Christmas 2018 Updates

Merry Christmas! / Maligayang Pasko!

Hello from the Philippines!  We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from our hearts to yours!  We can’t thank you enough for your continued partnership with us in our mission to help bring hope to hundreds of families that are at risk here in the Philippines.  We were so incredibly blessed this last summer through the Perkins family who opened their home and their hearts to us by allowing us to live with them and share their lives.  Words can’t express our deepest love and appreciation for your kindness and open arms!

We have had a very busy year with many struggles and frustrations but also many wonderful examples of love and warmth from so many others.  There are two separate areas of this ministry about which we would like to share our experiences, frustrations, successes and failures in the last year or so.   These areas are the business / software side of Threads of Hope and then the people side of Threads of Hope.

In regard to the software side of TOH, there were two separate software implementations we were working on (mostly Julie).  We were implementing a new Shopping Cart called Shopify (with a LOT of enhancements from a consulting firm).  That software was finally implemented in August of this year.  It went live with very few issues and continues to work fairly well.  We do have a list of enhancements that we would like to implement but at this time we don’t have the funds to make this happen.  The other software we implemented was Any Time Collect (collection software).  This is an automated emailing system and tickler system to help us collect our outstanding Accounts Receivable balances.  This software is being implemented in stages because of the size of the customer base and the number of outstanding open balances.  We are starting with the most recent customers to remove any future overdue balances going forward.  Then we will attack the older overdue balances.

We are working on prototype / samples of our newest product – dog collars.  These will be collars only – not leashes for bigger dogs and collar/leash for smaller dogs/cats.  We are currently working on getting all the parts necessary to make the collars and then we will work on the sewing piece of the puzzle.  Julie is working with Alfie (our camera strap seamster) to make this happen.

In regard to the people side of Threads of Hope, we are about to implement a change to our attendance policy and its connection to the church attendance.  We have wanted to remove this process for quite some time and we are about to make that change.  There have been problems with the sign-in/sign-out process for Wednesday and Sunday services for quite a while.  We are about to disconnect the mandatory attendance to church with the ability to get orders.  We have always wanted to make sure that the people who need the income the most were the ones getting orders but at the same time we have wanted to make sure that the people attending church were being fed properly with no distractions.  We believe we are going to be able to accomplish both goals starting in January.  

We are going to make the leaders (23 of them) responsible for their groups and we will monitor their lists on a monthly basis to verify that the people on their lists are alive, living in the area and in need of orders.  Church attendance will be heart-driven.  The people who want to be at church and study Scripture will be able to do that with no strings attached.  We are praying that this change will make stronger disciples who can share the Gospel more to help the Kingdom grow.  

We are currently helping 17 students with expenses for college and we are always open to anyone who might feel led to sponsor a young person by giving them a scholarship to pay for their schooling.  It is considerably less expensive here in the Philippines.  Please contact Chris Kuhlow if you are interested in being a sponsor.  Her email is kuhlcrew2@hotmail.com .  There are many students who could really use the help with any amount you could offer. 

Aninuan Christian Training School (ACTS) has been going very well.  We are in the last steps to being recognized by the government and eligible for grants for each student.  We have been through the interviews and it is now up to the waiting game.  Ben Coltrane and his staff have done an amazing job with the school.  Please pray that the school will be funded to take away some of the financial burden from TOH to keep the school running.

We have had sad notes here in the Philippines where people have passed away, both old and young.  It really highlights the importance of assurance of salvation and the need for a savior!  We are about to celebrate the birth of that Savior – Jesus Christ and we invite anyone who does not know Him to learn more about Him and His love, grace and mercy as well as eternal salvation that is free to anyone who wishes to have it.  May the Lord bless you at this time of celebration and into the coming new year ahead.  Again, we want to send you our love and deepest appreciation for your support and partnership with us here in this ministry.

God Bless you all!

Jim and Julie