Hope Quarterly | Issue 22

SPRING 2021

CONVOY OF HOPE:

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY p. 4

NEXT-LEVEL GENEROSITY p. 16

Q&A: JOURNALISTS ETHAN & SARA FORHETZ

p. 24

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Contents

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

8 Going the Distance

Convoy of Hope’s response to Hurricanes Laura and Delta was both rapid and forward thinking.

16 Next-Level Generosity

At two family businesses, last year's reversals were an invitation to give even more.

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News

14 On the Map 18 Disaster Services Spotlight 22 Learn About Convoy 24 Q&A 26 FYI 27 Legacy Giving 2

BEGINS WITH YOU.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

SPRING 2021

330 S. Patterson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802 Hope Quarterly is published by Convoy of Hope.

Published: Spring 2021 ©2021 Convoy of Hope

Editor-in-Chief | Roger Flessing Editor | Scott Harrup Managing Editor | Lindsay Donaldson-Kring Content Editors | Levi Costello, Alyssa Everett & Morgan Mills

Reporters | Sara Forhetz, Destin Harrison Photographers | Christian Lamb, Joe Mason & Jill Welker Webmaster | Jess Heugel

Creative Director | Josh Carter Designers | Aaron Davis, Leah Kiser & Misty Olivera

Board of Directors Dr. Aaron Cole, Court Durkalski, Dr. Brad Trask, Telvin Jeffries, Dominick Garcia, Dr. Tom Carter, David Cribbs, Dr. Sam Huddleston, Randy Hurst, Cheryl Jamison, Klayton Ko, Kay Logsdon, Sherilynn Tounger, Rich Nathan, Lindsay Howard, Dishan Wickramaratne, Kirk Yamaguchi & Hal Donaldson (President) Feedback | editor@convoyofhope.org Website | convoyofhope.org Twitter | @convoyofhope

Lasting Hope

“W

e’ll do as much as we can for as long as we can.” That’s been Convoy of Hope’s motto throughout the pandemic.

Then again, that’s been our approach for more than 26 years.

When people are in crisis, they need immediate help. But, we go one step further. We ask: “Is there a way we can go beyond short-term solutions and provide lasting help?” Convoy of Hope doesn’t drop food and emergency supplies off the back of a truck. Because of your partnership and support, we don’t help and drive away. Instead, we look for ways to help and stay.

When survivors of natural disasters face a crisis, they need to know someone cares. They need to know they aren’t alone. When children are hungry and mothers are struggling to make ends meet, they need hope. Because of your partnership, Convoy of Hope is providing “lasting hope” across the U.S. and around the world.

Facebook | /convoyofhope Postmaster | Send address changes to: Hope Quarterly 330 S. Patterson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802

On the Cover: Convoy of Hope team members begin distributing relief supplies in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

On behalf of all those you have helped—God bless you.

Gratefully,

Hal Donaldson President, Convoy of Hope

Photographer: Christian Lamb

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CONVOY NEWS of their own companies. They are now empowered to provide for their families. Girls are finding their voices and learning to make decisions that will positively impact their futures.

Convoy:Women Celebrates International Women’s Day

By Doree Donaldson

March 8 was International Women’s Day, which provided an opportunity to celebrate achievements and discuss the challenges women face.

This year 350 Convoy:Women participants came together to make a difference through their support of Convoy of Hope's Women’s Empowerment initiative. They were joined online by 75 viewing groups around the world.

Convoy:Women is a sisterhood of advocates for the women and girls Convoy of Hope serves.

Highlights from this year’s annual luncheon included a baby care kit packing station

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where 675 kits were assembled, as well as an international fashion show. Guest speakers shared their passion for the program as a strategic means to see women empowered. A panel of Women’s Empowerment specialists did a deeper dive into the needs of women and girls around the world and how Convoy is striving to be a part of the solution.

Through Convoy’s Women’s Empowerment initiative, the cycle of poverty is being broken and the stories of women and girls are being changed. Women receive tools and training to start their own businesses— equipped to become the CEOs

Convoy of Hope team members believe all women and girls deserve to know their value and significance—to have their dignity and strength restored.

More than a simple hand up, the Women’s Empowerment initiative creates life-changing opportunity for participants. To date, more than 46,000 women and girls have been empowered through this program.

An African proverb says, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

The road ahead is long, but together with faithful partners Convoy of Hope is changing the stories of women and girls around the world.

Ann Fritz, a seamstress with more than 15 years of experience in custom

sewing, has been using her business to raise funds for Convoy of Hope. She creates custom pieces, ranging from throw pillows to window treatments and upholstery, to support Convoy. “Time, gifts, talents—whatever you have—I would encourage you to use to help others,” Ann said.

CONVOY NEWS LifePoint Church in Clarksville, Tennessee, connected their New Year’s prayer

Mike & Stephanie Burnette

emphasis with a coordinated campaign to raise funds for water filters. Pastor Mike Burnette created a January 1 social media invitation, participants donated coffee/latte money, and more than 1,000 filters were purchased. This will provide water solutions to families around the world and those who are experiencing homelessness in the United States.

NASCAR driver Joey Logano and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Derek Carrier

were among volunteers assisting Convoy of Hope at a March 6 event that helped more than 800 families. The distribution of food, Shell gas cards, hygiene supplies, and other resources took place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event was made possible by Convoy NationTM, a fan base of kindness with Convoy of Hope led by athletes, celebrities, innovators, entrepreneurs, and everyday people.

Since 2018, Convoy of Hope has served about 6 million meals to more than 562,000 Venezuelans affected by economic

unrest. Currently, Convoy is providing food and hygiene supplies to more than 1,600 families each month in Venezuela. In-country partners are pivotal in locating vulnerable families and identifying local vendors who can package and distribute to families in need.

Eight months’ worth of rain within a week in March created massive flooding in New South Wales, Australia. Many communities were entirely underwater, and others were completely cut off from the rest of the country.

Convoy of Hope team members have been on the ground distributing cleanup kits to help families and individuals in the affected areas.

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CONVOY NEWS

Texas Crisis: Eighty-Nine Tractor-Trailer Loads Distributed Hit with three major winter storms in February, Texas suffered a massive electricity generation failure with resulting shortages of water, food, and heat. Convoy of Hope was on the forefront of responding to those in need with the help of partner churches like Hope City Church in West Houston.

Anthony Minor, a community coordinator at Hope City Church, likened the disaster to Hurricane Harvey’s devastation in 2017. “Even with Harvey,” he said, “everybody was not affected to this extent.

With this, everybody lost power. Everybody was affected by this who lives in Houston.”

With the help of supporters, volunteers, and partners on the ground, Convoy deployed 89 tractortrailers full of water and other supplies. In total, nearly 3 million bottles of water were distributed while local water supplies were reestablished. Along with Texas communities, residents in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi were helped.

With Europe facing its fourth wave of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, the Convoy of Hope

Europe regional team is strategically reaching families in need through Bags of Hope distributions. Currently, 42 distributions are scheduled across Moldova, Bulgaria, and Spain. Refugee friends and neighbors in France, Spain, Greece, and Bulgaria will receive food and hygiene products monthly. Bags of Hope are assisting many food-insecure families and have provided opportunities for local church partners to build relationships in their communities.

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CONVOY NEWS

Danny Gokey Video Features Convoy of Hope

Danny Gokey

“This is a new day! Everything’s bursting with hope, coming alive this moment.”

Lyrics to musician Danny Gokey’s most recent song, “New Day,” reflect the singer’s hope for the future. “I’ve been looking forward to releasing this song at the top of 2021 to remind people that, in spite of all we have been through over the past year, God’s plan is still full of new mercies and our futures are bursting with hope!” Gokey said.

When Gokey needed a tractor-trailer to deliver that hope in his new music video, he turned to Convoy of Hope. The video features cast members loading boxes into a Convoy trailer in a warehouse environment.

“My first experience with Convoy of Hope was back in 2017 when I partnered with them and we did a concert to raise money for [Hurricane Harvey] victims in Texas,” Gokey said. For Gokey, Convoy of Hope’s continued impact rests on a central standard: “They love everybody, and they show it by what they do.”

To view the video,

SCAN HERE!

Sri Lanka: Expanding Number of Children Fed Susanne Wickramaratne, known as “Auntie Susan” to many in Sri Lanka’s Summitpura slum, began a small feeding program in 1979 called Center of Hope.

In 2019, Convoy of Hope began partnering with Center of Hope to provide meals for the children in their centers. Before the partnership, Center of Hope fed 150 children every school day. Now, more than 1,000 children in Sri Lanka receive nutritious meals.

With time, Center of Hope plans to feed 5,000 children every school day.

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FEATURE

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FEATURE

By Scott Harrup Convoy of Hope receives expressions of thanks from around the world. Rita Davenport’s email came with a copy of her mother’s obituary after Wilona Henry, 87, passed away from complications of COVID-19.

“Our windows came in today,” Rita wrote.

“Mom would have been so excited to know they are now in.”

When Rita and Wilona’s home in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was devastated by Hurricanes Laura and Delta last August and October, Convoy of Hope responded, addressing short- and long-term community needs following both disasters.

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FEATURE

Hurricane Laura had barely died down when Convoy of Hope's Disaster Services sent multiple vehicles to quickly create a distribution site at Glad Tidings Church in Lake Charles.

By early September, the team had delivered more than 1.6 million pounds of disaster relief supplies to 19,000 families in 16 cities.

forging ahead after both hurricanes, Convoy worked with The Home Depot Foundation to provide materials to repair devastated homes.

Local contractors reduced their fees to assist. Volunteers from Christian Aid Ministries and the Fuller Center Disaster Rebuild Group provided labor.

“When the storm was setting its bullseye on Lake Charles,” said Glad Tidings Pastor Paul Burke, “I didn’t even have to reach out to Convoy of Hope. Directors at Convoy of Hope were already reaching out to me. I can’t say thank you enough.”

Eventually, Rita and Wilona’s home joined more than 40 other homes (with additional projects still in transition at press time) that received some level of repair. This could include new roofs, windows, or other structural components.

Major electrical appliances were also given to some families because post-hurricane power surges were destructive.

Convoy’s immediate response was just the first step. By November, with Lake Charles and other communities

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‘I didn’t Convoy of Hope me. I can

FEATURE

Lake Charles joins communities worldwide that have experienced Convoy of Hope’s rapid response and long-term presence. Some of those responses have helped expand existing Convoy initiatives or even become a factor in establishing new ones.

Within 48 hours of Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake in January 2010,

Convoy of Hope team members were on the ground evaluating the situation. Convoy already had a feeding plan in place for 13,000 Haitian school children.

By maximizing existing resources and warehouse space and rallying faithful partners, Convoy made Haiti the staging ground for dramatically growing its recently established Children’s Feeding program.

even have to reach out to of Hope. Directors at Convoy were already reaching out to n’t say thank you enough.’

In time, an important key to that growth came from a new initiative— training Haitian farmers to radically increase their yields through modern agronomy strategies.

In 2020, that dual approach to combatting food insecurity translated into more than 387,000 children around the world being fed every school day and 15,351 participants being trained in agriculture. Convoy of Hope's rapid response to Haiti’s crisis 11 years ago continues to find expression in its Children’s Feeding and Agriculture programs.

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FEATURE Similarly, Convoy of Hope hit the ground strategically in Ethiopia in 2010 to offer marginalized women an opportunity to attain financial security. Today, the Women’s Empowerment program is helping thousands of women and girls around the world (see page 4). Many women in the program are now successful owners of their own local businesses.

Whether a crisis is personal or communal—the crippling impact of poverty or the devastation of a natural disaster—Convoy of Hope’s shortand long-term intervention means lives are being changed for the better.

“We provide hope,” says Gwen Johnson, Partner Services director for Convoy of Hope Disaster Services.

“And we never discount even small acts—every little thing helps people on their path to recovery.”

2020 Hurricane Laura Response Timeline August 26 Disaster Services response team leaves Convoy of Hope after tracking Hurricane Laura.

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August 27 Laura makes landfall in Louisiana.

August 27 Response team arrives in Lake Charles.

August 27 & 28 Distribution site and temporary warehouse are set up.

August 29 More supply trucks arrive at hub. Distribution begins at hub and team members serve affected neighborhoods.

August 31 Help 4,700 people; commit 20 truckloads to response.

FEATURE

Out of the Rubble

farming with Convoy of Hope. After completing training in the Agriculture program, she began to reap abundant, disease-free crops. “This has changed my life,” she told Convoy. “I can feed my kids and sell the extra harvest to buy them what they need.”

Convoy of Hope has helped children and farmers in Haiti not only recover from the devastation of 2010’s earthquake, but also thrive.

Jacques lived at a Port-au-Prince orphanage throughout his childhood.

When he was interviewed by a Convoy of Hope reporter at age 16, he was ecstatic. “Because of Convoy of Hope, I have two meals a day,” he said. “Sometimes I even have three!” Jacques planned to study engineering, explaining that such a role would one day enable him to care for his own family. “I want to build something I can pass on.” A worthy goal in a nation where the quake and aftershocks collapsed or damaged 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings.

Rosena had been a subsistence farmer with her family until she started

September 2 Deliver 1.1 million pounds of disaster relief supplies in total; help 26,690 people.

September 4 Distribute 1.3 million pounds of supplies in total; serve 37,680 people; 191 volunteers assist.

October 20 Distribute 2.5 million pounds in total; serve 132,562 individuals.

Building a Movement

Thanks in large part to the skills she learned through Convoy of Hope's Women's Empowerment program, Betelhem started a laundry business in 2018. Now, she’s generating enough income to care for her six children and disabled sister, invest in her company, and save.

Convoy is helping mothers around the world provide for themselves and their families—affording them increased opportunities to celebrate life’s precious milestones with the dignity every person deserves.

November 1 In partnership with The Home Depot Foundation, long-term recovery projects commence.

May 2021 Convoy of Hope recovery projects continue in Lake Charles.

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ON THE MAP

Disaster Key

Disaster Year Winter Storm COVID-19

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All of 2020 2021 so far

ON THE MAP

2021 Disaster Responses So Far...

Winter Storms Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri & Mississippi

Floods Kentucky

Water Crisis Missouri

Tornadoes Alabama & Georgia

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FEATURE

By Sara Forhetz

A

quick glance at the research and you’ll find Americans give about 2% of their disposable income to charity. Then there are John and Ann Dyess of Yellville, Arkansas. They are rewriting the norm.

In a year of unknowns and uncertainties, the couple has more than doubled down.

“We saw when we were young in our 20s that God was faithful.

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He had already proved himself then,” said Ann. “We refuse to hold back because of the unknown. We don’t have to know what the world is going to do because we know what God is going to do. He has already proved himself faithful.”

They’ve bet their lives on this principle: Extraordinary generosity, despite tough times, pays dividends. continued on page 20

FEATURE

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WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, HELP US STAY READY 18

MAKE A DONATION GIFT AMOUNT

HQ0521

BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR $25

$

$50

Stocks Property Credit Card Cash Check I'd like to include Convoy of Hope in my estate plans.

CONTACT INFORMATION Name Percentage Policy: At Convoy of Hope, accountability and transparency are an integral part of everything we do. From every purpose restricted donation, Convoy of Hope’s Independent Board of Directors may allocate between 12 percent and 20 percent of that donation to cover its administrative and fundraising costs. If restricted donations exceed the need of the crisis, the capacity to respond to a crisis and/or when local conditions prevent effective assistance, Convoy of Hope’ s Independent Board of Directors may allocate these funds to other worthy projects that help Convoy of Hope fulfill its global mission of helping children and families in need. A copy of Convoy of Hope’s annual audited financial statement is available at convoyofhope.org/financials.

Address City

State

Phone

ZIP

Mobile State Nonprofit Disclosures Certain states require written disclosures for nonprofit organizations soliciting contributions. Individual state disclosures are listed here. Florida: A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free, within the state, 1-800435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA), or visiting www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Florida Registration #CH23220. Georgia: A full and fair description of our programs and our financial statement summary is available at https://www. convoyofhope.org/about/financials or upon request at 417-823-8998. Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401. Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Convoy of Hope may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement. Nevada: Contributions may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of sec. 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. ī170(c). New Jersey: Information filed with the attorney general concerning this charitable solicitation and the percentage of contributions received by the charity during the last reporting period that were dedicated to the charitable purpose may be obtained from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by calling (973) 504-6215 and is available on the internet at www.state. nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. Registration with the attorney general does not imply endorsement. New York: Upon request, from the Attorney General's Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, 1-212416-8686 or www.charitiesnys.com. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Convoy of Hope may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: From the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: From the Secretary of State at 1-800-332-4483 or http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Wisconsin: A financial statement of the charitable organization disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue and expenses for the preceding fiscal year will be provided to any person upon request. Registration with a state agency does not constitute or imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by that state.

For a full list of our state nonprofit disclosures, scan here!

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CREDIT CARD INFORMATION Credit Card # Expiration Date

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Name On Card Signature I would like to learn more about the Hope Society.

I would like to receive mobile updates from Convoy of Hope.* *Message frequency may vary. Message & Data rates may apply. Reply STOP to 68828 to cancel.

Donate online at convoy.org/hq22 Thank you for your generosity. All gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Please make checks payable to:

P.O. Box 1125 Springfield, MO 65801

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FEATURE

“You think about it [the financial loss], sure, but it’s about keeping your commitment,” John said. “I thought, ‘What a neat organization to partner with.’”

Doctors Bob and Julie Becker are another couple still giving significantly despite the pandemic.

continued from page 17

John and Ann Dyess’ electronics business saw a 30% drop in 2020, yet their giving remained consistent.

“You can’t take it with you,” said John.

He learned of Convoy of Hope through news stories and friends, and believed in the organization’s mission and work—to bring hope to people who need it most.

When business was dropping off, John was committed to continue giving at the same level.

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“My husband and I both had never been shut down in 30 years,” said Julie. She and Bob have both worked in dentistry for decades and, for the first time, had to hit pause last year.

“My husband had just built a new office and was in the process of opening it, and we’ve just been so fortunate,” Julie said.

The World Health Organization flagged dentistry as a high-risk profession in the first few weeks of the pandemic. Analysts reported that the coronavirus made 2020 the most challenging year on record for dentistry. The challenges were not just

FEATURE

with patient care and overall health, but also with financial hardships.

The Beckers agreed that, despite their own challenges, they could do something to help others.

Even though fewer patients came through the door, the Beckers were committed to looking through a lens of abundance rather than lack.

“You stop sometimes and wonder, ‘How did I end up in this position?’”

Julie said. “It makes me more willing to donate and give. I can’t tell you how grateful and thankful I am.”

Julie said she learned to appreciate the careful planning of Convoy of Hope. The “why” of the mission did not change during the pandemic, just the “how.”

“Convoy of Hope [always thinks through] how to get the most out of what they do. Even in 2020, they thought it through. I’m grateful to get to be a part.”

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Disaster Services

Rural Initiatives

Children’s Feeding

Women’s Empowerment

We believe children are essential members of their communities.

As future leaders, they’ll have the opportunity to one day bring positive change to their countries by breaking the cycles of poverty and hunger.

We use regular meals in schools and access to clean drinking water as starting points to build and support thriving communities.

When women are given the opportunity to generate income, it impacts the economic standing of their families and communities. We partner with women to help develop sustainable resources which they can leverage to make more strategic, independent life choices.

Agriculture

Community Events

Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team is consistently among the first to respond to disasters at home and around the world. Highly regarded for our scalable response and distribution model, we utilize our eight international warehouses, four domestic warehouses, a specialized disaster response fleet, and a highly trained team of staff and volunteers to respond to disasters quickly and effectively.

Food security transforms communities by lifting people out of dependence on others for their daily sustenance. Through this program, we equip vulnerable farmers and their families with the skills, tools, and seeds to produce life-sustaining crops. Local farmers harvest many meals each year for our Children's Feeding program, which simultaneously generates income for them.

Poverty and hunger have gained a devastating edge in rural communities. Through this initiative, we resource, empower, and partner with rural churches through training, mentoring, and coaching. We believe their increased presence and partnership with local leaders help strengthen and enrich their communities.

Communities are the heart of counties, states, and nations. Convoy of Hope is committed to working with local volunteers, businesses, agencies, churches, and organizations who believe in building stronger communities through generosity and kindness. At our Community Events, we partner with such entities to provide free groceries, health and dental screenings, haircuts, family portraits, veterans services, hot meals, career service training, and much more to those who may not have the means to access these resources themselves.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WE SERVE.

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Q&A

Ethan and Sara Forhetz

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Q&A

Ethan and Sara Forhetz are long-time broadcast journalists for an NBC affiliate. They joined Convoy of Hope earlier this year as national spokespersons. They recently shared these thoughts with Roger Flessing, editor-in-chief of Hope Quarterly.

HQ: What was one of your most personally formative reporting experiences?

It made us really lock in on what we believe and determine not to let the business change who we are.

Sara: A little girl went missing in 2007. I grew close to her family and friends, interviewing people like her Sunday School teacher. When her body was found a week later, left in a sinkhole by her killer, I had so many hard questions. I really had to focus on the fact she was now with God.

Sara: It can feel like a dog-eat-dog world where you can be devoured, but I was determined to let people know that I unconditionally loved them, no matter what their views were.

Ethan: People still talk about the day Sara broke down on camera while reporting on that girl, and how it moved them. I had to pick the story back up in the studio during that broadcast, and that was very hard.

Another story for me personally was connecting with the family of a young boy who was severely burned over his entire body in a house fire. I was the first reporter on that story, and I followed him through much of his treatment. I still think about him.

HQ: How did your careers prepare you for serving at Convoy of Hope?

Ethan: We saw people dealing with some of life’s hardest circumstances, especially Sara as she was out doing the day-to-day reporting.

HQ: What do you hope to accomplish in your new roles?

Sara: The more I learn about how Convoy of Hope sets people up to be able to care for themselves, the more I admire the organization. Some give time, some give talent, and some give financially, and when I see how Convoy operates, it’s an organization I want to give myself to—to help others who cannot help themselves.

Ethan: We want to be part of the solution, documenting the incredible work Convoy of Hope is doing to help people in this country and around the world. It truly is a partnership between Convoy and our donors that makes the difference. I feel like the more people see what we’re able to accomplish together, the more people will want to be part of delivering the hope that changes lives.

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FYI Did you know?

387,241…

In inches:

Adds up to the 6.11 miles it takes champion marathoner Eliud Kipchoge about 27 minutes and 30 seconds to run.

In miles:

The distance Apollo astronauts had traveled by the time they were halfway back to Earth from the Moon.

In 1867 dollars: Just over $7 million today when adjusted for inflation.

In meals:

A single school day distribution to students in Convoy of Hope’s Children’s Feeding program.

Convoy of Hope’s Women’s Empowerment program is strategically addressing these needs: • Women and minors represent 60% of the world’s food-insecure population.

Dedicated driving team

Last year, Convoy of Hope’s volunteer drivers collectively clocked more than 2 million miles delivering supplies to people in need. That’s more than 80 loops around the equator!

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• Women produce between 60% and 80% of the food in low- and middle-income countries, yet have far less access to farming resources than men.

• 1 in 3 girls in developing countries becomes a child bride.

PLANNED GIVING

Consider Your Legacy by Asking:

The Happiest Way to Live

By Mary J. Vogen

“We

were watching a program about children who needed help,” remembers Nora Christenson, “when Norman turned to me and said, ‘I can’t go to sleep tonight until I respond to that.’”

Nora and her late husband were busy entrepreneurs. They bought a ranch and several marinas, all while enjoying their growing family. They gave generously to many different charities, and Nora recalls Norman’s sleep-challenged night as the impetus to their giving journey.

Nora first connected with Convoy of Hope when she sponsored a Convoy Community Event in her town of Fresno, California. She also volunteered as a greeter that day. “I was so blessed to see the needs of children met through Convoy of Hope,” she says.

Nora, 84, is a member of the Hope Society and has a strong desire to pass on a legacy.

“Money is just one way to give,” she insists. “For years I’ve been asking God, ‘Let me see people like You see them.’”

Nora believes good stewardship goes beyond giving funds to include reaching out to others—

1. What problem in the world keeps me up at night?

2. Which area(s) of Convoy of Hope am I deeply connected to?

3. Have I explored the best ways to make the most of my giving?

loving them more than you love yourself and knowing people around the world are truly brothers and sisters.

Years ago, Nora set up a Donor Advised Fund and a Charitable Remainder Trust to make the most of her giving. She has also named Convoy of Hope in her estate plan through a trust.

When asked about her greatest joy in giving, she responds, “Giving is the happiest way to live. We’ve realized that everything we have comes from God; it’s all about Him.” Please email hopesociety@convoyofhope.org if you’d like to explore creative ways to maximize your giving.

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Visit us online at: convoyofhope.org

Mail: 330 S. Patterson Ave. Springfield, MO 65802-2213 P: (417) 823-8998 F: (417) 823-8244 Donations: P.O. Box 1125 Springfield, MO 65801

John Doe Family 10203 West Phelps Cincinnati, Oh. 61210

IS YOUR MONEY SECURE? What a difference planning can make.

LET US HELP YOU BUILD A LASTING LEGACY 28