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Update from Paul and Grace Kuto

• This congregation was able to support two teenage mothers' vocational skill training in sewing and their families through the Missions budget funding.
• Paul was able to complete the Clean Water Project in May at Chenjeni village in Kenya.
• Harambee Centre sponsored 52 students in 2025 in rural Kenya (one was sponsored by our congregation). In 2026, 58 students are sponsored (our congregation is sponsoring 2 of them).

• To welcome and work with an education team from New York City during April/May to provide bicycles for students walking long distances to and from school every day.
• To help repair major storm damages (from November tornado) for the water project he just completed in May.
• To support Paul's village community to complete construction of a new church (see attached pictures) because so many community members are falling victim to cults due to extreme poverty effects. Two years ago, they helped raise some funds for the complete church roofing. Since then, the local congregation members have slowly raised their own funding to put in the windows and interior plastering. The church needs to pour a cement floor to complete the interior so that they can celebrate Easter Service on April 5th in the new space. This is where Paul worships when he is in the village and looks forward to being present on that opening Sunday. They plan to slowly raise more funds later to finish the exterior plastering.  We would like to extend an invitation to help the Chenjeni Friends Church congregation meet their goal ASAP this month (before Paul gets there) in preparation for their Easter celebrations this year. It would be such a powerful gift and a lasting blessing to their community at large! Please speak to Grace or Paul to find out more on how you could support this work through Harambee Centre.

Fostering the Family

https://fosteringthefamily.org

FTF is organizing Stand Up for Children walk in Columbia, SC on 25th April 10am – 12pm. The walk will begin at First Baptist Church and head to the State House.
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/prawal/event/2026standforchildrenprayerwalk/

Steele Creek congregation is looking after the parade team, and we need folk to hand out banners, signs and pinwheels at the start of the walk before setting out to the State House. If you are able to attend that day, please let Anne know.

So you don’t double book your time, know that this is also SCPCPH’s Women’s Retreat weekend.

Defend the Fatherless

DTF is now needing spring and summer clothes for all ages of babies, toddlers, children and teens. Especially needed are PJs and underwear which must be brand new or gently used clothes. If you are spring cleaning your child’s closet, please consider donating them to DTF. Any donations can be left in Anne’s office.

Our new initiative we are hoping to start is meal preparation for their Freezer Ministry. If there are any interested members of the congregation – male and female, old and young who would like to come together to produce meals then speak to Anne. This is something we cannot do without your help, so please do consider giving a couple of hours every once in a while to be able to provide emergency meals to those in the greatest need.

https://www.defendthefatherless.org

Congregations for Kids

CFK is looking for delivery drivers who could commit to collecting and delivering gift packages for Social Worker Appreciation Month. You can now sign up directly online here.

Monday, March 9

Route 1: Mecklenburg County CCOB
Pick up at CFK Office between
10:30-10:45am, deliver to CCOB
by 11am.

Route 3: Bethany & York County
Pick up at CFK Office between
12-12:15pm, deliver to Bethany
by 12:45pm and deliver to York
County before 1:30pm.

www.ckfnc.org

Meal Preparation

Our new initiative we are hoping to start is meal preparation for Defend the Fatherless' Freezer Ministry. If there are any interested members of the congregation – male and female, old and young who would like to come together to produce meals then speak to Anne. This is something we cannot do without your help, so please do consider giving a couple of hours every once in a while to be able to provide emergency meals to those in the greatest need.

Congregations for Kids

Valentines Day is a good reason to show love and care to those who are important to us and this week at Congregation for Kids www.cfknc.org, many foster families were also reminded they were not forgotten.
Deliveries were made to each house, including our own foster family – Rachel and Taylor. A heart shaped waffle maker was left on the doorstep along with a card sending sweet mornings to the families and their children.
If you would like to help out with deliveries, there are opportunities each month to get involved. Just go to Congregations for Kids website at https://www.cfknc.org/volunteer
You will find lots of opportunities to get involved and if you would like an overview of the work of CFK you can read their impact report at Foster Care | 2025 Impact Report | Congregations for Kids |

Volunteer Opportunities

Or perhaps you have a gift for working with animals? If that is the case, then please check out the opportunities at Agape Acres. There are volunteer days coming up soon to give you an insight into the work they do using rescued horses, miniature ponies, goats chickens and bunnies. If you would like to find out more or visit Agape Acres, speak to Anne Tolland, SCPCPH Director of Mission Development.

There will be plenty more opportunities for all ages to get involved in the mission outreach of our congregation so WATCH THIS SPACE!

PHS Update

At a recent meeting with Stephanie and Estell – the social workers at the school – they shared the responses from the students when they received new coats and $100 gift cards just before Christmas. The overwhelming response was one of shock and surprise that strangers would think of them and remember them in such a generous way. There were a lot of tears and many of the kids just wanted to hug their ‘secret santas’ to say thank you. Some of the kids said – no-one had ever thought of them in this way before and many of even the older boys cried when they opened their cards. So thank you to everyone who made that possible.
We are hoping to be able to continue our support of the most vulnerable students in the school, and there is an ongoing need for socks and underwear. One of the social workers shared that an 18 year old senior had asked for underwear as his Christmas present!
We are also exploring the possibility of offering tutoring to some of the students so if you would like to help in either of these needs please do let Anne know.

Defend the Fatherless

Representatives of Defend the Fatherless, an organization which offers wraparound care to foster families and their children, visited our church recently to explore options of partnering and support for this incoming year.
Their clothing closet has been a great asset to our own members who foster children, but there are many more practical ways we can assist. Would anyone be interested in coming along to do a group cooking session in the church to provide bulk meals which can be frozen and given out by DTF as needed?
Do you feel moved to be part of a team making up Mother's Day baskets for the foster mothers who give their time and energy to ensuring foster children know they are safe and loved?

There are lots of opportunities to volunteer at any of their events. A recent one was a respite evening for foster children and around 40 children turned up to enjoy a VBS style evening with pizza, snacks and cookies.

Perhaps you would like to experience one of the many events DFD organizes throughout the year. If so, the next event is a Lego building night.
Event Details:
• Volunteer Age: 13 and up
• Date & Time: February 28th, 3:15–7:00 PM
• Location: Forest Hill Church – Fort Mill Campus
• Kids Served: Ages 12 and under
Volunteers will be paired with children to build Legos, enjoy dinner, and have fun together throughout the evening.
If you’re interested in serving, please sign up using the link below:
https://volunteer.bloomerang.co:443/JE/7lcbw0ztk6zg20

HopeKids Event

Thursday, February 26th - HopeKids Event (children with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and their families will visit the farm) - If one or two people want to come, we could possibly use help with the craft, or getting the liability forms done when people arrive, etc.

Work Day

Saturday, March 7th, April 18th, May 9th 9-11am - Open Volunteer Work Day -

When volunteers come out to do odd jobs at the property. These dates Agape Acres will continue staining fences.

Mentoring

Agape Acres is starting a 6-8 week mentoring session in March. If you are interested reach out to Anne.

Adaptive / Therapeutic Riding Support Volunteers

Adaptive / Therapeutic Riding Support Volunteers - If anyone is interested in being a side walker for a child on a horse during an adaptive riding session, please reach out to Anne, Director of Mission Development. This can be a physically demanding role. Sidewalkers will need to be steady walking in a sand arena for 30-60 minutes at a time. Also, they need to be able to lift a child off of a horse in case of an emergency dismount situation. We need volunteers for this role who are available on weekday afternoons/ evenings (to help with our after-school participants).

Dyslexia reading tutor

Dyslexia reading tutor - We have several children who struggle with dyslexia. Just throwing this out here in case anyone is experienced/ trained to help these kids, and if they would be interested in tutoring a child one-on-one for 30-60 minutes after their time with the horses (this is a completely separate volunteer role from that of a mentor).
If this is you, reach out.

Prayer Warriors

One-on-One Prayer Warriors for our Mobile Mini's Ministry - Once we have a new horse trailer, we would love for anyone who enjoys praying with others to join us on our Mobile Minis visits to assisted-living/ memory care facilities, day treatment facilities for children who have experienced severe trauma, critically ill children, etc...

Congregations for Kids

This past week, CFK asked for drivers who would be able to deliver books to the foster families in the Charlotte area.

Six foster families received these books – simply as a way of reminding them they are not alone and have the support of organizations around them as they navigate, what at times, can be an emotional but rewarding journey. It was wonderful to be able to hand the book directly to Rachel’s and Taylor’s little girl, and I’m sure she will share it with her little brother.

CFK are always looking for helpers who can help with deliveries so if you feel this is something you could do please speak to Anne Tolland or contact Congregations for Kids at www.cfknc.org.

Agape Dental Ministry

After hearing so much about the work of Agape Dental Ministry, it was a real privilege to see the work firsthand with Becky Faircloth on January 23.

An inviting reception area greeted us, and the receptionist Liz was warm and welcoming as she ushered in patients and made them feel at home. The treatment rooms were equipped with everything that is needed to provide the best dental care to the people who come through the doors and every inch of space is used to the maximum use – who would have thought an X-Ray machine was the exact size of a closet?

The young assistants, who are fortunate enough to win a place on Idlewild Road, are assured the best practical experience they could want -as Becky says – ‘every moment is a teaching moment’.
Hygienists, technicians, dentists all working together to give the best treatment to those who are unable to afford dental care. The only thing missing is an oral surgeon so if you know anyone who would be interested in this ministry – please let Becky know.

Thank you for supporting this ministry with your prayers and through the Scottish Heritage Golf Tournament last year. I am so looking forward to visiting Becky and her team soon.
www.agapedentalministry.org

The Baber Family says, "THANK YOU!"

The Stepping Stones Care Community group at SCPCPH has stepped up to provide the gift of light, a night at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s Holiday at the Garden for one of the families the Care Community ministers. The Baber family sends a big thank you to the church!

Stepping Stones Care Community, led by Sandi Lauerman and Mamie Gaver, is part of the Missions Ministry Team at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Hill. SteppingStones partners with Fostering the Family of South Carolina to support foster families assigned through SC DSS. Our volunteers come alongside these families with prayer, meals, tutoring, errands, and other practical help—building a caring network of encouragement and stability.

Palisades High School Coat Drive

A big thank you to everyone who provided so many warm coats for students at Palisades High School. Stephanie, the school social worker, was thrilled with the response and wanted to pass on her thanks for the overwhelming kindness and generosity of the congregation. 

Many thanks
Anne Tolland, Director of Mission Development

Defend the Fatherless and Congregations for Kids

The Tithing committee has previously donated money to these organizations which are focused on helping support foster families with practical and material needs, and we are hoping to be able to continue our links with them with volunteering opportunities in the forthcoming year.
Defend the Fatherless recently had a Breakfast with Santa event where around 250 children were invited along with their families to enjoy games, crafts, activities, breakfast and a chance to meet Santa. Volunteers manned the registration tables, helped the children with the crafts, supervised the games and set up and cleared away the tables and chairs before and after the event. Some of our members

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were there to enjoy the festive fun and meet with other foster families.
Congregations for Kids is also an organization well known within our congregation and this past week we had the opportunity to help social workers shop for their individual kids in a unit donated at Carolina Place Mall. It was humbling to listen to the social workers figure out what gifts would work best for each child and was obvious that they knew them all personally and had a heart for them individually. This incoming year there will be many more opportunities to get involved as volunteers, mentors, helping with deliveries and supporting social workers.
If you feel called to find out anything more about these opportunities and others, please do speak with Anne. There really will be something that everyone can do to work together to follow Christ in joyfully serving our neighbors.