Clemmons UMC is an Empowerment Partner with

ZoeEmpowers 

Welcome our new Zoe family: Upendo ”Love” Murungene Group, Kenya! We are partnered with this new group from July 2022-June 2025. 2023 is the Clemmons UMC 9th annual Zoe “Do Less” for Orphans Lenten Challenge! CUMC has embraced this ministry so powerfully and we are honored to have entered our 5th Zoe Empowerment Group Partner Pledge. Due to your generosity during the 2022 Lenten Challenge, we have already been able to donate 99% of our first year pledge!!

 Zoe Empowers works with orphans in seven countries (India, Tanzania, and five countries in Africa) with the goal of helping them break the cycle of poverty and become self-sufficient. Children entering the Zoe program face a daily struggle to survive. Zoe Empowers provides a safe environment and three years of supplies and training in skills that prepare these children to provide for themselves. They earn money by learning skills such as planting crops, carpentry, welding, animal husbandry, sewing/tailoring, business management and saving plans, etc. These vulnerable children become socially, economically and spiritually strong – transforming entire communities in the process. 

  Clemmons UMC has affected over 225 households and nearly 800 children through Zoe; these children look to us not only as family but as their parents.

Clemmons UMC groups supported, all in Kenya are:

• Upendo “Love” Murungene July 2022-June 2025

  • 25 households totaling 82 children

• Hope Marega July 2020 – June 2022;

  • 29 households totaling 78 children

• New Talent, Donor Match Group Zimbabwe July 2020 – June 2022;

  • 30 households totaling 81 children

• Baraka Yetu (“Our Blessing”) July 2018-June 2021;

  • 29 households totaling 86 children

• Unknown Name Donor Match Group July 2018-June 2021;

  • 31 households totaling 105 children (numbers estimated)

• Jikaze (“Work Hard”) Mwerongundu July 2016-June 2019 (co-sponsor);

  • 31 households totaling 111 children

• Ushirika (“Fellowship”) Kiego July 2016-June 2019 (co-sponsor);

  • 31 households totaling 90 children

• Amani (“Peace”) Jan. 2015-Dec. 2017

  • 32 households totaling 131 children

 In addition to prayers, we pledge financial support of each group in the amount of $8,500 each year for three years. This commitment is primarily funded through our annual Lenten Challenge, which is a challenge to “Do Less” for Orphans. In other words, by sharing a little or even “doing less” and donating the cost of a few luxuries (think Starbucks, eating out, and even Fortnite V-bucks) to Zoe, we fulfill our commitment.

 We have historically met each three year commitment in 2 to 2.5 years allowing us to extend early pledge to yet another empowerment group.

 Help us to continue this important empowerment ministry. You can donate online at clemmonsumc.org/give and designate Zoe in the drop-down menu, donate by check and specify Zoe in the memo line, or take home one of the Zoe boxes that will be around the church throughout Lent. Fill the Zoe boxes with your “Do Less” donations throughout Lent and bring them back on Easter morning. With CUMC’s support, the Zoe ministry is changing lives!

Below is a five minute video received January 2021 of Dancan, from the Baraka Yetu Naari (“Our Blessing”) July 2018-June 2021 Empowerment Group supported by Clemmons UMC. Please take a moment to see the impact that Zoe has had on this young man’s life and how many people have benefitted from his Zoe experience.

Thank you for your continued support of this important mission! For more information visit https://zoeempowers.org. For more information within Clemmons United Methodist Church please contact Tim and Suzanne Howard at timandsuz@triad.rr.com or Karen Perry at karen@karenperry.me.

For more information, visit https://www.wearezoe.org/ or contact Tim and Suzanne Howard at timandsuz@triad.rr.com