Last Sunday, we had an opportunity to hear from Pastor Aoum who came to us from Chiang Mai, Thailand. On Monday, some of the leaders had a chance to spend more time with Pastor Aoum and his wife Katty as they shared more about their story and ministry. As they shared, the impression that I was left with was of “faithfulness.” I thought to share about them as I think it’s such a good example of what it means to serve others faithfully.
Pastor Aoum and Katty are part of a team that runs a centre called House of Blessing (HoB). HoB is a children’s home that focuses on serving those who come from unstable families or who have no families. Many of the children they house are from “hill tribe” people groups. These are communities who often live in remote areas and receive little social, educational, and government support. Unfortunately this puts them at great risk. At times hill tribe girls are lured into the city with the promise of work, but end up being trafficked–we were stunned to learn this happens to as many as 40% of the hill tribe girls.
One sign of faithfulness that stuck out to me was the fact that this ministry has been serving kids since 27 years ago. The ministry was started by Katty’s parents, and is now being carried on by Katty and her team. They currently have over 80 kids in their care, all the way from infants to young adults in university. They can add to this alumni–people who have lived at House of Blessing and have successfully graduated. To be able to have had 27 years of kids coming through the centre and the impact this has made is a testament to genuine faithfulness.
House of Blessing focuses on three things as they work with the children in their care: safety and nutrition, education, and faith. They understand the need for basics such as health care and proper food. However, they also understand that education is one of the most secure ways out of a life of vulnerability. They make sure that all of the kids have an opportunity to have a good education, as one of the surest ways out of the cycle of brokenness that has entrapped their families.
One of the most unique things that HoB also focuses on is faith. Theresa and I recently became a foster family for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society. I truly appreciate the work the CAS does, and this work is what drew Theresa and I to become a foster family. However, one thing that HoB does so much better is the aspect of helping children to grow in their faith. We can never truly be secure in our identity until we understand who we are and who we belong to. It is only through faith that we can understand who God has created us to be as sons and daughters of God.
I think House of Blessing is such an amazing example of what the church can do when it is led by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. I hope that our church would be inspired in the same way, to be all that God has called us to be.