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US Development Report – October 2010
From: Kevin Hoy, CEO - The Smiles Foundation
This month, once
again, the US Report falls to me to write from across the Atlantic
Ocean following a continuation of Greg’s illness that keeps him out of
action. Of course, I’ve been here many times before – not just with
the US Report, but needing to fill in on a gap! I guess, in part,
that’s the job of the Chief Executive.
Now, as you know, I’m not American and I haven’t been in America this
past month, but I have had lots of communication with America and many
of my friends and Smiles supporters. Largely because I’m planning to
visit for 2 weeks next month and with
Maria and Georgi
from Romania, we will be on a ‘flying visit’ (truly). An intensive
visit of meetings, airports, hotels and car rental counters!
WHY?
Why are we planning this?
What’s the objective of investing so much time, effort and money into
such a trip?
Well – I thought I would take this
opportunity of sharing a little of my heart with my American friends
and supporters of Smiles. I’d like to be honest and ask you to
consider prayerfully the situation and seek God’s Wisdom and Guidance
for the solutions.
Personally, I first visited America in 1978, some 32 years ago at the
very beginning of my 25 years in itinerant ministry of Music Artist
Management. A lot has changed since spending my first 3 months in
Southern California at Maranatha! Music in Santa Ana. One thing I do
not believe has changed is America’s love and
concern for Missions and your generosity when supporting God’s
Work.
I remember when Nia and I first started
Smiles back in 1997 – 80% of our Mission Support came form America.
Today, 80% comes from the United Kingdom. It’s true the overall
numbers have increased enormously, to the point that America’s 2009
support equalled 20% of total Smiles income, but it’s about equal to
what the 80% was in 1997!
But what has changed?
Most significant is that Nia and I are no
longer travelling the freeways 6 months of the year, visiting an
average 100 Churches a year – sharing the work of Smiles and receiving
tremendous support in the process.
Now I tour every 18 months with the Tileagd Choir for about 5 weeks
and I try to make a ‘flying City visit’ once or twice a year for a
couple of weeks each.
Therefore, even without a World Recession to contend with, presence in
much less and in our busy lives, it is often said and sadly true “Out
of sight … Out of mind”
I have struggled with these facts and endeavoured to make changes that
would help overcome the problem. In the last 5 years, we have employed
two different Development Associate’s for
America. The first just didn’t get to grips with the job. Now
Greg has been off for 5 months with ill-health and unlikely to make it
back. As a result, I see support dropping year on year and I am
concerned how we can reverse that trend for the future.
In the United Kingdom, our Development
Associates provide a crucial role of regional communication and
coordination of supporters efforts to fund-raise and support the
projects. In the local communities, this is done by
Smiles Ambassadors, who wave the
Smiles Flag at every opportunity, giving
presentations, talks to various groups, Church services, Missions
committees etc., all aimed at encouraging support and more people to
experience Smiles at work in Romania on a
Mission Trip.
I believe we need Ambassadors in America today,
more than ever before.
In November, with Maria and Georgi, I shall be visiting churches in
Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina and Florida to ask about how
they can better support our efforts. We will be encouraging more to
make a Mission trip to Romania and we’ll be asking folk to take up the
challenge – to become a SMILES AMBASSADOR and help to start rebuilding
the base support in America for this great Mission Organisation
endeavouring to MAKE SMILES in the Name of Christ.
In 2 weeks of November we’ll
only get to see a limited number of people and will be limited to
about 10 cities. As busy as it will be, we won’t make the impression
on America we need to. But you can help do that!
If you would like to meet us – e.mail me and we
can try to schedule. If impossible, we'll talk and correspond to see
what progress we can make.
As an American reading this US Development Page, I’m sure you’d love
to help our Mission be successful.
Take a good look at our Website – read all the reports of what is
happening and you’ll realise this is an impacting and extremely valid
ministry to be a part of.
I want to have you on board with us helping achieve the full potential
of the Smiles Ministry in Romania which needs your help and America at
large to fulfil our dreams and desires for this impoverished nation.
Please take a step you hadn’t planned and e-mail
me now. I look forward to hearing from you.
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