Ahoghill and Portglenone parishes support Philippino children

Monday March 30th 2009

Rev Mark Loney Thanks to the parishes of Ahoghill and Portglenone, 30 children in the Philippines will find their lives filled with greater opportunities.

During Harvest 2008 the two parishes set in motion an ambitious target of encouraging members of the churches and as many others as possible to sponsor a child through Compassion UK.

The child sponsorship programme involves a regular monthly financial commitment directed towards the educational, health and spiritual development of the sponsored child. Sponsors and children keep contact through regular letter writing.

The children were selected from the Philippines, as a mark of respect for Anne Arnold, a much loved Ahoghill parishioner who passed away there whilst on long term children's mission in January 2008.

Rev Mark Loney, Rector of the Parishes, said he was delighted that under the coordination and promotion of two existing sponsors, Dr Gillian Moody and Mrs Jo Loney, 30 profiles have been taken up.

Those 30 children now have much greater life chances and opportunities. In real terms this amounts to approximately £6,500 per annum in child sponsorship.

The rector said: “This makes supporting mission abroad all the more personal, active and participatory.”