Church on a mission
The congregation of a Costa Blanca church remains committed to giving children in an African village the best start in life - a proper education.
Javea International Baptist Church supports four good causes - including one in Spain - and on Saturday was fund raising in aid of ACACIA, Assisting Communities and Children in Africa.
Money from the ‘nearly new’ clothing sale at the JIBC Church Centre in Javea old town will help build a preschool for a village in Zimbabwe.
Its support for the community in the village of Mazwi has already won JIBC the title of ‘the smallest church with the biggest heart” by grateful heads of mission Graham and Sarah.
The village itself is a ‘newbuild’ community of 170 homes. It was created under the Mugabe regime when people were moved out from the city of Bulawayo and resettled in the houses built by the military.
JIBC member Ruth Crooks has visited the village; she described brick built homes made of 1,000 bricks and two windows - but no infrastructure, water or sewage.
“The pre-school is needed so children can go on to get an education - if they don’t go to pre-school they don’t go on to ordinary school,” she said.
The church has already contributed towards sinking boreholes for water and the foundations of the new school; it also aids people with HIV, particularly mums, and supplying teenage girls with hygiene packs.
“Unfortunately, the area was hit by a famine through the lack of water. The church came together and raised €1,170 to help feed the community and seeds to plant new crops,” said Ruth.
“It is wonderful how we have been blessed in this church with people with giving hearts; it is not about one person but the whole church - the whole community - helping to provide for those in need.
“The mission is also training people and helping them to come together to help each other; in the give years Mazwi has come together, it is wonderful to see the change in people.”
Pictured are some of the congregation and friends at the clothing sale with a painting inspired by the faces of youngsters in the village - artist Val Lakeman is fourth from the right.