Creating the Future
Creating the Future -2024 GO! Plan
by Scott Nordstrom
November 30, 2023
I have been a bit perplexed over the last several months as we have considered the path forward into 2024. On the one hand, we are a movement of faith so there should be some measure of faith required on our part, no? This would include what God plans to accomplish through us. On the other hand, the uncertainty of so much that is happening in our world is truly unsettling. To stay where we are is safer and reassuring.
GO! Funding Partners gather for Annual Gala.
First off, we are so thankful for 250+ funding partners who have put their trust in us as they have stepped forward to serve orphan children with our ministry. This group’s generosity and faithfulness is so encouraging and 10,000’s of children’s lives will forever be changed because of them. Our funding partners are really the heart of what we do!
Great Commandment Workshop in Embu, Kenya.
Second, we all are amazed and challenged by the growing network of GO! Ambassadors in Africa and Asia. The fact that there are 2,419 individuals walking out in obedience to serve others much like we ourselves are doing, is very cool. These GO! Ambassadors are changing the very face of what we do, how we do it, and the way that we are communicating this work together -to our stakeholders. They are walking out in obedience to their calling with each step they take.
Scott Nordstrom with our Church Mobilization Leaders Pastor Ajay & Minister Isaiah.
The third thing, our field partners that act as His hands and feet around the world are an inspiration. When we consider that things may be too difficult for us to accomplish, they are the ones making it happen by provisioning the care. Regardless of the level of resources that we can invest, they are at the forefront of serving orphan children with all that they have.
Child in Punjab, Pakistan, receiving food.
Lastly, there are the children who benefit from this work. Defenseless, blameless, innocent victims of circumstance. All they are hoping for is an opportunity for some sort of future that is much different than where they find themselves today.
Together, what we are really doing is creating the future, and this is not just any future, but a better future for all. You see, orphan children are not the only ones to be blessed by this work. The result is that each of us is encouraged by others in our movement. Ultimately, our faith grows because of seeing our King accomplish so much through our giving, sacrifice, and obedience. This is a beautiful picture of our role in creating the future. The way forward is a posture of abundance and not of scarcity. We have chosen to fight forward rather than taking flight to the rear.
In 2024, our plan is strategic as we go Deep & Wide with our field partners to leverage these relationships to impact more children. Our plan is to impact more than 24,000 children in the new year, with our provision of care and continued deployment of our GO! Ambassadors through Church Mobilization will impact 95% more children than in 2023.
While this seems to be an enormous jump in impact, and an unlikely actual result, our field costs only increases by 18%, or $62,412 over the twelve months. In fact, according to our plan the total costs of ministry increases only 20%, or $78,117 when considering administrative and fundraising costs as well.
The reality that gives us little room for error is in the funding part of the equation. I project at this time we will run a deficit in 2023 which will be the third year in a row where we have experienced higher costs than the funding we have secured. During 2020 we were hampered from deploying resources as planned. Since our reserves have been depleted over the last 36 months, December 2023 funding will be critical for not only finishing the year strong but setting us up to achieve our plans for 2024. Consider the following:
While we have been able to achieve some efficiency and effectiveness with the launch of our Church Mobilization Initiative, the overall increase in costs has driven our deficits. In addition, we have managed to grow at a faster pace than our funding has supported.
With a 37% increase in funding in November and December 2023, or an increase of $30,620, we should be at a strong jumping off point for 2024. We are also planning for a 25% increase in funding for 2024 over this year.
Children at Luethwek Primary School receive food. We have served an est. 1.8 million meals in South Sudan since 2016. Plans for 2024 include feeding another 700+ children in Aweil Town.
I can honestly share with you that reviewing our plan and presenting this here has not raised my comfort level, but I am so eager to get us started making an even bigger impact in 2024. We can only rely on a generous Father to provide for His children. The future for so many is at stake! I grow increasingly excited of supporting children to have a home with a family, enrolling more children in school where then can begin to prepare for a better tomorrow, and simply feeding more hungry children. Lastly, I look forward to deploying more GO! Ambassadors that will have the blessing of serving orphan children in their communities.
I hope that you can see the importance of this work and better understand how valuable each of us are to the mission. The scriptures speak of the body, and this is a great picture of this example shared so long ago.
I invite you to join us in creating the future. A better future for all of us and a blessing for the over 20,000 people, which includes the children, that will be involved with this mission in 2024.
Please check back to our Blog over the coming weeks as we share stories of impact from around the world. I look forward to seeing you in the future… and it all starts today!
Global Orphan Relief (GO) has been serving orphaned children since 2005. We have accomplished this work through local partners in each country that provides oversight and distribution of care. As of October, we impacted 14,510 orphan children in six countries -in Asia (Un-named country), Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Zambia within our Home-based Care, Scholarship, Nutrition, and Church Mobilization Initiatives.
Scott with Children at House of Faith in Zambia.
Scott Nordstrom who leads GO! today and has done so since our launch in 2005. Scott has been instrumental in deploying 174 volunteers on 29 teams to the mission field, and has personally served in DR Congo, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, South Sudan, and Zambia. Scott is a published author and speaks in the United States, as well as, internationally regarding child welfare and matters of faith, hope, and love.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Cir, Parker, CO 80134 or you may also give electronically to support orphan children at Global Orphan Relief.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE