This past year, Covenant witnessed the transformation of many families and children through our efforts in foster care, adoption, family preservation, mental health and housing. I thank God for His continued blessing and grace as we provide hope and love to abused and neglected children. I am excited about the growth of Covenant and it is extremely clear that great opportunities are coming.

It brings great joy to witness staff and volunteers reach out to abused and neglected children with love and hope. 2007 was full of countless stories of children and families renewed and restored by God's grace and love poured out through people. I want to share one brief story of how a moment, and an available person, matters to a child.

Jeanne is a foster child that has been in the "system" for years. Jeanne was placed in a Covenant foster home three weeks ago after another broken placement. Last week, as the family set up the Christmas tree, Jeanne retreated to her room. The attentive foster mom followed and found Jeanne sitting on her bed with a sad expression. The foster mom asked if there was anything wrong. Jeanne cried and stated, "I have never been in a home with a Christmas Tree".  Our mom sat by Jeanne, gave her a hug, and shared hope and love in that special moment. Jeanne's sadness changed to joy!

Can you imagine? No tree, no Christmas experience, and no hope. This lack of compassion communicates to an abused and neglected child that they are unlovable, unworthy and unwanted. At Covenant, we are reaching children like Jeanne with the hope and love of Jesus Christ. We are, with your help, letting each child know they are loved, wanted and worthy! The need is great but God is greater!

I am asking you to join the Covenant Team in helping us reach more children and families in 2008. Your December gift is crucial as we begin the New Year. Will you help us do the following?

• Reach 100 children a month through the Jeremiah Mentoring Project.
• Offer leadership training and manuals to churches in the United States to start ministries to abused and neglected children.
• Serve 25 families each month through CARENET by providing goods and services as families reunify and youth exit the system to independence.
• Increase foster care and adoption services by becoming a licensed adoption agency.

Please pray and ask God how He would have you become involved in changing generations by providing hope and love to abused and neglected children today. Together, we make a difference!

For King and Kingdom,

Randy Martin, Founder

Coming in 2008
The New Year will bring multiple opportunities and challenges to the Covenant Team that will motivate, inspire and call for great focus and prayer. The expansion of our ministry outreach in 2008 includes:

• the development of the Covina, California sub-office and satellite ministries in partnership with Covina Assembly, 
• a ministry partnership with the ACTION Network of Ventura, California for mentoring,
• work with the Oklahoma Governor's Office of Faith Based Initiatives in multiple Oklahoma cities to enlist the local church to serve the abused and neglected,
• increased efforts and training for orphanage and foster care ministries in Tanzania, Africa; and,
• the development of Covenant's Adoption program.

In addition to these great opportunities, Covenant will continue to provide the excellent services in Kern County through Mentoring, Therapeutic Behavioral Services, Building Blocks Emancipated Youth Housing, Foster Care, and Family Preservation Services through CARENET.