Lydia's Mission

We hosted our first Gala event with great success. Celebrating with friends, presenting our umngani awards, silent auctions, tech updates to streamline the ministry with leverage from FlyForm and ServiceNow, and inspiring updates from the field. with Claire Brown, Mitchell Hildebrant, Terry Brown, Kristy Steppe, Berta Medina , Alisa Livesay, Chris Keller, Les Barnett. Special thanks to United Wheels Inc. and Huffy Corporation for the sponsorship. Together we raised enough funds for 10 full time salaries for 18 months and holistic child development for 400 children for 18 months (hot meal every day, medical screening, educational support, social emotional engagement, and bible clubs)

We are blessed to have received a Platinum Seal from Candid for 2024 and continue our ECFA accredition for 2024! What does this mean? We take YOUR giving and support/partnership VERY seriously! Along with our organizational practices of accounting, transparency, stewardship, accountability and trustworthiness. *The Candid(formerly Guidestar)Platinum Seal of Transparency is a rating that puts us in the top 0.1% of charities nationally in terms of transparency. *We continue to meet the ongoing accreditation for compliance and financial standards of responsible stewardship with Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability #finance #trust #transparent #giving #partnership

Special thanks to United Wheels Inc. and their bicycles brands and affiliates! Sponsors of the 2024 Lydia’s Mission Gala where we hope to raise enough funds for 8 staff member salaries for 18 months and 250 children sponsored in holistic child development programs for 18 months all in our beloved South Africa! Partnership is such a blessing!

We recently launched a new Hope Center. It’s called “Edwaleni” (A siSwati word meaning “Rock). On Christ the Solid Rock!!! This created a space for 100+ children to come for holistic child development 5 days a week. They are the change agents in their community. Soon this facility will also house our 3rd “Gogo” center (grandmother, but all seniors are welcome) during the mornings and through lunch. Pastoral training happens here. A church meets here and we pray the cement floor will wear out from use of sharing the Gospel!

A recent encouraging interview of our USA Executice Director Mitchell Hildebrant by Tony Miltenberger with Follow 2 Lead podcast. Tony is a friend of the ministry, a brother and phenomenal leader. We are blessed! Thanks Tony!

Recently, Judy VanArsdale joined us on a trip to serve our community in South Africa. She believes in creating a legacy, and she’s digging deep and challenging you to do so as well, with a substantial $10,000 gift. These generous funds will be used for a matching challenge at our Gala in June! We hope to see 250 children and eight more staff added to the ministry from this matched donation. Your gift today at https://lnkd.in/eRQw83v2 will make a lasting impression and set the tone for others. Not only is Judy leaving a legacy, but she is creating opportunities for change in the lives of many. Thank you, Lord! 🧡

Have you ever wondered what Bible study at the Garbage Dump looks like? Each week, we gather to worship in this unlikely place. The Lord always ministers to the hearts of the women who work in the dump and those who travel here just to worship with us. Lydia's Mission was born here, under this tree. This ministry started here. What began with just a few women has now grown to 80+ precious people. Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing here! 🧡🙌

Join us for a night of celebration and partnership! We hope to see you this June! Gather your friends — tables are on sale now! More here: https://lnkd.in/edBCVBsx

Every January, we celebrate the fruit of our savings program. This employee program is a simple yet life-changing way to empower our women. Our staff is encouraged to save annually by putting away a minimum amount of money each month. In January, if they have consistently saved throughout the previous year, Lydia's Mission matches a percentage of their savings. The simple act of saving money is countercultural in our community. By empowering our women to do so, they are making a new way for the next generation and beyond. Great testimonies come from this! Read some here:

2023 was nothing short of miraculous! Though we have numbers to report. The real success was in lives impacted by Jesus. For that we are most grateful! 2024 will yield expansive efforts across all areas in the ministry. We are so thrilled. We charted a course, He’s directing the steps!