American Baptist churches turn pennies into powerful change for children’s lives

Through The Penny Project, American Baptists have been challenged to raise 14 million pennies–each penny representing a child growing up with the limitations of poverty in the United States and Puerto Rico–to raise awareness about the need for justice for children.

More than 100 groups have joined the initiative, and these groups are making a difference in children’s lives. Here’s how:

New Winchester Baptist Church, New Winchester, Ind., used pennies they collected to purchase gifts for children living with their mothers in a domestic abuse shelter.
Avon Baptist Church, Avon, Mass., is using the pennies they collect to host birthday parties for children living in a local homeless shelter.
Community Baptist Church, Marion, Mass., exceeded its initial goal by 56 pennies, but the church isn’t done yet. The 20 members have collected 209,500 pennies to represent the number of children living in poverty in their state. The mission team, which decided to keep the project going, is creating a fund to help local agencies with emergency needs.
American Baptist Youth of Nebraska have been collecting pennies since last summer, using them to purchase backpacks for children near Tekamah, Neb.
First Baptist Church, Jackson, Mich., set a goal of 468,000 pennies to represent each poor child in Michigan, and several businesses and civic groups have joined the effort. Pennies raised here will benefit the Jackson Child Care Center to help fund at-risk children, since the center recently lost state funding that would have covered 48 children.
First Baptist Comunidad Cristiana Youth Group, Yakima, Wash., collected pennies for each child living below poverty line in Yakima County. The group intends to present the pennies to county commissioners, then donate the funds to Rod’s House, a service location for homeless youth in Yakima.
First Baptist Church, Pierre, S.D., is donating their pennies to a local “Backpack Program”–but it’s not what you might think. This program provides low income children with a few days worth of food in backpacks they take home for the weekend. The American Baptist Church of Rhode Island, committed to The Penny Project, has renamed it “Change for Children.” Region events over the fall and winter as well as upcoming events throughout 2010 are dedicated to raising change for children in Rhode Island to support, in particular, state ministries and agencies addressing childhood hunger.
Community Baptist Church of Tulsa, Okla., has seven Sunday school classes participating in The Penny Project, plus a jar is available each Sunday for members’ change. The goal–120,000 pennies– represents the 120,000 children living in poverty in the state, and the church is considering two programs as recipients of their fund raising.
AB Girls will gather in Columbus, Ohio, in July for their annual convention with the great expectation of bringing together one million pennies collected in their home churches to benefit the Dayton Christian Center.

These are just a few of the ways congregations, campus ministries and other groups of faith are using funds raised through The Penny Project.

God has created us to be instruments and evidence of God’s presence in the world. Through The Penny Project, National Ministries calls your attention to children in the United States and Puerto Rico who are desperate for God’s presence in their lives, and the healing power of love that it brings.

Tell us how your group is making a difference in the lives of children through the power of a penny. Continue to report the number of pennies you are collecting and remember to share brief updates about how your awareness is changing the lives of children.

If your group hasn’t joined this effort, register today at nationalministries.org.

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