Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)


Dear brother in Christ,

Thank you for your faithfulness in serving our Mankato community, and thank you for contributing to a cooperative spirit focused on growing God's kingdom, not our own. Something is happening, a movement of churches across the country who are reclaiming the role of the church to show Jesus to at-risk families and keep them together for good.

You are invited to a free "Children's Opportunity Luncheon" for ministry leaders and wives on Saturday, February 19, 2022 @ 12 noon at Living Word Mankato.

Our desire is to bless you after a hard season of ministry these last two years, and to give you an opportunity to hear about this growing movement for family care from Gene and Cheryl Witte, Executive Directors of Children’s Opportunity Foundation. The Witte’s have a heart for at-risk families and have experience working with regional experts pioneering a scalable program for congregations to impact families. Children’s Opportunity Foundation (COF) is a faith based Non-profit organization, dedicated to providing advocacy, care, and training for the families and children. Since 2008, their goal has been to see strong families build strong communities and to make a difference one child/family at a time.

   Living Word is working in tandem with COF and with Maridel Sandberg, Executive Director of Together for Good, as part of a national network and international movement for preventative, foster, and adoption care in Christian churches. These organizations share our concern for precious eternal human souls, stand strong on the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and equip churches to impact communities with the sacrificial love only Jesus can give.

   The foster care system is broken, and families are falling through the cracks without hope. It's time for Mankato churches to pray about a new opportunity to work together in showing Christ to a community that needs Him, even when they don't want Him. After 2 years of praying, we believe there is an open door for a coalition of Mankato area churches to take small steps to making a major impact through the local church in ways that match the character and mission of our ministries for God’s glory.

   We are praying for February 19th and for the gifted brothers and sisters in Christ who'll be there. God bless you and your ministries for the year ahead, 

Pastor Chris Kumpula
Living Word Mankato

Meet the Witte’s

Gene and Cheryl Witte are the cofounders of Children’s Opportunity Foundation a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to building strong foundations one child at a time. Gene and Cheryl have been married 33 years and have four daughters, one of whom was adopted from India. They are the proud grandparents of two beautiful granddaughters. Gene and Cheryl are licensed foster parents and advocate for kids at risk both locally and globally.

Gene is the lead pastor at First Baptist Church in Waterville, MN and has led his congregation to take an active part in orphan care, adoption, and foster care. Cheryl volunteers her time leading local initiatives that minister to at risk kids. She is an affiliate trainer with Back2Back Ministries and enjoys teaching the Trauma Competent Care training. The Witte’s passion is to see strong families build strong communities!

Together for Good

What if children and families didn't have to experience trauma? What if instead, the church came alongside the family during their time of need to ensure they receive the support, hope and healing they need to keep their families together and strong?

Together for Good exists to create pathways for the church to come alongside children and families in Christ-centered ministry. Learn more

 

About Children’s Opportunity Foundation

Children’s Opportunity Foundation (COF) is a faith based Non-profit organization, dedicated to providing family support, parent education, resources, and holistic care to the families and children we serve.

Our Mission

We exist to make a difference one child/family at a time.

Our Vision

To see strong families, build strong communities.

Our Approach is to A.C.T (Advocate, Care & Train) Our approach is holistic in form, serving both the at-risk child and their family unit in their time of crisis:

  • Advocate: Raising awareness of the vulnerable and at-risk children

  • Care: Supporting families of at-risk children in their times of crisis

  • Train: Training the caregivers and parents of at-risk children 

Children’s Opportunity believes that not every individual is called to adopt or foster. However, we believe that every individual is called to do SOMETHING. Here are some ways for you to get involved:

  • Volunteer Hours

  • Prayerfully Support

  • Financially Give

  • Join a Wrap Around Ministry Team

Resources and Partners

Children’s Opportunity Foundation Statement of Faith


We believe:

 The Bible:

  • That both Old and New Testament are inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life. (II Tim 3:16-17) 

God:

  • We believe in one God (the Father), Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and existing in three Persons:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deut.6:4: II Cor. 13:14; Matt.28:19; John 14:1-2,21)

  • We believe that God the Son (Jesus Christ) is the only Son of God, equal with the Father. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless human life, and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all mankind by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead, physically demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to God’s throne where He currently acts as our advocate. One day He will personally and visibly return to reign as King of Kings (John 1:1-3; Romans 3:24-26; Rev. 20:1-10)

  • We believe that God the Holy Spirit is a person, fully God, equal with the Father and Son. He moved the human writers of the Bible to write God’s word. He makes people aware of their need for Jesus, performs the miracle of new birth, and comes to live permanently in every Christian the moment they trust in Christ. He unites all Christians into the one body of Christ, providing each of them with the power for service, understanding of spiritual truth, and comfort in the midst of trials. Christians mature as they submit to His leadership. (John 3:5-7; Eph. 1:13)

Humanity:

  • We believe man was created in the image of God, made for relationship with Him.  But the whole human race fell in the fall of the first Adam, marred with sin, separating us from God. This makes us liable for judgement, and ultimately results in eternal death apart from God’s salvation through Jesus Christ by grace alone. (Gen. 1:26-27; John 3:16-18; Eph. 2:8-9

Satan:

  • We believe that Satan is a created being, a fallen angel and enemy of God and man.  Satan has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and one day will be thrown into the lake of fire.  (Eph. 6:11-12; I Peter 5:8; Rev. 20:10)

Salvation:

  • Jesus Christ became the sinner’s substitute before God. His death on the cross made it possible for man to enter a personal relationship with God. We cannot enter this relationship by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus alone can we be forgiven of our sins and come into a secure eternal relationship with God, saved from His judgement. When we turn from depending on ourselves to Jesus Christ in faith, we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. As we grow in our faith, sanctification takes place. (John 3:16-18; Romans 8:1; Eph.2:8-9)

The Church:

  • The church is the body and the bride of Christ. The church is the family of God, created to worship Him and reveal His glory on earth by reaching out to those who do not know Him, loving one another, growing in unity, and becoming more like Christ. We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age.  They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation. We believe that the true church is composed of persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and united together in the body of Christ of which He is head. We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. (Matt.28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47; I John 2:15-17)

Second Coming:

  • We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and that this "blessed hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (Jude 14-15; Rev.19:11-14)

Eternity:

  • We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead. We will either exist separated from God by sin in hell, or eternally in relationship with God through the forgiveness and salvation in heaven.  Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. (Matt.25:31-46; John 3;16-18; Heb. 9:27)