How Agricultural Training Makes Way for Hope By Macy Daniel Food brings us together. At birthdays. At weddings. And around the weekday dinner table. In one Tanzanian village, our local Unto® partner is using food to not only bring people together — but to also introduce them to hope! Pastor Bariki grew up in a rural village in northeast Tanzania. As a young boy, he was curious about God — but as part of the Maasai tribe, his family followed other spiritual practices. In primary school, Bariki heard the message of hope in Jesus through local missionaries and responded. He said, “That was ..read more

Your Support Reaches the Unreachable By Amanda DeWitt Have you ever wondered how lifesaving humanitarian aid gets to suffering people in the toughest places? Many would call the tough places where Unto® serves unreachable, inaccessible, or forsaken. But together we are going to areas where very few others can access — providing lifesaving humanitarian aid and sharing the message of eternal hope with those who have never heard. Take a look at how the aid you help deliver makes its way to those who need it most. Step 1. Volunteers prepare and package aid that has been donated or purcha ..read more

Four Ways Generosity Changes You and Others By Amanda DeWitt As we start a new year, many of us feel the pressure to change something about our lives or ourselves. We set goals for a better exercise regime, to read a book every month, to take more family vacations, or to give back to those in need. But what if we could do more? What if we could do something that would change our life — and the lives of many others? Generosity. It sounds so simple — or maybe even churchy. Yet the intentional, consistent practice of giving can profoundly affect how we and others live. Here are four ways ge ..read more

How People Celebrate Around the World By Amanda DeWitt For a few days in December, most of us pause to celebrate. We hang lights. Gather with family. And give gifts to friends and loved ones. The way Christmas is celebrated is tied to one’s faith and to the culture in which one lives. For millions of people around the world, Christmas may be celebrated on a different day, in a different way, or not celebrated at all. Recently, local Unto® staff teams and partners, who serve in the toughest places, shared how Christmas is celebrated in their region. The Middle East Steeped in history and ..read more

 Four Ways to Cultivate Generosity in Children By Amanda DeWitt Around this time of year, children make their Christmas lists and check them twice. They marvel at the images that flash up on our screens. They notice the latest gadgets in store windows. Then they go back to their lists and add a few more things. As parents we do our best to keep the holidays focused on faith, family, and generosity. But all the sparkles and displays can quickly shift our thinking. It takes time and intentionality to teach our children about giving — not just at Christmastime but all year long. Here are ..read more

We Can Relieve Suffering for People in the Toughest Places By Amanda DeWitt They live in the toughest places — without access to the basic items they need to survive and without access to the message of eternal hope in Jesus. And yet our local staff teams and partners are determined to reach them. Together we go where other agencies cannot. We provide food, clean water, or critical aid to those with little other assistance. As physical needs are met, relationships are formed. And at the right time, we have opportunities to talk about why we do this work and the One who compels us to keep ..read more

Why Water Really Matters for People in the Toughest Places By Amanda DeWitt For people in the toughest places, safe, clean water is a precious commodity. Families often spend hours searching for it each day. And when they cannot find it, they may be left with no choice but to drink dirty water — knowing it could make them sick. How can something so freely available for some be so scarce for others around the world? Here are five tough questions about water answered. Do most people have clean water by now? One in four people worldwide lacks access to safe, clean water. This is about 2 bil ..read more

How Families Build a Life in Unlikely Places By Amanda DeWitt Surviving in the toughest places is not easy. Daily people struggle to access the basic items they need. Wars, disasters, droughts, and other crises only make life more difficult — often forcing families from their homes with little more than the items they can carry. Far too often families lack adequate shelter and must piece together whatever items they can find as protection from the elements. They may be unable to grow their own food due to extremely dry conditions, or they may be unable to afford basic food items at a loc ..read more

How Women Influence the Next Generation By Amanda DeWitt In the eyes of a child, she is strong, brave, and beautiful. Her name is a simple word uttered no less than a hundred times a day — mom, ummi, mãe, madre, mama, ma, mum. Around the world women shape the next generation. Their influence forms the world’s doctors, politicians, craftsmen, teachers, engineers, and farmers. Moms have enormous power as they raise their children, serve their communities, run businesses, and share the message of hope with those around them. Shape Dreams Women help others see the world of possibilities. The ..read more

How to Intercede for People in the Toughest Places By Amanda DeWitt Unlike any other generation we watch suffering in real time. Our children do too. They see the faces of others just like them who do not have enough to eat. They are shocked to discover millions of families around the world are forced to drink dirty water. They overhear news clips about wars and refugees and want to know what it all means. As parents and caregivers, we have an opportunity to not just answer their questions. We can also teach them to do something about the suffering they see. We can teach them to give gen ..read more