A Brief Outline of How Global Fingerprints Began

HOW IT ALL BEGAN- Child sponsorship through GlobalFingerprints - BY RACHEL BLISS

The year was 2004, and the Democratic Republic of Congo had just emerged from the Great African War. From 1996 to 2003, unspeakable violence had swept through the Congo as seven surrounding countries joined the conflict on one side or the other, involving an area of central Africa larger than Europe. The result was brutal killings, burned villages and whole communities hiding in the jungle for months, even years. Survivors were left with nothing: no home, little food, no infrastructure or medical care, and often no adults to care for the children left behind. In addition, AIDS was at a pandemic level, with no family untouched. Basic survival was barely possible.

In spring 2004, The Orchard EFC (formerly Arlington Heights EFC) sent a team from Illinois [note: Joy Axelson was on that team!] to Congo. They’d learned how the CECU (the Evangelical Free Church of Congo) was suffering and yet desired to be a witness of Christ’s love to its surrounding community. The Orchard team planned to ask leaders of the CECU about the most pressing needs, and then discern how God might be leading the two groups to join in partnership.

GlobalFingerprints was officially launched in 2006, after the necessary technology, supplies and training materials [note: Joy Axelson translated the AIDS awareness materials into French] were shipped to Congo.

Since GlobalFingerprints launched, the benefits have been threefold: powerfully touching sponsored children and their families; resourcing sister churches to care for children in their communities; and bringing healthy change to sponsoring congregations.