For guiding questions that facilitate group discussion, prompt individuals to apply the principles of the book to their own lives, and challenge the body of Christ to think critically about the impacts of their own church’s mission, download the Toxic Charity Book Study Guide.

It can be used well as a weekly study, discussing one or two chapters each week. Or, if you would prefer, you could host a one-time event and consider making it into a retreat for focusing on your church’s missions. One person can choose to lead the group through discussion, or as a group you can casually discuss which questions interest you the most. Feel free to adapt it to your needs and preferences!

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Please fill out the form below to download the Advent Devotional:

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In-Person Group Fundraising Activity

1. Encourage participants to give something up for a week, month or other specified time period. This works particularly well during Lent.
2. Ask participants to download the poster, or distribute copies you have printed ahead of time.
3. Schedule a time for participants to fill out the poster, choosing what they will do less of and which of the Gift Catalog Items they will give to an orphan instead. You can alternatively set a group goal, such as a cow.
4. Take photos of participants holding their posters.
5. Post photos on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ or other social media to invite friends and family to join in (#ZoeEmpowers and #dolessfororphans).
6. Ask participants save the money they otherwise would have spent, possibly in a free Zoe Empowers offering box.
7. At the end of the time period, collect the funds and send to Zoe Empowers. You can make checks payable to Zoe Empowers and send to: P.O. Box 28839, Raleigh, NC 27611.
8. Celebrate your success and thank your participants!

Peer-to-Peer Online Fundraising

1. Make a decision to DO LESS to empower orphans to achieve their dreams! It’s easy to rally your friends and family to join you in your goal to empower orphans to become self-reliant.
2. Use your creativity to share your passion and get others involved.  You can give up some of the conventional things like caffeine, watching TV or eating out.  Then again, you could be really creative to get people’s attention and give up something like your bed, wearing makeup, warm water for your shower, or traditional silverware – and only use chopsticks to eat for a month. The more creative, the more fun it will be!
3. Visit our Do Less fundraising page and select “Become a Fundraiser.” Use our online fundraising tools to reach supporters, take online donations and keep updated on your progress. It only takes a few minutes to set up your own page.
4. Share your page with others and raise funds that will empower lives with the money you raise.

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Encourage your church or organization to give gifts that go further than a shelf or a drawer – ones that help children transform their lives. The Zoe Empowers Gift Catalog provides these giving opportunities during holidays, birthdays, and many other occasions. From chickens to goats to sewing machines, there are many ways your group can help children help themselves and give memorable gifts that honor friends and loved ones.

Download Information About The Gift Catalog Alternative Market

Request an alternative market kit with bookmarks, gifts cards and other materials, using our online request form.

Request an Alternative Market Kit

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Zoe Empowers supporter Jeff Briggs, who was inspired by his trip to Zimbabwe to initiate IGPs at FUMCC, explained it this way:

“When I was in Zimbabwe last summer listening to the orphans talk about their income generating projects, something sounded familiar. After the orphans go through training, they are given grant money which allows them to start their own IGP. Some of the IGPs we saw were buying items to start a hair cutting business, raising livestock, and buying seeds to start a garden. Also, some used the funds to buy sheet metal and make buckets to sell, and one group had even purchased a machine to make peanut butter. It was so inspiring to see these kids take the opportunity that has been given them and turn it into something that can transform their life and give them hope and stability that they have not had in their lives.”

“I was reminded of a story my mom had told me that happened at her church. She said one of the members had given their senior pastor a monetary gift and told him to grow it. He took the money and laid it out on the altar rail $100 bill after $100 bill and asked members of the congregation to step out in faith, come forward, take the money and see what they could turn it into. It caused a great deal of excitement in their small farming community especially as they multiplied the money and did some wonderful things with it.”

At FUMCC, they created large posters of baobab trees (a tree of life) located around the church campus. Individuals or families signed out an envelope that has $150 seed money, FAQs and a list of ideas. They were given 90 days to complete their project,and return the seed money and their profits.

Initially when this idea was introduced, Helen Papageorgiou, Zoe Empowers Advocate, said the reaction was like “a deer in the headlights.” There was this feeling that “I can’t do an IGP.  I don’t have any skills or services I can sell.” But after throwing around a few ideas, things got rolling.  One team member made specialty granola and BBQ. Another is raffled off a custom oil painting of the winner’s pet.  Others are organizing a neighborhood yard sale.When asked about his project, Joe Morrocco responded,

“I’m an avid bike rider which necessitates that I clean my own bike, so I’m offering a complete bike cleaning for $20.”

Two supporters who have elementary aged children, Stephanie Purdy and Stephanie Hanes, asked to let their children do an IGP.  This evolved into a joint effort between the Zoe Empowers supporters and Vacation Bible School children.  From this partnership, a number of 3rd – 6th graders sponsored their own beach boardwalk activities. All VBS attendees could pay a small price to participate in these fun games or buy a treat, with all proceeds going to Zoe Empowers.

Five-year-old Caroline Cassell heard about the IGP opportunity, and started her own project selling bracelets. Recently, FUMCC interviewed her about her very successful project.

Caroline, how did you learn about Zoe Empowers?
“Last year at church I got a little prayer doll named Washington to remind me that there is an orphan boy in Africa who needs help. I put him on a shell in my room and we pray for him.”

How did you decide to make bracelets and sell them?
“Mom was reading the VBS papers to me, and it said we are raising money for Zoe Empowers. Mommy asked me if I wanted to help the kids and I said I wanted to make jewelry.”

Were you already making bracelets?
“Yes, I make a lot of them for my friends, teachers, mom and cousin. I like wearing jewelry too.”

We see that you advertised your bracelets on FB for $5 each. How are your orders going so far?
“Great! I’ve sold about 40 so far. I sit down at my table and get out my bead kit and I start beading. And when I get tired I sing ‘just keep beading just keep beading, beading, beading’. People who live in different places have ordered them so we are mailing them to Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Texas.”

Are you surprised about the number of orders you’ve gotten?
“Yes! And I am excited.”

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1. First, they made a giving tree banner by gluing a tree shape on a four foot tall banner (can be felt or other fabric or even paper).
2. They then put 100 individual leaves on the tree which could be easily removed. Each leaf represented a child in a working group.
3. The banner was placed in a prominent place outside of the sanctuary.
4. Members were asked to make a contribution by taking a leaf and writing a check to the church for $75 (the cost of one child for one year in a 100-member working group) with Zoe Empowers in the memo line. They were to take the leaf and put it in a visible place in their home (like the refrigerator) so they would be reminded to pray for their children.

Sunbury’s Presentation During Worship

A worship service was planned around the theme “Planting Seeds for Missions.” The service began with a video of Matthew West’s Do Something. Church members were asked if they had ever wondered if the seeds they had planted by sending money to a charity took root.

Success stories of the orphans in their Hope Companion working group with were shared by members of the church who had visited them. They shared with the congregation that that the members have graduated from ZOE’s three-year program and are financially independent, respected members of their community.

They ended the presentation with the good news that their working group had adopted eight other orphans into the group and plan to adopt another twelve by the end of this year. Though their group is no longer receiving any financial help from Sunbury UMC or from Zoe Empowers, because they have graduated, so many other orphans still need help.

The leaders challenged church members to partner with another working group by “purchasing a leaf from the Giving Tree.” All the leaves were gone before the end of their third service! When all the leaves were taken, the banner came down, and they had funded a new working group for one year. Next year and the following year they will put the tree up again with new leaves, and that will take care of their three-year commitment.

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• Lenten Resources
• Blessing Bakery Resource for Children
• Mission Moments for Children

To request offering boxes, please e-mail Toni Cole at info@ with your:

• Name
• Mailing/Physical Address
• Number of Boxes Requested
• Date Boxes are Needed By (please allow two weeks minimum for delivery)
• Church Name (if applicable)

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Silhouettes of a boy and a girl from the Zoe Empowers Hope Companion working group you are partnering with can be made and cut out by hand or by machine. A sticker with the first name and age of each of your children can be added to the silhouette. Explain to your congregation that the cost for each child to be in the Zoe Empowers program is $75-$100 per year for three years (depending on how you’d like to break the total cost down). They are encouraged to partner with a child, take the silhouette home, display the silhouette prominently in their home, pray for the child daily as a family, and financially support the child through their journey.

Please fill out the form below to download details on hosting your own Silhouette Fundraiser.

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