The James Fund - News & Events

News & Events

For occasional updates regarding the James Fund and our ministries, consider joining the James Fund mailing list

Mark Across America

Finished! Singer, song-writer, Mark Schultz raised over $250,000 through sponsorships and donations as he rode his bicycle across America to raise awareness of the needs of orphans and widows. Mark traveled over 3,500 miles in his trek from California to New Hampshire. All of the proceeds from Mark’s ride will go to Family Christian Stores’ foundation, The James Fund.

Schultz held two final concerts in Topsham and Bangor, Maine in celebration of his monumental achievement. Both concerts were sold-out. The concert-goers were enthusiastic as Mark sang songs like Letters From War and Broken and Beautiful. Between songs, Mark talked about his adoption as a baby and the impact his birthmother’s gift of life has had on him. By choosing adoption, she gave him life. He asked the audience, "How many of you are adopted?" Several people raised their hands. Then Mark talked about the gift of life Christ has offered each of us. He asked, "How many of you are Believers?" Many hands rose in response. Mark said that God becomes our Father as we receive Christ into our lives. Then he asked, "Now, let me ask again. How many of you are adopted?" Nearly everyone in the audience raised their hands!

To show their deep appreciation of Mark and his ministry, the Bangor planners served Mark’s team steak and lobster before the final concert. They lavished love on Mark
making this a true highlight of the entire tour.

Family Christian Stores took the opportunity at the conclusion of the concert to publicly thank Mark on behalf of The James Fund. We thanked him for his sacrifice of time and hard physical work to bring attention to the command in James 1:27 to look after orphans and widows in distress. The gratitude of adopted children who now live with their forever families and the hope of orphans still lingering in children’s homes was also extended to Mark. Unlike many celebrities who lend their faces to posters to benefit a great cause, Mark was thanked for being God’s man of action.

The James Fund sponsored a reception for Mark following his Bangor concert with everyone in attendance invited to share in the festivities that included a meet and greet with Mark and his band.

Day of Sharing

Family Christian Stores developed a "Day of Sharing" to benefit more than 3,850 local orphans and foster children in more than 300 communities currently served by the retailer. The 37-state, chain-wide event took place on July 10, from 9-11 a.m. at all Family Christian Stores locations.

Stores teamed up with local care agencies that assisted in identifying children most in need. The event was funded through the generosity of The James Fund, Family Christian Stores’ foundation that seeks to raise money to help meet the needs of orphans and widows in local and international communities served by the retail chain. In addition, the stores received generous donations from local businesses and community members of food, games and volunteer time.

The event featured balloons, games, storytelling, local fire trucks, artists, refreshments, and treats. Every child will received a copy of the book, I Pray with the Prayer Circle Friends, and had the opportunity to assemble his/her own stuffed Prayer Circle Friend bear to take home.

"As Christians, we have a responsibility to help those in need," said Cliff Bartow, President and CEO of Family Christian Stores "The Day of Sharing allowed us to share God’s love with a large number of orphans and foster children that might not otherwise have such an opportunity."

Above you'll see two of several letters received by some of the kids that participate in the event. Click on each image for a larger version.

The James Fund Mission Trips – Mexico

Through Family Christian Stores' Foundation, The James Fund, four employee mission teams were sent to Monterrey, Mexico in 2005 to experience hands-on opportunities of helping widows and orphans. In 2006, we sent out five mission teams comprised of employees and business partners (four to Monterrey and one to New Orleans). Seven teams are planned to be sent out in 2007. The James Fund partners with Back2Back Ministries while in Monterrey to work with several Christian orphanages.

Employees apply to be part of the mission teams. The selection process tries to insure that each team is comprised of sales associates, store managers, district managers, home office personnel and representatives from Family's leadership team. These diverse teams draw our expansive organization together as they work shoulder to shoulder.

One major project that each mission team has worked on has been completed - that is the construction of a new boys' dormitory at Casa Hogar Douglas. When we first saw the new dorm, it was a shell of building. It had no roof, doors, or windows - only cinder block walls. It had taken about four years for them to reach that stage of construction.

Then we were shown where the older boys were living while waiting for the new dorm to be completed. We were compelled to take action when we saw the squalor of that facility. We knew that God wanted us to do something. It smelled of raw sewage, had broken windows, a leaky roof, and the fact that no adult supervisor would live there was commanding.

The dream of Casa de James was born. You and your efforts made it come true. The James Fund was able to underwrite the cost of building a new dorm and the focus of our mission trips (and that of dozens of other groups) was to get it built.

What a perfect example of God's hand at work. When the building opened in September, eight months after we started, our folks, including Chief Financial Officer John Pindred, were there to see the boys' smiles, their joy and their hope as they moved in. It was amazing

A newer project The James Fund is working on is the construction of the James House - a soon-to-be home of hope for orphaned teens in Monterrey (pictured left). In Mexico, free public education ends after 9th grade which means that at the age of 15 orphans must leave the place they've called "home" and venture out on their own. With minimal education and no job skills, they take jobs as maids or perhaps mason's helpers in construction to earn $45 dollars a week. Although a small salary, it can be very appealing to a young teen that doesn't have someone to encourage them or pay for their education. As a result, few orphans ever successfully graduate from high school. This situation creates a real problem because these teens have a greater chance of repeating the cycle of poverty all over again, i.e. get married, have children they can't support, put their children in the orphanages they themselves lived in, knowing their kids will at least get fed and have a roof over their heads.

Back2Back is our orphan-care ministry partner in Monterrey, Mexico. Their motto is "Care for Today and Hope for Tomorrow". The James Fund mission teams help deliver "care for today" to orphans with each mission trip. To address the "hope for tomorrow" piece of the puzzle, B2B developed an educational plan called the "Hope Program". It offers the older orphans a chance to complete their high school and college education as well as a chance to live in a home where they can grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally. The house parents don't just provide meals and supervise over rules, they provide love, encouragement, and spiritual growth. The Hope Program will eventually include six new homes which will change the orphans' lives for eternity!

Teens moved into the first two new Hope homes in the fall of 2006. The first home, the David House, is where eight teen-age boys live. The second home is called the Esther House - home for eight teen-age girls. The James Fund has provided funds for two additional Hope Homes! The September 2006 James Fund mission team broke ground on the first James Fund hope home and our January and February 2007 mission teams also helped with construction on this new home. Orphaned boys are scheduled to move into the James House in time for school, fall 2007!

Read more about our fundraising milestones

Tsunami Aid

The James Fund was fortunate enough to share a total of $50,000 in tsunami relief efforts being managed by World Vision. Please read the first letter (posted at his request) below from World Vision President Richard E. Stearns

Thank you for the generous gift of $25,000 from the James Fund to help the survivors of the recent Asian tsunami emergency.

In the first 90 days since the disaster, World Vision deployed nearly 2,000 staff to the region as well as more than 400 local volunteers to provide aid. We employed a strategic response aimed at four areas: Emergency Relief, Economic Recovery, Community/Social Rehabilitation, and Infrastructure Rehabilitation. The Emergency Relief phase is largely over, as this stage typically concludes 90 days following the event. However, the remaining three phases are projected to extend over the next three to five years.

To help traumatized children, World Vision has established Child Friendly Spaces, which are designed to encourage children to return to a routine and structure by offering creative activities and games as well as informal education. Surviving parents and caregivers benefit from knowing their children are safe and protected while they return to work or to salvage and recovery activities themselves. To date more than 70 of these Child Friendly Spaces have been set up in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand combined.

World Vision appreciates the strategic nature of The James Fund that gives generously in support of the James 1:27 injunction to care for widows and orphans. This gift to World Vision of $25,000 to aid children and families reeling from the tsunami’s devastation demonstrates God’s unconditional love for people and honors the generous hearts at Family Christian Stores who desire to help those who are suffering.

Please use any of the comments from this letter for the James Fund website. I’ll make sure that your wonderful gift is acknowledged in future communications with our donors. Again, thank you for supporting World Vision’s work around the world.

Warm regards,
Richard E. Stearns
President

Additionally $50,000 was given directly to the expansion of two Christian orphanages in the tsunami-affected area:

Global Peace Initiative received $25,000 for their Charity City in Hyderabad, India. This is a multi-purpose, 325,000 square foot facility that serves orphans, widows, and trains the poorest of the poor in job and life skills that can support them.
Gospel Harvesters International also received $25,000 for their Father’s House orphanage. This contribution nearly doubled the Father’s House annual budget!
Read more about our fundraising milestones