:11:10.80\00:11:12.37
and there's so much
more that can happen.
00:11:12.40\00:11:14.90
So I want to just
take this moment to say
00:11:14.94\00:11:16.94
thank you to you as donors,
00:11:16.97\00:11:19.41
you have made all this possible.
00:11:19.44\00:11:21.18
There's so much more we can do.
00:11:21.21\00:11:23.01
But it isn't possible
without your support and help.
00:11:23.04\00:11:25.65
So thank you for your
generosity over the years,
00:11:25.68\00:11:28.48
I pray that will continue.
00:11:28.52\00:11:30.12
And we will keep you updated
00:11:30.15\00:11:31.69
as we see many more
opportunities to make
00:11:31.72\00:11:34.26
a difference in
the life of children.
00:11:34.29\00:11:36.19
We just want to share with you
00:11:40.13\00:11:41.63
some work that we're doing
with the COVID crisis in India.
00:11:41.66\00:11:46.27
Unfortunately, one
of the side effects
00:11:46.30\00:11:48.50
of thousands of people
dying in India from the virus
00:11:48.54\00:11:52.81
is that there are now
what's called COVID orphans.
00:11:52.84\00:11:57.35
These children are children
00:11:57.38\00:11:58.91
who have lost both
parents or one parent,
00:11:58.95\00:12:02.48
and that parent is
either old or invalid or simply
00:12:02.52\00:12:07.36
can't cope anymore.
00:12:07.39\00:12:09.06
The Indian government
00:12:09.09\00:12:10.43
reports that there could
be up to 10,000 COVID orphans.
00:12:10.46\00:12:15.33
And the other
problem with these kids
00:12:15.36\00:12:17.07
is that they get
rejected by the family,
00:12:17.10\00:12:20.20
they get
rejected by the society.
00:12:20.24\00:12:23.10
And so we're excited that
we can help with this program.
00:12:23.14\00:12:27.81
And we've taken 40
COVID orphans into Sunrise
00:12:27.84\00:12:32.95
and to Operation Child Rescue.
00:12:32.98\00:12:35.28
And Tom is here, Tom,
00:12:35.32\00:12:36.92
this is an exciting
project that we can do.
00:12:36.95\00:12:39.45
It is.
00:12:39.49\00:12:40.82
And just the fact
that the government said,
00:12:40.86\00:12:43.16
"Can you help?"
00:12:43.19\00:12:44.53
And that we had the
space at this moment in time
00:12:44.56\00:12:47.20
to be able to do that.
00:12:47.23\00:12:48.60
And I believe that
there'll be additional needs
00:12:48.63\00:12:51.23
as this moves forward.
00:12:51.27\00:12:52.67
But, yeah, we've put
that under the umbrella
00:12:52.70\00:12:55.40
of operation child rescue.
00:12:55.44\00:12:57.21
And certainly,
there's a need right
00:12:57.24\00:12:58.71
now to
participate in that program.
00:12:58.74\00:13:02.08
Yes, it's very exciting
that we can help these children.
00:13:02.11\00:13:05.61
And in fact, we're looking
for other ways in which we can
00:13:05.65\00:13:08.38
work with the
government to assist
00:13:08.42\00:13:10.55
these children in the crisis.
00:13:10.59\00:13:13.29
What will happen is that we will
00:13:13.32\00:13:15.99
keep them for at
least three months
00:13:16.02\00:13:18.06
and in that time, we
will assess their real needs
00:13:18.09\00:13:21.23
with their family,
00:13:21.26\00:13:22.60
and they may return to family,
00:13:22.63\00:13:24.70
they may return
to the community,
00:13:24.73\00:13:27.00
or we may accept
them into Sunrise Home
00:13:27.04\00:13:30.04
as full-time residents and
then they can be sponsored.
00:13:30.07\00:13:34.58
We're so excited that Operation
00:13:34.61\00:13:36.58
Child Rescue can
really take a stand,
00:13:36.61\00:13:40.05
take a position in
helping these children in need.
00:13:40.08\00:13:43.52
And we're working
with the Indian government
00:13:43.55\00:13:45.95
and using the resources
00:13:45.99\00:13:47.36
of the Sunrise to
make a difference.
00:13:47.39\00:13:50.73
If you would like to
be involved in helping
00:13:50.76\00:13:52.56
with COVID orphans,
00:13:52.59\00:13:54.30
the way to do
that is to contribute
00:13:54.33\00:13:56.16
to Operation Child Rescue.
00:13:56.20\00:13:57.97
You can find that
at childimpact.org
00:13:58.00\00:14:00.87
and simply donate to
Operation Child Rescue.
00:14:00.90\00:14:03.81
Thank you.
00:14:03.84\00:14:05.17