Tom Eggum, founding president of Phoenix-based Hope 4 Kids International, a Christian non-profit organization that works to restore dignity to children and families who are suffering through extreme poverty and disease, will speak at Irwin’s Chapel United Methodist Church on Sunday, April 16, at 9:45 a.m. to share messages about the importance of making a meaningful, impactful difference in the world.
This year is Hope 4 Kids International’s 50th anniversary. For half a century, Eggum and Hope 4 Kids International has made a difference, serving children living in impoverished environments around the world by establishing economic, spiritual, water, educational and feeding programs.
Eggum’s story and passion for international humanitarianism began with a daring adventure in Soviet Russia where he was arrested and blacklisted by the KGB for smuggling bibles. The experience inspired him to deliver contraband medicine, antibiotics, clothes and shoes to other communist territories, and ultimately led him to establish Hope 4 Kids International in 1973.
“I’m excited to speak at Irwin’s Chapel, meet with their congregation and share the story of Hope 4 Kids International,” said Eggum. “Hope 4 Kids International has been operating for 50 years and we would not have been able to achieve this major milestone without the support of our community partners like Irwin’s Chapel. The fellowship at Irwin’s Chapel is truly a blessing to Hope 4 Kids and for this community.”
The non-profit sponsors over 3,000 orphans and vulnerable children from Uganda, Philippines, Guatemala and Romania, and offers child sponsors multiple opportunities to travel to meet their sponsored child. The most prominent projects are in Uganda, where Hope 4 Kids has been developing communities by drilling deep-water boreholes and building churches, schools and medical clinics.
Through their Water 4 Kids International division, Hope 4 Kids has celebrated the opening of more than 1,000 boreholes, bringing fresh safe water to over three million people.
Eggum leads teams to these projects to directly impact the lives of children, to change the lives of the team members by providing a transformational opportunity for each person to use their life to make a profound difference in this world.
Irwin’s Chapel Pastor Kathy Chesney said, “I am delighted at the opportunity to hear this international ministry leader in person and honored that Tom would come to our small church. We’re anxious to hear him preach and have time to mingle and get to know him and other missionaries.
“This will serve as the kickoff of our Walk for Water on May 21 and I'm thrilled to see the Christian community here in Union County pull together to help meet the needs of others both near and far. We look forward to having our friends and neighbors come and join us for worship and a time of fellowship and finger foods afterwards."
Eggum added, “I hope all who attend leave the service reflective and thinking about how to make a difference in their world—whether the result is to start helping a neighbor care for their yard, or to volunteer at a local community organization, or to join Hope 4 Kids International for a mission trip.”
Hope 4 Kids has been in over 107 countries restoring hope and necessary care to every child they serve.
For more information on how you can join Tom Eggum to become a difference-maker through international mission trips, child sponsorship, water boreholes, village development or other philanthropic opportunities, visit www.h4ki.org.
About Hope 4 Kids International
Hope 4 Kids International is a Christian, non-profit organization, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Leading teams on exciting, life-changing short-term missions to projects around the world, Hope 4 Kids is committed to serving impoverished children who are hurting physically, emotionally and spiritually. Teams bring relief to poverty-stricken villages by providing clean water, building medical and dental clinics and establishing emergency medical funds. Our strategies are designed to help villagers become self-sufficient through lifesaving programs. Hope 4 Kids carries the message of God’s love and hope through these outreaches.