A Brief History

A brief History

At the request of Illubabor Bethel Synod, in the Illubabor region of Ethiopia, the Shenandoah Presbytery sought to find up to 50 sponsors for 50 children in the summer and fall of 1999. The children we were asked to sponsor were in dire straights in Ethiopia. We were told that the children, many of whom would be orphans, would be brought to the Gore Children's Home in the town of Gore, where they would receive reliable nutrition, clothing, access to the local public school, a spiritual lifestyle and a modicum of health care. 

The Presbyterian Christians of the Shenandoah Presbytery responded quickly and by January 2000 all of the sponsorships were in place. From that time to this, July 2002, we have had extraordinary faithfulness on the part of sponsors. Two sponsors have moved out of state. One remains a sponsor and the other arranged for others to pick up the sponsorship.. One "child" has exited the school to attend a year of teachers college which will be followed by a teaching position in a government school.  Two "children" are exiting the Home in September, having met their goal of high school completion. 

The Gore Home has been in service as a children's home since 1985.  Sponsorships before the Shenandoah Presbytery became involved were from Germany.  The home currently houses approximately 125 students. Brian Gilchrest is a missionary from the Shenandoah Presbytery and has served in Illubabor, primarily with the Gore Home, for the past two and a half years. He has been instrumental in putting in place policies and practices that have contributed to the quality of life of all the children in the Home. 

Sponsorship is for a calendar year with payment being due in the first half of November of the preceding year, i.e. sponsors will pay $432 dollars, per sponsored child, in November 2002 for the calendar year 2003. 

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