God gave the Matheny family a vision to equip the local church to be the answer to the orphan crises in their area. Together with local government and church leaders, they began a family-based type of orphan care (similar to our foster care system in the USA). When you visit this town, you cannot tell who the orphans are because they are strapped on the back of their host mom shopping at the market, sitting in church with their host families, or playing with the kids in their neighborhood.
Many infants in crisis do not need a placement away from their extended families, if the family has access to formula. You can keep babies in their families by helping provide this often unattainable resource to families in need.
Our ministry began in a city in West Africa where the local church and the government agency over orphans worked with us to raise up Host Families to address the needs of vulnerable children under the age of 7. Learning our way into orphan care, we discovered an overwhelming majority of the cases did not need to be placed in our Host Families, but only needed the resources to keep the baby alive after losing the mother. Because extended families are strong in West Africa, our Formula Distribution Ministry was birthed and now meets ninety percent of the needs that come to us. For the children who truly do not have anywhere to go, we have six Christian Host Families ready to bring them into their homes and care for them as their own. In 2018, our family transitioned Stateside, where Philip works as the Missions Director for Sheltering Wings while continuing the work with our national ministry team in Africa.
In the ongoing crisis, we have a team in place to share food with internally displaced people in our region. Thank you for your willingness to share. Whether you are giving a one-time gift or participating in the HUNGRY MONTHS CHALLENGE, we appreciate you for your partnership with us! Please enter your gift amount below and click on the "Donate" link and you will be directed to "check-out." You can also send your donation directly to Sheltering Wings at: Sheltering Wings 5104 Old 66 Leasburg, Missouri 65535 314-635-6316
Tiefin and Esther SOMA have a unique story in that while they are both in their 60's, they have only been married 7 years. They were each married before and lost their spouses to sickness. Tiefin had eight children with his first wife and Esther had seven with her first husband. They still have two girls at home, a 10 year old and an 18 year old. The first child they've "had together" is the sweet baby girl in the photo who was placed in their home through this ministry, after being found abandoned. Esther grew up in a Muslim family, but when a church was built next to their courtyard she began going out of curiosity. She grew to love singing and become one of the best worship leaders in her mother language of Cerma. She received beatings from her family as they tried to keep her from going to church. Eventually she was permanently chased from the courtyard and went to live at the pastor's house. This ended up being a grace from God as she was then able to marry her first husband, one of the leaders in the church.Tiefin grew up in an animist family, and until just recently continued in that practice. He has started going to church with his family and asks for prayers as he considers accepting Jesus.
