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Methodology

Agathos will accomplish its mission by building self-dependent villages, typically on or near a profitable farm, where children orphaned by AIDS can be raised, supervised, educated, and provided a moral foundation for life. Children would be placed in these communities alongside grandmothers and young widows who also have been displaced by the pandemic. By becoming self-dependent, subsequent donations can be invested in future orphan village sites. Ultimately, thousands of AIDS orphans, widows, and elderly in Sub-Saharan Africa would find a home and a family.

Step 1: Emergency Pastors Conferences

The One Church One Village program is an exciting new addition to Agathos' vision for Sub-Saharan Africa. The program is aimed at the Church both in Africa and the First World. It starts with Emergency Pastors Conferences, three-day events held in African church communities that culminate with the presentation and signing of The Ndola Mandate. The mandate–which calls on the African church to care for orphans and widows–was first written and signed in Zambia on August 11, 2006 by 124 Church leaders and pastors.

Both the mandate and the conferences encourage African churches to reach out to their surrounding communities, and identify and rescue the orphans in their midst. By using their God-given resources–that by First World standards are scarce–the Church in Africa reflects the love of Christ to these children.

When a local church has taken 30 or more orphans into its care, thus demonstrating their commitment to orphan care, Agathos representatives will review its formal proposal and business plan for developing an Agathos orphan village. Local churches are then encouraged to identify and purchase a farm or other profit-making business that would become the source by which a village thrives.

Step 2: Creating an Orphan Village Site

Villages can be created with the help of Agathos in several ways. In many cases, the foundation will partner with an existing orphanage–facilities that often are staffed by a single elderly woman, who cares for the displaced children of her immediate community. Other times, a local African congregation is the catalyst. In some cases, it's a small community school that gives local children a meal once a day before sending them back out to fend for themselves.

Whatever the starting point, a First World church would then provide resources and relationships to transform these places into fully functioning village sites.

Besides funding, the One Church One Village partnership would include short- and long-term mission trips that would send Project Teams to village sites. Members of the First World partner church would help provide discipleship to local pastors, village managers, and caregivers, construction help, and other assistance. Thus, in partnership an orphan village is created that is self-dependent and provides a thriving, loving familial environment imparting Christ's love.

Step 3: Raising the Orphans

A typical orphan village cares for about 100 orphans and 25 widows, depending on the scope of the project. Key components of village life include:

  1. Education. Lessons in kindergarten through 12th grade would be provided if a school is not already on site. (Agathos seeks to be pragmatic–one of its four pillars of conviction–by not duplicating what already exists in a community.) Daily Bible study and devotional classes also would be part of everyday life in the village. When local schools are used, after-school English and math classes would be added. Scholarships or theological training will be provided to children who have the aptitude and desire to pursue higher education or ministry.
  2. Job Skills. On and off-site trade centers and apprenticeships would be encouraged and made available to older teenagers who desire to learn a trade. A computer center also would be added to the village, if feasible. Besides contributing to the education of the children, members of the surrounding community could come to the center to learn keyboarding and other computer skills or to use the facility to develop and promote a small business.
  3. AIDS Prevention. The village teaches children to make positive and responsible decisions based on the truth about AIDS and its transmission. Classes would be rooted in biblical truths about marriage and fidelity.
  4. Judeo-Christian Worldview. This will be taught through devotion, chapel time, and Bible study classes, and demonstrated in all parts of village life.
  5. "No Begging" Lifestyle. The village would be a Christ-centered environment, where biblical norms for sexual purity and financial stewardship are understood and lived out. To this end, marriage would be honored, and self-sustenance and stewardship of property would be pursued, as expectations for Christian living.

Step 4: Impacting the Community

The impact of orphan village sites would extend beyond their borders into surrounding communities through outreach programs and by the example they set. It is Agathos' desire and commitment that these villages be a light on a hill–a place of hope and encouragement to the larger community.

Step 5: Sponsoring the Orphan Villages

You can help fund an orphan village or support the Agathos Foundation, individually or through your church and the OCOV program. See Campaigns at www.agathosfoundation.org to view donation options. Individual gifts can be made online or mailed to:

Agathos Foundation
PO Box 778
Everett, Washington 98206-0778