A church that brings hope
LANSERIA - A church, which established a school and orphanage, has captured the heart of Dainfern resident Sue Harwood, who wishes to nominate them as the Hirschs/Fourways Review Champion of the month.
Each month, the Fourways Review finds a new person or organisation, which they believe needs some exposure and/or a helping hand. Winners receive R1000 in vouchers from either Pick n Pay or Hirschs, depending on their needs.
Harwood said Changing Lives Ministries, which is based just past Lanseria, is the umbrella for two charities, namely The Village of Joy and the Riversands Primary School.
The Village of Joy is an orphanage that caters for 21 neglected youngsters aged six to 21, while the school is part of a feeding scheme which supports 650 primary school children three times a week.
“Milly Jarvis, founder and member of Changing Lives Ministries, has dedicated her time to helping create a better life for many underprivileged children,” explained Harwood.
“Jarvis is a full-time volunteer and lives with the children at The Village of Joy, caring for them as if they were her own, and creating one big happy family. The Village of Joy is a peaceful, harmonious place for the children to break the cycle of poverty and abuse in their lives, to heal from the pain they have been through and embrace the chance of receiving a good education,” she said.
Harwood said the property that houses The Village of Joy is just under 17 hectares and has wonderful potential to generate income to support the project and to provide jobs for the children as they finish school. The orphanage, which hopes to buy the property with the church’s support, still needs to raise funds. The property’s asking price is R4.2 million, and the church and orphanage have already raised R1.2 million. “We are asking people to continue to open their hearts and donate so that we may continue to care for and love the children in our home,” Harwood said.
Jarvis said the property was perfect for the orphanage and hoped they would soon have a new place to call home. “We also need funds to maintain the village, as well as electrify the last section of the perimeter fence to complete the electric fencing surrounding the property, to ensure our safety. We appeal for any funds, nothing is too big or too small.”
Details: 082-854-5853 or changinglives@mweb.co.za
