Philip Russel

• Elevation Grant for Children (Romania) ($500)
  Children in poor communities are among the most vulnerable segment of any population. One of my passions has been to uplift the lives of marginalized community members. This specific grant idea was sparked by my recent mission trip to Romania. I was overwhelmed by the wonderful hospitality of the Romanian community, who gladly opened their hearts and homes. They gave willingly, generously, and sacrificially. While the eternal soul of mankind is priceless (“what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world but lose his own soul” Mark 8:36), we are also called to respond to the felt needs (“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” James 2:16). My love for God, wisdom of The Bible, and children of Romania inspire and challenge me to initiate this project. This grant will support one community-based organization (such as a church, voluntary grassroot group, etc.) in Romania to facilitate improving the lives of children living in poverty. The grant gives freedom to the winner to come up with a personal definition of what it means to ‘”elevate the lives of children” and to develop a supporting implementation plan. The winner of the elevation grant will receive $500. Good ideas will generally be sustainable and provide pathway for continued opportunities for impacting and elevating the lives of children.