Next steps with our Compassion Projects
Earlier in the year, Beccy and I (Pelumi) shared that we were exploring a new opportunity to stand with vulnerable children and families through Compassion UK. In March we met with the Compassion team visiting projects in Rwanda, and since then we have worked closely with our Elders to discern the right next step for Kerith Bracknell.
More recently, on Sunday 13th September 2026, we had the pleasure of having Stewart Lake, the Church Partnerships Manager South for Compassion UK, with us in Kerith Bracknell. Based on the story of Jesus multiplying a boy’s packed lunch of five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of over 5,000 men, Stewart preached a message centred on Jesus’ ability to multiply what we make available no matter how small it may look in the grand scheme of things (Mark 6:30-46). On that Sunday we also launched our new commitment to support Compassion’s work through the local church in Rwanda in this season. We’re excited to share the two projects we are committing to support together — one through individual sponsorship, and one through collective giving as a church.
1. Supporting Children in the EPR‑Kigezi Compassion Project (RW0595)
Compassion projects run through a holistic child development model managed in partnership with local churches in developing countries, typically supporting individual children from early childhood (often under the age of 10) until they graduate between the ages of 18 and 22 (although focused on individual children, their families also stand to receive additional benefits). This Compassion project is located about two hours west of Kigali, in Rwanda’s Karongi Cluster. It is run by EPR* Kigezi and currently supports 260 children, of whom, on the morning of our launch, 256 still did not have sponsors.
Many in Kerith already sponsor children through Compassion. You are welcome to continue supporting your current child. But for those who want to join in with our Kerith‑specific project, you can choose to sponsor a child from EPR‑Kigezi. This allows us, as a church family, to focus our support in one community — building long‑term relationships and, in time, opening the door for mission trips, pastor‑to‑pastor connections, and shared stories of transformation.
*EPR stands for Église Presbytérienne au Rwanda, which translates from French to The Presbyterian Church in Rwanda
2. Supporting a Mums & Babies Unit in Budaha (RW0538)
Alongside child sponsorship, we will also support a Mums & Babies early‑intervention program based out of the EPR‑Budaha Church, also within the Karongi Cluster.
This project provides:
Health checks
Nutrition support
Parenting training
Early‑years development
A safe, church‑run environment for vulnerable mothers and infants
This is not an individual sponsorship model. Instead, Kerith contributes to the collective running costs of the whole program.
For this Compassion financial year (July 2026–June 2027), the project has £4,710 remaining to be funded, and Kerith Bracknell will cover this amount through both:
a restricted fund for this Compassion Rwanda Mothers and Babies project, you can give to at any time, and
the international portion* of our Bracknell Building Fund tithe.
*We’re committing to splitting a tithe of our building fund between a local charity and an international one)
This allows us to meaningfully support 15 mums and babies this year, without committing beyond what our church can sustainably carry.
Why Rwanda? Why These Projects?
Rwanda is known as the Land of a Thousand Hills — beautiful, resilient, and deeply shaped by its history. Since the 1994 genocide, the church has played a vital role in rebuilding communities, healing trauma, and raising a new generation of leaders. Having visited and gained a context into Compassion’s work in Rwanda, Beccy and I have been drawn to lead our church community in impacting the children and their families there.
Compassion Rwanda has been working there since 1979 and now supports:
118,000 children
1,800 mums & babies
455 frontline church partners
10,000+ alumni who now serve their communities
Both of our chosen projects sit within the same cluster, which means:
Shared leadership
Easier coordination
Future mission trip potential
Stronger long‑term relationships
This is a partnership that can grow with us.
How You Can Get Involved
1. Sponsor a Child (£32/month)
1) Sponsor a child(ren) from the RW0595 - EPR-Kigezi Compassion Program in Rwanda or elsewhere in the world with just £32 per month. You can sponsor individually, as a family, in a small group, or even through your business. Profiles are available through Compassion, and we will continue to make them accessible through QR codes and Sunday resources. Either:
follow the sponsorship link below to the dedicated page and fill out the form there; OR
pick up a physical profile at the reception in The Kerith Centre and scan the QR Code or fill out all the details on the inside of the profile.
2. Give to the Mums & Babies Unit
You can give directly into the Mums and Babies restricted fund for the project Kerith Bracknell is supporting in Rwanda at any point during the year. Every gift helps provide essential support to vulnerable mothers and infants.
3. Pray
Pray for the children, families, churches, and Compassion staff in Rwanda. Pray for wisdom as Kerith continues to discern future commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are we committing to the Mum & Babies project for multiple years?
No. At least not presently. Our commitment to the Mums & Babies project is only for this Compassion financial year (July 2026–June 2027). We will review again in May/June 2027 before deciding next steps. It is a “bucket intervention” meaning Kerith is contributing to the overall project cost, not acting as the sole sponsor. Compassion UK is committed to fund the remainder.
What happens next year?
We have options:
Continue contributing to a similar intervention
Take on a full Mums & Babies unit as sole sponsors
Choose a different Compassion project
Pause and reassess. There is no pressure from Compassion UK.
Where does the money come from?
For the Mums & Babies project:
A Kerith restricted fund to which you can give to at any time,
Additional giving through the international portion of our Bracknell Building Fund tithe
For child sponsorship:
Individual members and families who choose to sponsor
Why are we supporting two projects?
Because they allow two different ways for our church to engage:
Personal, relational sponsorship
Collective, church‑wide support for vulnerable mums and babies
Are these projects close enough to each other for future mission trips?
Yes. Both sit within the Karongi Cluster, making coordination easier for future visits.
A Final Word
As a church, we continually seek to stand with those Jesus sees but the world often overlooks. This new partnership with Compassion UK, Compassion Rwanda and the local Church in Rwanda is another chapter in that story — one that will stretch us, bless us, and connect us with families across the ocean who will become part of our extended Church family.
Let’s step into this together. Let’s play our part.
Update and Gratitude from Stewart on behalf of Compassion
In the week following Stewart’s visit with us, he shared about the incredible impact our Kerith community in Bracknell is making. Besides the pre-existing sponsors in Kerith Bracknell, we saw potentially up to 42 more children receive support on the Sunday. At the time, of these 42 children, 31 saw their support set up completed, with 11 sponsorships still pending to finalise. So, with the 31 new completed sponsorships, added to the 20 existing, at least 51 children are now supported by this beautiful church family!
We’re so excited that at least 31 children have now received the notice that they have a sponsor from Kerith Bracknell! Stewart also expressed his joy that Shadia, the girl he showed on the screen, whose birthday was that same Sunday, is one of those beautiful children.
Pelumi Aworinde
Bracknell Site Pastor